All answers are taken from the
Libertarian Party's National Platform, Executive Summary:
Quote:
ECONOMY: The only proper role of existing governments in the economic realm is to protect property rights, adjudicate disputes, and provide a legal framework in which voluntary trade is protected.
Government intervention in the economy imperils both the personal freedom and the material prosperity of every American.
Taxation
All persons are entitled to keep the fruits of their labor. We oppose all government activity that consists of the forcible collection of money or goods from individuals in violation of their individual rights.
Inflation and Depression
Government control over money and banking is the primary cause of inflation and depression.
Finance and Capital Investment
Regulation of financial and capital markets represses capital ventures.
Government Debt
We support a constitutional amendment requiring government budgets be balanced by cutting expenditures and not by raising taxes.
Monopolies
Government is the source of monopoly, through its grants of legal privilege to special interests in the economy. We advocate a strict separation of business and State.
Subsidies
The unrestricted competition of the free market is the best way to foster prosperity. We oppose all government subsidies.
Trade Barriers
Tariffs and quotas give special treatment to favored special interests and diminish the welfare of consumers and other individuals.
Public Utilities
We advocate the termination of government-created franchise privileges. The right to offer services on the market should not be curtailed by law.
Unions and Collective Bargaining
We support the right of free persons to associate or not associate in labor unions. An employer should have the right to recognize or refuse to recognize a union.
NATIONAL DEFENSE: Any U.S. military policy should have the objective of providing security for the lives, liberty and property of the American people in the U.S. as inexpensively as possible and without undermining the liberties it is designed to protect.
SOCIAL SECURITY: Replace the fraudulent, bankrupt Social Security system with a private, voluntary system.
FOREIGN POLICY: The United States government should return to the historic libertarian tradition of avoiding entangling alliances, abstaining totally from foreign quarrels and imperialist adventures, and recognizing the right to unrestricted trade and travel.
IMMIGRATION: We hold that human rights should not be denied or abridged on the basis of nationality and welcome all refugees to our country.
EDUCATION: We advocate the complete separation of education and State.
DOMESTIC ISSUES: Current problems in such areas as energy, pollution, health care delivery, decaying cities, and poverty are not solved, but are primarily caused, by government. There's a whole section on it, as there is on economy.
SPACE PROGRAM: We oppose all government restrictions upon voluntary, peaceful use of outer space.
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It may seem like a bit of a cop-out to quote directly from a party platform, but these are my strongly-held beliefs. I marvel at what this country could become under Libertarian Party government.