View source for Libertarian Party (RationalWiki)

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[[Category:Libertarian Party]]
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The US Libertarian Party was founded in 1971[1] on the principles of libertarianism.
The Libertarian Party is the third-largest political party[2] in America. They’re active in all 50 states and have more than 280,000 registered voters, or... 0.1% of the United States eligible voting population.[3]
The policies of the party include laissez-faire markets, strong civil liberties, minimally-regulated borders, and non-interventionism in foreign policy.There is a plot out there to take over New Hampshire, because fuck seatbelts.
As of 2012, no party spokesman has addressed the irony of a group of individualists pooling their efforts to join an entity they despise.
Libertarians believe that the one-dimensional scale of the political "left-right" is insufficient to describe the many philosophies held by the general public. They introduced the Nolan Chart, which measures two dimensions of political opinion instead, conveniently placing themselves at the top, opposite Hitler.[4]
Contents [hide] 
1 Current status
1.1 2007 Elections
1.2 2008 Presidential nominating process
1.3 2012 elections
1.4 2016 election
2 Lulz Polls
3 Footnotes
[edit]Current status



The two-variable Nolan chart
[edit]2007 Elections
In the 2007 Elections, Libertarian Party candidates won 14 elective offices, including an election for mayor of Avis, Pennsylvania.[5]
[edit]2008 Presidential nominating process
Several candidates were seeking to become the party's 2008 presidential nominee. Mike Gravel changed from the Democratic Party to the Libertarian Party. Bob Barr, a former Republican U.S. Congressman, announced on May 12, 2008 that he would seek the nomination.[6] The final choice of Bob Barr (and his running mate, Wayne Allyn Root) was made at the 2008 national convention in Denver, Colorado in late May.
Ron Paul, who was the party's 1988 candidate, had been mentioned as a possible nominee as well, but has officially denied any intent to run under any third-party banner. On December 12, 2007, the Party adopted a resolution requesting Paul to run on the Libertarian ticket if he does not win the Republican Party nomination.[7]
[edit]2012 elections
Gary Johnson, former governor of New Mexico, ran with running mate Jim Gray on the top of the Libertarian ticket.[8] Johnson received slightly over 1 million votes, or about one percent.[9]
[edit]2016 election
Johnson has stated that he will run again in 2016, "as long as he's relevant,"[10] whatever that may mean. Some reports had him running for the GOP nomination and if unsuccessful seeking the Libertarian Party nomination, in a replay of 2012. Considering Johnson's relative level headedness in comparison to the mainstream GOP, his support of gay and immigration rights, and love for pot, this is likely to happen. If he can gain one percentage point he is on track to win the general election by 2412 with a literal Ron Paulbot as his running mate.
[edit]Lulz Polls

The Libertarian Party website also has some polls for it's members, with results that can turn out only slightly saner than WND polls.
"The White House is starting a media war against Rush Limbaugh. What does Obama hope to distract attention from?" Highest result (48%; 1491 votes): "Economic research showing Obama’s spending plan prolongs the recession and eliminates jobs"[11]
"What is the cause of "global warming"?" Highest result: (47%; 249 votes): "Cycles of nature"[12]
"How should we deal with the financial problems of the Social Security system?" Highest result: (53%; 2392 votes): "We should completely get rid of Social Security."[13]
"Is human-generated global warming a myth?" Highest result: (56%; 220 votes): "Yes"[14]
"Should we go back to the gold standard?" Highest Result: "No"... Just pulling your leg it was actually "Yes" with 64% of the vote (194 votes).[15]
"Do you believe people have a "right" to healthcare?" Highest result: "No" with 59% of the vote (547 votes)[16]
"Do you consider Obama to be a "socialist?" Highest Result: Take a wild guess.[17]
[edit]Footnotes

↑ http://www.lp.org/organization/history.shtml
↑ Well, that's what they say!
↑ As of Feb. 2012
↑ http://reasontraditionandliberty.blogspot.com/2008/11/political-theory-is-not-on-one-axis.html
↑ Official Website of the Libertarian National Committee
↑ "Barr launches Libertarian White House bid"
↑ Libertarians want Paul back. Libertarian Party resolution as reported by SmallGovTimes.com. 12-12-2007.
↑ http://www.garyjohnson2012.com/front
↑ Reason:Gary Johnson Pulls One Million Votes, One Percent
↑ Yahoo! News: Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson open to running for president again in 2016
↑ http://www.lp.org/poll/the-white-house-is-starting-a-media-war-against-rush-limbaugh-what-does-obama-hope-to-distract-
↑ Less than a quarter believe it's manmade
↑ You'll get the elderly vote anyday now
↑ They had to be certain is wasn't real apparently
↑ http://www.lp.org/poll/should-we-go-back-to-the-gold-standard
↑ http://www.lp.org/poll/do-you-believe-people-have-a-right-to-healthcare
↑ Yes with 65% of the vote (856 votes) if you were really curious.
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