The Libertarian Party is 48 Years Old

The Libertarian Party of the United States was founded on December 11, 1971, in a living room in Colorado Springs. A group of determined Liberty advocates led by David F. Nolan spent five months meeting, debating, and amending what would become the Libertarian Party’s first platform. Recognizing that the Republicans and Democrats had abandoned the original principles of Liberty the American founding fathers had set forth, this group, including John Hospers, Ed Crane, Manuel Klausner, Murray Rothbard, Roy Childs, Tonie Nathan, and Jim Dean, formed a party dedicated to the ideas of all markets being completely free. Today we are celebrating our 48th birthday. 

 

 

Our history includes candidates in presidential elections since 1972:

1972John Hospers and Tonie Nathan - 3,674 popular votes (0.00%); 1 electoral vote
1976Roger MacBride and David Bergland - 172,553 popular votes (0.21%) 
1984David Bergland and James A. Lewis - 228,111 popular votes (0.25%)
1988Ron Paul and Andre Marrou - 431,750 popular votes (0.47%)
1992Andre Marrou and Nancy Lord - 290,087 popular votes (0.28%)
1996Harry Browne and Jo Jorgensen - 485,798 popular votes (0.50%)
2000Harry Browne and Art Olivier - 384,516 popular votes (0.36%)
2004Michael Badnarik and Richard Campagna - 397,265 popular votes (0.32%)
2008Bob Barr and Wayne Allyn Root - 523,686 popular votes (0.40%)
2012Gary Johnson and James P. Gray - 1,275,821 popular votes (0.99%)
2016Gary Johnson and Bill Weld - 4,488,919 popular votes (3.28%) 

Today, the Libertarian Party is your representative in American politics. It is the only political organization which respects you as a unique and responsible individual. Our slogan is that we are “The Party of Principle" because we stand firmly on our principles. David Bergland wrote "(If there is) one central idea or theme...it is: YOU OWN YOURSELF. It means each person has the right to make all the decisions about his or her own life, body, action, speech and honestly acquired property. It also means each of us must take responsibility for our own actions, accepting and bearing the consequences." 

Libertarians strongly oppose any government interference into their personal, family, and business decisions. Essentially, we believe all Americans should be free to live their lives and pursue their interests as they see fit as long as they do no harm to another. We run many hundreds of candidates every election cycle. These candidates seek positions ranging from City Council to President of the United States. Each of these candidates helps to give liberty a voice.

Consider voting Libertarian or joining the Libertarian Party because…

  • We seek to substantially reduce the size and intrusiveness of government and cut and eliminate taxes at every opportunity.
  • We believe that peaceful, honest people should be able to offer their goods and services to willing consumers without inappropriate interference from government.
  • We believe that peaceful, honest people should decide for themselves how to live their lives, without fear of criminal or civil penalties.
  • We believe that government’s only responsibility, if any, should be protecting people from force and fraud.

Libertarian Reading:

Libertarianism In One Lesson by David Bergland
Liberty A to Z by Harry Brown

 

 


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