A New Approach to the LP Platform
An ad hoc subcommittee of the Libertarian Reform Caucus (LRC) has developed a new approach to the LP Platform.
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Posted January 14, 2007
An ad hoc subcommittee of the Libertarian Reform Caucus (LRC) has developed a new approach to the LP Platform. Since the LP National Convention in Portland in July 2006, it has become clear to many that the Platform needs an entirely new approach. With most of the Platform being rejected by the Convention, now seems to be an excellent time to ask the basic questions about the Platform: What should it be? Who is it for? How should it read?
The LRC s operative premise is that the LP should stand for libertarian change that can plausibly be enacted in “the next term in office.” The current and old Platform did not and does not do that. Most of the Platform explicitly prescribes radical social change. While most Libertarians would like to see such changes – sooner rather than later—the LRC believes it would be far more appropriate for Libertarians to advocate nearer-term, practical solutions. It is simply inappropriate for a political party that wishes to win elective office to suggest radical changes in government that non-Libertarians neither endorse nor even understand.
Further, there are any number of issues on which Libertarians are divided, even on a theoretical basis. Abortion, for example, is an issue that many Libertarians take different positions on. There are various brands of Libertarians: moderates, radicals, constitutionalists, greens. The current platform exposes old differences, and attempts to mollify both radicals and moderates by including both long term visions and more moderate, incremental changes. The net effect is a document that the LRC ad hoc platform committee believes is tortured and confusing for the general public and even for Libertarians.
The current Platform is, in short, a millstone for Libertarian candidates. Libertarian candidates who may get serious attention in a campaign often find themselves being asked questions about whether the candidate supports some of the more radical views in the Platform.
This LRC ad hoc committee believes there is a better way to approach the Platform. Rather than having a long, ponderous Platform, why not have a short and simple one? Should we not have a Platform that many voters can read, understand, and even support?
If the LP had such a Platform, Libertarian candidates would have more flexibility to develop positions that would be appealing in their races. They could run on the Platform, rather than away from it.
The Platform should be a marketing tool for our candidates, not a stick to beat them with. We need to use broad language that allows multiple libertarian solutions and doesn't tie the hands of candidates. We should have a platform which both moderate and radical libertarian candidates can support, while maintaining moderate appeal from the left-right political spectrum.
Although such a short Platform does not lend itself to much analysis, the LP would have other, more appropriate means to discuss policy in a more in-depth way. Candidates, of course, can develop longer discussions of the issues with “white papers,” websites, campaign brochures and even books. The Party in Convention can still adopt longer-form Resolutions to address current issues. And this LRC ad hoc committee believes that a supporting document, perhaps in the form of a Program, should be developed. This Program’s format can be further deliberated upon once we—as a Caucus—decide upon a Platform direction.
There are two Short Platform Versions submitted by the LRC ad hoc subcommittee that adopt this new approach. Please review these below. While they are somewhat similar, Version A restricts each plank to 20 words or less. Version B is slightly wordier, covers somewhat different issues, and contains plank titles. The Preambles also differ slightly in approach. Please note that Version A has a few optional planks on which we seek your feedback. For both Versions A and B, you will have the option of rating your support or opposition to any or all of the individual issues and planks.
The LRC ad hoc committee's goal is to offer this kind of approach to the LP's Platform Committee, and then the entire LP delegation at the 2008 Convention. We need your feedback on this overall approach, on your preference between Version A and B, and also on the specific individual issues and planks. Once a reasonable portion of LRC members have voted –- hopefully within a couple months –- the ad hoc committee will then evaluate the feedback and proceed according to the consensus at that point.
After reviewing these examples of Short Platforms A and B below, please rate your support or opposition to each of the Short Platform A/B General Format Questions that follow. Afterward, you will be instructed to go to the appropriate pages for voting, and commenting, on the individual issues and planks of both Versions.
Thank you.
—The Members of the LRC ad hoc Committee on the Platform
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Short Platform A Format Example
Preamble
Libertarians seek to reinvigorate our nation's heritage of individual liberty, personal responsibility, and limited government. Based on these principles, we therefore offer the following common-sense proposals:
1. Cut taxes, simplify the tax code, eliminate wasteful spending, and balance the budget.
2. Bring our brave troops home from Iraq, maintain a strong national defense, and secure our borders.
3. Keep our streets safe by refocusing law enforcement on violent crime.
4. Make healthcare more efficient, flexible, and affordable.
5. Adopt effective and balanced environmental protections.
6. Remove the barriers to choice and competition in education.
7. End corporate welfare, repeal unnecessary regulations, and remove obstacles to trade.
8. Transition Social Security to personal retirement accounts while protecting current benefits.
9. Uphold our constitutional and civil liberties, especially privacy and self-defense rights.
10. Stop eminent domain abuse.
11. Ensure that elections are fair and accurate.
12. Leave marriage decisions to loving couples and their faiths.
13. Legalize medical marijuana for adults.
14. Send no troops to war without a constitutionally required declaration of war from Congress.
Short Platform B Format Example
Preamble
We seek to reinvigorate our nation's heritage of individual liberty, personal responsibility, and limited government. United by these principles, we invite all to join us in support of the following common-sense reforms:
1. Tax and Spending
Reduce government by enacting significant and real tax cuts, reforming and simplifying the tax system, eliminating wasteful spending, and balancing the budget.
2. National Defense
Secure our borders, maintain a strong national defense, and require a congressional declaration of war for armed engagements abroad.
3. Social Security
Transition Social Security to sustainable, individually owned, privately invested retirement accounts, while protecting vested retiree benefits.
4. Healthcare
Make healthcare more efficient, flexible, and affordable by encouraging market-based solutions, and eliminating regulations which artificially drive up healthcare costs.
5. Education
Foster school choice and competition at the state and local levels, while eliminating federal involvement and advocating parental involvement.
6. Bureaucracy and Corruption
End corporate welfare, repeal unnecessary and bureaucratic regulations and remove obstacles to free trade, while holding public officials accountable to uphold the Constitution and protect individual rights.
7. Immigration
Allow immigration within a reasonable length of time, while rejecting potential immigrants that would pose a threat to public health or national security; prohibit illegal aliens from using our public welfare and public healthcare systems.
8. Drug Prohibition
Explore alternatives to the failing drug prohibition policies and laws that define drug users as criminals.
9. Crime Prevention
Keep our streets safe by refocusing law enforcement on violent crime, while maintaining the right to individual self defense.
10. Eminent Domain
Enforce eminent domain restrictions: only take private property for public use and with just compensation.
11. Election System
Revise our voting system to incorporate fairness, transparency, accuracy, and accountability.
12. Environmental Legislation
Revise environmental protections to balance both the rights of property owners and the rights of citizens to be free of environmental hazards.
Short Platform General Format Questions
Please rate your support for a short and broad plank design, which both radical and moderate Libertarian candidates can support.
Please rate your support for omitting details regarding issues and solutions from the Platform, and including them in a separate supporting document.
Please rate your support for a small platform (< 15/20 planks).
Please rate your support for short planks (< 20 words).
Please rate your support for medium planks (< 40 words).
Please rate your support for having titles for planks.
Please rate your support for the current LP Platform format (Issue / Principle / Solutions / Transitional Action).
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Please go to the Short Platform A and Short Platform B pages for voting on these respective formats as well as on individual issues and planks.
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