The Libertarian Party (LP) is your representative in American politics.We are the only political organization which respects you as a unique and responsible individual.

The Platform is our official statement on issues. It is edited and adopted every two years.

As Libertarians, we seek a world of liberty a world in which all individuals are sovereign over their own lives and no one is forced to sacrifice his or her values.

We believe that respect for individual rights is the essential precondition for a free and prosperous world, that force and fraud must be banished from human relationships, and that only through freedom can peace and prosperity be realized.

What do Libertarians have in common with liberals? What do Libertarians have in common with conservatives? Findanswers to these and other frequently-asked-questions here.

Connect with your state affiliate and see what is happening locally.

The Libertarian Party (LP)is governed by the Libertarian National Committee (LNC). Learn more aboutwho currently serves on the committee.

LNC Staff work at the partyheadquarters in Alexandria, VA, and remotely.Learn more about these Libertarians working for you.

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Libertarian Party | Libertarian Party

Those of us who favor individual freedom with personal responsibility have been unable to agree upon a generally acceptable name for ourselves and our philosophy of liberty. This would be relatively unimportant except for the fact that the opposition will call us by some name, even though we might not desire to be identified by any name at all. Since this is so, we might better select a name with some logic instead of permitting the opposition to saddle us with an epithet.

Some of us call ourselves individualists, but others point out that the opposition often uses that word to describe a heartless person who doesnt care about the problems and aspirations of other people.

Some of us call ourselves conservatives, but that term describes many persons who base their approval of an institution more on its age than on its inherent worth.

Many of us call ourselves liberals. And it is true that the word liberal once described persons who respected the individual and feared the use of mass compulsions. But the leftists have now corrupted that once-proud term to identify themselves and their program of more government ownership of property and more controls over persons. As a result, those of us who believe in freedom must explain that when we call ourselves liberals, we mean liberals in the uncorrupted classical sense. At best, this is awkward and subject to misunderstanding.

Here is a suggestion: Let those of us who love liberty trade-mark and reserve for our own use the good and honorable word libertarian.

Websters New International Dictionary defines a libertarian as One who holds to the doctrine of free will; also, one who upholds the principles of liberty, esp. individual liberty of thought and action.

In popular terminology, a libertarian is the opposite of an authoritarian. Strictly speaking, a libertarian is one who rejects the idea of using violence or the threat of violencelegal or illegalto impose his will or viewpoint upon any peaceful person. Generally speaking, a libertarian is one who wants to be governed far less than he is today.

A libertarian believes that the government should protect all persons equally against external and internal aggression, but should otherwise generally leave people alone to work out their own problems and aspirations.

While a libertarian expects the government to render equal protection to all persons against outright fraud and misrepresentation, he doesnt expect the government to protect anyone from the consequences of his own free choices. A libertarian holds that persons who make wise choices are entitled to enjoy the fruits of their wisdom, and that persons who make unwise choices have no right to demand that the government reimburse them for their folly.

A libertarian expects his government to establish, support, and enforce the decisions of impartial courts of justicecourts which do not recognize or refer to a persons race, religion, or economic status. If justice is to be rendered, the decisions of these courts must be as binding upon government officials and their actions as upon other persons and their actions.

A libertarian respects the right of every person to use and enjoy his honestly acquired propertyto trade it, to sell it, or even to give it awayfor he knows that human liberty cannot long endure when that fundamental right is rejected or even seriously impaired.

A libertarian believes that the daily needs of the people can best be satisfied through the voluntary processes of a free and competitive market. And he holds the strong belief that free persons, using their own honestly acquired money, are in the best possible position to understand and aid their fellow men who are in need of help.

A libertarian favors a strictly limited form of government with many checks and balancesand divisions of authorityto foil the abuses of the fearful power of government. And generally speaking, he is one who sees less, rather than more, need to govern the actions of others.

A libertarian has much faith in himself and other free persons to find maximum happiness and prosperity in a society wherein no person has the authority to force any other peaceful person to conform to his viewpoints or desires in any manner. His way of life is based on respect for himself and for all others.

A libertarian doesnt advocate violent rebellion against prevailing governmentsexcept as a last resort before the concentration camps. But when a libertarian sees harm rather than good in certain acts of government, he is obligated to try his best to explain to others who advocate those measures why such compulsory means cannot bring the ends which even they desire.

The libertarians goal is friendship and peace with his neighbors at home and abroad.

It is not the difference in taste between individuals that Libertarians object to, but the forcing of ones tastes upon another.

Charles T. Sprading

The idea of governing by force another man, who I believe to be my equal in the sight of God, is repugnant to me. I do not want to do it. I do not want any one to govern me by any kind of force. I am a reasoning being, and I only need to be shown what is best for me, when I will take that course or do that thing simply because it is best, and so will you. I do not believe that a soul was ever forced toward anything except toward ruin.

Samuel Milton Jones

Liberty for the few is not liberty. Liberty for me and slavery for you means slavery for both.

Samuel Milton Jones

The institutions of civil liberty leave each man to run his career in life in his own way, only guaranteeing to him that whatever he does in the way of industry, economy, prudence, sound judgment, etc., shall redound to his welfare and shall not be diverted to someone elses benefit. Of course it is a necessary corollary that each man shall also bear the penalty of his own vices and his own mistakes.

We are told what fine things would happen if every one of us would go and do something for the welfare of somebody else; but why not contemplate also the immense gain which would ensue if everybody would do something for himself?

Wherever collective standards, codes, ideals, and motives take the place of individual responsibility, we know from ample experience that the spontaneity and independent responsibility which are essential to moral vigor are sure to be lost.

William Graham Sumner

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Who Is a Libertarian? | Foundation for Economic Education

By Tom Head

This is not a specific criticism of the Libertarian Party, mind you; the Democratic and Republican party platforms are much, much more turgid (to the point where they can't be read in one sitting), much more vague (to the point where they often sound as if they're advocating the same policies), and much more abstract (relying on Mom-and-apple-pie patriotic rhetoric instead of concrete policy proposals). But the difference is that the Democratic and Republican parties have enough money to pay people to run campaigns that give us an idea of what the parties stand for.

The Libertarian Party doesn't have that much money, so I'm proud to present the world's shortest platform summary of the party that brought you the World's Shortest Political Quiz.

Fiscal Policy: Very right-libertarian. The Libertarian Party opposes taxation in pretty much all forms, and deals with the revenue loss by opposing entitlement programs in pretty much all forms. This means that people keep more of what they earn, but it also means that there is no social safety net. And ambitious new proposals--such as universal pre-kindergarten and universal health care--are obviously not compatible with this objective.

Corporations: Eliminate all federal subsidies to private corporations, as well as all antitrust laws.

Public Services: Eliminate the Postal Service. Transfer all government services, from public schools to landfills, to private ownership.

Property Rights: Would restrict public domain to immediate public use, and sell or give away most public property to private owners.

Criminal Justice: Would eliminate all antidrug laws and legalize prostitution. Would end random police roadblocks.

Free Speech: Would abolish the FCC and allow private ownership of broadcast frequencies. Opposes all restriction of free speech, including free speech restricted in the name of national security.

Church and State: Calls for reduced IRS regulation and monitoring of tax-exempt churches.

Second Amendment: Strongly opposes all gun control, as well as regulation of alternative weapon technologies (mace, Tasers, and so forth).

The Draft: Calls for the abolition of the Selective Service System and amnesty for any citizen who has ever resisted the draft.

Reproductive Rights: Pro-choice, but opposes all federal funding of abortion and most federal entitlements for women who choose to carry their pregnancies to term, including the child tax credit. Opposes involuntary or fraudulent sterilization.

LGBT Rights: Opposes "don't ask, don't tell." Believes that marriage is a private contract, and should yield no government benefits regardless of the gender of the partners.

Immigrants' Rights: Argues that borders should be open but surveilled--everyone who does not pose a threat to public health or national security should be allowed to enter the country legally. Would eliminate all federal benefits to undocumented immigrants.

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The Libertarian Party Platform - A Quick Summary

Johnson, who was also the party's nominee in 2012, has been on the receiving end of attacks for his vice presidential pick, former Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld. These attacks simmered through the audience at the party's final presidential debate, the night before the Libertarians select their nominee.

Weld, a former Republican from a blue state, has had a difficult time pitching himself to the Libertarian convention. Many have been skeptical over Weld's libertarian credentials, especially his record on gun control and support for Republican politicians. Prior to teaming up with Johnson, Weld had endorsed Republican Ohio Gov. John Kasich for President.

The debate among the candidates was civil throughout on stage, with the candidates eschewing attacks against one another in favor of attacks on the government and mainstream political parties.

In a potential preview of his general election campaign, Johnson rolled through a list of Trump's policy positions, accenting each with the phrase "that's just wrong."

That move led to Johnson's biggest applause line of the night, though the crowd was much more vocal about Johnson's competitors, particularly Austin Petersen and Marc Feldman. Petersen is a young party activist with a sizable following online, and Feldman is an affable figure many convention goers, including Johnson, have praised.

The crowd exploded in approval during Feldman's lengthy, passionate rap about Libertarianism.

