Previously, beginning March 15, 2013 I posted the Platform of the Traditional Libertarian Constitutionalists (TLC) political initiative. This is not an official political party as yet. However, it is a series of positions which can unify the nation around sound public policy which a vast number of Americans are craving.
Below, in conjunction with the previous posts, is the first section of the statement of the Political Stance of this initiative.
Platform of Traditional Libertarian Constitutionalists (TLC)
POLITICAL STANCE
1.0 Personal Liberty
Individuals should be free to make choices for themselves, and, to accept and be accountability for the consequences of the choices they make. No individual, group, or government may initiate force against any other individual, group, or government.
1.1 Expression and Communication
The Traditional Libertarian Constitutionalists support full freedom of expression and oppose government censorship, regulation or control of communications media and technology.
Traditional Libertarian Constitutionalists
- Favor the freedom to engage in or abstain from any religious activities that do not violate the rights of others.
- Oppose government actions which either aid or attack any religious organization. Recent legislation and ruling of the courts has been to restrict the use of government provided facilities and activities for the display of religious symbols. Since government ought to act in absolute equity toward all citizens under its domain Constitutional Traditionalists find such restriction to be incorrect. Governments ought to make available on an equitable basis opportunity for all religious organizations to present their symbolism.
Constitutional Traditionalists support in totality the Amendments 1-10 of the Constitution of the United State. These amendments should be interpreted by government to provide the broadest expanse of liberty to the people, and consequently the greatest level of permissible authority to those levels of government most closely associated with the people. Governments should act first in the general interest of the citizenry, yet never in the interest of special interests groups, or organizations.
1.2 Personal Privacy
Traditional Libertarian Constitutionalists specifically support the rights recognized by the Fourth Amendment to be secure in our persons, homes, and property. Protection from unreasonable search and seizure should include records held by third parties, such as email, medical, and library records. Only actions that infringe on the rights of others can properly be termed crimes.
Whereas, some individuals will be employed to administer the affairs of the greater society, and thus in position of public scrutiny, any personal privacy while operating as a public servant ought to be completely subject to such public scrutiny.
The excessive use of prescription and recreational drugs may lead an individual to unknowingly and uncontrollably violate the rights and safety of another. Legal means may be used to protect society against such unintended consequences, however, ought not to be exercised to prevent the use thereof. (i.e. The excessive use of alcohol may lead an individual to be incapable of safely operating a vehicle. Law enforcement may legitimately protect society from the operation of such a vehicle, but ought not prevent the individual from consuming alcohol or apply punishment for its consumption).
1.3 Personal Relationships
Sexual orientation, preference, gender, or gender identity should have no impact on the government’s treatment of individuals, such as in current marriage, child custody, adoption, or immigration. Government does not have the authority to define, license or restrict personal relationships. Consenting adults should be free to choose their own sexual practices and personal relationships.
Marriage has devolved from two threads of social interaction. One thread is within the religious realm. The alternate thread is within the political realm. It is no longer practical that both realms dictate regulations regarding marriages. Traditional Libertarian Constitutionalists support the idea that marriages for political alliances have become outmoded. Therefore, marriages and their performances should be solely a matter of religious function. Further, legal benefit and restriction associated with marriage ought to be dissolved, continuing with no strength under law.
1.4 Abortion
Traditional Libertarian Constitutionalists specifically believe that life begins at conception, acknowledging that any such human life, cannot by natural means, become anything other than a living human being which ultimately has and possesses all the natural liberties which are afforded to all human beings. As such any action to deprive such living human being, following conception, of life is not an exercise of liberty but rather an act of violence, subject to accountability for such violence as though inflicted on a fully sentient living human being.
Recognizing that abortion is a sensitive issue and that people can hold good-faith views on all sides, Traditional Libertarian Constitutionalists believe that government should be kept out of the matter with respect to the health of the mother and cases where rape and incest are undeniable factors, leaving the question in those cases to each person for their conscientious consideration.
1.5 Duty to Protect the Life of a Minor
Through the freedom to act independently persons of the age of capability procreate. Children of such procreation should be considered minor until such age as they are able to be fully capable of sustaining their own lives. Parents have a Duty to Protect the Life of a Minor. Parents that fail to provide such protections are violating the minor’s ability to ultimately be at liberty to make choices for themselves and to accept responsibility for the consequences of the choices they make.
Traditional Libertarian Constitutionalists believe current ages of “majority” are appropriate.
1.6 Crime and Justice
Government exists to protect the rights of every individual including life, liberty and property. Criminal laws should be limited to violation of the rights of others through force or fraud, or deliberate actions that place others involuntarily at significant risk of physical harm. Individuals retain the right to voluntarily assume risk of harm to themselves. Traditional Libertarian Constitutionalists support restitution of the victim to the fullest degree possible at the expense of the criminal or the negligent wrongdoer. Traditional Libertarian Constitutionalists oppose reduction of constitutional safeguards of the rights of the criminally accused. The rights of due process, a speedy trial, legal counsel, trial by jury, and the legal presumption of innocence until proven guilty, must not be denied. Traditional Libertarian Constitutionalists assert the common-law right of juries to judge not only the facts but also the justice of the law in specific circumstances.
Whereas, the accused are entitled to a speedy trial, the victims of wrongdoing are also entitled to a speedy trial. All trials other than for capital punishment ought to be tried and concluded within one year of indictment. All capital punishment trials should be tried and concluded within eighteen months of indictment. These time-frames should include all appeals.
1.7 Self-Defense
The legitimate use of force is in personal defense of individual rights — life, liberty, and justly acquired property — against aggression (violence). This right inheres in the individual, who may agree to be aided by any other individual or group. Traditional Libertarian Constitutionalists affirm the individual right recognized by the Second Amendment to keep and bear arms, and oppose the prosecution of individuals for exercising their rights of self-defense.
Traditional Libertarian Constitutionalists oppose all laws at any level of government restricting the ownership, manufacture, or transfer or sale of firearms or ammunition.
