IT'S NOT NECESSARILY WHO YOU VOTE FOR, BUT WHAT, CONT'D

This time we'll look at the LIBERTARIAN PARTY platform. Former SEVENTH DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE BOB BARR and WAYNE ALLYN ROOT are the Presidential and Vice-Presidential candidates, respectively, on the Libertarian ticket.

As before, I am using ON THE ISSUES for the source and analysis of the party platform.  It's the best I've seen and includes a party voting analysis on various issues and plots the party's position on a graph.

LIBERTARIAN PARTY ON ABORTION

• Government should be kept out of the matter of abortion. (May 2008) (I don't think there's any backbone in this position - a problem we have too much of in Washington now).
• Abortion is a woman’s choice and does not concern the state. (Jul 2000) (Not when it concerns the life of another human being.  Why is it that abortion is legal, that is, killing a baby, even one that is completely born except for cutting the cord, and some piece of filth that murders a pregnant woman, gets charged with TWO COUNTS OF MURDER?  A huge contradiction).

LIBERTARIAN PARTY ON BUDGET & ECONOMY

• Reduce taxes, spending, and eliminate controls on trade. (Jul 2000) (I disagree on this one - we havealready seen too many consequences of trade that is too free. I do agree with reducing taxes & spending).
• Abolish all regulation of banks in favor of free market. (Jul 2000)
• Pass constitutional amendment requiring a balanced budget. (Jul 2000) (Not a bad idea, but won't happen.  Pork-barrel spending would have to stop, and none of them will give that up!)

LIBERTARIAN PARTY ON CIVIL RIGHTS

• Support individual's right to choose, even if we disapprove. (May 2008)
• Repeal all laws against homosexuality. (Jul 2000)
• Right to complete freedom of expression includes pornography. (Jul 2000) (I disagree.  Too much research involving the correlation between pornography & sex offenses. Limits to this freedom was ruled upon by the Supreme Court in 1919 in Schenck vs. U.S.:
  "The most stringent protection of free speech would not protect a man falsely shouting fire in a theater and causing a panic. [...] The question in every case is whether the words used are used in such circumstances and are of such a nature as to create a clear and present danger that they will bring about the substantive evils that Congress has a right to prevent."
• Redress the wrongs of the U.S. towards the Indians. (Jul 2000)

LIBERTARIAN PARTY ON CORPORATIONS

No issue stance yet recorded by OnTheIssues.org.

LIBERTARIAN PARTY ON CRIME

• Three Strikes approach is illusory & dangerous. (Nov 2000) (Third time serious offense shows a pattern, & the offender has been granted more than ample opportunities to correct his/her behavior.  It's sad, but the only other alternative is to separate such people from the rest of the public for the public's safety). 
• Omnibus Crime Bill, including death penalty, has failed. (Nov 2000)
• Encourage private efforts to fight crime. (Jul 2000)
• Allow drugs, alcohol, prostitution, gambling, and suicide. (Jul 2000) (You think there's a DUI problem & STD problem now??)
• Strengthen, not reduce, the rights of the accused. (Jul 2000)
• Hate crimes are used to punish blacks. (Feb 2000) (Though I don't go along with the reasoning here, there should be no such things as "hate crimes."  One human life is not more valuable than another - murder is murder, for example, and should be treated as such.  I don't care what color or sexual orientation of the perpetrator or victim happens to be.  "Hate crimes" legislation is a politicization of human life & other crimes, and is unnecessary.  All crimes against people or property should be punished).

LIBERTARIAN PARTY ON DRUGS

• Repeal all drug laws creating "crimes" without victims. (May 2008) (No such thing as "victimless crimes". Drugs for example, is what drives the majority of burglaries & robberies.  If dope was legal, you think there is a problem with burglaries & robberies now . . . )
• The war on drugs threatens individual liberties. (Jul 2000) (Only the individual liberties of dope dealers).

LIBERTARIAN PARTY ON EDUCATION

• Let parents control all educational funding. (May 2008)
• Poor kids end up at worst schools in current system. (Nov 2000)
• Separation of education and State. (Jul 2000)
• End compulsory busing & compulsory education. (Jul 2000) School Choice
• Support a market in education to provide more choices. (Nov 2000)
• The state should stay out of education. (Jul 2000)
• Treat private school funding the same as public schools. (Jul 2000)

LIBERTARIAN PARTY ON ENERGY &OIL

Oppose government control of energy pricing and production. (May 2008)

More on the Libertarian Party platform later.

Tags: Libertarian Party Platform, Bob Barr, Wayne Allyn Root, Anarchist