--- In [email protected], "terry12622000" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> 
wrote:
>
> Well far from a Neoconservatives wet dream but still going in the 
> wrong direction, the elimnation of taxes even the repeal of crimnal 
> penlities for tax evasion not even mentioned so it appears if the 
> DEmocratic Freedom Cacus does get the no crimnal charges for tax 
> evasion on its platform it may be more libertarian than the LP.--- 
In 
> [email protected], "gclark809" <gclark809@> wrote:
> >
> > You saw it here first.
> > 
> > Platform of the National Libertarian Party
> > Adopted in Convention, July 2, 2006, Portland Oregon
> >  
> > Preamble
> > 
> > As Libertarians, we seek a world of liberty; a world in which all 
> > individuals are sovereign over their own lives and no one is 
forced 
> > to sacrifice his or her values for the benefit of others.
> > 
> > We believe that respect for individual rights is the essential 
> > precondition for a free and prosperous world, that force and 
fraud 
> > must be banished from human relationships, and that only through 
> > freedom can peace and prosperity be realized.
> > 
> > Consequently, we defend each person's right to engage in any 
> activity 
> > that is peaceful and honest, and welcome the diversity that 
freedom 
> > brings. The world we seek to build is one where individuals are 
> free 
> > to follow their own dreams in their own ways, without 
interference 
> > from government or any authoritarian power.
> > 
> > In the following pages we have set forth our basic principles and 
> > enumerated various policy stands derived from those principles.
> > 
> > These specific policies are not our goal, however. Our goal is 
> > nothing more nor less than a world set free in our lifetime, and 
it 
> > is to this end that we take these stands.
> > 
> > Statement of Principles
> > 
> > We, the members of the Libertarian Party, challenge the cult of 
the 
> > omnipotent state and defend the rights of the individual.
> > 
> > We hold that all individuals have the right to exercise sole 
> dominion 
> > over their own lives, and have the right to live in whatever 
manner 
> > they choose, so long as they do not forcibly interfere with the 
> equal 
> > right of others to live in whatever manner they choose.
> > 
> > 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.
> > 
> > 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.
> > 
> > I. Individual Rights and Civil Order
> > 
> > No conflict exists between civil order and individual rights. 
Both 
> > concepts are based on the same fundamental principle: that no 
> > individual, group, or government may initiate force against any 
> other 
> > individual, group, or government.
> > 
> > I.1 Freedom and Responsibility 
> > 
> > The Issue: Personal responsibility is discouraged by government 
> > denying individuals the opportunity to exercise it. In fact, the 
> > denial of freedom fosters irresponsibility.
> > 
> > The Principle: Individuals should be free to make choices for 
> > themselves and to accept responsibility for the consequences of 
the 
> > choices they make. We must accept the right of others to choose 
for 
> > themselves if we are to have the same right. Our support of an 
> > individual's right to make choices in life does not mean that we 
> > necessarily approve or disapprove of those choices. We believe 
> people 
> > must accept personal responsibility for the consequences of their 
> > actions.
> > 
> > Solutions: Libertarian policies will promote a society where 
people 
> > are free to make and learn from their own decisions.
> > 
> > Transitional Action:  Repeal all laws that presume government 
knows 
> > better than the individual how to run that person's life. 
Encourage 
> > private sector dissemination of information to help consumers 
make 
> > informed decisions on products and services. Enforce laws against 
> > fraud and misrepresentation. 
> > 
> > I.2 Freedom of Communication 
> > 
> > The Issue: We oppose any abridgment of the freedom of speech 
> through 
> > government censorship, regulation or control of communications 
> media, 
> > including, but not limited to, laws concerning: 
> > 
> > a) Obscenity, including "pornography", as we hold this to be an 
> > abridgment of liberty of _expression despite claims that it 
> > instigates rape or assault, or demeans and slanders women; 
> > 
> > b) Reception and storage equipment, such as digital audio tape 
> > recorders and radar warning devices, and the manufacture of video 
> > terminals by telephone companies; 
> > 
> > c) Electronic bulletin boards, communications networks, and other 
> > interactive electronic media as we hold them to be the functional 
> > equivalent of speaking halls and printing presses in the age of 
> > electronic communications, and as such deserving of full freedom; 
> d) 
> > Electronic newspapers, electronic "Yellow Pages", file libraries, 
> > websites, and other new information media, as these deserve full 
> > freedom; or 
> > 
> > e) Commercial speech or advertising. We oppose speech codes at 
all 
> > schools that are primarily tax funded. Language that is deemed 
> > offensive to certain groups is not a cause for legal action. 