Meanwhile, technology entrepreneur John McAfee, whose pre-debate ritual consisted of throwing a party replete with a light show, bass-heavy dance music and women dressed as butterflies on stilts, was non-combative during the debate despite a cryptic warning he offered ahead of the event.

"Whoever allowed me in this debate tonight made the worst mistake of their life," McAfee told CNN in an interview.

But despite his aggressive words ahead of the debate, McAfee, like all the other candidates, stuck to the issues in a debate that was less about differentiating the candidates than it was about touting Libertarian beliefs.

Johnson got booed several times for offering less-than-purist libertarian positions, including saying he would have voted for the Civil Rights Act in 1964. He also said he favors that people continue to obtain licenses to drive cars -- an idea that his fellow candidates disagreed with.

Given the backlash he has faced, Johnson responded to his critics within the party during a speech before the convention and repeatedly said in an interview he hopes Weld will end up as his running mate. Libertarians elect their presidential and vice presidential candidates separately.

"I am not an old white guy. And I am not Republican-light. I'm a Libertarian," Johnson said.

Despite some Libertarian in-fighting, calls for party unity were a regular theme.

"Divided we may have been for this short time," Petersen said, "We will present a united front against the forces of statism."

The convention was not lacking in color. The hallways were buzzing with not only presidential candidates and their followers, but comic book characters attending Megacon 2016 and young girls dolled up in hairspray and leotards for a tap-dancing competition in the same venue.

Along with the eccentric party thrown by McAffee, candidates and other groups invited delegates to hospitality suites in the hotel. In room 261, convention goers and delegates drank beer as they carried out philosophical discussions and paused in glee to watch the TV whenever CNN switched to coverage of the convention. Some took photos of the screen. Others stepped out to smoke cigars.

The attention and hype around this year's convention is unusual. Because the two frontrunners in the Democratic and Republican parties are so unpopular, libertarians are seeing flocks of disaffected voters show interest in a third party candidate.

"The people of America see Trump, they see Hillary, and a lot of them are throwing their hands up in the air and looking elsewhere," said delegate Peter Rohrman of New Jersey.

Libertarians here are hoping the increased media attention will help alter the American public's view of their party and debunk some of the stereotypes. Most here want to be seen as a thoughtful, diverse, and tolerant party with serious ideas.

Holding a can of Coca-Cola, Rohrman walked over to the window in the hospitality suite and pulled back the curtains.

"We're looking outside here and I don't see a single protester. Nobody's upset that libertarians are here," he said. "Nobody's angry. Nobody's throwing rocks. Libertarians are peaceful people. We just want everyone to get along and let people live life the way they want to live it."

Alexis Walker, a 19-year-old student and delegate, specifically referenced Never Trump Republicans, saying many will start gravitating toward the Libertarian option.

"In a strange way," she said. "I think Trump is a blessing in disguise."

Libertarians are enjoying their moment in the spotlight, but the question is whether they can keep the lights on.

Some worry that Johnson lacks the charisma to take on Clinton and Trump in the general, citing his soft-spoken, laissez-faire style.

"Until we have somebody that is not going to be laughed off and has the ability to capture the attention of the nation, we're still going to be thought of as the kiddy table of politics," said Brandon Navom, a 35-year-old software engineer from Nashua, New Hampshire.

Navom, who was leaning towards voting for McAfee, said libertarians need to take a page out of the Trump playbook and learn to better appeal to voters' emotions rather than their stances on issues.

"Libertarians think being logically right is enough. And it is not, because most people do not vote based upon logic," he said. "Most base their decisions on emotions and so we need to capitalize on those emotions."

Johnson, a more pragmatic libertarian than purist, is attempting to rely on his record as veto-heavy governor as a selling point. In the debate Saturday night, he invoked his experience in government in nearly every answer.

But in the Republican primary, at least, taking a record-heavy approach was an unsuccessful tactic for governors, as evidenced by the failed campaigns of Jeb Bush, Chris Christie, Scott Walker, and Rick Perry, among others.

"The reason why Trump was so successful is people got a concept of the problem. They understand our system is broken. They're upset, they're frustrated, right?" Navom said. "They feel betrayed by a system that is failing them. We need to have somebody who can take that same emotion and funnel it in our direction.

Johnson apologized this weekend for not being the most "articulate" messenger on libertarian issues, and many libertarians agree that he could use some help with his style.

Boyd Kendall, a delegate from Mississippi, said Johnson could benefit from "speech training" and that Weld had "joined the party too late."

Aaron Barksdale, also from Mississippi, expressed concern about Johnson representing the party against Donald Trump.

"We need somebody that can hold his own, and I don't believe Johnson is that guy," Barksdale said.

But Johnson brushed off such criticism about his public speaking skills.

"I work as hard as I possibly can about that. You can always get better of course. Hey, life is constant improvement," Johnson told CNN in an interview.

Continued here:

Libertarian Party Convention: Gary Johnson tested ...

At the party convention in Orlando, Florida, Johnson got his preferred running mate, former Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld, in a weekend gathering that drew sharp contrasts with the major party candidates -- Trump and Hillary Clinton, the likely Democratic nominee.

Johnson described the real estate mogul's immigration policies as "just racist," particularly the Republican's call to deport 11 million undocumented people currently in the country.

Libertarian activists contend their ticket could play a pivotal role in the 2016 campaign, with Trump and Clinton both viewed unfavorably by large swaths of the electorate. Even grabbing a small percentage of the vote in key states could affect the Electoral College calculus.

Trump was a frequent target of criticism of many Libertarians at the weekend convention. In addition to immigration participants particularly took issue with Trump's stated positions on international trade and national security -- all of which stand in firm opposition to a party that tends to favor lax immigration restrictions, free trade and is skeptical of military intervention. Austin Petersen, one of the presidential candidates who lost to Johnson, called Trump a fascist, a term regularly echoed throughout the convention.

The Trump campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment Sunday night.

Johnson was the party's nominee in 2012 and once again won the position despite backlash from the party's more radical Libertarian wing.

Weld, for his part, took a somewhat more nuanced tone toward the Libertarians' rivals.

"Someone doesn't have to be disaffected with Ms. Clinton to think that we have a good story," Weld said. "One doesn't have to be Never Trump to see that we were two of the most fiscally conservative governors in the United States."

Thanking the Libertarian delegates after his victory, Johnson played up his general election chances.

"At a minimum, I think we're in the presidential debates," Johnson said to cheers.

Johnson also called for inclusion in more national polling surveys.

"This is another voice at the table," Johnson said. "How about some skeptic at the table when it comes to these military interventions?"

In the first round of voting, Johnson reached 49.5 percent of the vote, according to the official party total, just shy of the majority needed for victory. His nearest opponents, Petersen and John McAfee, reached 21 and 14 percent respectively. On the second round of voting, Johnson clinched the nomination with 55.8 percent of the vote. But his preferred choice for the vice-presidential nomination, Weld, also came up just short of 50 percent on the first round of balloting, leading to a second vote, which he won with just over 50 percent of the vote.

Many Libertarian activists were skeptical of Weld, arguing his 1991-97 gubernatorial tenure saw too much growth in government and new gun control measures. But Johnson argued Weld could bring momentum and fundraising power to the Libertarian ticket, and the delegates obliged him.

"I pledge to you that I will stay with the Libertarian Party for life," Weld said before the vice presidential nominating contest.

Johnson received almost 1 percent of the general election vote in 2012, but said that in a year of unpopular offerings from the Democratic and Republican parties, he stands a chance of breaking through.

The Libertarian Party is the only third party with ballot access in 50 states. This means Johnson will be the only alternative to Trump and Clinton available to all voters in this election.

Just before the nomination vote, Johnson said if he were to win the nomination, he would head to New York on Monday for media opportunities.

Johnson, who served as New Mexico governor as a Republican from 1995-2003, said too few people knew what a Libertarian is, and that his job is to change that.

Libertarian National Committee chair Nicholas Sarwark spoke to press following the nomination process, discussing the Libertarian Party's outreach and fundraising efforts. Sarwark said the party had established a "back channel" to the Koch brothers, in the hopes the wealthy libertarian-leaning funders donate to the Libertarian Party. Sarwark also said he had been speaking to Matt Kibbe, former president of conservative advocacy group Freedomworks, about supporting the party's nominee.

The convention at times got rowdy. Many candidates issued lengthy protests and changed strategies throughout the day. Delegates stormed through the halls with signs and chants. At one point, a man did a striptease on stage until he sat before the audience -- and live television -- in nothing but his underwear.

"Never underestimate the ability of Libertarians to shoot themselves in the foot," said Christopher Barber, a delegate from Georgia, said before and after the display on stage.

CNN's Ashley Killough contributed to this report.

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Gary Johnson wins Libertarian presidential nomination, Weld ...

Former Republican governor from New Mexico and Libertarian presidential candidate Gary Johnson threw his hat in the ring during a convention in Orlando where he slammed his Republican and Democratic rivals. (Reuters)

ORLANDO Former New Mexico governor Gary Johnson won the Libertarian Partys presidential nomination on Sunday, fending off five rivals from different factions on two closely fought ballots and securing more than 55.8 percent of the total vote.

