Difference between revisions of "Libertarian Party"
(Undo revision 1279228 by Under the Mountain (talk) reverted vandalism) |
StarchildSF (talk | contribs) (Made various changes including updating page to reflect the 2016 presidential election, updating name of party chair, address of party office, expanding on some policy positions, etc.) |
||
| Line 4: | Line 4: | ||
| party_logo = | | party_logo = | ||
| website = [http://www.lp.org www.lp.org] | | website = [http://www.lp.org www.lp.org] | ||
| − | | headquarters = | + | | headquarters = 1444 Duke Street<br> [[Alexandria, VA]]<br> |
| − | | chairman = [[ | + | | chairman = [[Nick Sarwark]] |
| houseleader = | | houseleader = | ||
| senateleader = | | senateleader = | ||
| Line 13: | Line 13: | ||
| socialpolicy = [[Libertarian]] | | socialpolicy = [[Libertarian]] | ||
| international = [[Interlibertarians]] | | international = [[Interlibertarians]] | ||
| − | | colors = blue and | + | | colors = blue and gold |
| footnotes = | | footnotes = | ||
}} | }} | ||
| − | The '''Libertarian Party''' ('''LP'''/'''L''') is an [[United States|American]] political [[party]] founded in 1971 that advocates [[libertarian]] political views. In terms of [[Presidential election]]s, the party | + | The '''Libertarian Party''' ('''LP'''/'''L''') is an [[United States|American]] political [[party]] founded in 1971 that advocates [[libertarian]] political views. In terms of [[Presidential election]]s, the party hit a new high in popularity in [[United States presidential election, 2016|2016]], receiving over 3% of the vote.<ref>[http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/ Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections]</ref> In terms of political activity (number of candidates, access to the ballot, and elected office holders), the Libertarian Party is the third-largest political party, although it is still much smaller than the biggest two American political parties. |
| − | It is active in all 50 states and has more than 200,000 registered voters. Most Libertarian Party elected officials are in office at the local level of government.<ref>[http://www.lp.org/article_85.shtml Frequently asked questions about the Libertarian Party]</ref> The party has permanent ballot status in 27 out of 50 states and runs candidates in all 50. In 2008, the party nominated [[Bob Barr]], a former Republican Congressman from Georgia, as its nominee for the [[2008 Presidential Election]]. In | + | It is active in all 50 states and has more than 200,000 registered voters. Most Libertarian Party elected officials are in office at the local level of government.<ref>[http://www.lp.org/article_85.shtml Frequently asked questions about the Libertarian Party]</ref> The party has permanent ballot status in 27 out of 50 states and runs candidates in all 50. In 2008, the party nominated [[Bob Barr]], a former Republican Congressman from Georgia, as its nominee for the [[2008 Presidential Election]]. In 2012 and 2016, [[Gary E. Johnson]], formerly the Republican governor of New Mexico, was the party's presidential candidate. |
==Party Platform== | ==Party Platform== | ||
| Line 40: | Line 40: | ||
===War on Drugs=== | ===War on Drugs=== | ||
| − | The Libertarian Party believes that, while [[drug]] | + | The Libertarian Party believes that, while [[drug]] abuse is deplorable, the [[War on Drugs|war on drugs]] has caused more problems than it has solved. Libertarians see prohibition as a threat to [[civil liberties]] and a huge drain on taxpayers, and believe individuals have the right to choose what to put into their own bodies, but that they should be held responsible for the consequences of their actions when they affect others.<ref>Libertarian Party, [http://www.lp.org/issues/platform_all.shtml#drugwar National Platform of the Libertarian Party]</ref> |
===Immigration=== | ===Immigration=== | ||
| − | The Libertarian | + | The Libertarian Party supports freedom of movement as a fundamental human right, including both immigration and emigration, and asserts that governments have no right to discriminate on the basis of nationality, parentage, or where a person was born. |
==See also== | ==See also== | ||
Revision as of 15:12, December 8, 2016
| Libertarian Party | |
|---|---|
| Party Chairman | Nick Sarwark |
| Senate Leader | |
| House Speaker | |
| House Leader | |
| Founded | 1971 |
| Headquarters | 1444 Duke Street Alexandria, VA |
| Political ideology | Anarcho-capitalism Libertarianism |
| Political position | Fiscal: Free Market Social: Libertarian |
| International affiliation | Interlibertarians |
| Color(s) | blue and gold |
| Website | www.lp.org |
The Libertarian Party (LP/L) is an American political party founded in 1971 that advocates libertarian political views. In terms of Presidential elections, the party hit a new high in popularity in 2016, receiving over 3% of the vote.[1] In terms of political activity (number of candidates, access to the ballot, and elected office holders), the Libertarian Party is the third-largest political party, although it is still much smaller than the biggest two American political parties.