> > 
> > We strongly oppose the government's burgeoning practice of 
invading 
> > newsrooms, or the premises of other innocent third parties, in 
the 
> > name of law enforcement. We further oppose court orders gagging 
> news 
> > coverage of criminal proceedings -- the right to publish and 
> > broadcast must not be abridged merely for the convenience of the 
> > judicial system. We deplore any efforts to impose thought control 
> on 
> > the media, either by the use of anti-trust laws, or by any other 
> > government action in the name of stopping "bias." 
> > 
> > The Principle: We defend the rights of individuals to 
unrestricted 
> > freedom of speech, freedom of the press and the right of 
> individuals 
> > to dissent from government itself. We recognize that full freedom 
> of 
> > _expression is possible only as part of a system of full property 
> > rights. The freedom to use one's own voice; the freedom to hire a 
> > hall; the freedom to own a printing press, a broadcasting 
station, 
> or 
> > a transmission cable; the freedom to host and publish information 
> on 
> > the Internet; the freedom to wave or burn one's own flag; and 
> similar 
> > property-based freedoms are precisely what constitute freedom of 
> > communication. At the same time, we recognize that freedom of 
> > communication does not extend to the use of other people's 
property 
> > to promote one's ideas without the voluntary consent of the 
owners. 
> > 
> > Solutions: We would provide for free market ownership of airwave 
> > frequencies, deserving of full First Amendment protection. We 
> oppose 
> > government ownership or subsidy of, or funding for, any 
> > communications organization. Removal of all of these regulations 
> and 
> > practices throughout the communications media would open the way 
to 
> > diversity and innovation. We shall not be satisfied until the 
First 
> > Amendment is expanded to protect full, unconditional freedom of 
> > communication.
> > 
> > Transitional Action: We advocate the abolition of the Federal 
> > Communications Commission.
> > 
> > I.3 Freedom of Religion 
> > 
> > Issue: Government routinely invades personal privacy rights based 
> > solely on individuals' religious beliefs. Arbitrary tax 
structures 
> > are designed to give aid to certain religions, and deny it to 
> others.
> > 
> >  
> > Principle: We defend the rights of individuals to engage in (or 
> > abstain from) any religious activities that do not violate the 
> rights 
> > of others.
> > 
> > Solution: In order to defend freedom, we advocate a strict 
> separation 
> > of church and State. We oppose government actions that either aid 
> or 
> > attack any religion. We oppose taxation of church property for 
the 
> > same reason that we oppose all taxation. We condemn the attempts 
by 
> > parents or any others -- via kidnappings or conservatorships -- 
to 
> > force children to conform to any religious views. Government 
> > harassment or obstruction of religious groups for their beliefs 
or 
> > non-violent activities must end.  
> >  
> > Transitional Action: We call for an end to the harassment of 
> churches 
> > by the Internal Revenue Service through threats to deny tax-
exempt 
> > status to churches that refuse to disclose massive amounts of 
> > information about themselves. 
> > 
> > I.4 Property Rights 
> > 
> > The Issue: The right to property and its physical resources, 
which 
> is 
> > the fundamental cornerstone of a free and prosperous society, has 
> > been severely compromised by government at all levels. Public 
> Policy 
> > instruments including eminent domain, zoning laws, building 
codes, 
> > rent control, regional planning, property taxes, resource 
> management 
> > and public health legislation remove property rights from owners 
> and 
> > transfer them to the State, while raising costs of property 
> > ownership. Public ownership of real property, beyond that which 
is 
> > explicitly authorized in the Constitution, and claims against 
> > resources both owned and unowned (such as the oceans or 
waterways) 
> is 
> > illegitimate and creates scarcity and conflict where none would 
> > otherwise exist. 
> > 
> > The Principle: Only individuals and private entities 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 on the valid rights of others. Resource 
> management 
> > and planning are the responsibility and right of the legitimate 
> > owners of land, water and other natural resources. Individuals 
have 
> > the right to homestead unowned resources, both within the 
> > jurisdictions of governments and within such unclaimed territory 
as 
> > the ocean, Antarctica and extraterrestrial bodies.
