Libertarian Party Platform - Securing Liberty

3.0 Securing Liberty

The protection of individual rights is the only proper purpose of government. Government is constitutionally limited so as to prevent the infringement of individual rights by the government itself. The principle of non-initiation of force should guide the relationships between governments.

Discussion: The government is here for us. I think most of our founding fathers believed this. This is a no brainer for most Americans.

3.1 National Defense

We support the maintenance of a sufficient military to defend the United States against aggression. The United States should both avoid entangling alliances and abandon its attempts to act as policeman for the world. We oppose any form of compulsory national service.

Discussion: George Washington couldn't have said it better himself. He did not believe that we should be getting involved with the problems in other countries. Don't we have enough problems of our own?

3.2 Internal Security and Individual Rights

The defense of the country requires that we have adequate intelligence to detect and to counter threats to domestic security. This requirement must not take priority over maintaining the civil liberties of our citizens. The Constitution and Bill of Rights shall not be suspended even during time of war. Intelligence agencies that legitimately seek to preserve the security of the nation must be subject to oversight and transparency. We oppose the government's use of secret classifications to keep from the public information that it should have, especially that which shows that the government has violated the law.

Discussion: The government doesn't want us to know when they are breaking the law. I believe we have the right to know everything they are doing. If you look at what they have classified in the past you can see that they were not always kept secret for national security. That's just the line they like to give us. All they have to say is "National security" and everyone stops complaining about being lied to. I think the only way to take this control away from the government is to to do away with all top secret classification except for strategic military information. 

Libertarian Party Platform - Personal Liberty

1.0 Personal Liberty

Individuals should be free to make choices for themselves and to accept responsibility for the consequences of the choices they make. No individual, group, or government may initiate force against any other individual, group, or government. Our support of an individual's right to make choices in life does not mean that we necessarily approve or disapprove of those choices.

Discussion: Live and let live.

1.1 Expression and Communication

We support full freedom of expression and oppose government censorship, regulation or control of communications media and technology. We favor the freedom to engage in or abstain from any religious activities that do not violate the rights of others. We oppose government actions which either aid or attack any religion.

Discussion: Freedom of speech and again - live and let live.

1.2 Personal Privacy

Libertarians support the rights recognized by the Fourth Amendment to be secure in our persons, homes, and property. Protection from unreasonable search and seizure should include records held by third parties, such as email, medical, and library records. Only actions that infringe on the rights of others can properly be termed crimes. We favor the repeal of all laws creating “crimes” without victims, such as the use of drugs for medicinal or recreational purposes.

Discussion: A lot of us good Christian people have good intentions by supporting the "War On Drugs", but then when we see murderers being paroled early because of prison overcrowding I think we have to think twice. We need to save the room in our overcrowded prisons for murderers, rapists, etc. I mean, really...

1.3 Personal Relationships

Sexual orientation, preference, gender, or gender identity should have no impact on the government's treatment of individuals, such as in current marriage, child custody, adoption, immigration or military service laws. Government does not have the authority to define, license or restrict personal relationships. Consenting adults should be free to choose their own sexual practices and personal relationships.

Discussion: OK. The only thing I have a problem with here is the adoption of children to gay couples. The reason I don't approve of this is because it is not natural. Two men or two women cannot naturally have a child. Consenting adults can do what they want as far as I'm concerned, but the children don't have a choice. I think that's wrong. 

1.4 Abortion

Recognizing that abortion is a sensitive issue and that people can hold good-faith views on all sides, we believe that government should be kept out of the matter, leaving the question to each person for their conscientious consideration.

Discussion: I can't agree with that one. Murder is murder whether it is a sensitive issue or not.

1.5 Crime and Justice

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. We support restitution to the victim to the fullest degree possible at the expense of the criminal or the negligent wrongdoer. We oppose reduction of constitutional safeguards of the rights of the criminally accused. The rights of due process, a speedy trial, legal counsel, trial by jury, and the legal presumption of innocence until proven guilty, must not be denied. We assert the common-law right of juries to judge not only the facts but also the justice of the law.

Discussion: I kinda like that one. Let the jury decide.

1.6 Self-Defense

The only legitimate use of force is in defense of individual rights — life, liberty, and justly acquired property — against aggression. This right inheres in the individual, who may agree to be aided by any other individual or group. We affirm the individual right recognized by the Second Amendment to keep and bear arms, and oppose the prosecution of individuals for exercising their rights of self-defense. We oppose all laws at any level of government requiring registration of, or restricting, the ownership, manufacture, or transfer or sale of firearms or ammunition.

Discussion: Right to bear arms. Right to self-defense. Those are givens for most Americans or at least they used to be.