“Minimum Government,
Maximum Freedom”
The Libertarian Party
The Libertarian Party
is the third largest political party in the United States. Millions of Americans have voted for
Libertarian candidates despite consistent efforts from many state governments
to keep their candidates off of ballots.
The Libertarian Party
was formed in Colorado in David Nolan’s home on December 11, 1971. The formation was prompted by issues such as
removal from the Gold Standard and the Vietnam War.
Here are the issues:
Personal Liberty: Libertarians believe in maximum personal
freedom. People deserve the right to
privacy, expression, relationships, self defense etc.
Economic Liberty:
Libertarians oppose all controls on wages, prices, rents, profits,
production and interest rates. Also,
Libertarians call for an end to government energy subsidies and the abolishment
of the IRS and income tax. Libertarians
defend the right of individuals to form corporations and other types of
companies.
Labor Markets: Libertarians
support the right of free persons to associate or not associate with labor
unions. Also, employers should have the
right to either refuse or recognize a union.
Education: Education is best
provided by the free market.
Retirement and Income Security:
This is the responsibility of the individual, not the government. Libertarians would phase out Social Security.
Defense: Libertarians
support the maintenance of a sufficient military to defend the U.S. against
aggression, but the US should end foreign intervention including military and
economic aid.
Representative Government:
Political Parties should be allowed to establish their own rules for
nomination procedures and conventions.
Libertarians oppose laws that effectively exclude parties or candidates,
deny ballot access or gerrymander districts.
In more than 40 years,
Libertarians have made some progress at local levels; however they have yet to
achieve electoral success in the US congress or at the Presidential level. By the end of 2010, 154 Libertarians were
holding political office.
Sources:
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