Good way to put it. Also the LP is far from the only libertarian force in the US, even going by a very very very conservative estimate of say one fourth of 1% of the voting age population or 500,000 out of 200 million, LP membership is only around 10% of that Going by annual revenue and assets as a gauge the LP is very small in comparioson to the total revenue and assets of libertarian and libertarian like think tanks and advocacy groups, even a number of them individually have more revenue and assets than the LP.--- In [email protected], Marlon Machado <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Hi Rob, > > Welcome to our little group. Here you'll find several flavors of > libertarian thought; some more eclectic than others, some stemming from > the classical European liberal tradition, some more in line with > classical anarchism, and some more Tory than others. > > There's a few subjects such as abortion that tend to surface from time > to time and, when they do, it seems you're reading the same postings all > over again. Sometimes the discussion delves into deep historical and > philosophical issues and threads seem to go on forever but they > eventually die out. > > From time to time you'll find that we're visited by "racialists," > "progressives" (as they tend to call themselves), and right-wing > conservatives looking for a home or a place to vent out. They tend to > hang out for a few threads of discussion and then they go away > uneventfully. Overall the discourse is civilized and it even may get > boring at times, especially when dealing with things related to the > LP--not because LP stuff is boring but because it's hard to relate when > you're not intimate with the details. > > I hope you enjoy your stay. > > M > > Rob wrote: > > Hi all > > > > I thought that it would be worthwhile me identifying where I stand on > > political issues first, before we start debating the nitty gritty of > > political models and whats going on in politics around the world. > > Coming from the other side of the world, away from the major hotspots > > and in a small island nation, it may seem like I am awfully keen to > > get involved in issues that others would rather run from, but it > > reflects the way I grew up and what being Kiwi is all about. So bear > > with me. > > > > I am a moderate - I see major flaws with both the left and right, > > across the full spectrum of issues. > > > > I believe for example that CLIMATE CHANGE, as opposed to global > > warming or cooling is occurring. I understand that this may bring more > > variability in the weather and influence climactic cycles. It is a > > issue that should not be ignored, but it is not necessarily a doom and > > gloom thing leading to huge losses of flora and fauna, superhurricanes > > or anything else like that. To that end I think major research does > > need to be done, but that its outcomes are not necessarily geared > > toward determining how much longer we have until fossil fuels should > > be banned. > > > > You have to be realistic. > > > > I do believe that Government has a place in issues like health, > > education and social welfare, but not to the extent that a nanny state > > should exist. It is more to protect the very young, the elderly and > > those incapable of fending for themselves - my view is that the very > > vast majority of people will seek work if they are able to, but that > > there must be a social safety net to play backstop. > > > > There is a place for a strong Constitutional framework in all > > countries. At the very least, for countries that do not have a > > Constitution as such - like my own - I think the Constitution should > > define the processes for electing officials, the basic rights of the > > citizens as well as the structure of the judicial, executive and > > legislative branches. I will explain the New Zealand situation in a > > separate post for those wondering why we have no Constitution as such. > > > > In terms of property rights, if a balance between property rights and > > collective responsiblity to the environment and community can be > > achieved, then I have no problem. The biggest problem is staying a > > consistent course against "creeping change" in which earlier decisions > > are eroded by constant nibbling around the edges - i.e minor > > development gets the go-ahead in a sensitive area and then as soon as > > it looks like the original development is okay, pressure for more > > development gets piled on. > > > > I recognise indigenous peoples rights - notable in New Zealand under > > the Treaty of Waitangi and the tribunal that has been set up to hear > > and settle greivances. They are equal under the law to anyone else, > > and should be afforded the same rights and responsibilities as anyone > > else. > > > > Rob > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
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