I will work as hard as I can to represent everyone in this room, Johnson said after his victory. After this convention, people will be looking to us to describe what it means to be a Libertarian. And I realize it will be up to me to tell them.

But Johnsons near-miss on the first ballot kicked off an afternoon of protests and delegate glad-handing, with the vice presidential race to be decided later. Johnson had run a careful campaign with an eye on the general election, picking former Massachusetts governor Bill Weld like him, a Republican who switched parties as his running mate. In Saturday nights debate, Johnson, alone among the top-five contenders, said that he would have signed the 1964 Civil Rights Act and that he thought people should be licensed to drive cars. He was loudly booed for both positions.

I liked it, Johnson said in an interview before Sundaysvote. Lets draw attention to the only candidate onstage saying that he would sign the Civil Rights Act, lets draw attention to the only candidate onstage whos in favor of drivers licenses. I dont know about you guys, but I think thats a great distinction between myself and the rest of them.

Those positions were tough to swallow for some of the partys self-identified radicals. Theyd spent the campaign season including more than a dozen debates labeling Johnson a Republican-lite candidate who could not expand on the 1 percent of the vote he had won as the 2012 nominee. Johnson was silent when the first ballot showed him just six votes short of a majority.

Johnsons rivals, especially Libertarian activist Austin Petersen and software engineer John McAfee, saw an opportunity to drag out the process. They briefly huddled on the convention floor and worked delegates, as Johnson had unfruitful conversations with critics and then walked outside foran interview with MSNBC.

Its not unique to the Libertarian Party that we have factions, Johnson said. When Republicans and Democrats get to this stage of the process, theyve already gone through their primaries. You dont hear much of a contrast. In the case of Libertarians not so much.

Outside the convention floor, Johnson was followed by supporters his own and hold-outs from a Never Johnson faction.

The scrum quieted down for Johnson to do the interview. But when it ended, Petersen gave chase and pulled Johnson aside in full view of reporters.

Do you want to unite the party? Petersen asked.

This is not the place, Austin, said Johnson, referring to the media attention.

Why did you pick Bill Weld? Petersen asked.

Johnson shook his head and walked away, as Petersen denounced Weld as a horrible statist and argued with a Johnson supporter who saidthat, at 35, Petersen was too young to represent the party.

Tell that to Marquis de Lafayette, Petersen said. He was 18.

Meanwhile, Johnson was securing the votes of Libertarian delegates who had cast sympathy ballots for lesser-known candidates. Johnson gained 60 votes on the second ballot, while Marc Allan Feldman, a well-liked physician who just that morning had helped people injured by a hit-and-run driver, lost 40 votes between ballots.

Johnsons victory began the race for vice president, which promised drama of its own. Weld, who had made a fitful Libertarian run for governor of New York in 2006, was not otherwise tied to the party. As he did interviews and met delegates, he made up ground but acknowledged that he did not always align with the party base. After the first presidential ballot, Weld said in a short interview that he had finally read the LP's platform and disagreed with part of it.

Its pretty good, he said. They want to eliminate the income tax; that wouldnt bring in enough revenue. Im for a flat tax.

What was unclear, as the vice presidential fight began, was who could overtake Weld. The candidates for vice president were a mixture of obscure activists. McAfee ruled out running for the second spot on the ticket; Petersen said he would do itonly if Johnson fired his campaign staff.

In his victory speech, Johnson beseeched the delegates to look past any of their ideological qualms with Weld to consider the breakthrough the party could win if it nominated two formerRepublicans. Weld, he said, had done 25 major media interviews since agreeing to run. That was 25 more interviews than Jim Gray, a judge who became Johnsons 2012 running mate, ever did.

I realize its up to you, Johnson said. If its not Bill Weld, I dont think we have the opportunity to be elected president of the United States.

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Gary Johnson wins Libertarian presidential nomination - The ...

A candidate for chairman of the Libertarian Party stripped off his clothes on live TV before dropping out of the race at the party's national convention Sunday in Orlando, Florida.

James Weeks a self-described "liberty activist" from Michigan and a large, bearded man was supporting the vice presidential campaign of Derrick Grayson when he said "I figured we could use a little bit of fun," started leading the convention in clapping and began taking off his suit, shirt and tie while dancing, according to video of the convention broadcast by C-SPAN.

Cheers and claps soon gave way to coots, catcalls and boos. Weeks then said, "I'm sorry; that was a dare," and said he was abandoning his own campaign for party chairman.

The political newspaper The Hill reported that several delegates complained about the display and that at least one sought to revoke Weeks' party membership.

On his website for an earlier campaign for sheriff of Livingston County, Michigan, Weeks writes that he has "dedicated his life to achieving a free society, free from an omnipotent state that seems to wish to squeeze every last drop of freedom out of our lives."

It wasn't as though the convention wasn't unusual enough. In a rarity in modern U.S. politics, the convention was contested and had to go to a second ballot before the Libertarians nominated former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson and former Massachusetts Gov. William Weld as its presidential ticket.

Related: Libertarians Give America a Contested Convention

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Libertarian Party Chairman Hopeful Strips on...

Delegates listen to speeches in the main hall at the National Libertarian Party Convention, Friday, May 27, 2016, in Orlando, Fla. John Raoux/AP hide caption

Delegates listen to speeches in the main hall at the National Libertarian Party Convention, Friday, May 27, 2016, in Orlando, Fla.

More than 1,000 Libertarians from around the country have converged on a hotel in Orlando, Fla., for a long weekend of politicking, strategizing, and seminars with titles like "How to Abolish Government in Three Easy Steps."

They'll also choose their nominee for president on Sunday. Five men are competing to be the Libertarian standard-bearer, including a software tycoon, a magazine editor, and the former Republican governor of New Mexico.

"Libertarian conventions are always exciting," says Carla Howell, the party's political director. "But the excitement this weekend is beyond anything I've ever seen, by far."

Howell thinks that's partly because more Americans are coming around to the party's long-held agenda, which includes legalizing marijuana, curbing government surveillance, and limiting U.S. military involvement in the Middle East.

"There is no question to those of us who do retail politics, who talk to voters, they want what Libertarians have been advocating for a long time," Howell says.

Libertarians acknowledge there's another reason their party's getting a closer look: deep dissatisfaction with the likely Republican and Democratic nominees. A Wall Street Journal/NBC poll found 47 percent of Americans are willing to consider a third-party candidate this year.

Denise Cranford understands that. The Ackerman, Miss., delegate has been active in Libertarian politics for years, but this is the first time she's attended the national convention.

"Trump is disgustingly crude. Hillary, please. Don't make me go there," Cranford says. "Even if I wanted to go Republican, their belief in, 'I want to take over and tell you what to do.' Democrats want to take over and take my money. It's got to stop."

There's a lively competition for the top spot on the Libertarian ticket. The five finalists spent more than two hours Saturday night debating their plans to roll back government in blunt and often colorful terms.

Some of the liveliest exchanges were between Austin Petersen, editor of The Libertarian Republic magazine, and former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson. Petersen tended to take more purist positions, while Johnson's views were often tempered with a dose of governing practicality.

On same-sex marriage, for example, Petersen advocated what he called "total separation of marriage and state."

Johnson said he felt the same way at first, but there were complications.

"It turns out that there are hundreds if not thousands of laws that actually contain the word marriage that would have to be amended," Johnson said. So he endorsed government recognition of same-sex marriage instead.

Some of the biggest applause lines last night belonged to neither Johnson nor Petersen but to anesthesiologist Marc Feldman.

"I don't need any kind of marriage license," Feldman said. "I don't need a marijuana grower's permit. I have a Constitution. What I need is a government that honors it and doesn't ask for licenses or permits and certificates for things that are none of the government's business."

Anti-virus software pioneer John McAfee and publisher and podcaster Darryl Perry are also vying for the Libertarian nomination.

Unlike the major party conventions later this summer where the nominees will likely be known well in advance, there's no telling who will come out on top of Sunday's Libertarian vote.

Mississippi delegate Denise Cranford isn't worried, though. She'll be happy with whoever is chosen.

"If we could just put one in the presidency and the rest of them in Cabinets we'd be awesome," Cranford says. "I'd love to see all those positions filled by Libertarians who want to take over the government and leave you alone."

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Libertarian Party Convention: Gary Johnson, John McAfee ...

The Libertarian Party experienced a minor revolt at its biennial convention this weekend over concerns that its leading vice presidential candidate isn't libertarian enough, complicating its efforts to achieve a stronger-than-usual showing in November's presidential elections.

Former Massachusetts Gov. William Weld is running for vice president alongside former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson. While Johnson, who was the party's 2012 standard-bearer,is still expected to win the party's presidential nomination when it votes on Sunday morning, party activists have raised concerns over Weld, whom they see as insufficiently committed to the party's small-government, socially liberal platform. Many also expressed concerns over Weld's decision in 2006 to leave the race for governor of New Yorkafter securing the Libertarian nomination, leaving the party without a candidate.

