Libertarian Party Platform Discussion

This page provides a forum for Libertarians to discuss the national Libertarian Party platform: National Platform.

This page is maintained by Dr. Roger M. Rosewall: roger.m.rosewall@gmail.com

Preamble

This was added at the National Convention 1983.

Statement of Principles

TBD

Personal Liberty

TBD

Economic Liberty

TBD

Securing Liberty

National Defense

"We support the maintenance of a sufficient military to defend the United States against aggression. The United States should both avoid entangling alliances and abandon its attempts to act as policeman for the world. We oppose any form of compulsory national service." (2018)

Clarification is needed for the following.

• Does a treaty between the U.S. government and a foreign government constitute an "entangling alliance"?
• Does the phrase "entangling alliances" refer to all defense alliances, or does it imply a distinction between some alliances as being "entangling" and others as not?
• Does the phrase, "policeman for the world" have specific meaning?
• Does the opposition to "any form of compulsory national service" apply to the military in time of declared war?

International Affairs

"American foreign policy should seek an America at peace with the world. Our foreign policy should emphasize defense against attack from abroad and enhance the likelihood of peace by avoiding foreign entanglements. We would end the current U.S. government policy of foreign intervention, including military and economic aid. We recognize the right of all people to resist tyranny and defend themselves and their rights. We condemn the use of force, and especially the use of terrorism, against the innocent, regardless of whether such acts are committed by governments or by political or revolutionary groups." (2018)

Clarification is needed for the following.

• Does a treaty between the U.S. government and a foreign government constitute an "entangling alliance"?
• The phrase, "avoiding foreign entanglements" implies defense alliances do not support the goal of "defense against attack from abroad."
• In practical terms, the call to end "military and economic aid" forfeits the ability to shape the security environment, giving free rein to adversaries hostile to the peace and security of the United States.
• The military and economic ability of people in other nations to "resist tyranny" is often limited. Should the United States refuse to provide military and economic aid to assist them in their struggle to "resist tyranny and defend themselves and their rights"?

Free Trade and Migration

"We support the removal of governmental impediments to free trade. Political freedom and escape from tyranny demand that individuals not be unreasonably constrained by government in the crossing of political boundaries. Economic freedom demands the unrestricted movement of human as well as financial capital across national borders." (2018)

Clarification is needed for the following.

• The phrase, "individuals not be unreasonably constrained by government in the crossing of political boundaries" implicitly acknowledges the existence of reasonable constraints. Presumably the reasonable constraints are consistent with the party platform's stand on National Defense (Party Platform, "3.1 National Defense, 2018). The clarification of reasonable and unreasonable constraints is necessary.
• The demand for "unrestricted movement" of persons across national borders appears to conflict with the implicit acknowledgement of reasonable constraints on border crossing. This apparent contradiction requires clarification.
• The demand for "unrestricted movement" of financial capital across national borders presumably does not apply to all financial capital, e.g., contraband, stolen property, counterfeit currency, etc. Clarification is needed.

Omissions

TBD