Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: Notesfiles $Revision: 1.6.2.17 $; site uicsl.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxj!ihnp4!inuxc!pur-ee!uiucdcs!uicsl!keller From: keller@uicsl.UUCP Newsgroups: net.politics Subject: Libertarianism in One Lesson Message-ID: <28100018@uicsl.UUCP> Date: Thu, 11-Oct-84 16:36:00 EDT Article-I.D.: uicsl.28100018 Posted: Thu Oct 11 16:36:00 1984 Date-Received: Sat, 13-Oct-84 07:09:07 EDT Lines: 50 Nf-ID: #N:uicsl:28100018:000:2832 Nf-From: uicsl!keller Oct 11 15:36:00 1984 Perhaps the most common question put to Libertarian Party (LP) candidates is: "What is libertarianism?" Or, "what does the LP stand for?" Because the LP bases all of its platform positions on the political philosophy called "libertarianism," there is no more important question for the American voting public. First, let's avoid some common errors and confusion by stating what libertarianism is not. It is not some variant of liberalism or conservatism. It is not a combination of left and right positions. It does not fit on the traditional political spectrum. That spectrum does not admit the idea that all people have the right to control their own lives, in all respects, and the obligation to take responsibility for themselves and their own actions. Liberals and conservatives agree that the rest of us are evil and/or incompetent and must therefore be controlled by government. They differ only on which aspects of our lives should be controlled most. By contrast, Libertarians hold that each person has the absolute right of self-ownership over his/her life, body, speech, action and honestly acquired property. Each has the obligation to respect those same rights in each other person. The proper way for people to deal with each other is by mutual respect for each other's right of self-ownership. Anything that is peaceful, voluntary and honest violates no rights and thus is not a proper subject for governmental intervention. Government's only proper function is to assist us in defending our rights. The only proper laws are those which penalize such conduct as murder, rape, kidnapping, robbery, burglary, arson, trespass and fraud because such conduct necessarily violates someone's rights. On a national scale, the government's proper function is to provide security within America against the risk of foreign attack--and no more. Libertarianism is the philosophy of the Declaration of Independence and the American Revolution. Most people, most of the time, deal with each other on the libertarian basis of mutual respect. Two groups don't: criminals and government. Libertarians challenge the notion that government can legitimately coerce the rest of us through taxation, regulation, conscription and criminal penalties imposed upon peaceful, voluntary conduct. We demand that government be limited to its proper functions and that government personnel be held to the same standard of respect for our rights that the rest of us follow. The LP is for all people who do not want to be controlled and who do not want to control others. On all issues we will support increased personal liberty and reduced government control. We know that a free society is possible and that it is practical. We are committed to work for as long as it may take to achieve it. From the Bergland for President press kit. -Shaun