Whisp wrote:
1-Heal the rift between liberals and conservatives.
The Libertarian party exists somewhere in that rift between liberals and conservatives. The Republican party has been turning more liberal if you haven't noticed. Of course the way they heal this rift is by spending more of your tax dollars. Bipartisan politics are resolved by "I'll vote for your spending if you vote for my spending" and the govt spends more money. They need to solve that problem in another way, they're spending too much trying to get along. They'd spend less if they were fighting all the time.Whisp wrote:
2-Prevent religious bias from affecting any political decision (no prayer in schools, no taxpayer money to churches, fund embryonic stem cell research, right to choose abortion, equal same-sex marriage rights).
Well the LP would agree with no money to churches, right to choose abortion, equal same-sex marriage rights.LP would not support govt funding embryonic stem cell research, but would defend anyone's right to donate to research.About prayer in schools, well, you could pray in school as long as it doesn't interfere with other students learning. So really prayer shouldn't be allowed in school, but you can't punish a student for praying unless they are interfering with other students' right to learn and to not pray.Whisp wrote:
3-Support and fund scientific advancement.
LP would say private funding for that stuff. You shouldn't be forced to donate to science research by funding it with your taxes, but if you paid less in taxes you would have more money to invest in whatever science you want.Whisp wrote:
4-People with predetermined, unpreventable health problems should have health insurance assistance from the government
LP has a different approach to this. End government involvement in the health care industry that has driven costs up.Whisp wrote:
5-Revitalizing the economy should be a major priority.
LP would do that by reducing regulations and lowering taxes.Whisp wrote:
6-We should leave Iraq ASAP and intelligently, focus on bin Laden and homeland security.
LP would leave Iraq immediately. LP wouldn't have invaded in the 1st place. LP would of course focus on homeland security and bringing Bin Laden to justice. The LP would also support making Bin Laden paying full restitution to the victims of 9/11 and the damage he did to the buildings and air crafts.
Whisp wrote:
7-We should try to repair the American reputation in the world.
LP would do this by stopping with the interventionism and trying to be the world police.
Whisp wrote:
8-Support the building of an alternative fuel infrastructure.
LP would legalize and deregulate hemp which may be the best source for biofuels. I don't think any other party would do that.LP would deregulate energy sources but not subsidize. Whisp wrote:
9-Enforce stricter laws on gun control including any bans deemed necessary.
LP disagrees. You have the right to own guns for self defense.Whisp wrote:
10-Typically favor investing in protecting the environment.
LP wrote:
We support a clean and healthy environment and sensible use of our natural resources. Private landowners and conservation groups have a vested interest in maintaining natural resources. Pollution and misuse of resources cause damage to our ecosystem. Governments, unlike private businesses, are unaccountable for such damage done to our environment and have a terrible track record when it comes to environmental protection. Protecting the environment requires a clear definition and enforcement of individual rights in resources like land, water, air, and wildlife. Free markets and property rights stimulate the technological innovations and behavioral changes required to protect our environment and ecosystems. We realize that our planet's climate is constantly changing, but environmental advocates and social pressure are the most effective means of changing public behavior.
LP believes environmental issues are important, but looks at it a different way. They think government for the most part mismanages the environment, because the government itself is for the most part not held accountable for their own pollution.
So really one way to invest in protecting the environment is to invest less in the government. If you don't like a company's environmental policies you could boycott them or even sue them. But you can't boycott the government unless you want to go to jail. And good luck suing the government.
By my count, the libertarian party supports about half of your major concerns, but not necessarily in the same way you do.