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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
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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