> > 
> > Solutions: All public lands and resources, as well as claims 
> thereto, 
> > except as explicitly allowed by the Constitution, shall be 
returned 
> > to private ownership, with the proceeds of sale going to retire 
> > public liabilities. Resource rights shall be defined as property 
> > rights, including riparian rights. All publicly owned 
> infrastructures 
> > including dams and parks shall be returned to private ownership 
and 
> > all taxing authority for such public improvements shall sunset. 
> > Property related services shall be supplied by private markets 
and 
> > paid for by user fees, and regulation of property shall be 
limited 
> to 
> > that which secures the rights of individuals. There will be no 
> legal 
> > barriers to peaceful, private, voluntary attempts to explore, 
> > industrialize and colonize any extra-terrestrial resources. The 
> > federal government shall be held as liable as any individual for 
> > pollution or other transgression against property or resources.
> > 
> > Transitional Action: Rescind all taxation of real property. 
> Property, 
> > resources and rights taken from their legitimate owners by 
> government 
> > or by government supported private action, shall be restored to 
the 
> > rightful owners. Reverse the Supreme Court decision regarding 
> eminent 
> > domain - Kelo v City of New London. Repeal all legislation that 
> > transfers property rights to the state, including those enacted 
in 
> > the name of aesthetic values, risk, moral standards, cost-benefit 
> > estimates, the promotion or restriction of economic growth, 
health 
> or 
> > national security claims. Sunset all federal agencies that own, 
> > regulate or administer property, as well as agencies at the local 
> > level which exercise control over private property and resources. 
> > Rescind and oppose all international treaties that exercise 
> > government control over unowned resources. 
> > 
> > I.5 The Right to Privacy 
> > 
> > The Issue: Privacy protections have been eroded gradually over 
many 
> > years. The Social Security Number has become a universal ID 
number, 
> > causing rampant and massive identity theft. Government routinely 
> > keeps records on the bank accounts, travel plans, and spending 
> habits 
> > of law-abiding civilians, for no other reason than they "might" 
> > commit a crime in the future.
> > 
> > The Principle: The individual's right to privacy, property, and 
> right 
> > to speak or not to speak should not be infringed by the 
government. 
> > The government should not use electronic or other means of covert 
> > surveillance of an individual's actions or private property 
without 
> > the consent of the owner or occupant. Correspondence, bank and 
> other 
> > financial transactions and records, doctors' and lawyers' 
> > communications, employment records, and the like should not be 
open 
> > to review by government without the consent of all parties 
involved 
> > in those actions.
> > 
> > Private contractual arrangements, including labor contracts, must 
> be 
> > founded on mutual consent and agreement in a society that upholds 
> > freedom of association. On the other hand, we oppose any use of 
> such 
> > screening by government or regulations requiring government 
> > contractors to impose any such screening.
> > 
> > Solutions: We support the protections provided by the Fourth 
> > Amendment and oppose any government use of search warrants to 
> examine 
> > or seize materials belonging to innocent third parties. We oppose 
> all 
> > restrictions and regulations on the private development, sale, 
and 
> > use of encryption technology. We specifically oppose any 
> requirement 
> > for disclosure of encryption methods or keys, including the 
> > government's proposals for so-called "key escrow" which is truly 
> > government access to keys, and any requirement for use of 
> government-
> > specified devices or protocols. We also oppose government 
> > classification of civilian research on encryption methods. If a 
> > private employer screens prospective or current employees via 
> > questionnaires, polygraph tests, urine tests for drugs, blood 
tests 
> > for AIDS, or other means, this is a condition of that employer's 
> > labor contracts. Such screening does not violate the rights of 
> > employees, who have the right to boycott such employers if they 
> > choose. We oppose the issuance by the government of an identity 
> card, 
> > to be required for any purpose, such as employment, voting, or 
> border 
> > crossing. We further oppose the nearly universal requirement for 
> use 
> > of the Social Security Number as a personal identification code, 
> > whether by government agencies or by intimidation of private 
> > companies by governments.
