Then why did you keep telling me to read the article at the top of the thread? You see - it is this kind of thing I am talking about when I say you seem to have a problem with simple communication.
Anyway, on that platform here are my responses and positions:
WHEREAS libertarian Republicans believe in limited government, individual freedom and personal responsibility;
Agree.
WHEREAS we believe that government has no money nor power not derived from the consent of the people;
Agree.
WHEREAS we believe that people have the right to keep the fruits of their labor; and
Agree, so long as this is taken in the non-marxist LT of V sense.
WHEREAS we believe in upholding the U. S. Constitution as the supreme law of the land;
I agree, noting that the Constitution is the supreme doctrine of the government of the land.
1.0 FEDERALISM 1.1 The power of the federal government should be limited, as per the tenth amendment to the U. S. Constitution.
Agreed.
2.0 EDUCATION 2.1 The U. S. Department of Education should be abolished, leaving education decision making at the state, local or personal level.
Agreed and in fact would go so far as to suggest that education should not be provided at public expense on any level.
2.2 Parents have the right to spend their money on the school or method of schooling they deem appropriate for their children.
Agreed so long as it is their money and not some government handout disguised as a "rebate" etc.
3.0 HEALTH CARE 3.1 Free market health care alternatives, such as medical savings accounts, should be available to everyone, including senior citizens.
Agreed.
3.2 The federal entitlement to Medicare should be abolished, leaving health care decision making regarding the elderly at the state, local, or personal level.
Agreed and further support the end of all entitlements.
4.0 TAXATION 4.1 The tax system of the United States should be overhauled.
Agreed.
4.2 There should be a national debate discussing various alternative means of taxation including but not limited to a single flat income tax, repealing the income tax and replacing it with a national sales tax, and reducing spending to the point where the income tax can be repealed without the need to replace it with a national sales tax or any other form of taxation.
I agree with the last two options. Flat tax is just a softer version of the income tax.
4.3 The capital gains tax should be *eliminated*. 4.4 The inheritance tax should be *eliminated*. 4.5 The new tax system should be implemented *promptly*.
Agreed on all.
5.0 WELFARE 5.1 The U. S. Department of Health and Human Services should be abolished, leaving decision making on welfare and related matters at the state, local or personal level. All Americans have the right to keep the fruits of their labor to support themselves, their families and whatever charities they so choose, without interference from the federal government.
Agreed and further believe entitlements should not be given at any level.
5.2 All able-bodied Americans have the responsibility to support themselves and their families.
Agreed.
6.0 CRIMINAL JUSTICE 6.1 Every American has the right to keep and bear arms. We affirm our support for the second amendment of the U. S. Constitution.
Strongly agree with.
6.2 All people, regardless of position in the public or private sector, should be held equally accountable under the law. 6.3 The *only* litmus test for Supreme Court or other judges should be their determination to accurately interpret, not amend, the Constitution. Judges have *no* authority to make new law.
Agreed on both.
7.0 CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM 7.1 Election campaigns should not be subsidized by tax payers. 7.2 No individual should be compelled to support a political candidate he or she does not support. Government should not empower trade unions to collect funds from their members for use as political contributions without their members' expressed consent. 7.3 All limits on campaign contributions should be eliminated. 7.4 There should be full and timely public disclosure of all the sources and amounts of all campaign contributions upon their receipt.
Agreed on all.
8.0 FEDERAL BUDGET 8.1 There should be an amendment to the U. S. Constitution to require a balanced budget, provided it includes a supermajority requirement to raise taxes and provided it does not empower the judiciary to unilaterally raise taxes. 8.2 Honest accounting dictates that all federal expenditures should be on budget. 8.3 Each budget should be derived based upon the justification for and needs of each program, with no program being either budgeted for or increased automatically.