Doug Craig, a national board member of the Libertarian Radical Caucus, which advocates for a strict Libertarian platform, said his members do not believe "in a watered-down, weak-kneed message."

"I would say that Weld is disliked by the Radical Caucus," he added. "We believe the way to win election is to change people's minds by putting out the correct message."

Former Rep.Ron Paul (R-Texas), who was the party's nominee for president in 1988, said in a pre-recorded statement that the message "has to be as pure as possible." He went on to denounce Libertarians who argue for "sound[ing] more moderate and more middle-of-the-road," an approach he described as "useless."

Compounding the issue was Weld's rocky introduction to the party. During a vice presidential debate on Friday night, Weld said he would keep the U.S. in the United Nations, a position counter to most Libertarian activists. Making matters worse, he said many people view Libertarians as unattractive people. Rather than make the wide-sweeping anti-government pronouncements that appeal to Libertarians, Weld stuck to making boilerplate political statements more reminiscent of a Democratic or Republican candidate. When Weld called for cutting taxes, one attendee screamed"taxation is theft!"

On Saturday, during a question-and-answer session with party officials, Weld came off less like an insurgent politician and more like an aloof Bay State patrician. Asked to describe the difference between Republicans and Libertarians, Weld began by mentioning that former President George W. Bush, loathed in Libertarian circles for his aggressive foreign policy, is "a good friend." When a party member asked about foreign policy, Johnson deferred to Weld, citing his expertise on the issue. Weld began his answer by saying he'd actually been removed from the issue for quite some time.

When another attendee called for reducing the CIA's presence overseas, Weld replied that he was possibly biased in the matter, name-checking Kermit Roosevelt Jr, his "great-uncle-in-law" and a leading CIA figure who helped depose a number of foreign governments, including Iran's democratically elected leader, Mohammad Mosaddegh, in 1953.

Now, party activists and many convention delegates are calling Weld "Republican lite" and the specter exists of Johnson running with a more unorthodox figure as his running mate. Other candidates for the office include an online radio hostand a libertarian activist who, on his website, HustleBear.com, says he hasn't had a steady job since he was "scooping ice cream at Coldstones at 17."

The Johnson campaign has responded to this criticism by playing up the more libertarian parts of Weld's record and arguing that having two former governors on the ticket makes the party move viable in November.

"Going forward, I think [our chances] would be handicapped by 50 percent without Bill Weld," Johnson said during a press availability, saying that "the attention that he garners, the credibility that he brings to this, the fact that he's been a role model to me for all of my life" makes him an indispensable part of the party's plan for November.

"I will not get elected president of the United States if Bill Weld is not my vice presidential candidate," Johnson said. "It's not going to happen, it's just that simple."

Asked if he would drop out of the race if Weld is not the vice presidential nominee, Johnson replied, "[It's like] training for a marathon and I just broke my leg and the marathon is tomorrow. Do I run?"

Pressed by The Huffington Post on whether that amounted to a "no," Johnson responded, "I'm not saying that. I'm just saying I don't want to not put my best foot forward."

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The Libertarian Party Is In Turmoil Over Its Vice ...

That's what it must feel like to be a third-party candidate in a two-party country.

But between Donald Trump's abrupt takeover of the GOP and Bernie Sanders' climb from long-shot Democratic candidacy to head of a national progressive movement, 2016 has been a year for party outsiders. And Libertarians hope that could give them an opening.

So it is with an air of opportunity to break out of obscurity that Libertarians, members of the country's most prominent third party, have gathered for their national convention in Orlando, Florida, this weekend to officially pick a candidate to pitch to angry voters.

Many expect former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson, the Libertarian presidential nominee in 2012, to leave Orlando Sunday evening once again his party's standard-bearer.

Since last week, Johnson has made the rounds touting his newly minted alliance with former Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld, who is seeking the party's vice presidential nomination. The two former governors, who both also happen to be ex-Republicans, are fielding a ticket of sorts, although the Libertarians elect their nominees separately and no formal ticket will exist at the convention until the party selects its presidential and vice presidential nominees.

But Johnson and Weld first have to navigate an openly hostile convention, characterized by its insular proceedings and unwelcome to moderates.

Weld will have to overcome meaningful differences between his demonstrated policy preferences, particularly past support for gun control measures, and his willingness to support Republican politicians. Just this year, the colorful former governor endorsed Ohio Gov. John Kasich for president.

His supposed transgressions from Libertarian orthodoxy have earned him outright disdain from many of the party's attendees. He received loud boos at his introduction to the party's vice presidential debate, where he stuck to reciting his conservative bona fides and applauded his opponents on stage.

"We are not Republican-light," Larry Sharpe, a vice-presidential candidate said in a takedown of the Johnson-Weld ticket mere inches away from the former Massachusetts governor.

Asked after the debate, Weld said he thought such attacks "were not an issue one way or another."

Despite his bruising reception, Johnson said he would strongly prefer not to continue his bid without Weld, arguing they were "arguably the two most Libertarian governors that ever served."

Weld doubled down on this kind of rhetoric at the convention, saying that should Trump win the presidency, "We will be the rogue nation. We will be the North Korea."

Johnson, meanwhile, has several serious challengers gunning for the top spot on the third-party ticket.

Among them is Austin Petersen, a young, hardcore party advocate with strong backing in Libertarian Internet circles. He recently announced the endorsement of Mary Matalin and Erick Erickson, vocal anti-Trump conservatives.

Petersen rolled through the convention, glad-handing delegates and circling back to his open-door suite, filled with meatballs and alcohol for supporters. He belted out insults for Trump, calling him "Cheetos-faced" and "fascist" as his supporters, who he called "freedom ninjas," hollered in support.

However, in a party that generally swings liberal on social issues, Petersen is unabashedly anti-abortion. He is also 35 years old.

Also expected to post significant support is notorious entrepreneur John McAfee, a man who has forged an international identity after becoming a pioneer in the field of cybersecurity. Last fall, McAfee launched a presidential bid under the banner of his newly formed political organization, the Cyber Party. As the fall continued, McAfee declared his intention to seek the nomination of the Libertarian Party.

Building off of his name, his intense personality and his sweeping command of Libertarian sweet spots, McAfee has made a serious bid for the top of the ticket.

Although McAfee has little history with the party and no experience governing, his controversies -- including going into hiding following the shooting death of a businessman near his island compound in Belize -- and his lack of political experience may actually make up for it. In an election cycle dominated by a brash billionaire and reality TV star, McAfee's libidinous, shadowy, drug-fueled history and cavalier demeanor occasionally might not hurt much in a party built on opposing government control.

The primary has become somewhat contentious and McAfee has repeatedly said that he will not support Johnson if the former New Mexico becomes the nominee.

Petersen said he would "pull it for Gary" if the former New Mexico governor won the nomination. Weld said he wasn't sure what he'd do if Johnson was not the nominee.

"I'm in this because of Gary Johnson," Weld said.

Of course, securing the nomination is only one step -- and an extremely easy one, relatively speaking -- on the path to a Libertarian presidency.

The eventual nominee, whoever it is, will have to compete in the general election, where the odds of victory for the Libertarian Party stand at roughly zero.

If that performance repeats itself in the 2016 general election, it will mark the 12th cycle in a row where no third party has earned a single vote in the Electoral College.

Compared to other years and other third parties, however, the Libertarians have plenty to feel good about. The Libertarian Party has navigated the multitude of onerous requirements for ballot access in all 50 states, a task unaccomplished by any other third party.

Put more simply, the Libertarian nominee will be the only name outside of the mainstream choices on the presidential ballot in all 50 states on November 8.

Johnson, echoing many other third-party candidates, regularly stresses the Libertarian Party's need to join the presidential debates. Inclusion in the presidential debates requires strong poll performance, which, of course, requires inclusion in the polls themselves.

From the "Never Trump" crowd to the nascent "Bernie or bust" movement, the eventual Libertarian nominee might have room to grow a base and shake up the already volatile presidential race.

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Libertarian Party set to pick nominee at convention ...

Former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson during an interview in Washington, D.C., on May 9.

Gary Johnson might be on the verge of becoming a household name.

At the moment, hes probably most often confused with that plumber who fixed your running toilet last month or your spouses weird friend from work who keeps calling the landline, but hes neither hes the former governor of New Mexico, likely Libertarian candidate for president, and hes polling at 10 percent in two recently released national polls against Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump.

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A Morning Consult survey published Tuesday and found Clinton getting 38 percent of the vote, Trump 35 and Johnson 10, with 17 percent undecided. A Fox News poll conducted from May 14-17 showed Trump leading over Clinton, 42 percent to 39 percent, but Johnson at 10 percent as well. Lest you think this is some fluky May development, a Monmouth University survey conducted in mid-March while the political universe was still busy wringing its hands over the Republican nomination found that in a three-way race, Clinton would get 42 percent, Trump 34 percent and Johnson 11 percent.

Given that Trump and Clinton are sporting historically high negative ratings, Johnsons polling makes a fair bit of sense; Gary Johnson is neither Donald Trump nor Hillary Clinton. He might not win a state, but he could make some noise.

