Document:Libertarian Party Radical Caucus Platform 2016: Difference between revisions

Jump to navigation Jump to search

Document:Libertarian Party Radical Caucus Platform 2016 (view source)

Revision as of 12:59, 17 September 2019

57 bytes removed ,  17 September 2019
no edit summary
(adjust to document formatting, fix succession box)
No edit summary
Line 16: Line 16:
Governments throughout history have regularly operated on the opposite principle, that the State has the right to dispose of the lives of individuals and the fruits of their labor. Even within the United States, all political parties other than our own grant to government the right to regulate the lives of individuals and seize the fruits of their labor without their consent.
Governments throughout history have regularly operated on the opposite principle, that the State has the right to dispose of the lives of individuals and the fruits of their labor. Even within the United States, all political parties other than our own grant to government the right to regulate the lives of individuals and seize the fruits of their labor without their consent.


We, on the contrary, deny the right of any government to do these things, and hold that where governments exist, they must not violate the rights of any individual: namely, (1) the right to life — accordingly we support the prohibition of the initiation of physical force against others; (2) the right to liberty of speech and action — accordingly we oppose all attempts by government to abridge the freedom of speech and press, as well as government censorship in any form; and (3) the right to property — accordingly we oppose all government interference with private property, such as confiscation, nationalization, and eminent domain, and support the prohibition of robbery, trespass, fraud, and misrepresentation.
We, on the contrary, deny the right of any government to do these things, and hold that where governments exist, they must not violate the rights of any individual: namely, (1) the right to life -- accordingly we support the prohibition of the initiation of physical force against others; (2) the right to liberty of speech and action -- accordingly we oppose all attempts by government to abridge the freedom of speech and press, as well as government censorship in any form; and (3) the right to property -- accordingly we oppose all government interference with private property, such as confiscation, nationalization, and eminent domain, and support the prohibition of robbery, trespass, fraud, and misrepresentation.


Since governments, when instituted, must not violate individual rights, we oppose all interference by government in the areas of voluntary and contractual relations among individuals. People should not be forced to sacrifice their lives and property for the benefit of others. They should be left free by government to deal with one another as free traders; and the resultant economic system, the only one compatible with the protection of individual rights, is the free market.  
Since governments, when instituted, must not violate individual rights, we oppose all interference by government in the areas of voluntary and contractual relations among individuals. People should not be forced to sacrifice their lives and property for the benefit of others. They should be left free by government to deal with one another as free traders; and the resultant economic system, the only one compatible with the protection of individual rights, is the free market.  
Line 34: Line 34:
Libertarians embrace the concept that all people are born with certain inherent rights. We reject the idea that a natural right can ever impose a positive obligation upon others to fulfill that right.  
Libertarians embrace the concept that all people are born with certain inherent rights. We reject the idea that a natural right can ever impose a positive obligation upon others to fulfill that right.  


Discrimination imposed by government causes a multitude of problems and violates inherent rights. Government should not deny, abridge, or enhance any individual’s inherent rights for any reason and any laws which currently do so should be repealed rather than extended to all groups.
Discrimination imposed by government causes a multitude of problems and violates inherent rights. Government should not deny, abridge, or enhance any individual's inherent rights for any reason and any laws which currently do so should be repealed rather than extended to all groups.


Anti-discrimination laws that regulate or prohibit private behavior create the same problems and violate the same inherent rights. We condemn private discrimination as irrational and repugnant; however, we support the abolition of all laws that attempt to limit or ban it.
Anti-discrimination laws that regulate or prohibit private behavior create the same problems and violate the same inherent rights. We condemn private discrimination as irrational and repugnant; however, we support the abolition of all laws that attempt to limit or ban it.


The right to trade includes the right not to trade — for any reasons whatsoever; the right of association includes the right not to associate — for any reasons whatsoever, for exercise of these rights depend upon mutual consent. Individuals and private organizations, including businesses, retain their rights to set whatever standards of association and terms of voluntary interaction they deem appropriate, and other individuals and private businesses are free to respond with ostracism, boycotts, and other free market solutions.
The right to trade includes the right not to trade — for any reasons whatsoever; the right of association includes the right not to associate -- for any reasons whatsoever, for exercise of these rights depend upon mutual consent. Individuals and private organizations, including businesses, retain their rights to set whatever standards of association and terms of voluntary interaction they deem appropriate, and other individuals and private businesses are free to respond with ostracism, boycotts, and other free market solutions.


