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The highlights of party platforms and summaries are things we compiled. Some of them are quotes, some are our interpretation. The parties themselves may disagree with these summaries. Please send errors or omissions to webmaster moriarti.org.

This page is a work in progress. We're going through about a party a night. Since most folks are familiar with the Republicans and Democrats, we plan to cover them last. Also, you'll probably notice inconsistent grammar, spelling, and style. We'll clean that up once we get a chance, but in the meantime the focus is on making the information available.

Last update: 12 Aug 2002.

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hot-button issues

American Independent Party

highlights of national party platform

1. The pre-born child, whose life begins at fertilization, is a human being created in God's image. The first duty of the law is to prevent the shedding of innocent blood...As to matters of rape and incest, it is unconscionable to take the life of an innocent child for the crimes of his father...In office, we shall only appoint to the federal judiciary, and to other positions of federal authority, qualified individuals who publicly acknowledge and commit themselves to the legal personhood of the pre-born child.
2. AIDS and HIV is a contagious diseas which is dangerous to public health...Under no circumstances should the federal government subsidize activities which have the effect of encouraging perverted or promiscuous sexual conduct.
3. The closer civil government is to the people, the more responsible, responsive, and accountable it is likely to be...We stand opposed to regionalization or grouping of governments at any level, which results in removal of decision-making powers from the scrutiny of the people.
4. The Congress of the United States got too big. Both Senates and Representatives operate on self-serving mechanism, and don't respond for what people need. So, 1) return the power to the states, 2) abolish Congressional pensions, and 3) abolish federal pay for members of Congress, and restore provisions for per diem allowances
5. They are believing in the original text of the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights ONLY. They also affirm that the nation's Charter, the Declaration of Independence, and the Constitution contain the foundational law of the federal union.
6. We call upon Congress and the President to stop all federal expenditures which are not specifically authorized by the U. S. Constitution, and to restore to the states those powers, programs, and sources of revenue that the federal government has usurped.
7. Crime, in most cases, is to be dealt with by state and local governments, even the criminals convicted of capital crimes. Federal involvement in state and local criminal justice processes should be limited. Accept death penalty.
8. We should have strong defense force and defend our own nation and interests, but they don't join New World Army. No women are permitted to be trained for or participate in combat because they undermine the integrity and morale of our military organizations.
9. The Constitution Party will uphold the right of states and localities to restrict access to drugs and to enforce such restrictions in appropriate cases with application of the death penalty.
10. ducation as a whole, cannot be separated from religious faith. The United States Department of Education should be abolished because education does not belong to the jurisdiction of the federal government. Education, training, and discipline of children are properly placed in the domain of their parents
11. a voter would vote for three individuals, one to represent his district and two "at large" representatives to represent his state. These electors, in turn, would then carefully and deliberately select the candidate for president.
12. We call attention to the continuing need of the United States for a sufficient supply of energy to sustain the nation’s standard of living and its agricultural, business, national security, and industrial activities...Private property rights should be respected...We oppose any increase in federal fuel taxes. Federal fuel tax revenue should be used exclusively for the maintenance of federal highways.
13. ...we wholeheartedly support realistic efforts to preserve the environment and reduce pollution — air, water, and land. We reject, however, the argument that this objective ought to be pursued by costly governmental interference...We also call for repeal of federal wetlands legislation and the federal Endangered Species Act. Moreover, we oppose any attempt to designate private or public property as United Nations World Heritage sites or Biosphere reserves.
14. We oppose the use of Presidential executive orders that make law or otherwise usurp the Constitutional authority and responsibilities of the legislative and judicial branches.
15. The law of our Creator defines marriage as the union between one man and one woman.
16. The only Constitutional purpose and basis of foreign policy is to serve the best interests of the U.S., not to police the world...NATO no longer serves a defensive purpose and the U.S. must withdraw from it...The Constitution Party calls on the United States to withdraw from the United Nations and to require the U.N. to move out of the United States...The Constitution Party, therefore, will terminate all programs of foreign aid, whether military or non-military, to any foreign government or to any international organization, including the United Nations, the IMF, the World Bank, and other similar institutions.
17. We are opposed to government sponsorship, involvement in, or promotion of gambling, such as lotteries, or subsidization of native American casinos in the name of economic development.
18. The Constitution Party upholds the right of the citizen to keep and bear arms. We oppose attempts to prohibit ownership of guns by law-abiding citizens, and stand against all laws which would require the registration of guns or ammunition.
19. The Constitution Party opposes the governmentalization and bureaucratization of American medicine...We denounce any civil government entity using age or any other personal characteristic to: preclude people and insurance firms from freely contracting for medical coverage; conscript such people into socialized medicine, e.g., Medicare; or prohibit these people from using insurance payments and/or their own money to obtain medical services in addition to, or to augment the quality of, those services prescribed by the program...We affirm freedom of choice of practitioner and treatment for all citizens for their health care.
20. We favor a moratorium on immigration to the United States, except in individual hardship cases or in other individual special circumstances, until the availability of all federal subsidies and assistance be discontinued...We oppose the provision of welfare subsidies and other taxpayer-supported benefits to illegal aliens, and reject the practice of bestowing U.S. citizenship on children born to illegal alien parents while in this country.
21. Establishing a new American dollar: a. That is a coinable commodity money; b. That weighs one Troy ounce of .999 fine silver or its equivalent in gold; c. That is 100% backed and redeemable in specie; and d. That its value is determined by the free market.
22. We deplore and oppose vigorously legislation and executive action that deprive the people of their Fourth and Fifth Amendment rights under claims of necessity to "combat terrorism" or to "protect national security."
23. We will propose legislation to abolish the Internal Revenue Service, and will veto any authorization, appropriation, or continuing resolution which contains any funding whatsoever for that illicit and unconstitutional agency...To the degree that tariffs on foreign products are insufficient to cover the legitimate Constitutional costs of the federal government, we will offer an apportioned "state-rate tax" in which the responsibility for covering the cost of unmet obligations will be divided among the several states in accordance with their proportion of the total population of the United States, excluding the District of Columbia. Thus, if a state contains 10 percent of the nation’s citizens, it will be responsible for assuming payment of 10 percent of the annual deficit.
24. We deny that civil government has the authority to set wages and prices

