An Overview of the Libertarian Party

The Libertarian Party was founded December 11, 1971 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. By 1976, they started to gain support from people left and right as noted by Newsweek. In 1978, Ed Clark receives 5 percent of the vote in his race for Governor of California and the Libertarian party gains permanent ballot status in California. In 1978, Dick Randolph becomes first Libertarian elected state legislator as the Governor of Alaska. In 1980, Ed Clark makes it on the ballots of all 50 states and D.C. and Dick Randolph is reelected. In 1984, Libertarians are on 39 states’ ballots and Jim Lewis comes in 3rd place in the presidential election, while 11 Libertarians are elected worldwide. In 1986, 200 candidates nationwide get nearly 3 million votes and Ray Cullen gets 570,000 votes for California State Treasurer, the most for a 3rd party. In 1987, Ron Paul resigns from the GOP and joins the Libertarian Party and becomes the candidate for President. The following year, Ron Paul is on the ballots of 46 states and D.C. and comes in 3rd for presidency. In 1992, during the New Hampshire primary, Andre Marrou beats George Bush and is on the ballots of all 50 states and D.C.. In November 2001, 300 Libertarians run and a record of 76 are elected and the number of Libertarians holding offices nears 500. In 2000, 1,642 Libertarians run for House of Representatives and receive over 1 million votes, a feat only achieved by Democrats and Republicans. In 2012, Gary Johnson gets 1,275,951 votes and six other Libertarian candidates break the 1 million threshold. By the end of 2013, there are 149 Libertarians holding offices.

Libertarians believe in personal liberty. The believe the government should be kept out the private affairs of citizens life. They support the LGBTQ community and believe the government should not be involved in the matter of abortion. They also want to repeal the laws creating crimes without victims since actions that infringe on the rights of others should be labeled crimes. Libertarians believe in economic liberty. They support a healthy, clean environment and want the government to have no control over energy pricing, allocation, and production. They believe that the income tax should be eradicated and that education be in the hands of parents. The want to provide free healthcare to citizens and eradicate social security and place retirement in the people’s hands. In the case of foreign policy, Libertarians want nothing to do with foreign nations and want the United States to be isolationist. Libertarians embrace the concept that people are born with inherent rights and condemn bigotry. They also believe that if the government infringe any rights of the people that it should be abolished.

Works Cited

"Our History." Libertarian Party. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2015. <https://www.lp.org/introduction/our-history>.

"Platform." Libertarian Party. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2015. <https://www.lp.org/platform>.