Of course, its still early, right? Yes, of course. Its May, and there are six more months for your hair to gray and for your friends to wither down to just your pet after innumerable ill-advised political conversations over drinks, but Johnsons polling numbers are nothing to sneeze at, if history may be our guide.

In early May 1968, George Wallace, whose candidacy as a third-party candidate running on what can politely be called an anti-civil rights message has been much-talked about this year, got 14 percent in a Harris Survey as well as in a Gallup poll; he eventually won nearly 14 percent of the national vote.

The most serious third-party candidate in recent memory was Ross Perot, who third-wheeled his way onto the political stage in 1992 and 1996, eventually taking 19 percent and 8 percent of the national vote in those respective years. In May of 1992, Perot, a former businessman, was polling gangbusters; a Gallup poll found him at 35 percent and an NBC News/Wall Street Journal survey had him at 30 percent. Perot entered the race in February of that year, a few weeks after the county was initiated to the first of Bill Clintons sex scandals, and in the midst of a tough economy for President George H.W. Bush plenty of voters were looking for other options. Four years later, he was still polling well for a third-party candidate, but not nearly at his 1992 levels: May polls (not to be confused with maypoles) had Perot at 17 percent (ABC/Washington Post), 12 percent (NBC/Wall Street Journal), and 10 percent (Gallup).

But that was the 90s, back before most of us in the interior of the country had ever even seen an avocado let alone mashed it up on toast. How have third-party candidates polled recently? Johnson ran as the Libertarian candidate in 2012, and won about 1 percent of the national vote, becoming the most successful Libertarian candidate ever; in polls done in May and June of 2012, he was polling at 2 percent. Bob Barr, the Libertarian nominee in 2008, also polled at 2 percent in the late spring of that year.

It must be noted that Johnson is not yet the Libertarian nominee. The party will be holding its nominating convention this weekend in Orlando, where he will face Austin Petersen, a young party operative, as well as former fugitive millionaire businessman John McAfee, who was once called extremely paranoid, even bonkers by the prime minister of Belize.

Given that this is 2016, no result should be ruled out.

Harry Enten contributed research.

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Pay Attention To Libertarian Gary Johnson; Hes Pulling 10 ...

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... May 15th, 5:23pm UTC at by alkoga teacher

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Continued here:

Libertarian Blog Place

Comunicado Libertagia.

Caros membros, como de conhecimento geral a pouco mais de um ano a Libertagia vem em silncio e de portas fechadas, mas agora chegou a hora de lanar luz sobre o ocorrido e de mostrar o processo de recuperao da nossa empresa.

A Libertagia alcanou nmeros muito expressivos, chegamos a mais 2.5 milhes de membros em mais de 160 pases, membros esses que ajudaram a criar uma empresa com propores jamais vistas.

Durante todo esse tempo de silncio a administrao da empresa na Itlia no parou de trabalhar, buscando formas de reerguer a imagem da empresa e toda sua infraestrutura, que foi gravemente abalada por parceiros e fornecedores que no cumpriram com seus respectivos deveres, levando a empresa a um colapso. Todos os envolvidos foram denunciados as autoridades competentes, e agora a Libertagia aguarda reparao dos danos causados (Informaes sobre o andamento do processo sero divulgadas nos prximos comunicados).

Nos prximos 30 dias vamos iniciar um processo de incorporao do novo investidor, corpo jurdico e equipe, seguindo rigorosamente todas as normas internacionais. Durante todo esse processo, as mudanas feitas e etapas a seguir pelos membros sero informadas em nosso site oficial. Tambm divulgaremos os novos produtos, parceiros e o plano compensao em forma de stock option para todos os membros Libertagia.

Atravs de sorteio eletrnico, selecionamos 12 lideres mundiais da Libertagia para fazerem parte de uma reunio que ser realizada no dia 05/06/2016 em Pisa (ITA) onde ser apresentado o novo investidor, produtos, documentos, plataforma e o novo plano da empresa.

Com tudo isso o que buscamos recuperar no s a imagem da empresa mais de todos os membros que acreditam e acreditaram nela, recuperar nossos sonhos e objetivos. hora de unirmos foras em beneficio desta empresa que mais do que nunca pertence de todos ns.

JOIADMIRADA UNIPESSOAL LTD. SOCIETA COOPERATIVA SENZAFRONTIERE. REINALDO M.S.JUNIOR.

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LibertaGia

Good news, disgruntled Americans: As you ponder whether to vote for one of the two most-disliked, dishonest, and morally corrupt politicians ever to run for president Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton you just might have a third option. His name is Gary Johnson. Hes a popular two-term former governor of New Mexico. Hes the likely Libertarian party nominee. And hes set to be on the ballot in the vast majority of states.

Moreover, the short case for him is pretty compelling. Johnson is a self-made man, starting a handyman business in college that grew into a 1,000-employee construction firm. He ran for governor as a fiscal conservative in a blue state, won handily, and can now boast that he cut taxes, vetoed hundreds of bills, presided over significant job growth, balanced the state budget, and created a substantial reserve fund. He won reelection in a rout.

Johnson is an extraordinarily strong gun-rights advocate, and he favors free trade, but hes far too committed to relatively open borders advocating a simpler and more efficient process for entering the country.

He calls himself pro-choice, but hes well to the right of Hillary Clinton supporting late-term abortion bans, parental-notification laws, and opposing public funding for abortion and hes indicated that hed appoint judges who will interpret the Constitution according to its original meaning. He also believes Roe v. Wade was wrongly decided because it expanded the reach of the Federal government into areas of society never envisioned in the Constitution. In the past, Johnson has indicated that hed rather leave abortion policy to the states.

Being generous, one could even call him a sort of peaceful Teddy Roosevelt: an adventurer politician. Hes run dozens of triathlons, hes climbed the highest mountain on all seven continents (including Mount Everest), and he built his house with his own hands. So, on balance, Gary Johnson for president, right?

Not so fast. This being 2016, the world has gone mad, and there are no easy choices left. Johnson is a Libertarian, and that means hes for drug legalization. Thats not necessarily disqualifying. After all, his views are similar to those of the founder of National Review, William F. Buckley Jr., and are shared by a number of conservatives. Johnson, however, is an actual drug user boasting recently that hed just consumed Cheeba Chews, a form of marijuana-infused taffy. (To be fair, he claims that he does not drink alcohol.) But thats not all, not by a long shot.

In 2014, Johnson became a pot entrepreneur. He was named the CEO of Cannibas Sativa. The companys intended products included medicinal oils and get this a cough droplike pot candy. Johnson of course tried and endorsed the product, asking, Why would anybody ever smoke marijuana given this as an alternative?

Oddly, when it comes to religious liberty and the rights of conscience, he may not be libertarian enough. In the Libertarian partys presidential debate, he offered a bizarre and rambling defense of forcing a Jewish baker to bake a Nazi wedding cake in the name of ending religious discrimination. He also briefly endorsed, then walked back, using state power to ban the burqa in the United States. (On the bright side, he did indicate that he understood the political nature of sharia law and its incompatibility with American conceptions of liberty.)

Regarding national defense, hes not as extreme as some libertarians some go so far as to view the rise of jihad as fundamentally Americas fault but he does believe that American military interventions have made the terrorist problem worse. Ive often wondered how a self-defense oriented libertarian would alter American policy once they received a full and complete national-security briefing. Libertarian purists would likely be surprised at the military aggression of a libertarian president. If Johnson were ever elected, wed get to find out.

Make your argument, governor. You can make the case for liberty to a nation embracing authoritarianism. You wont win, but you can matter. This is your moment.

David French is a staff writer at National Review, and an attorney.

See more here:

Gary Johnson -- Libertarian Party Presidential Candidates ...

Libertarianismus je oznaen pro skupinu politickch ideologi, kter odmtaj donucovn a naopak vyzdvihuj politickou i obecnou svobodu a aktivitu skrze dobrovoln obansk sdruen i spolky. Dle se zasazuj o spolenost s minimlnmi zsahy sttu nebo v krajnch ppadech o spolenost zcela bez sttnho zzen.

Pojem libertarianismus (v etin se tento termn pouv zdka, zde znamen krajn variantu a pokraovn liberalismu) se nkdy obecn uv ve spojitosti se silnou touhou po svobod, bez ohledu na politick pesvden, a jako termn v mnohem um slova smyslu oznauje (zejmna v USA) intelektuln-politick hnut, kter oivuje a dl rozvj klasick i evropsk liberalismus. Libertarini obhajuj individualismus a voln obchod. Zdrazuj dleitost nevynucenho socilnho podku a ztotouj se s morlnm odporem ke sttu, kter disponuje svou "krutou" a donucovac funkc. Je pro n charakteristick, e dvaj pednost neintervenn zahranin politice nejen z obavy ped zahraninm avanturismem, ale pro jej spojen s vlkou, s nrstem sttn moci a se ztrtou vnitnch svobod. Nkte libertarini ve svm odporu ke sttu dospj a k anarchismu.[1]

Politicky se libertarianismus nkdy chybn zamuje za modern, trn orientovan konzervatismus. Spolen vyznvaj dleitost trnch vztah i voluntarismus, ale libertarini si zskali inteligenci, na kterou se konzervativci odvolvaj, zvlt v ekonomickch problmech.[zdroj?] Mimo oblast ekonomiky se vak libertarini od konzervativc oste odliuj, zvlt v pojet zahranin politiky a problmech individuln svobody.[1]

Libertarianismus se d chpat jako soust irho proudu liberalismu, tedy jedn ze t nejvlivnjch politickch filosofi 19. stolet. Liberalismus bhem svho vvoje prodlal hlubok zmny a v souasnosti jde o soubor nkolika od sebe velmi odlinch smr vetn libertarianismu, ale i klasickho liberalismu a egalitrnho liberalismu.