> > 
> > Transitional Action: We also oppose police roadblocks aimed at 
> > randomly, and without probable cause, testing drivers for 
> > intoxication and police practices to stop mass transit vehicles 
and 
> > search passengers without probable cause. So long as the National 
> > Census and all federal, state, and other government agencies' 
> > compilations of data on an individual continue to exist, they 
> should 
> > be conducted only with the consent of the persons from whom the 
> data 
> > is sought. We oppose government regulations that require 
employers 
> to 
> > provide health insurance coverage for employees, which often 
> > encourage unnecessary intrusions by employers into the privacy of 
> > their employees.
> > 
> > I.6 The Right to Keep and Bear Arms 
> > 
> > The Issue: Governments at all levels often violate their 
citizens' 
> > right of self defense with laws that restrict, limit or outright 
> > prohibit the ownership and use of firearms. These "gun control" 
> laws 
> > are often justified by the mistaken premise that they will lead 
to 
> a 
> > reduction in the level of violence in our society. 
> > 
> > The Principle: The Bill of Rights recognizes that an armed 
> citizenry 
> > is essential to a free society. We affirm the right to keep and 
> bear 
> > arms.
> > 
> > Solutions: We oppose all laws at any level of government 
> restricting, 
> > regulating or requiring the ownership, manufacture, transfer or 
> sale 
> > of firearms or ammunition. We oppose all laws requiring 
> registration 
> > of firearms or ammunition. We support repeal of all gun control 
> laws. 
> > We demand the immediate abolition of the Bureau of Alcohol, 
Tobacco 
> > and Firearms.
> > 
> > Transition: We oppose any government efforts to ban or restrict 
the 
> > use of tear gas, "mace" or other self-protection devices. We 
> further 
> > oppose all attempts to ban weapons or ammunition on the grounds 
> that 
> > they are risky or unsafe. We favor the repeal of laws banning the 
> > concealment of weapons or prohibiting pocket weapons. We also 
> oppose 
> > the banning of inexpensive handguns ("Saturday night specials") 
and 
> > semi-automatic or so-called assault weapons and their magazines 
or 
> > feeding devices. 
> > 
> > I.7 Conscription 
> > 
> > The Issue: Any form of coerced national service program is a type 
> of 
> > involuntary servitude. Examples include conscription into the 
> > military and compulsory youth labor programs. 
> > 
> > The Principle: Coerced national service programs presume the 
> > government can claim ownership of the lives of individuals. Such 
> > programs are a form of involuntary servitude and are a clear 
> > violation of the US Constitution 13th Amendment.
> > 
> > Solutions: All forms of national service will be staffed by 
willing 
> > participants without the need for conscription or other means of 
> > mandating such service. When people perceive a just cause, 
history 
> > has shown that they willingly volunteer to serve.
> > 
> > Transitional Action: All schemes for automatic registration 
through 
> > government invasions of the privacy of school, motor vehicle or 
> other 
> > records should be immediately eliminated. The still-functioning 
> > elements of the Selective Service System should be abolished and 
> all 
> > associated records should be destroyed. The President should 
> > immediately pardon, providing unconditional exoneration, for all 
> who 
> > have been accused or convicted of draft evasion, desertion from 
the 
> > military in cases of conscription or fraud and other acts of 
civil 
> > resistance. 
> > 
> > I.8 Reproductive Rights 
> > 
> > The Issue: The tragedies caused by unplanned, unwanted 
pregnancies 
> > are aggravated and sometimes created by government policies of 
> > censorship, restriction, regulation and prohibition.
> > 
> > Recognizing that abortion is a sensitive issue and that people 
can 
> > hold good-faith views on both sides, we believe that government 
> > should be kept out of the matter, leaving the question to each 
> person 
> > for their conscientious consideration.
> > 
> > The Principle: Individual rights should not be denied nor 
abridged 
> on 
> > the basis of sex, age, dependency, or location. Taxpayers should 
> not 
> > be forced to pay for other people's abortions, nor should any 
> > government or individual force a woman to have an abortion. It is 
> the 
> > right and obligation of the pregnant woman regardless of age, not 
> the 
> > state, to decide the desirability or appropriateness of prenatal 
> > testing, Caesarean births, fetal surgery, voluntary surrogacy 
> > arrangements and/or home births.
> > 
> > Solutions: We oppose government actions that either compel or 
> > prohibit abortion, sterilization or any other form of birth 
> control. 