===3. Freedom of Communications===
===3. Freedom of Communications===
Line 156: Line 156:
We hold that property rights are individual rights and, as such, are entitled to the same protections as all other individual rights. Individuals have the right to homestead unowned resources, both within the jurisdictions of governments and within any unclaimed territory. We further hold that the owners of property have the full right to control, use, dispose of, or in any manner enjoy their property without interference until and unless the exercise of their control infringes the valid rights of others.
We hold that property rights are individual rights and, as such, are entitled to the same protections as all other individual rights. Individuals have the right to homestead unowned resources, both within the jurisdictions of governments and within any unclaimed territory. We further hold that the owners of property have the full right to control, use, dispose of, or in any manner enjoy their property without interference until and unless the exercise of their control infringes the valid rights of others.


Eminent domain, civil asset forfeiture, governmental limits on profits, governmental production mandates, and governmental controls on prices of goods and services (including wages, rents, and interest) are abridgements of such fundamental rights.
Eminent domain, civil asset forfeiture, governmental limits on profits, governmental production mandates, and governmental controls on prices of goods and services (including wages, rents, and interest) are abridgments of such fundamental rights.


Where property, including land, has been taken from its rightful owners in violation of individual rights, we favor restitution to the rightful owners.
Where property, including land, has been taken from its rightful owners in violation of individual rights, we favor restitution to the rightful owners.
Line 219: Line 219:


===8. Monopolies===
===8. Monopolies===
Governments, through grants of legal privilege to special interests, are the source of monopolies across the nation. Furthermore, throughout our nation’s history, Antitrust laws have served monopolies by limiting competition.  
Governments, through grants of legal privilege to special interests, are the source of monopolies across the nation. Furthermore, throughout our nation's history, Antitrust laws have served monopolies by limiting competition.  


Therefore, we condemn all coercive monopolies; including public utilities and the United States Postal Service because competition has brought better products at lower prices. In order to facilitate their elimination, we advocate a strict separation of business and state, and we call for the repeal of all antitrust laws, including the Sherman Anti Trust Act, the Clayton Antitrust Act, Robinson-Patman Act, and Celler-Kefauver Act. We further call for the abolition of the Federal Trade Commission and the anti-trust division of the Department of Justice. Laws of incorporation should not include grants of monopoly privilege. In particular, we oppose special limits on the liability of corporations for damages caused in noncontractual transactions. Government has demonstrated that it is unable to compete in the market for such services as cable television, electricity, fire protection, garbage collection, natural gas, postal service, telephone, or water supplies unless it has monopolistic protections on those services.
Therefore, we condemn all coercive monopolies; including public utilities and the United States Postal Service because competition has brought better products at lower prices. In order to facilitate their elimination, we advocate a strict separation of business and state, and we call for the repeal of all antitrust laws, including the Sherman Anti Trust Act, the Clayton Antitrust Act, Robinson-Patman Act, and Celler-Kefauver Act. We further call for the abolition of the Federal Trade Commission and the anti-trust division of the Department of Justice. Laws of incorporation should not include grants of monopoly privilege. In particular, we oppose special limits on the liability of corporations for damages caused in noncontractual transactions. Government has demonstrated that it is unable to compete in the market for such services as cable television, electricity, fire protection, garbage collection, natural gas, postal service, telephone, or water supplies unless it has monopolistic protections on those services.
Line 337: Line 337:


==IV. The State==
==IV. The State==
American foreign policy should seek an America at peace with the world and the defense — against attack from abroad — of the lives, liberty, and property of the American people on American soil. Provision of such defense must respect the individual rights of people everywhere.  
American foreign policy should seek an America at peace with the world and the defense against attack from abroad of the lives, liberty, and property of the American people on American soil. Provision of such defense must respect the individual rights of people everywhere.  


The principle of non-intervention should guide relationships between governments. The United States government should return to the historic libertarian tradition of avoiding entangling alliances, abstaining totally from foreign quarrels and imperialist adventures, and recognizing the right to unrestricted trade, travel, and immigration.
The principle of non-intervention should guide relationships between governments. The United States government should return to the historic libertarian tradition of avoiding entangling alliances, abstaining totally from foreign quarrels and imperialist adventures, and recognizing the right to unrestricted trade, travel, and immigration.
Retrieved from "https://lpedia.mywikis.net/wiki/Special:MobileDiff/1525033"

Navigation menu