Liberalismus 19. stolet, dnes oznaovan jako klasick, byl ve svm politickm ztlesnn stanoviskem pedevm nov emancipovanch vych a stednch vrstev a jako takov stl v protikladu nejen k politickmu konzervatismu, ale velmi zhy tak vi marxismu a jinm verzm socialismu. lo o liberalismus nejen politick, ale v nemen me i ekonomick, v nm dleit msto psluelo poadavku, aby byly odstranny vechny pekky pro ekonomickou innost jednotlivc uvnit sttu i v mezinrodnm mtku.

Liberln pojet politick svobody se velmi zhy spojilo s ideou demokracie a v podob liberln demokracie se rozilo do velk sti souasnho svta. Mylenka svobody vak me bt interpretovna rzn a neexistuje politick filosofie, kter by ochotn nenabdla vlastn definici svobody. V ppad klasickho liberalismu je takovou definic tzv. negativn pojet svobody, tj. takov, kter svobodu chpe jako absenci vnjch omezen jednn.[2]

Klasick liberalismus 19. stolet m krom nsledovnk egalitrn-liberlnch i takov, kte nadle pikldaj maximln vhu mylence svobody v urit specifick interpretaci a ktei jsou v poslednch desetiletch oznaovni jako neoliberlov a libertarini.[2]

I kdy z liberalismu vychzej a maj s nm mnoho spolenho, tyto mylenkov smry se nazvaj jinak v dsledku vznamovho posunu termnu liberln v USA smrem doleva, aby nedochzelo k zmnm. Oba tyto proudy se sten pekrvaj, ale nejsou toton. Neoliberalismus erp svou inspiraci pedevm z ekonomick teorie a jeho vedoucmi pedstaviteli jsou ekonomov jako Friedrich August von Hayek a Milton Friedman. Libertarianismus je sloitjm tvarem, protoe vedle klasickho politickho a ekonomickho liberalismu se v nm uplatuje tak vliv anarchismu a libertarinskho socialismu.[3]

lenov americk Demokratick strany bvaj asto oznaovni za liberly, piem pojem liberl je v americk politick tradici odlin od pevaujcho evropskho chpn. Evropsk typ liberalismu by v Americe byl spe oznaovn prv za libertarianismus. Liberalismus v americkm pojet je sociln a kulturn orientovan a pikld vznam stt pi een cel ady otzek. Stt m do znan mry zodpovdnost za takov otzky, jako je usnadnn integrace menin, za rove vzdln a za zajitn rovnosti ve smyslu vyrovnvn potench anc. Tento proud je blzk evropsk sociln demokracii, resp. v poslednch letech meme hovoit o sbliovn pedevm ze strany nkterch evropskch stran, zejmna Labour Party ve Spojenm krlovstv.[2]

Souasn libertarianismus je komplexn a d se o nm uvaovat jako o celku, jen se skld ze t mezi sebou voln propletench pramen. Na prvnm mst figuruje akademicky oiven klasick liberalismus z obdob po 2. svtov vlce. Klovou lohu v nm sehrla dla Miltona Friedmana a Friedricha Hayeka. Jin, dleit vznam pedstavovaly kritiky veejnho vnmn od Jamese M. Buchanana a Gordona Tullocka, kter napadaly vldn model benevolentnho despoty a vyhledvn penz pro jej leny, ale i prce mnoha dalch trn orientovanch ekonom, nap. Richarda Posnera a Henryho Manna, a jejich vahy o prvu a ekonomice, dle pak vahy Richarda Epsteina o stavn jurisprudenci, stejn tak jako dlo Anarchie, stt a utopie Roberta Nozicka, zaloen na prvu a podporujc Buchanana, a nakonec i fundovan kritika Thomase Szasze, kter se zamila na zneuvn psychiatrie.

Druhm zdrojem je fakt, e v americk kultue existuje siln individualistick proud, kter zmohutnl dky nejrznjm intelektulnm poinm. V USA zdomcnly ideje, kter maj svj pvod ji v pozdn scholastickm mylen pes anglick levellery a Johna Locka, Ameriany Thomase Paina a Thomase Jeffersona, dle pak ve francouzskm liberalismu, jacksoninsk sociln teorii a manchesterskm liberalismu Richarda Cobdena, Johna Brighta, Herberta Spencera a Benjamina Tuckera. Ve 20. stolet pedstavuj nejdleitj zdroje H. L. Mecken, Albert J. Nock, izolacionismus star pravice, Ludwig von Mises a rakout ekonomov svobodnho trhu i spisovatelka a filosofka Ayn Randov. Souasnou vlivnou osobnost je Murray Rothbard, autor mnoha dl na toto tma.

Tet zdroj pedstavuje skutenost, e ve svt existuje politick hnut libertarin, kter erp z rozmanitch a pestrch individualistickch a promnnch proud americkho ivota, z opozinch kruh odprc vietnamsk vlky a vojenskch odvod, z ad odprc zdann a ppadu tvrd mny a po mnohdy nboensky inspirovan rodinn hnut.[1]

V USA existuje dleit s organizac propagujcch libertarinskou politiku a ideje s n spojen. Z mezinrodnho hlediska se tito lid prosadili i na akademick pd a tak v mezinrodn sti veejnch politickch instituc, je se zamuj na trh. Nzory tchto politickch instituc pedevm v otzkch privatizace byly v rznch podobch pijaty i na vldn rovni.[1]

Kandidt Libertarinsk strany Ron Paul se v prezidentskch volbch v roce v USA 1988 umstil za republikny a demokraty jako tet. (b) Ron Paul pot kandidoval jet v roce 2008 a 2012 v rmci Republiknsk strany, obdobn jako jeho syn Rand Paul v roce 2016.[4]

Libertarinsk teorie vystupuje proti Rawlsov egalitarismu. Ta znamenala pro libertarianismus prlom do akademickho prosted, kde do t doby nebyl brn zcela vn. Tuto teorii formuloval Rawlsv kolega z Harvardovy univerzity filosof Robert Nozick v knize Anarchie, stt a utopie (1974).

Nozick zdrazuje lidskou svobodu a vychz z pesvden, e zkladnm faktem, kter se mus brt v potaz pi vahch o spravedlnosti ve spolenosti, je ten, e kad lovk je vlastnkem sebe sama. To znamen, e kad me nakldat se svm tlem, schopnostmi a dalm vlastnictvm, jak uzn za vhodn. Jeho svoboda nem bt nijak omezovna, a to v prvn ad jist ne svvoln, patnou vldou nebo morln zkaenmi jednotlivci, ale tak ne dobe mnnmi sttnmi pkazy a zkazy. Stt m podle Nozicka existovat pouze v podob "nonho hldae", tj. jako instituce, kter pln minimln nezbytn koly dohledu nad dodrovnm zkon a zajiovn bezpe oban. Ve ostatn m bt penechno autonomnm jednotlivcm, kte jako vlastnci sebe samch a nositel vlastnickch prv mohou voln realizovat akty smny a tm neustle mnit rozloen statk ve spolenosti. Ostr Nozickovy kritiky m na perozdlovn zenmu sttem, neboli proti zdann, kter povauje za velmi hlubok poruen osobn svobody jednotlivce.[2]

Libertarianismus je svmi kritiky mnohdy pedstavovn jako mylen do znan mry asociln a spoleensky nezodpovdn, ppadn jako ideologie zcela utopistick, oteven obhajujc sobectv a dal negativn lidsk sklony na zklad absolutnho drazu na svobodu. Libertarini toto upednostovn vlastnch sobeckch zjm vid jako zklad pro pospolitost spolenosti, za co jsou hojn kritizovni z rznch stran. Opomjej tak pi tom pr dleit pedpoklady fungujc spolenosti vzjemnou dvru mezi lidmi a pocit sounleitosti do jednoho spoleenstv definovanho socilnmi vazbami a loajalitou. Stt pi tom vid pouze negativn, jako instituci utlaujc svobodn jedince a nikoliv jako pirozenou soust lidskho spoleenstv. V tomto ohledu je jim asto vytno zamovn sttu v irm slova smyslu a vldy.

Samotn prioritizovn svobody za vech okolnost je dle oponent chybn, a u kvli nemonosti dodrovn prv spojench se svobodou ped nastolenm spoleenskho du i kvli svm spoleenskm implikacm. Opomjej pi tom vznam pirozench povinnost lovka vi ostatnm, jako i disciplnu a obtovn se jako dleit hodnoty fungujc spolenosti. Z tchto zkladnch protiargument pot nsleduje kritika vcnj, pedevm libertarinskho pstupu k danm.

