The Libertarian Party is America's third largest political party and the only party working for everyone's liberty on every issue, every day.  The Libertarian Party is unique in American politics, because it is a party created to spread and implement the political philosophy of libertarianism: We hold that all individuals have the right to exercise sole dominion over their own lives, and have the right to live in whatever manner they choose, so long as they do not forcibly interfere with the right of others to live in the manner they choose. Why Should I Support a Third Party? After all, the guy on TV keeps saying that you're wasting your vote; a third party candidate can't win.  That's exactly what the big two parties want you to believe, because it preserves their monopoly on power.  As long as you believe them, or settle for the "lesser of two evils" nothing will change. Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura proved that a third party candidate can win a major office.  It sure looks like the guy on TV was wrong again. The truth is that the only wasted vote is the one that is not cast, or the one that is cast for someone other than the candidate who best represents your interests. Our Philosophy There are too many decisions made in Harrisburg on the basis of who is "contributing" the most money - the wrong way - rather than whether something is constitutional, moral, right, and just - how we will make decisions.  We pledge to uphold without compromise the Constitutions of the United States and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. In office, we will dedicate our efforts to the problems of:   Restoration and preservation of individual liberty,   Reversing the expansion of the State Government, and   The task of identifying and repealing existing unconstitutional laws, bureaucracies, and regulations. We are not and do not intend to ever be attorneys or career politicians; rather we will serve our elected term or terms in office as citizen legislators and then return to our professions.  Unlike many career politicians who were born and raised in wealth, we know what it's like to work for a living - just like you! "They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."  Benjamin Franklin, Statesman "I have sworn upon the altar of God, eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man."  Thomas Jefferson, Third President of the United States Positions on Specific Issues Crime:   Violent criminals must be removed from society until such time as they are no longer a threat to the general public.  Prisons must be reformed to simply and inexpensively isolate violent criminals from the rest of society.   Non-violent offenders should make restitution and perform community service, rather than be imprisoned.   There can be no offense where one's actions do not violate someone else's natural and Constitutional rights.  It is clearly within the rights and civic duty of the people to defend themselves against crime with any available means.   As much as some violent offenders deserve the Death Penalty, the State does not have the moral authority to take a life.  Only the intended victim of a violent offense has that right.  Particularly in the light of recent discoveries of numerous innocent people on death row, the death penalty must be repealed. Gun Control:   The Right to Keep and Bear Arms is clearly an individual right which specifically precludes licensing or registration of firearms.  It also clearly prohibits any restriction on the ownership or possession of any type of firearm.  Guns in the hands of good and moral people are the best defense against crime.  An armed populace is the original and best "Homeland Security." "The Right of the People to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed." means exactly what it says (directive clause, Article 2 of the Bill of Rights). "The right of the citizens to bear arms in defense of themselves and the State shall not be questioned." also means exactly what it says (Article 1, Section 21 of the Pennsylvania Constitution).   We will work to repeal any firearm legislation which does not apply specifically to the criminal misuse of firearms.  Only a criminal conviction and specific finding of incompetence may be used to restrain this or any other right.  We will work to terminate and erase the handgun "Record of Sale" database, and to repeal the unconstitutional concealed carry "permit" laws.   The only legitimate purpose of a background check when purchasing a firearm is to assure the seller that the buyer is not a wanted or convicted criminal.  We will work to create a new anonymous criminal records check which will not require the make, model or serial number of the firearm to be reported.  It will operate similar to the criminal records check that any policeman may run on you when, for example, you get pulled over for speeding.  It will be available to the general public, so that other businesses may utilize the features; for example, a car dealer would benefit from knowing that the person about to test drive a new car is not a wanted or convicted car thief. Health Care:   State regulations, including the mandatory malpractice insurance law, combined with obscene lawsuits and awards, are responsible for needlessly driving costs out of the reach of the average citizen.  Competition in the free market will moderate costs -- subsidizing insurance premiums with tax revenues will only encourage prices to escalate. The retired must come to terms with the fact that the money they put into the Social Security system has long ago been spent by the Federal Government.  It is gone.  Even the "surplus" was spent literally as it was collected from their paychecks.  The money they are receiving comes directly from the paychecks of today's workers, and the "Trust Fund" contains only IOU's -- promises that tomorrow's workers will pony up for the debt.  Like all other pyramid or Ponzi schemes (which are very illegal if an ordinary citizen tries to run one), the system will eventually fail.  It is not a matter of "if" but "when." We must work to provide an environment where ordinary people, including the retired as well as the working, can afford the basic health care they need.  This is best accomplished by eliminating government interference in the free market.  Charity and volunteer organizations will help those in need. Military: The Pennsylvania National Guard should be under the exclusive control of the Governor, for the purpose of defending the citizens of Pennsylvania, and not be an auxiliary branch of the United States armed forces.  We must recognize and promote local militias as the defenders of the peace -- on call, independent assistants to the local police, fire, and emergency departments. Drugs:   Let us make one thing perfectly clear:  Contrary to what you hear on TV or radio, or read in the news -- no one in the Libertarian Party condones the abuse of drugs -- any drug, legal or not.   However, it is obvious to all clear thinking Americans that, like the Prohibition of Alcohol from 1919 to 1933, the "War on Drugs" is a failure.  It is directly responsible for provoking more than half of the crime in America.  It is a staggeringly expensive blunder which includes repugnantly unconstitutional civil asset forfeiture laws.  It corrupts the law enforcement organizations.  It must be ended.   Prohibition did not work in the early 20th century, and it will never work today.  It is a cure which is far worse than the disease, and its support is fueled by prejudice and misinformation.   Prior to the War on Drugs, recreational drugs were freely available at local pharmacies.  They were produced by companies who grew into today's major pharmaceutical manufacturers.  They were taxed and provided general revenue for the government.  There were some instances of abuse and associated problems, but the War has only made the situation worse.   Prohibition has created a black market which rewards drug trafficking with huge profits.  It entices youth into drug dealing instead of employment.  It provides a major revenue source to international terrorist organizations.  It this what you really want?   There are better solutions.   We can protect our children and promote sobriety by punishing those people who abuse drugs, any drug including alcohol or legal prescription drugs, and commit real crimes.  Prosecute people who commit offenses like driving intoxicated, assault, robbery, or selling drugs to minors.   It is senseless to persecute and destroy the lives of responsible adults who harm no one else.   As an unfortunate side effect, the War has deprived us of a valuable and useful raw material.  Hemp - a non intoxicating cousin of the marijuana plant - is a "Schedule One" controlled substance, and banned in the United States (thanks to political pressure from the DuPont organization, who wanted to suppress competition for nylon and rayon).   It once provided cheap, natural fibers for rope, and the finest paper available.  It thrives in soils where other crops will not grow.  Its seeds and oil are healthy food products, and with modern textile machinery it produces a comfortable and durable fabric.  It could save millions of acres of trees from being harvested for paper.  Its oil can be used for fuels and to make plastics, so it could reduce our dependence on foreign oil.  Thomas Jefferson (3rd president of the United States) grew acres of it.  Today, President Bush and his Attorney General would throw him in prison. Campaign Finance:   Only Citizens of Pennsylvania have the right to influence or participate in our elections, and only for the candidates of their respective districts; therefore all other entities (including foreigners, trade unions, businesses or corporations) may not contribute in any way to the electoral process.   Only citizens who are eligible to vote for a candidate, including the candidate, may contribute to that candidates' campaign, not exceeding an amount prescribed by law.  Citizens may voluntarily organize and contribute through advocacy groups, as long as the group does not redirect money from one citizen to any candidate which that contributor is not eligible to vote for.   There must be no limitation on issue advocacy, including publication of an office holder's voting record or party platform, or "grass-roots" activities such as phone banks and pamphlet distribution.  A group with a regular publication may include in that publication, without limitation, any editorial or voter guide.   Rather than publicly financed incentives, the State may publish and/or broadcast a series of candidate forums and position papers, providing equal coverage to candidates of all parties. Elections:   The Pennsylvania Constitution requires that all elections shall be "free and equal," and election laws must be reformed to comply with this mandate.  We will work to level the playing field for all candidates of all parties, and to dispel the myth of the "two-party" system.  The nomination process must be identical for all parties and candidates, and filing fees eliminated. Taxes:    The State Government receives more than enough revenue from Sales and Excise taxes to perform all of the functions which it is Constitutionally empowered to perform.  With careful oversight of spending, the state income and estate taxes can be eliminated.   Business and Corporation taxes must be uniform throughout the state, and low enough to be a minor burden.  Subsidies, "Corporate Welfare" and special breaks for specific companies or industries must be ended as they are unconstitutional, immoral, and a major cause of poltical corruption. Abortion:   This is one issue that cannot be resolved by government.  Since Americans, in general, are evenly split on this issue, the two major parties use it to divide them.  Their behavior in politicizing it is a disgrace.   It is perfectly logical to be "pro-life" and "pro-choice" at the same time -- these two positions are neither opposite nor mutually exclusive.  Very few people believe that abortion should be completely banned under all circumstances, and even fewer support the availability of abortion on demand at any stage.   There is a vast middle ground, and a Medical Ethics commission to set reasonable and appropriate guidelines for physicians.  The State is simply not qualified to make such an intimate and personal decision, and no one person is either qualified or entitled to make that decision for someone else.   Consider that, with a few small changes to the abortion laws, a whole realm of new options can be opened to women - more alternatives in adoption and pre-natal care which will promote the preservation of new life.   Only the people, the parents and families can reduce the demand for abortion by teaching to children the proper morality and values to make abortion a remnant of the past.   Respect for individual liberty requires that the woman carrying a child has the ultimate responsibility for any decision on this issue, not the State. Education:   Our schools have declined steadily ever since compulsory attendance and tax funding were imposed.  You must realize that there is no such thing as the "free education" other politicians promise you.  One way or another, you pay for it -- in real estate taxes (paid indirectly by renters) and in sales and excise taxes.   Schools should be returned to the private sector, funded by tuition.  This is how the American schools of the 1800's became the world standard of quality in education.  People who need help paying tuition will get it, and people with grown or no children will not be robbed for property taxes which now fund public schools.   We will propose a transition plan where revenue from existing state sales and excise taxes will replace property taxes, and will be granted to all schools, public and private.  The schools will then compete with each other to provide the best quality education using the excise tax revenue, which will be gradually reduced.  In time, tuition will make up the balance of the education costs as we determine by experience the best proportion of tax to tuition funding. Welfare:   Neither the State or The Federal Government have any Constitutional authority to seize the earnings of some of its citizens and redistribute it to others.  This is Socialism and it promotes dependency and invites fraud.  The generosity of the American People, especially when relieved of today's crushing tax burden, will prove to be most effective in helping those who are truly in need.   Welfare must be reformed away from a money oriented system.  Whenever money is handed out, fraud and abuse thrives.  Instead, when people are hungry, arrange to get them food.  When they need shelter, help get shelters built, maintained and supervised.  Coordinating charitable organizations, who work directly with the needy, is much more effective. What You Can Do ?  Get Involved ! Register To Vote - and Vote every time. Spread the word about the Libertarian Party and our candidates. Encourage your friends and family to register and vote. Help us distribute literature. RUN FOR OFFICE ! LPLC Home