Would you support this 10-plank party platform?

[WWFStern]

1. Immediately end all political foreign aid. Immediately scale back humanitarian foreign aid.

2. Adopt a strict policy of non-intervention with respect to foreign conflicts. The US will only get involved in military conflicts if said conflicts demonstrably and substantially affect us.

3. Recognize an absolute, unrestricted right to abortion, as well as a personal right to die.

4. Repeal any and all laws banning private, adult drug use.

5. Promote global free trade (including with countries that have poor human rights records) and eliminate as many tariffs as feasible.

6. End all forms of torture and end all forms of the death penalty.

7. Expand domestic oil drilling (especially ANWR), raise fuel efficiency standards and explore non-Middle Eastern foreign oil sources.

8. Repeal any and all obscenity/indecency laws.

9. Repeal any and all laws regulating private, consensual, adult sexual activity.

10. Transform healthcare from a public obligation to a private responsibility.

 

[WWFStern]

By the way, this platform essentially represents Libertarianism, the only real party of small government.

 

[burrow_owl]

(1) and (5) arguably work against one another. My sense (which is not backed with evidence; it's just an intuition) is that our generosity with aid enables us to secure favorable terms in trade talks.

 

[SummerMadness]

I agree with some things, disagree with others, but I never agree with everything anyone says.

 

[Ryal Kane]

With the exception of 6, 7 and to an extent 8 and 9, I don't support any of those.

 

[shye]

I agree with a lot of them, but not all.

 

[CCGirl]

I would only support # 3, 4, 6, 8 and 9.

 

[variant]

No to 1 as it is the easiest (cheapest) way to have peace in the world and avoid war/interventionism (very costly) later.

No to 7 as it is unnecessary, because we should be exploring and promoting alternative fuels for the country even though they are economically unfeasible today.

Either of these is a good purpose for government. Avoiding conflicts overseas by helping those in need, or helping the private sector with long term planning.

 

[Texas Lynn]

1. Immediately end all political foreign aid. Immediately scale back humanitarian foreign aid.

2. Adopt a strict policy of non-intervention with respect to foreign conflicts. The US will only get involved in military conflicts if said conflicts demonstrably and substantially affect us.

3. Recognize an absolute, unrestricted right to abortion, as well as a personal right to die.

4. Repeal any and all laws banning private, adult drug use.

5. Promote global free trade (including with countries that have poor human rights records) and eliminate as many tariffs as feasible.

6. End all forms of torture and end all forms of the death penalty.

7. Expand domestic oil drilling (especially ANWR), raise fuel efficiency standards and explore non-Middle Eastern foreign oil sources.

8. Repeal any and all obscenity/indecency laws.

9. Repeal any and all laws regulating private, consensual, adult sexual activity.

10. Transform healthcare from a public obligation to a private responsibility.

No. It's too libertarian and absolutist.

I can't support #s 7 and 10 out of conscience.

#s 1, 2, 5, and 6 are unrealistic.

# 4 falls short in product liability, prescription regulation areas. Now-if it had said do you support decriminalization of marijuana, cocaine, heroin, etc., I'd have said yes. Criminalization is not the solution to the illicit drug problem.

#s 3, 8 and 9 sound excellent. But in reality none are going to happen.

 

[Defensor Fidei]

1. Immediately end all political foreign aid. Immediately scale back humanitarian foreign aid.

2. Adopt a strict policy of non-intervention with respect to foreign conflicts. The US will only get involved in military conflicts if said conflicts demonstrably and substantially affect us.

3. Recognize an absolute, unrestricted right to abortion, as well as a personal right to die.

4. Repeal any and all laws banning private, adult drug use.

5. Promote global free trade (including with countries that have poor human rights records) and eliminate as many tariffs as feasible.

6. End all forms of torture and end all forms of the death penalty.

7. Expand domestic oil drilling (especially ANWR), raise fuel efficiency standards and explore non-Middle Eastern foreign oil sources.

8. Repeal any and all obscenity/indecency laws.

9. Repeal any and all laws regulating private, consensual, adult sexual activity.

10. Transform healthcare from a public obligation to a private responsibility.

Numbers 1 and 2 are the only ones I could support without reservation. #'s 4 and 6 are not specific enough, and the rest are just plain awful.

 

[WWFStern]

Numbers 1 and 2 are the only ones I could support without reservation. #'s 4 and 6 are not specific enough, and the rest are just plain awful.

Thanks for commenting.

What's wrong with these two, for example:

8. Repeal any and all obscenity/indecency laws.

9. Repeal any and all laws regulating private, consensual, adult sexual activity.

Do you really think the government has any business deciding what's "indecent" or "obscene" for YOU to watch?

Do you really think the government has any business deciding what's "acceptable" or "unacceptable" for an adult to do in bed consensually with another adult?

Libertarians, such as myself, value one thing above all else: liberty.

 

[JoshuaW]

Just shows how nutty and unrealistic Libertarians are. They only support measures that conform to this list.
Oh, and in addition they don't support Social Security or health care, believing that every American should live or die based on their own worth.

 

[Defensor Fidei]

Thanks for commenting.

What's wrong with these two, for example:

8. Repeal any and all obscenity/indecency laws.

Well this one too was a bit vague and thus, difficult to comment on. Is this referring to media regulation, or to public indecency laws, or something else I am missing?

Do you really think the government has any business deciding what's "indecent" or "obscene" for YOU to watch?

If the government starts ruling out dissenting views as too "indecent" for me to watch, there is a problem. A man sodomizing another man on video is a different matter.

9. Repeal any and all laws regulating private, consensual, adult sexual activity.

Do you really think the government has any business deciding what's "acceptable" or "unacceptable" for an adult to do in bed consensually with another adult?

While I am not advocating police invasions or criminal prosecution for what individuals do in private, proper sexual behavior should still remain officially recognized and endorsed by the state. And in public, of course, full prosecution should ensue for obscene sexual acts.

Degenerate sexuality is not an issue in a healthy society.

Libertarians, such as myself, value one thing above all else: liberty.

Many have worshipped at that altar, yet few seem to recognize that what they advocate is nothing more than ruthless egocentricity.

 

[susanann]

By the way, this platform essentially represents Libertarianism, the only real party of small government.

1. Libertarians also believe in unlimited immigration (inevitably leading to overpopulation) and leaving our borders completely unprotected.


2. The only real "sane" party of small government is actually the Constitution Party.

 

[Eryk]

Libertarians, such as myself, value one thing above all else: liberty.
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When libertarians come out for workplace democracy, I will believe you. Wealth is created socially, and until it is democratically controlled, we do not live in a democracy.

Anarchism is the "no-government form of socialism" (Peter Kropotkin). It's the only truly democratic political philosophy, IMO.

 

[platzapS]

1. Immediately end all political foreign aid. Immediately scale back humanitarian foreign aid.

I want to drastically scale back foreign military aid. Humanitarian aid should be measured for its effectiveness, but for the most part continued.

2. Adopt a strict policy of non-intervention with respect to foreign conflicts. The US will only get involved in military conflicts if said conflicts demonstrably and substantially affect us.

I agree to some extent.

3. Recognize an absolute, unrestricted right to abortion, as well as a personal right to die.

Unrestricted right to abortion until Week 20 or so. Then, cut purely elective abortion. I support "death with dignity", or consensual euthanasia.

4. Repeal any and all laws banning private, adult drug use.

I think I agree.

5. Promote global free trade (including with countries that have poor human rights records) and eliminate as many tariffs as feasible.

I think I agree.

6. End all forms of torture and end all forms of the death penalty.

I think I agree.

7. Expand domestic oil drilling (especially ANWR), raise fuel efficiency standards and explore non-Middle Eastern foreign oil sources.

Domestic oil drilling? Yes, so long as it is economically feasible and not horribly intrusive on the environment. We should raise fuel efficiency standards (Wait, how is that liberatarian? Shouldn't you let the market dictate how efficient cars should be?). Non-middle eastern foriegn oil sources, good (anything to stop funding the awful regime in Saudi Arabia).

8. Repeal any and all obscenity/indecency laws.

I think I agree.

9. Repeal any and all laws regulating private, consensual, adult sexual activity.

I think I agree.

10. Transform healthcare from a public obligation to a private responsibility.

This is the only thing I completely disagree with. I support universal taxpayer-funded health insurance, if only partial. You can get more from private companies if you want, but the government provides basic health insurance.

 

[WWFStern]

If the government starts ruling out dissenting views as too "indecent" for me to watch, there is a problem. A man sodomizing another man on video is a different matter.

The problem is that "offensive" is a purely subjective notion. I find adult sodomy being broadcast on TV only mildly offensive. I find an Intelligent Design lecture being broadcast on TV highly offensive. Which should the FCC ban? How about neither? Since there is no correct answer about what is "offensive," that means nothing should be considered as such by the government. Let each home decide by itself, according to its preferences.

While I am not advocating police invasions or criminal prosecution for what individuals do in private, proper sexual behavior should still remain officially recognized and endorsed by the state. And in public, of course, full prosecution should ensue for obscene sexual acts.

Who defines "proper"? I consider homosexual intercourse wholly proper. Do you? If not, whose standards should the government inflict upon the other? How about the government just butts out altogether?

Degenerate sexuality is not an issue in a healthy society.

Who gets to define "degeneracy"? Certainly I, as an atheist, reject the Bible's moral prescriptions. I cannot conceive of any sexual act between consenting adults being degenerate. In fact, I cannot conceive of any act at all between consenting adults being degenerate.

 

[[serious]]

1. Immediately end all political foreign aid. Immediately scale back humanitarian foreign aid.

no

2. Adopt a strict policy of non-intervention with respect to foreign conflicts. The US will only get involved in military conflicts if said conflicts demonstrably and substantially affect us.

no

3. Recognize an absolute, unrestricted right to abortion, as well as a personal right to die.

no to the abortion one, yes to right to die. Abortion needs strict regulation to ensure that it is both safe and rare.

4. Repeal any and all laws banning private, adult drug use.

I'm indifferent

5. Promote global free trade (including with countries that have poor human rights records) and eliminate as many tariffs as feasible.

no

6. End all forms of torture and end all forms of the death penalty.

I'd be on board for this

7. Expand domestic oil drilling (especially ANWR), raise fuel efficiency standards and explore non-Middle Eastern foreign oil sources.

no to the first, yes to the rest

8. Repeal any and all obscenity/indecency laws.

What we have now is reasonable

9. Repeal any and all laws regulating private, consensual, adult sexual activity.

yes

10. Transform healthcare from a public obligation to a private responsibility.

no

 

[Law of Loud]

1. Immediately end all political foreign aid. Immediately scale back humanitarian foreign aid.

Not in the least, as foreign aid can be a fantastic investment. A stitch in time saves nine.

2. Adopt a strict policy of non-intervention with respect to foreign conflicts. The US will only get involved in military conflicts if said conflicts demonstrably and substantially affect us.

No.

3. Recognize an absolute, unrestricted right to abortion, as well as a personal right to die.

While I personally object to abortion, I do not see its illegalization as an effective way to reduce the number of occuring abortions. As for euthenasia? Not in the least.

4. Repeal any and all laws banning private, adult drug use.

No.

5. Promote global free trade (including with countries that have poor human rights records) and eliminate as many tariffs as feasible.

No.

6. End all forms of torture and end all forms of the death penalty.

Sure.

7. Expand domestic oil drilling (especially ANWR), raise fuel efficiency standards and explore non-Middle Eastern foreign oil sources.

I could go with everything there except for the first part of this plank... there's not that much oil in ANWR anyways.

8. Repeal any and all obscenity/indecency laws.

No, what we have now is fine.

9. Repeal any and all laws regulating private, consensual, adult sexual activity.

Alright... though you'll note that you can pretty much do whatever you want in a private and consensual environment.

10. Transform healthcare from a public obligation to a private responsibility.

The exact opposite. It's not enough of a public obligation.

 

[WWFStern]

Well, at the very least, I'm not the only enthusiastic libertarian in the poll now. Thanks, SisterGeoff!