Snahy o maximalizaci svobody se asto vykldaj jako obhajoba zmonch socilnch vrstev proti mn zmonm, protoe se zd zejm, e bohat mohou vybrat z podstatn ir nabdky monost jednn ne chud.

Tato kritika je v jednom smru nepesvdiv, protoe se zd, e svobodu redukuje na ekonomicky podmnn monosti vbru, ale dobe se na n ukazuje, jak vznamn je pro politickou filosofii problm spravedlnosti, kter systematicky zpracoval John Rawls. Z ad nboensky zaloench kritik se objevuje protiargument vi samotnmu postultu libertarinskho mylen, tedy vlastnn sebe sama. Libertarini tak dle tto kritiky opomjej vliv Boha jako stvoitele a konenho vlastnka vech lid.[2][5]

Originally posted here:

Libertarianismus Wikipedie

Libertarianizmus (angl. libertarianism, odvoden od lat. liber slobodn) je oznaenie skupiny politickch ideolgi, ktor nadvzujc na klasick liberalizmus zdrazuj individualizmus odrajci sa v osobnej i ekonomickej slobode. Prvrenec libertarianizmu sa oznauje ako libertarin.

Pre odlin politicko-filozofick vvoj v Spojench ttoch a Eurpe je defincia libertarianizmu pomerne irok. Zatia o v USA sa v sasnosti oznaenie liberl uplatuje vlune vo vzname egalitrneho liberalizmu, predovetkm v strednej a vchodnej Eurpe, Juhoafrickej republike, ne sa pouva takmer v pvodnom vzname klasickho liberalizmu.[1] Mylienkov zklada libertarianizmu tak zaha predstaviteov a pokraovateov klasickho liberalizmu, ako aj radiklne liberlne terie minarchizmu, objektivizmu a anarchokapitalizmu.[2][3] Predovetkm v americkom prostred sa kvli mylienkovej blzkosti a sptmu vvoju s Republiknskou stranou k libertarinom asto zahaj aj predstavitelia paleokonzervativizmu (napr. Ron Paul).

V 30. rokoch 20. storoia mnoho stpencov Rooseveltovej politiky Novho delu z radov americkch intelektulov sami seba pokladali za liberlov, avak nimi presadzovan budovanie ttu blahobytu a zvyovanie ttnych vdavkov na podporu opatren namierench proti dsledkom vekej hospodrskej krzy bolo v protiklade s pvodnm liberalizmom. Termn liberl sa v priebehu 30. a 40. rokov zauval na pomenovanie stpenca politiky Demokratickej strany, ktorho najblim ekvivalentom v eurpskom kontexte je oznaenie socilny demokrat.[4][pozn 1]

Akademick oznaenie klasick liberalizmus mnoho pvodnch liberlov odmietalo pouva, pretoe sa domnievali, e to nie je vhodn pojem pre ich de facto modern a pokrokov politiku. V 50. rokoch americk ekonm a publicista Leonard Read zaal pouva pvodne filozofick pojem libertarianizmus,[5] ktor sa v priebehu nasledujcich dvoch desaro uplatnil v praxi a v roku 1972 vznikla Libertarinska strana. Niektor zstancovia klasickho liberalizmu sa ale s tmto pomenovanm nestotonili, napr. Friedrich August von Hayek sa naalej oznaoval za liberla alebo Ayn Randov, ktor sa pokladala za radiklnu prokapitalistku.[1] Termn libertarianizmus bol prvkrt preukzatene pouit anglickm historikom a politickm komenttorom Williamom Belshamom v roku 1789 v eseji O slobode a nevyhnutnosti, ako antonymum k determinizmu.[6]

V akademickom prostred libertarianizmus filozoficky etabloval Robert Nozick svojim dielom Anarchia, tt a utpia (1974), v ktorom rozvil lockovsk teriu ttu, spravodlivosti a skromnho vlastnctva. Na poli ekonmie rozvjala svoju innos Montpelerinsk spolonos zaloen roku 1947 Hayekom. V roku 1946 Leonard Read zaloil Nadciu pre ekonomick vzdelvanie (angl. Foundation for Economic Education), ktor sa stala prvm libertarinskym think tankom v USA. Skupina rakskych ekonmov zaloila roku 1982 Intitt Ludwiga von Misesa (angl. Ludwig von Mises Institute). K vznamnm libertarinskym think tankom patr aj Cato Institute zaloen v roku 1974.

Medzi dleitch, ale ideovo nejednotnch, predstaviteov libertarianizmu patria ekonmovia chicagskej (Milton Friedman) a rakskej koly (Murray Rothbard, Ludwig von Mises, Leonard Read, Friedrich August von Hayek), americk politik Ron Paul (s republiknskou platformou Tea Party), filozof Robert Nozick, spisovateka a filozofka Ayn Randov. Za tzv. avicovho libertarina sm seba povauje anarchosyndikalista Noam Chomsky.

See original here:

Libertarianizmus - Wikipdia

A libertarian Republican is a politician or Republican party member who has advocated libertarian policies while typically voting for and being involved with the United States Republican Party.

Sometimes the terms Republitarian or liberty Republican are used as well. Libertarian Republicans' views are similar to Libertarian Party members, but differ in regard to the strategy used to implement libertarian policies.[citation needed]

Libertarian Republicans represent a political faction within the Republican Party. They are strong believers in the traditional Republican principle of economic libertarianism that was advocated by past and present presidential candidates such as former Senator Robert A. Taft, former Senator Barry Goldwater and former Representative Ron Paul and his son, current Senator Rand Paul. Individuals who self-identify as libertarian Republicans do not necessarily share the same political beliefs across the spectrum, though there do seem to be several issues that bind them together, including beliefs in fiscal conservatism, personal responsibility, and personal liberty.[citation needed]

The most common belief libertarian Republicans share is fiscal conservatism specifically, advocating for lower taxes at every level of government, a reduction in the level of spending in the federal budget, easing the burden of federal regulations on business interests, the reform of the entitlement system, and ending or making significant cuts to the welfare state. Additionally, they oppose budget deficits and deficit spending and work to minimize it as much as possible. Libertarian Republicans tend to support more fiscal conservatism than their mainstream counterparts in the party, and are less willing to abandon these principles for political expediency.[citation needed]

Libertarian Republicans often differ from traditional Republicans in their emphasis on protection of civil liberties.[1] It is distinct from the Republican Party because it sees state-enforced conservative social policies as encroachments on personal privacy and individual liberties.[1] Libertarian Republicans disagree with the activities of mainstream Republicans with regard to civil liberties since the September 11 attacks in 2001, opposing the PATRIOT Act, its reform the USA Freedom Act, REAL ID, and President George W. Bush's domestic intelligence program.[2]

Opposition to the use of the term libertarian Republican comes from the libertarian adherence to the Non-Aggression Principle, its core philosophy of voluntaryism and lack of force against individuals, to which the Republican Party platform or philosophy does not adhere.[3]

The Republican Liberty Caucus was founded in 1991 at a meeting of a group of Florida members of the Libertarian Republican Organizing Committee attending a Young Republicans Convention. They included Philip Blumel, Tom Walls, Eric Rittberg, and Rex Curry and decided to develop a national Republican Liberty Caucus organization.[4] The group represents the GOP's libertarian wing.

Read this article:

Libertarian Republican - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

If voting changed anything they'd make it illegal

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All mankind being equal and independent no one ought to harm another in his life liberty or possessions John Locke

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don't blame me, libertarians never win.

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Don't throw your vote away! Choose Libertarians

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fascism noun 1

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First They Laugh at You - Gandhi

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Excerpt from:

Libertarian - Liberty Stickers

Tuesday, February 16, 2016

Dear fellow Libertarians,

As the presidential election season has begun to heat up, we have seen a greatly increased amount of traffic on LPO.org and on social media. Many new people are telling us they're fed up with Republicans and Democrats and they're asking how to become new members of the Libertarian Party of Ohio.

Here are my answers to the three most commonly asked questions:

1) Who is the 2016 Libertarian presidential candidate?

The Libertarian Party will nominate its candidates for president and vice president at our 2016 Libertarian Party National Presidential Nominating Conventionin Orlando over Memorial Day weekend.

Along with our 2012 nominee, Gov. Gary Johnson, and Ohios own LPO Central Committee Vice Chair Marc Allan Feldman, there are several other candidates. Visit this link for a current list of those who have announced their candidacy.

2) Is the Libertarian Party on the ballot in Ohio?

Right now, no. The Libertarian Party was denied a primary election by Senate Bill 193, which also denies us access to the general election.

However, we are currently arguing in state court that SB 193 violates the state constitution. A hearing on our motion for preliminary injunction is scheduled for April 5, 2016, with a ruling expected shortly thereafter. With a favorable ruling, we will have plenty of time to certify the Libertarian presidential candidate by August 10, 2016. We will also seek to have the LPO's other candidates who were prevented from running in the March 2016 primary restored to the general election ballot, a move that was successful in 2008 after the courts invalidated another unconstitutional ballot-access law.

