New Libertarians Platform Poll

We’d like to start winning elections. The New Libertarians propose to replace the “Preamble to the Libertarian Party Platform” with the “Preamble to the US Constitution”, replace the “Statement of Principles” with the “Bill of Rights” and replace “The Libertarian Party Platform” with the “One Plank Platform”. This poll is to solicit your response to this idea. Because these Libertarian documents are lengthy we paraphrase, but suggest you print out “Libertarian Party Platform” and view the entire texts to verify for yourself.

The “Preamble to the Libertarian Party Platform” reads as follows:

“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 for the benefit of others.

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.

Consequently, we defend each person’s right to engage in any activity that is peaceful and honest, and welcome the diversity that freedom brings. The world we seek to build is one where individuals are free to follow their own dreams in their own ways, without interference from government or any authoritarian power.

In the following pages we have set forth our basic principles and enumerated various policy stands derived from those principles.

These specific policies are not our goal, however. Our goal is nothing more nor less than a world set free in our lifetime, and it is to this end that we take these stands.”

The New Libertarians suggest the “Preamble to the US Constitution” better states our purpose, is much shorter, and is more acceptable to a wider audience. It reads as follows:

“We the People of the United States, in order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, ensure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare and secure the blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”
- I like the “Preamble to the Libertarian Party Platform” as it is.
- I prefer the “Preamble to the US Constitution.”
- I would prefer something different.
- Preamble Blog, please specify:

Statement of Principles vs Bill of Rights
- I prefer the “Statement of Principles.”
- Substitute the “Bill of Rights” for the “Statement of Principles.”
- I prefer something different.
- Bill of Rights Blog, please specify:
1.0 Personal Liberty “…No individual, group, or government may initiate force against any other individual, group, or government.”
- Yes, forbidding violence is a basic Libertarian value.
- No, it’s too unrealistic- invites aggression.
- No, it alienates some voters.
- Defense Blog, please specify:
1.1 Self Ownership ” Individuals own their bodies and have rights over them that other individuals, groups, and governments may not violate. Individuals have freedom and responsibility to decidewhat they knowingly and voluntarily consume, and what risks they accept to their own health, finances, safety or life”
- Yes, this is the most basic Libertarian idea, and should be stated.
- No, this presents dangers to others, and goes too far.
- No, this alienates some voters.
- Liberty Blog, please specify:
1.2 Expression and Communication. (paraphrase) Legalization of pornography, hate speech.
- Yes, this is basic Libertarian philosophy and should be included.
- No, the Bill of Rights is adequate.
- No, this alienates some voters.
- Liberty Blog, please specify:
1.3 Privacy (paraphrase) personal privacy, government transparency.
- Yes
- No, the Fourth Amendment in the Bill of Rights is enough.
- No, this alienates some voters.
- Other, please specify:
1.4 Personal Relationships. (paraphrase) Government has no role to play in Marriage, other interpersonal relationships.
- Yes, this is basic Libertarian belief.
- No, Libertarians should create prenuptual agreements.
- No, this alienates women who feel legal marriage protects them.
- Other, please specify:
1.5 Abortion… (paraphrase) each person decides for themselves
- Yes, Libertarians are Pro-Choice.
- No, the status quo is OK- best to leave it alone.
- No, the issue alienates voters.
- Other, please specify:
1.6 Parental Rights “Parents, or other guardians, have the right to raise their children according to their own standards and beliefs. This statement shall not be construed to condone child abuse or neglect.”
- Yes, this should be included.
- No, it’s awkward and self-contradictory.
- No, this alienates voters.
- Other, please specify:
1.7 Crime and Justice. (paraphrase) “there should be no such thing as a “victimless crime”.
- Yes, this is basic to Libertarianism.
- No, it’s an oversimplification, people disagree about what constitutes victimization.
- No, this alienates voters.
- Other, please specify:
1.8 Death Penalty “We oppose the administration of the death penalty by the State.”
- Yes, this is basic Libertarian Belief.
- No, some crimes deserve it.
- No, it alienates voters.
- Other, please specify:
1.9 Self-Defense (paraphrase) government shouldn’t regulate firearms or ammunition at all.
- Yes, this is basic Libertarian belief.
- No, the State also has an obligation to protect people.
- No, The laws as they are are OK. Let’s not argue about it.
- Other, please specify:
2.0, 2.1, Economic Liberty (paraphrase) The government should stay out of business transactions, except to protect property rights.
- Yes, that’s basic “laissez faire” Libertarianism
- No, because it favors the rich and unfairly disadvantages the poor
- No, because it alienates voters.
- Other, please specify:
2.2 Environment (paraphrase) This plank is incomprehensible
- Yes, this is basic Libertarian belief.
- No, it enables environmental degradation.
- No, it alienates too many voters.
- Other, please specify:
2.3 Energy and Resources (see 2.2)
- Yes, this is basic Libertarian belief.
- No, this enables environmental degradation.
- No, this alienates too many voters.
- Other, please specify:
2.4 Government Finance and Spending.(paraphrase) repeal income tax, abolish IRS, balance the budget, cut expense, no new taxes
- Yes, it’s basic to Libertarianism.
- No, there need to be taxes for expanding needed government services
- No, this alienates voters.
- Other, please specify:
2.5 Government Employees. (paraphrase) no unions, no pensions.
- Yes, this is basic Libertarian ideology.
- No, these are contractual obligations.
- No, this alienates voters.
- Other, please specify:
2.6 Money and Financial Markets (paraphrase) no regulations, no bailouts, buyer beware.
- Yes, it’s basic Libertarian ideology.
- No, it jeopardizes the stability of the financial system.
- No, it alienates voters.
- Other, please specify:
2.7, 2.8 Marketplace Freedom (see 2.2)
- Yes, it’s basic Libertarian Ideology.
- No, it threatens fair markets.
- No, it alienates voters.
- Other, please specify:
2.9 Education (paraphrase) it’s a parental responsibility, for which parents should pay and have complete control.
- Yes, this is basic Libertarian belief.
- No, free public education is a right.
- No, this plank drives away 1/2 of otherwise would-be libertarians.
- Other, please specify:
2.10, 2.11 Health Care, Aging (paraphrase) everyone needs to take care of himself.
- Yes, this is basic Libertarian ideology.
- No, health care is a basic right.
- No, this drives away 1/2 of otherwise would-be Libertarians.
- Other, please specify:
3.0,3.1,3.2,3.3 National Defense (paraphrase) military for defense, only. Avoid foreign relations, no military draft, restricted intelligence…etc.
- Yes, this is the most important part of Libertarian belief.
- No, there are times when it’s necessary.
- No, something in this alienates almost everyone.
- Other, please specify:
3.4 Migration, Immigration, Borders (paraphrase) there should be no borders.
- Yes, this is basic Libertarian belief.
- No, this is “Frisbetarian”,in the real world there are borders.
- No, this drives away voters.
- Other, please specify:
3.5 Rights and Discrimination (paraphrase) there should be no “protected classes” or anti-discrimination laws.
- Yes, this is basic Libertarian belief.
- No, discrimination should be illegal.
- No, this alienates women and minority voters.
- Other, please specify:
3.6, 3.7 Representative Government/Self Determination (paraphrase) Parties should be entirely self financing, and should have to obey no election rules, should have free access to the ballot, etc…
- Yes, this plank is Libertarian.
- No, this plank is nonsense.
- No, it alienates voters.
- Other, please specify:
4.0 Omissions “Our silence about any other particular government law, regulation, ordinance, directive, edict, control, regulatory agency, activity, or machination should not be construed to apply approval.”
- Yes, this is typical Libertarian Ideology.
- No, this is silly.
- No, this alienates voters.
- Other, please specify:
Would you be in favor of eliminating the long, complicated and impractical “Libertarian Party Platform”, and substituting a simple “One Plank Platform”- “We PLEDGE to represent our Constituency- not The Party, the Party Ideology or the Big Money behind the party.”
- Yes
- No
- No opinion
- Other, please specify:
Do you think that New Libertarians ought to be able to run in Republican/Democratic primaries first, and then still be eligible to run on the Libertarian ballot in the general election?
- Yes
- No
- No opinion
- Other, please specify:
Do you believe America needs a viable third party?
- Yes, even if we have to compromise some of our “frisbetarian” ideas.
- No, not if we have to compromise any of our ideals.
- We should have faith that most people share our core beliefs.
- Other, please specify:
(Optional) Is there another question you suggest we include in later polls?