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From: [email protected] (Joe Dehn)
Newsgroups: talk.politics.libertarian,alt.politics.libertarian,talk.answers,alt.answers,news.answers
Subject: Libertarian Party FAQ: Commonly Asked Questions
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Date: 5 Sep 2002 09:41:29 GMT
Organization: Libertarian Party
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Summary: This article contains answers to ten commonly asked questions about the Libertarian Party.
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                  TEN ANSWERS TO COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS
                        ABOUT THE LIBERTARIAN PARTY

        [Adapted from a flyer distributed by the Libertarian Party.]


1. What is a Libertarian?

  To put it simply, Libertarians believe that you have the right to live
  your life as you wish, without the government interfering -- as long
  as you don't violate the rights of others. Politically, this means
  Libertarians favor rolling back the size and cost of government, and
  eliminating laws that stifle the economy and control people's personal
  choices.

2. Are Libertarians liberal or conservative?

  Libertarians are neither. Unlike liberals or conservatives,
  Libertarians advocate a high degree of both personal and economic
  liberty. In a sense, Libertarians "borrow" from both sides to come
  up with a logical and consistent whole -- but without the
  exceptions and broken promises of Republican and Democratic
  politicians.

  For example, Libertarians agree with conservatives about freedom in
  economic matters; in favor of lowering taxes, slashing bureaucratic
  regulation of business, and charitable -- rather than government --
  welfare. But Libertarians also agree with liberals on personal
  tolerance; in favor of people's right to choose their own personal
  habits and lifestyles.

3. How big is the Libertarian Party?

  By almost every measure, the Libertarian Party is the third largest
  political party in America. We're active in all 50 states, and there
  are hundreds of vigorous state, county, and local Libertarian
  organizations.  Despite unfair and restrictive ballot access laws
  passed by the Republicans and Democrats in many states, there are
  already more than 224,000 registered Libertarians in 26 states
  around the country -- a number which has jumped by 100% in the
  last eight years.

4. Do Libertarians win many elections?

  More and more all the time. Right now, there are over 300 Libertarians
  serving in elected public office (plus hundreds more in appointed
  positions). We've elected Libertarian State Representatives in New
  Hampshire, Vermont, and Alaska, mayors in 11 states, and more than
  60 city and town council members in 22 states.  Other Libertarians
  serve on school boards, as city commissioners, on town budget
  committees, as judges of elections, and in a wide variety of other
  elected offices such as city treasurer, district attorney, and sheriff.
  According to Congressional Quarterly, these Libertarian officeholders
  "give the party a status no third party has enjoyed in decades".

  There have been Libertarian candidates for president and vice
  president on the ballot in all 50 states in the last three presidential
  elections -- an achievement unmatched by any other alternative party.

  In 2000, more than 250 Libertarians ran for US House of Representatives,
  the first time in eighty years that a majority of the seats were
  contested by any party other than the Republicans or Democrats.
  Libertarian candidates for US Senate received more than one million
  votes, 3.3 million Americans voted for at least one Libertarian
  candidate, and at least 35 Libertarians were elected to public
  office.

5. What is the party membership fee for?

  Your annual membership payment -- which gets you a subscription to our
  monthly newspaper LP News -- helps finance our work to spread the word
  about the Libertarian Party. With your help, we can keep the media
  informed; run Internet, radio, and magazine advertisements; and send
  information to more Americans.  We also support Libertarian candidates
  in winnable races; promote pro-freedom legislation at the federal
  level; provide resources to our state and local organizations;
  and much more!

6. Why do you ask me to sign a membership statement?

  Libertarians are working to reduce the role of government in society.
  A government that was concerned only with protecting individual rights
  would no longer be initiating force to achieve the political or
  social goals of politicians and special interest groups.

  That's why we ask new Libertarian Party members to sign the statement
  (on the membership form) -- to remind us of the need to reduce the
  power of government, and to dedicate our political efforts towards
  achieving that goal.

  One other question commonly asked is: Does this mean that
  Libertarians don't believe in the right of self-defense?  No.  The
  key word is that we don't advocate the _initiation_ of force.  We
  believe all individuals have the right to use appropriate force
  to defend themselves, their families, and their country.

7. What kind of people join the Libertarian Party?

  People like you.  People who used to be Republicans, Democrats, and
  independents -- from all walks of life. They have joined us because
  they realize that we're the only political party working for their
  personal and economic liberty.

  Another question we sometimes hear: Is political extremist Lyndon
  LaRouche in the Libertarian Party?  No. LaRouche has never been
  associated in any way with us.  He runs for office as a Democrat.

8. Why don't I hear more about the Libertarian Party?

  The media have been slow to realize that the Republicans and
  Democrats now have serious competition. But, as the party becomes
  more successful, we're attracting more and more favorable attention.
  For example...

  Former Senator William Proxmire (D-Wisconsin) said: "The Libertarian
  Party is a breath of fresh air ... They are offering a clear
  alternative."

  The Investor's Business Daily wrote: "Long consigned to the political
  wilderness... libertarians are seeing their ideas accepted by state
  and local governments, once the undisputed turf of Democrats. Regional
  governments increasingly are adopting free-market policies originally
  developed by libertarian thinkers, making what were once considered
  extreme views part of the mainstream."

  Hugh Downs, formerly of ABC's 20/20 said: "All the really good ideas
  belong to Libertarians."

  The Hill in Washington, DC wrote: "The Libertarian Party provides
  a case study in how a grassroots organization works to establish
  itself as a third voice for a frustrated electorate."

  The Los Angeles Times wrote: "Libertarianism has contributed much
  to defining American political thought. Libertarian themes are
  part of contemporary political discourse."

9. Are Libertarians having an impact on American politics?

  Libertarians all around the nation have been actively defending
  Americans' rights on a wide range of issues:

  Tennessee: "If it weren't for the Libertarians, I believe we'd
  have an income tax by now," said Nashville talk radio host Steve
  Gill.  The Tennessee Libertarian Party played a major role in a
  coalition that blocked a new state income tax in 2000 and 2001.

  Alabama: In 2001, a Libertarian city councilman in Adamsville
  repealed a city ordinance requiring citizens to get a permit before
  doing minor home improvement work.

  Colorado: Libertarians rallied to defend the First Amendment rights
  of shock-rocker Marilyn Manson, after politicians considered
  cancelling his June 2001 concert.  "Manson's lyrics are revolting,"
  said Libertarian Ari Armstrong. "But using government to shut out
  messages that some people find offensive is a terrible precedent."

  Washington state: Libertarians helped pass I-747, a 2002 initiative
  that capped property tax increases and will save $1.8 billion over
  six years.

  On issue after issue, in all 50 states, Libertarians are successfully
  defending the Bill of Rights, free enterprise, free trade, private
  charity, and individual liberty.

10. Should I join the Libertarian Party?

  Ask yourself: Is government too big or too small? Are taxes too high
  or too low? Does the government regulate my business too much or too
  little? Does the government control my personal life too much or not
  enough?

  If you agree, like most Americans, that government is too large, too
  expensive, and meddles too much, the Libertarian Party is for you!