We are also awaiting a final decision in LPO v. Husted, a federal court case. In that lawsuit, we believe we have demonstrated that the Kasich campaign and the Ohio Republican Party, among others, conspired to have our candidate for governor, Charlie Earl, improperly removed from the ballot, after his petition for candidacy had been certified officially. We are arguing that several involved in the documented conspiracy, including political appointees in the secretary of states office, were indeed government actors who may not violate the Constitution.

Meanwhile, we are gathering signatures as part of the Voter Freedom Drive, which would restore the Libertarian Party to the November election ballot is the court cases are not resolved favorably and in time.

3) How can I help the Libertarian Party?

By volunteeringgo here to fill in the form telling us who you are and what you can do. We need help in all of our divisionsPolitical, Communications, IT, Field Development, and Finance. We also need a deputy state treasurer.

By gathering signatures for the Voter Freedom Drivesee the details here, or email Political Director Tricia Sprankle at tricia.sprankle at LPO dot org.

By contributingThe LPO has no paid employees, but we have significant costs to cover each month, such as office rent, web hosting fees, the telephone bill, and copying and postage for petition forms.

We would also like to advertise on social media, on the radio, and even televisionbut we need you to support this.

Please make a monthly pledge of support and/or a one-time contribution here.

If you have any questions or comments, please reach out to me at chair at LPO dot org.

For Liberty,

Bob Bridges LPO Executive Committee Chair

Hi, my name is Aaron and Im a recovering Republican.

I was once like youI thought that if those of us who loved liberty and favored a retune to limited, constitutional government worked really hard, that we could take back the Republican Party and fix things.

If youre a libertarian Republican, like I once was, the aftermath of the Iowa GOP caucus probably has you upset. Rand Paul has ended his campaign, and 95 percent of your fellow Republicans chose candidates who dont seem at all comfortable with the notion of more freedom and less government in every area of American life.

Even though Ted Cruz, peering out from under his oil slick of a haircut, said that conservatives and evangelicals and libertarians and Reagan Democrats all coming together as one, you have an uneasy feeling. Or maybe its because Cruz did say that that you have a headache.

Eight years ago, I felt just like you. I voted for Ron Paul, then watched the GOP nominate John McCain. Though I knew that Obama or Hillary would be a disasterI simply couldnt support a corrupt Washington insider who has made a career out of attacking the First Amendment and advocating more war and intervention at every opportunity.

I had never voted for a Democrat, and I resolved to never vote for another Republican.

Why had I put up with for so long a party that always treated me like Lucy treated Charlie Brown?

As a College Republican at Wright State University, I helped campaign for the Republican Revolution of 1994, when Newt Gingrich, Dick Armey, and John Kasich came into power with promises to eliminated a handful of federal cabinet departments and to scrap the IRS in favor of a flat tax.

Those Republicans slowed the growth of federal spendinga tiny bit for a couple of yearsand did nothing to abolish, or even curtail, the IRS or any cabinet department.

In 2000, I voted for George W. Bush, impressed by his promises of substantial tax cuts, privatization of Social Security (at least partially), and a humble foreign policy that rejected intervention and nation-building.

Of course, W delivered a bigger and more brutal expansion of government, in terms of sheer size and scale, than any other president. A national debt that doubled from about $5.8 trillion to about $11.9 trillion, yearly budgets that increased a total of more than 50 percent, and two horrible wars that will end up costing more than $6 trillion, not to mention the lives of more than 8,000 U.S. and coalition fighters, and at least a few hundred thousand civilians.

No Chuck, this time is for realIll hold the football in place so you can kick it.

A lot of sincere people stuck with the GOP through the depressing campaigns of both McCain and Romney (the man who created the model for Obamacare and in a presidential debate assured voters that a Romney administration would INCREASE domestic spending over Obama levels).

Many thousands worked for Ron Paul in 2008 and, especially, in 2012, when the GOP resorted to back-room chicanery to protect against even the remote chance that Pauls delegates could disturb the Republican convention.

Since then, Ron Paul supporters have scattered, some becoming Libertarians to back Gary Johnson, some giving up on voting altogether, and some backing Rand Paul, in hopes that he could build on his fathers work.

I never was a fan of Rand, but Im not here to debate his beliefs or campaign strategies, or to gloat. Even if you believe that Sen. Paul was libertarian enough to earn your support, it nows seems to me that the results in Iowa, taken with the polling data and general tone among Republican candidates and primary voters, suggest that the only libertarians who can expect that spending their time, their hard work, and their votes on the Republican Party are the quislings who are paid by Republicans to entice libertarians to support Republicans.

Nicholas Sarwark is the national chairman of the Libertarian Party, and he said it best:

You can't turn McDonald's into a vegan restaurant with some motivated cashiers and fry cooks. The people in charge want to sell burgers.

When you want to be part of a party that is committed to all of your freedoms, all of the time, the Libertarian Party is ready to welcome you home.

Those of us in the Party of Principle are waiting with open arms. This year's crop of Republican and Democrat contenders are turning off giving American voters like never before.

If you truly love liberty, then stop beating the dead elephant and help us with the hard work of making sure American votersespecially here in Ohiofind the word LIBERTARIAN when they look for a better choice at the ballot box this November.

To get in touch with someone who can help you get to work as a volunteer with the Libertarian Party of Ohio, email me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or fill in this form.

Aaron Keith Harris is communications director for the Libertarian Party of Ohio.

LPO Communications Director Aaron Keith Harris interviews John Fockler, a former (?) Libertarian candidate for US Senator from Ohio.

Fockler discusses "The Race That Wasn't" his recent article for the Libertarian Party of Ohio website, and other important issues in Ohio and national politics, including marijuana reform.

Due to the current exclusion of the Libertarian Party from the electoral process in the State of Ohio, in accordance with our Constitution and Bylaws, elections for our Central Committee will take place according to Congressional Districts, at the locations, dates, and times listed below.

If you are unsure which Congressional District you reside in, please consult the following map: http://www.sos.state.oh.us/sos/upload/reshape/congressional/Congressional-Statewide.pdf

Dist

Representative(s)

Election Date/Time

Meeting Location

Nomination Deadline:

1

Sarah Bevins

Scott Pettigrew

March 15th, 20167:30 pm

Flipdaddys Burgers & Beers12071 Mason Montgomery Rd

Cincinnati, OH 45249

January 30, 2016

2

Will be held at the same date, time & location as the elections in District #1

3

Harold ThomasSulu Hank Kelley

March 15th,, 2016

7:30 pm

LPO Headquarters, Conference Room

2525 Tiller Lane

Columbus, OH

January 30, 2016

4

Gregg Norris

No election filed.

5

Don Kissick

Sarah Kissick

March 7, 2016

Smoke-E's

125 E. Main St.

Leipsic OH 45856

January 22, 2016

6

Chris Armstrong

No election filed.

7

Tom Coyne

Jonathan Gentsch

No election filed.

8

Bob Coogan

March 15th, 20167:30 pm

Flipdaddys Burgers & Beers12071 Mason Montgomery Rd

Cincinnati, OH 45249

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Written by Shawn House Thursday, 24 March 2016 02:53

3915 Union Deposit Road #223 Harrisburg, PA 17109 http://www.lppa.org

For immediate release

April 4, 2016

Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania Announces Declared Candidates

Candidates will offer voters a choice for principled leadership this November

The Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania (LPPA) is pleased to announce that numerous candidates will be vying for public office across the Commonwealth in this falls general election. Libertarian candidates this November will include:

For the United States Senate:

Edward Clifford

For the United States House of Representatives:

Shawn Patrick House (16th district)

Paul Rizzo (15th district)

Steve Scheetz (8th district)

For Pennsylvania Statewide Office:

Roy Minet, Auditor General

James Babb, Treasurer

N. A. Poe, Attorney General

For the Pennsylvania General Assembly:

Willie Harmon (104th district)

Betsy Summers (121st district)

For immediate release

November 16, 2015

Teen Libertarian Starts New Political Organization Westmoreland County Libertarians will advance ideas of smaller government, lower taxes

Trent Somes, III, may not be old enough to vote but that didnt stop him from creating a new political organization dedicated to ensuring that the residents of one western Pennsylvania county can enjoy all of their freedoms, all of the time. The 17 year - old junior at Penn - Trafford High School founded the Westmoreland County Libertarians (WCL) after learning about libertarian ideals and realizing that they represent the best hope for securing our countrys future.

The WCL held its inaugural meeting yesterday afternoon on the steps of the historic Westmoreland County Courthouse in Greensburg, PA. Following opening remarks by Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania (LPPA) media relations chair Nick Frollini, the WCL adopted its organizational documents, elected its initial officers, and formally approved a petition to the LPPA for recognition as the official Westmoreland Country affiliate of the Pennsylvania branch of the third largest political party in the country.

In addition to Trent, who was named chair of the WCL, elected were: Nick Testa, vice chair; Alexander Davis, finance chair; Evan Buchanan, treasurer; and Thomas Strang, secretary. While the other members of the board are old enough to vote, the

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The Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania