We have seen much of the big three party's manifesto pledges. To this end I submit for review the Libertarian Party manifesto. Please note that you can compare this manifesto by carrying out a search for your party's name along with the terms manifesto and the year.
If the views presented are more to your liking perhaps you should contact the party, donate, become involved or a combination of all of the three!
In a country where we are individuals having choice is important. We should be aware of the decisions our representatives are making, the impact they have not just on our lives but that of all people and ensure our voices are being heard.
Libertarian+Manifesto
EDIT: For those of you that require this document in another format please email
sutton @lpuk.org
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25 comments:
Some interesting moves. Although I notice despite your good reform of economic policy you maintain this thing about banks printing money.
There is also the sheer hilarity of the timing of your release.
However, although this represents a good move in the right direction on the whole, the whole thing struck me as precisely what I have been accused, by you and Chris, of being a social democrat for stating.
You have openly stated previously that you want to scrap the NHS and tax and the state, when I have disagreed along the lines of your new manifesto I am a social democrat. When it comes to actually publishing policy, you turn your back on your burn-it-all-down views and go along minarchist lines.
The manifesto is now largely on the right lines, now you just need to work on your public image. Such as actually believing what you have stated above.
Hi Kevin,
1. Pls clarify what you mean by "banks printing money".
2. The healthcare reforms have not changed radically, in that it is a dismantling of the monopoly, the rejection of a privatisation fire sale. There is a little more detail about how it wold occur, but the strategy is basically the same. You might have discussed with LPUK individuals who wanted mass sell-offs and burn-downs, but that is not the same as LPUK policy.
3. Income Tax has been altered to a phased-in plan due to economics of massive debt, not ideology, and is just a perfectly logical pragmatic position to take.
4. The party and party policy has never been anything other than Minarchist.
Therefore, it seems that the Manifesto has always been along the lines you basically agree with, even before we were aware of your opinion.
Great initiative! this reads like the first stepping stones and foundation to reintroduce freedom back to us. although its not fully ideal, it is definitely practical and a great approach to take it bit by bit.
I must point out that some of the paragraphs have been copied and pasted twice in a row.might want to check on that.
The manifesto is now largely on the right lines, now you just need to work on your public image. Such as actually believing what you have stated above.
Phew I was starting to get a bit worried there Boaty !
Will there be a hard copy released?
Stop press; the intro paragraph for the Welfare section is repeated twice.
Also, you may want to update the Appendix to replace 07/08 income tax receipts for a more recent statistic.
Other than that (and my post above), a great read. Have we considered having it professionally printed and perhaps sold on the website?
Will there be a hard copy released?
contact Sutton@lpuk.org will get one in the post
Have we considered having it professionally printed and perhaps sold on the website?
Yes, but costs
Am I the only person who is highly disappointed by this manifesto?
Contrary to the point above, I think this is an excellent document. I will save my few quibbles until I'm actually a member.
Glad we have a manifesto. I guess it could be accused of being a bit wordy Alex, but surely a manifesto is supposed to be like that? I've read plenty of lib/lab/con old manifestos and they were often incredibly boring reads.
Now to get the bbc to take some notice of this manifesto launch and do a story on it!
Also good to see policies being toned down e.g. income tax.
I agree with 90% of what's said in this manifesto (compared to about 10% of every other party) and that's why I'm a member.
Good work chaps!
Perhaps a colouring-in section at the back to jazz it up a bit. Even better a "spot the difference".
What about some kind of summation/closing statement type thing? Very, very detailed policy, and that's excellent, but then it just kind of ... ends?
I like it. I think its lack of colour pictures gives it a classical elegance that the manifestos of the major parties lack.
I look at them and I think "glossy PR men and spin". I look at the LPUK manifesto and think "Here's a party that is serious about political principle."
I must confess that I find some of the capitalisation policy a little unusual. Why are words like "Tyranny" and "Democracy" capitalised?
Is a PDF on the way?
Something perhaps like:
We don't have the cash, or the media contacts, or anything beyond our own free time, to run this party. But we have an idea, one that historically sums up our nation, and is far clearer and more concise than abstract homages to "fairness" or "big society." These are buzzwords, not blueprints for how we should govern our country.
We believe the answer is: "carefully"! And we believe the only true answer to how to make things fair is through freedom - for everyone. We are neither left, right, nor centre. We are Libertarian, and our ideas don't have the centre ground - they have the high ground.
We want a Small State. We want Honest Markets and an end to Corporatism. We want true liberty, where the State only interfeies in your life if you interfere in the rights of someone else to run theirs. We want you to keep your earnings - all of them. We want the true creativity and the limitless, audacious enterprise of normal people to be unleashed.
We're normal people, who just like the idea of giving freedom a chance. Do you?
Roger "4. The party and party policy has never been anything other than Minarchist."
That is utter shit and you know it! Policy has been broadly on minarchist lines, but we all know that the party is a long way from that.
You seem to think that come a chat with someone like Wiggy all this will be taken at face value and at no point will the true picture come out.
Policy has been broadly on minarchist lines, but we all know that the party is a long way from that.
How can a party be different from its policy?
Very pleased with the manifesto overall despite the very minor niggle of repeated paragraphs which will be easily put right.
I do not really 'get' Kevin Boatang's issues. Am I the only one? Why all the negative waves man?
This document is a great example of tight writing that lucidly and comprehensively outline the beliefs and goals of the party.
How individual member's opinions may vary slightly from this document is irrelevant as long as those individuals give their full support to the manifesto. This is called voluntary co-operation of individuals.
Why all the negative waves man?
It is his reason for being ;-)
@Boat: "That is utter shit and you know it! Policy has been broadly on minarchist lines, but we all know that the party is a long way from that. "
You are failing to differentiate between Party and the personal beliefs of individual members and their memberSHIPS.
The Party was FOUNDED on Minarchist lines, the Policy has always BEEN Minarchist and the Manifesto IS Minarchist.
There are members who are Anarcho-Capitalist but recognise that, as a political entity and a party, Minarchism is an understandable and rational stance to take. In fact any further down the path and the very concept of "party" or engaging in the traditional political process might be considered non-sequitur by those skilled in the art.
And of the other three points?
Vouchers to be used at ANY school? This would have the effect of introducing state funding of the already-existing independent schools, thus (a)making them dependent on state handouts and (b) increasing the amount of taxpayers' money spent on education. This is a bad idea. Vouchers should only be for the state schools.
I would second Dan Vevers suggestion of a summary paragraph and the wording that he uses would seem like a good starting point.
This is the most ridiculous piece of lunacy I have ever had the misfortune to read
Honestly 'Common Sense'have some respect for Thomas Paine
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