On Mon, 4 Feb 2008, Brian Holtz wrote:
[BH]:
>A while back I gave a similar treatment to the DFC Platform,
>which I've reposted at
http://libertarianmajority.net/democratic-freedom-caucus-redacted-platform.
>It is eerily similar to the Pure Principles
<http://libertarianmajority.net/pure-principles-platform>
>Platform that the 2008 LP PlatCom is currently drafting. In
>fact, with the tweaks/deletions of the indicated 7 sentences
>and two sections ("Free Trade With Free Countries" and "Social
>Responsibility"), it would in my judgment be better than any
>past LP Platform.
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[MO]:
Thanks for your interesting comments. The two sections
you refer to ("Free Trade With Free Countries" and "Social
Responsibility") involve taking a responsible, politically
feasible transition approach, which is an important aspect
of the DFC.
Another aspect of the section on Free Trade With Free
Countries involves the question of whether trade with
slave owners (or countries that are so unfree that their
citizens are virtually slaves), is really "free trade".
Most of the other seven sentences you mentioned involve
issues related to those two points, as well as another
point addressed below.
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I'm glad to see from your comments that some people in the
LP are re-considering the LP's views on natural resources
(such as oil, mineral resources, locations, the TV and
radio airwaves, etc.), since the LP's current views on that
basic economic issue are self-contradictory, and lead to
very harmful economic effects (as shown by economist Mason
Gaffney's summary of how it skews the entire economy):
http://www.wealthandwant.com/docs/Gaffney_LaaDFoP.html#B-11
It would be a leap forward if the LP were to take a stand
more along the lines you suggested, so that the LP could
advocate more beneficial economic policies, and help to
show that liberty is beyond "left and right".
Mike O'Mara
Pennsylvania
DFC Natcom, PA State Chair
http://www.democraticfreedomcaucus.org
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On Mon, 4 Feb 2008, Brian Holtz wrote:
[PG]:
In 1996, I mediated an alliance at George Washington University in D.C.
called Third Parties 96 involving the Greens, LP, Patriot Party, DSA, et al.
We started out with the intention of only getting agreement on ballot access
issues, electoral procedure, etc. We ended up with a huge statement of
areas of agreement. [...] The LPers took it to the Watergate LP and they
didnt know what to do with it. (PG
[BH]:
A while back I gave a similar treatment to the DFC Platform, which I've
reposted at
http://libertarianmajority.net/democratic-freedom-caucus-redacted-platform.
It is eerily similar to the Pure Principles
<http://libertarianmajority.net/pure-principles-platform> Platform that the
2008 LP PlatCom is currently drafting. In fact, with the tweaks/deletions
of the indicated 7 sentences and two sections ("Free Trade With Free
Countries" and "Social Responsibility"), it would in my judgment be better
than any past LP Platform.
I especially admire the DFC Platform's treatment of land value taxation, and
hope that we geolibertarians in the LP get more organized and work to make
our Platform tolerate LVT and the green
<http://knowinghumans.net/2008/01/tax-bads-and-untax-goods-with-green-tax.ht
ml> tax shift. Ultimately, I'd like to see all of us move toward statements
like those in this draft EcoLibertarian
<http://ecolibertarian.org/manifesto> Manifesto. I wonder if DFC members
would disagree with any of its 33 tenets.
Brian Holtz
2006-2008 LP Platform Committee
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