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Politics : Libertarian Discussion Forum -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Mama Bear who wrote (3770)	6/11/2000 2:19:00 PM
From: miraje	Respond to of 13062

Hi Barb, Good questions. In addition to being in complete agreement with your (and libertarian) positions on the issues you mentioned, I am an advocate of laissez-faire capitalism, elimination of all trade barriers, from tariffs to the anti-trust laws that are being abused today, and against compulsory union membership and corporate welfare in its many forms. I favor the abolition of the IRS, as well as massive downsizing of government in general. On social issues, I am strongly pro-choice on reproductive decisions, against capital punishment (on principle, not through any bleeding heart sympathy for human scum), firmly against any state sponsored or advocated religious doctrine, and fully in support of the right of any adult to engage in any lifestyle choices that he or she may chose to live, as long as it doesn't involve infringement of anyone elses basic human rights. Now, if I wished to start the JB Party, open only to those who agreed with me on all these issues, (and the rest of my firmly held "radical" beliefs), it would be a very small party, indeed. <VBG> I guess my "big tent" point is for the LP not to "excommunicate" or scare away those who don't agree with, or understand, every position. The trickiest job is to present "radical" libertarian ideas in a non-radical, non-threatening, friendly, educational manner. On gun control, for example, many NRA members might join the LP if they weren't scared of, and in opposition to, the partys drug decriminalization stance. I say invite them in and try to explain to them the similarities between their right to own firearms, without fear of governmental control and confiscation, and someone elses right to relax in their living room and smoke a joint, without fear of arrest and incarceration, if they so chose. I've got a friend, who's a cop and NRA member, and I've convinced him of the above. He's not happy with his job, BTW, but I've told him we need more cops like him, who are aware of the difference between bad laws and good laws and are able to exercise discretion in enforcement. The "party of principle" can only grow and thrive by educating people that libertarian principles are not wild eyed, radical, and unobtainable, but, in fact, reasonable and supportive of their own self interest. It is a difficult challenge, but I do think that the LP could do a better job of it. Regards, JB