Libertarian Party Platform - 1.0: Personal Liberty

Yesterday I started a series about the Libertarian Party platform. You can read the beginning of the series here: https://steemit.com/finallyfreeamerica/@benfarmer/the-libertarian-party-platform-1-statement-of-principles

Today let's talk about the first section of the main body of the platform, section 1.0 on personal liberty. It is no mistake that this is the first section of the platform as it highlights the most important core belief in libertarianism: that you, as an individual, are free so long as you aren't impeding on someone else's equal right to be free. Let's see what the platform says...

"1.0 PERSONAL LIBERTY

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

1.1 Self-Ownership

Individuals own their bodies and have rights over them that other individuals, groups, and governments may not violate. Individuals have the freedom and responsibility to decide what they knowingly and voluntarily consume, and what risks they accept to their own health, finances, safety, or life.

1.2 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.

1.3 Privacy

Libertarians advocate individual privacy and government transparency. We are committed to ending government’s practice of spying on everyone. We support the rights recognized by the Fourth Amendment to be secure in our persons, homes, property, and communications. Protection from unreasonable search and seizure should include records held by third parties, such as email, medical, and library records.

1.4 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.

1.5 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.

1.6 Parental Rights

Parents, or other guardians, have the right to raise their children according to their own standards and beliefs. This statement shall not be construed to condone child abuse or neglect.

1.7 Crime and Justice

The prescribed role of government is to protect the rights of every individual including the right to life, liberty and property. Criminal laws should be limited in their application to violations of the rights of others through force or fraud, or to deliberate actions that place others involuntarily at significant risk of harm. Therefore, we favor the repeal of all laws creating “crimes” without victims, such as the use of drugs for medicinal or recreational purposes. We support restitution to the victim to the fullest degree possible at the expense of the criminal or the negligent wrongdoer. The constitutional rights of the criminally accused, including due process, a speedy trial, legal counsel, trial by jury, and the legal presumption of innocence until proven guilty, must be preserved. We assert the common-law right of juries to judge not only the facts but also the justice of the law.

1.8 Death Penalty

We oppose the administration of the death penalty by the state.

1.9 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. Private property owners should be free to establish their own conditions regarding the presence of personal defense weapons on their own property. We oppose all laws at any level of government restricting, registering, or monitoring the ownership, manufacture, or transfer of firearms or ammunition."

Once again, wow! If I were to create a libertarian organization from scratch I'm not sure I could write a better series of positions that more clearly articulate libertarianism.

In the above section, however, sits a position that has always been - and will continue to be - the most controversial on the entire platform. The "abortion plank." To me, the current plank is accurate to the overall view of abortion which is pervasive throughout the movement. Some of us are pro-choice, some are pro-life but we all generally agree that government should be kept out of the matter.

Every year there is a movement to delete the "abortion plank," but it has not succeeded so far. Many people feel like we should remain silent on the issue since there is no pure consensus within the party and candidates should be able to forward their own position on the matter.

I do not think the current plank disallows candidates from forwarding their own position, nor do I think the LP has failed to reach a consensus on the matter. The consensus is that this should be left up to families, individuals, and communities - and this is not something the LP would like to see enforced non-consensually by government.

Beyond the controversial plank, I can think of no better document that so boldly and accurately defines the libertarian position on personal liberty. This is an organization I can be a part of.

Tomorrow we'll talk about section 2.0- Economic Liberty.