> > Specifically we condemn the practice of forced sterilization of 
> > welfare recipients, or of mentally retarded or "genetically 
> > defective" individual. We support the voluntary exchange of 
goods, 
> > services or information regarding human sexuality, reproduction, 
> > birth control or related medical or biological technologies. We 
> > oppose government laws and policies that restrict the opportunity 
> to 
> > choose alternatives to abortion.
> > 
> > Transitional Action: We support an end to all subsidies for 
> > childbearing or child prevention built into our present laws.
> > 
> > I.9 Sexuality and Gender 
> > 
> > The Issue: Politicians use popular fears and taboos to legally 
> impose 
> > a particular code of moral and social values. Government 
regularly 
> > denies rights and privileges on the basis of sexual orientation 
or 
> > gender identity.
> > 
> > The Principle: Consenting adults should be free to choose their 
own 
> > sexual practices and personal relationships. Government does not 
> have 
> > legitimate authority to define or license personal relationships. 
> > Sexuality or gender should have no impact on the rights of 
> > individuals.
> > 
> > Solutions: Culture wars, social friction and prejudice will fade 
> when 
> > marriage and other personal relationships are treated as private 
> > contracts, solely defined by the individuals involved, and 
> government 
> > discrimination is not allowed.
> > 
> > Transitional Action: Repeal the federal Defense of Marriage Act 
and 
> > state laws and amendments defining marriage. Oppose any new laws 
or 
> > Constitutional amendments defining terms for personal, private 
> > relationships. Repeal any state or federal law assigning special 
> > benefits to people based on marital status, family structure, 
> sexual 
> > orientation or gender identification. Repeal any state or federal 
> > laws denying same-sex partners rights enjoyed by others, such as 
> > adoption of children and spousal immigration. End the Defense 
> > Department practice of discharging armed forces personnel for 
> sexual 
> > orientation. Upgrade all less-than-honorable discharges 
previously 
> > assigned solely for such reasons to honorable status, and delete 
> > related information from military personnel files. Repeal all 
laws 
> > discriminating by gender, such as protective labor laws and 
> marriage, 
> > divorce, and custody laws which deny the full rights of each 
> > individual.
> > 
> > II. Trade and the Economy
> > 
> > We believe that each person has the right to offer goods and 
> services 
> > to others on the free market. Therefore we oppose all 
intervention 
> by 
> > government into the area of economics. The only proper role of 
> > existing governments in the economic realm is to protect property 
> > rights, adjudicate disputes, and provide a legal framework in 
which 
> > voluntary trade is protected. 
> > 
> > Efforts to forcibly redistribute wealth or forcibly manage trade 
> are 
> > intolerable. Government manipulation of the economy creates an 
> > entrenched privileged class -- those with access to tax money -- 
> and 
> > an exploited class -- those who are net taxpayers.
> > 
> > We believe that all individuals have the right to dispose of the 
> > fruits of their labor as they see fit and that government has no 
> > right to take such wealth. We oppose government-enforced charity 
> such 
> > as welfare programs and subsidies, but we heartily applaud those 
> > individuals and private charitable organizations that help the 
> needy 
> > and contribute to a wide array of worthwhile causes through 
> voluntary 
> > activities. 
> > 
> > II.1 Government Debt 
> > 
> > The Issue: The national debt imposes debt upon Americans without 
> > their consent, and loads our economy with a fiscal anchor that 
will 
> > burden many future generations. Our escalating national debt is 
> > nothing less than theft from our grandchildren.
> > 
> > The Principle: The government should operate on a "pay as you go" 
> > basis, and not incur debt.
> > 
> > Solutions: A debt-free government frees up economic resources, 
> > allowing for lower taxes, economic growth and lower interest 
rates.
> > 
> > Transitional Action: Eliminate the national debt using an 
> incremental 
> > approach, being careful to avoid social disruption. We support 
the 
> > passage of a "Balanced Budget Amendment" to the US Constitution 
> that 
> > restricts Congress from spending any more than it collected in 
> > revenue the previous year. 
> > 
> > Eliminate earmarks, pork-barrel spending, and other forms of 
> > political corruption. 
> > 
> > Congress should sell assets and reduce spending on non-essential 
> > functions to pay off the national debt as quickly as possible. 
> > 
> > II.2 Corporate Welfare, Monopolies & Subsidies 
> > 
> > The Issue: Subsidies, government-granted monopolies, and other 
> forms 
> > of corporate welfare today exist as privileges granted by 
> government 
> > to those with political access. These destroy the level playing 
> field 
> > that free markets depend on, create a corrupt relationship 
between 
> > government authority and special interests, and are 
> unconstitutional. 
> > Furthermore, the loans by government-sponsored entities, even 
when 
> > not guaranteed by the government, constitute another form of 
> subsidy.
> > 
> > The Principle: Individuals must be free to be aggressive 
> competitors 
> > and form corporations, cooperatives and other types of companies 
> > based on voluntary association in the market place, and must 
enjoy 
> no 
> > state-sponsored advantage. Those who best supply a good or 
service 
> in 
> > the market will enjoy natural dominance only as long as they 
> continue 
> > to benefit consumers. Subsidies and government-granted monopolies 
> > protect the non-competitive from market forces.
> > 
> > Solutions: Replacement of all government-granted monopolies and 
> > subsidies with deregulated free markets and informed consumers 
will 
> > benefit both consumers and producers, eliminate political 
> favoritism, 
> > and maintain a strict separation of markets and state authority. 
> > Genuine crimes committed to create a monopoly, such as blackmail, 
> > bribery, fraud, libel or slander are prosecuted as any other 
crime.
> > 
> > Transitional Action: Eliminate all federal grants of monopoly or 
> > subsidy to any private companies, such as utilities, airlines, 
> energy 
> > companies, agriculture, science, medicine, broadcasting, the arts 
> and 
> > sports teams. Repeal all anti-trust laws. All federal agencies 
> whose 
> > primary function is to make or guarantee corporate loans must be 
> > abolished or privatized. 
> > 
> > II.3 Public Services 
> > 
> > The Issue: Federal, state and local governments have created 
> > inefficient service monopolies throughout the economy. From the 
US 
> > Postal Service to municipal garbage collection and water works, 
> > government is forcing citizens to use monopoly services. These 
are 
> > services that the private sector is already capable of providing 
in 
> a 
> > manner that gives the public better service at a competitive 
price. 
> > 
> > The Principle: A free and competitive market allocates resources 
in 
> > the most efficient manner. 
> > 
> > Consumers of services should not have their choices arbitrarily 
> > limited by law.
> > 
> > Solutions: Libertarian policies will seek to divest government of 
> all 
> > functions that can be provided by non-governmental organizations 
or 
> > private individuals.
> > 
> > Transitional Actions: All rate regulation in utilities should 
> > transition to free market pricing.
> > 
> > End the Postal Service's monopoly and allow for the free 
> competition 
> > in all aspects of mail delivery.
> > 
> > State and local monopoly services should be opened to free-market 
> > competition.
> > 
> > Local and state governments can auction assets such as utility 
> > systems and landfills to private industry, thereby immediately 
> > reducing the tax burden on their citizens. 
> > 
> > III. Domestic Ills
> > 
> > Current problems in such areas as energy, pollution, health care 
> > delivery, decaying cities, and poverty are not solved, but are 
> > primarily caused, by government. The welfare state, supposedly 
> > designed to aid the poor, is in reality a growing and parasitic 
> > burden on all productive people, and injures, rather than 
benefits, 
> > the poor themselves.
> > 
> > III.1 Crime and Victimless Crime 
> > 
> > The Issue: Violent crime and fraud threaten the lives, happiness 
> and 
> > belongings of Americans. Government's ability to protect the 
rights 
> > and property of individuals from crimes of violence and fraud is 
> > compromised because resources are focused on vice rather than on 
> real 
> > crimes. Laws that codify "victimless crimes" turn those who 
simply 
> > conduct voluntary transactions and exercise free choice into 
> > criminals. This results in the United States having one of the 
> > highest percentages of the population in prison of any country in 
> the 
> > world; yet real crime remains prevalent in many parts of the 
> country.
> > 
> > Principle: Government exists to protect the rights of every 
> > individual including life, liberty and property. Criminal laws 
> should 
> > be limited to violation of the rights of others through force or 
> > fraud, or deliberate actions that place others involuntarily at 
> > significant risk of harm. Individuals retain the right to 
> voluntarily 
> > assume risk of harm to themselves in the exercise of free choice.
> > 
> > Solution: The appropriate way for the federal government to 
address 
> > crime is through consistent and impartial enforcement of laws 
that 
> > protect individual rights. The law enforcement resources of the 
> > federal government can be used most efficiently if limited to 
> > appropriate federal concerns. Limiting law enforcement to true 
> crime 
> > will restore respect for the law and those who enforce it. 
> > 
> > Transitional Action: Immediately reform the justice system's 
> > mandatory sentencing policies to ensure that violent offenders 
are 
> > not released from jail to make room for non-violent offenders. 
> Repeal 
> > criminal laws which work against the protection of the rights and 
> > freedom of American citizens, residents or visitors, particularly 
> > laws which create a crime where no victim exists.
> > 
> > III.2 The War on Drugs 
> > 
> > The Issue: The suffering that drug misuse has brought about is 
> > deplorable; however, drug prohibition causes more harm than drugs 
> > themselves. The so-called "War on Drugs" is in reality a war 
> against 
> > the American people, our Constitution and the Bill of Rights. It 
is 
> a 
> > grave threat to individual liberty, to domestic order and to 
peace 
> in 
> > the world.
> > 
> > The Principle: Individuals should have the right to use drugs, 
> > whether for medical or recreational purposes, without fear of 
legal 
> > reprisals, but must be held legally responsible for the 
> consequences 
> > of their actions only if they violate others' rights.
> > 
> > Solutions: Social involvement by individuals is essential to 
> address 
> > the problem of substance misuse and abuse. Popular education and 
> > assistance groups are a better approach than prohibition, and we 
> > support the activities of private organizations as the best way 
to 
> > move forward on the issue.
> > 
> > Transitional Action:  Repeal all laws establishing criminal or 
> civil 
> > penalties for the use of drugs. Repeal laws that infringe upon 
> > individual rights to be secure in our persons, homes, and 
property 
> as 
> > protected by the Fourth Amendment. Stop the use of "anti-crime" 
> > measures such as profiling or civil asset forfeiture that reduce 
> the 
> > standard of proof historically borne by government in 
prosecutions. 
> > Stop prosecuting accused non-violent drug offenders, and pardon 
> those 
> > previously convicted.
> > 
> > IV. Foreign Affairs
> > 
> > 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.
> > 
> > IV.1 Immigration 
> > 
> > The Issue: Our borders are currently neither open, closed, nor 
> > secure. This situation restricts the labor pool, encouraging 
> > employers to hire undocumented workers, while leaving those 
workers 
> > neither subject to nor protected by the law. A completely open 
> border 
> > allows foreign criminals, carriers of communicable diseases, 
> > terrorists and other potential threats to enter the country 
> > unchecked. Pandering politicians guarantee access to public 
> services 
> > for undocumented aliens, to the detriment of those who would 
enter 
> to 
> > work productively, and increasing the burden on taxpayers. 
> > 
> > The Principle: The legitimate function and obligation of 
government 
> > to protect the lives, rights and property of its citizens, 
requires 
> > awareness of and control over the entry into our country of 
foreign 
> > nationals who pose a threat to security, health or property. 
> > Political freedom and escape from tyranny demands that 
individuals 
> > not be unreasonably constrained by government in the crossing of 
> > political boundaries. Economic freedom demands the unrestricted 
> > movement of human as well as financial capital across national 
> > borders. 
> > 
> > Solutions: Borders will be secure, with free entry to those who 
> have 
> > demonstrated compliance with certain requirements. The terms and 
> > conditions of entry into the United States must be simple and 
> clearly 
> > spelled out. Documenting the entry of individuals must be 
> restricted 
> > to screening for criminal background and threats to public health 
> and 
> > national security. It is the obligation of the prospective 
> immigrant 
> > to demonstrate compliance with these requirements. Once effective 
> > immigration policies are in place, general amnesties will no 
longer 
> > be necessary.
> > 
> > Transitional Action: Ensure immigration requirements include only 
> > appropriate documentation, screening for criminal background and 
> > threats to public health and national security. Simplifying the 
> > immigration process and redeployment of surveillance technology 
to 
> > focus on the borders will encourage the use of regular and 
> monitored 
> > entry points, thus preventing trespass and saving lives. End 
> federal 
> > requirements that benefits and services be provided to those in 
the 
> > country illegally. Repeal all measures that punish employers for 
> > hiring undocumented workers. Repeal all immigration quotas.
> > 
> > END
> >
>







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