Agreed on all
9.0 GOVERNMENT REFORM 9.1 The U. S. Department of Commerce should be abolished, per the tenth amendment of the U. S. Constitution. 9.2 The National Endowment for the Arts should be abolished, per the tenth amendment of the U. S. Constitution. 9.3 The National Endowment for the Humanities should be abolished, per the tenth amendment of the U. S. Constitution. 9.4 The U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development should be abolished, per the tenth amendment of the U. S. Constitution. 9.5 Subsidies to agricultural and other businesses should be eliminated. 9.6 Corporate taxes should be eliminated simultaneously and proportionally with the elimination of subsidies to businesses. 9.7 Recommendations by the Grace Commission and the Council for Citizens Against Government Waste (CCAGW) should be reviewed and implemented, where possible, beginning immediately. 9.8 Privatization of government assets, management and services should be implemented for cost-effectiveness wherever applicable.
Yes on all.
10.0 TRADE 10.1 The U. S. government should inhibit neither the exportation of U. S. goods and services worldwide, nor the importation of goods and services.
Yes on exports, no on imports as I believe tariffs, though undesirable and though I am in favor of free trade, are nevertheless a legitimate constitutional exercise.
10.2 The United States should not be answerable to any governing body outside the United States for its trade policy.
yes.
11.0 DEFENSE 11.1 U. S. military should be deployed only where there is a clear threat to vital U. S. interests and only with the consent of the U. S. Congress. 11.2 It is the duty of the federal government to provide a system to defend against missile attacks. 11.3 No branch of the military should be put in harm's way without a clear entrance and exit strategy and a goal, which when achieved, constitutes victory. 11.4 U. S military personnel should always be under U. S. command. 11.5 U. S. armed forces should be all-volunteer. 11.6 Military draft registration should be eliminated. 11.7 Foreign aid is often more harmful than helpful and should be curtailed.
Yes on all.
12.0 PROPERTY RIGHTS 12.1 The government should not take private property without just compensation. 12.2 All unconstitutional regulation of private property should be repealed.
Agreed.
13.0 DRUGS 13.1 While recognizing the harm that drug abuse causes society, we also recognize that government drug policy has been ineffective and has led to frightening abuses of the Bill of Rights which could affect the personal freedom of any American. We, therefore, support alternatives to the War on Drugs. 13.2 Per the tenth amendment to the U. S. Constitution, matters such as drugs should be handled at the state or personal level. 13.3 All laws which give license to violate the Bill of Rights should be repealed.
I agree with the stuff about conducting the war on drugs, but strongly oppose legalization of drugs themselves.
The following issue was elsewhere on that link as the RLC position:
What is the RLC's position on abortion? Neutral. We have both pro-lifers to pro-choicers, and in between. As far as libertarian groups go, you'll find that we are probably the most tolerant of the pro-life viewpoint. Our immediate past chairman, Cong. Ron Paul (R-TX, 14th Dist.) is very pro-life. Many other members are pro-choice. As libertarians, we oppose Federal funding of abortion under any circumstances. It is not a litmus test, and it is not an issue that is often debated internally. However, the California RLC website www.LibertyCaucus.org, has sponsored a debate on the issue between two prominent members.
I believe very very strongly in the pro-life stance and do not believe it is a position that can be compromised or accomodated to appease the pro-aborts.
Then why did you keep telling me to read the article at the top of the thread? You see - it is this kind of thing I am talking about when I say you seem to have a problem with simple communication.
I didn't write for you to 'read the article'. Follow your own advice and reread my original post. The 'problem' here is you, and always has been.
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WHEREAS we believe in upholding the U. S. Constitution as the supreme law of the land;
I agree, noting that the Constitution is the supreme doctrine of the government of the land.
Weird 'note'.
The constitution is the 'doctrine' of the government?
I doubt you can explain this bizarro distinction, but please, - do try.
You cannot stop the abuses in the enforcement of the War on Drugs unless you stop the War on Drugs. The point that the tenth amendment forbids the Federal government from regulating drugs should be all a person needs to hear.
You can fight out whether one or the other drug should be illegal in your state legislature but you know the result will be partial or full legalization in some states which will make it seem very silly in the others. Ultimately common sense will reign and the War will be over. It has already lasted much longer than its predecessor insanity, alcohol prohibition.