It is active in all 50 states and has more than 200,000 registered voters. Most Libertarian Party elected officials are in office at the local level of government.[2] The party has permanent ballot status in 27 out of 50 states and runs candidates in all 50. In 2008, the party nominated Bob Barr, a former Republican Congressman from Georgia, as its nominee for the 2008 Presidential Election. In 2012 and 2016, Gary E. Johnson, formerly the Republican governor of New Mexico, was the party's presidential candidate.
Party Platform
The Libertarian Party platform is a combination of fiscal conservatism and social liberalism with a strong emphasis on individual liberty and responsibility. Libertarians believe in free market economics, protection of private property, and the individual's right to perform any action which is peaceful and honest. These are the fundamental principles which guide the rest of the platform.[3]
Abortion
The Libertarian Party believes that there are good-faith arguments on both sides of the abortion debate. It therefore thinks that the government should stay out of the issue entirely, letting individual decisions and morality dictate action.[4] It is adamantly opposed to government funding for programs such as Planned Parenthood, but does not support outlawing abortion entirely.
Gay Marriage
The Libertarian Party believes that consenting adults should be allowed to choose their own sexual practices and personal relationships free from government intervention. It believes that much of the cultural tension involved with gay marriage and gay rights would go away once personal relationships are kept private, solely defined by the persons involved.[5] However, many in the party would support privatizing the definition of marriage. A press release from the party implied that this would effectively permit polygamy as well, saying "We should settle for nothing less than a society in which the legal code is wiped clean of references to a person's sexual identity or depends on how many sexual partners they have." [6]
Gun Control
The Libertarian Party believes that gun ownership is one of the fundamental rights laid down in the Constitution, and, since ownership is a peaceful action, criminal penalties against such cannot be morally justified. It also believes that gun prohibition would not prevent people from owning guns, and that Americans have the right to decide how to best protect themselves. Lastly, since the Libertarian Party believes strongly in personal responsibility, it believes that the responsibility for violence should rest on the gun owner, not the gun.[7]
Health Care
The Libertarian Party believes that government bureaucracy and spending are the reasons that the health care system is currently in crisis. The party endorses establishing health savings accounts, deregulating the health care industry, and replace the Food and Drug Administration with a more efficient free-market alternative.[8]
Taxation
The Libertarian Party strongly supports cutting all taxes. It believes that the size of government can be drastically lowered by cutting wasteful spending and privatizing certain services.[9]
War on Drugs
The Libertarian Party believes that, while drug abuse is deplorable, the war on drugs has caused more problems than it has solved. Libertarians see prohibition as a threat to civil liberties and a huge drain on taxpayers, and believe individuals have the right to choose what to put into their own bodies, but that they should be held responsible for the consequences of their actions when they affect others.[10]
Immigration
The Libertarian Party supports freedom of movement as a fundamental human right, including both immigration and emigration, and asserts that governments have no right to discriminate on the basis of nationality, parentage, or where a person was born.
See also
References
- ↑ Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections
- ↑ Frequently asked questions about the Libertarian Party
- ↑ Libertarian Party, National Platform of the Libertarian Party
- ↑ Libertarian Party, National Platform of the Libertarian Party
- ↑ Libertarian Party, National Platform of the Libertarian Party
- ↑ Libertarian Party release, June 10 2011
- ↑ Libertarian Party: Issues & Positions. Making Healthcare Safe and Affordable
- ↑ Libertarian Party: Issues & Positions. Making Healthcare Safe and Affordable
- ↑ Libertarian Party: Issues & Positions. The Libertarian Party: Working to slash your taxes!
- ↑ Libertarian Party, National Platform of the Libertarian Party