Green Party

key values

1. Grassroots democracy: Increase public participation in the every levels of government and decision making processes
2. Social justice and equal opportunity: Everyone, literally everyone including any socially disadvantaged, minorities, gay and lesbians, has rights and opportunity to benefit equally from the resources - no discrimination.
3. Ecological wisdom: Utilize resources in such a way that future generations will benefit and not suffer from the practices of our generation. We are a part of the nature.
4. Non-violence: Work toward demilitarizing, and eliminating weapons of mass destruction. Accept self-defense and the defense of others who are in helpless situations. Promote non-violent methods
5. Decentralization: Centralization of wealth and power = benefiting the powerful few. Democratic, less bureaucratic system = assuring the civil rights of all citizens.
6. Community-based economics and economic justice: Support local communities, independently owned and operated companies if they protect environment and workers' rights; broaden citizen participation in planning; distribute resources equally, and enhance our "quality of life."
7. Feminism and gender equity: Current cultural value and ethics emphasizes domination of a certain group (men) over others. Oppose again this, and emphasize cooperation and respect differences among gender and opinions.
8. Respect for diversity:Accept and respect cultural, ethnic, racial, sexual, religious and spiritual diversity. Promote the development of respectful relationships across these lines. Support the leadership of people who have been traditionally closed out.
9. Personal and global responsibility: Individuals have to be responsible to not only their own well being but also environment and society as a whole.
10. Future focus and sustainability: Current economy, technologies, and policies are driven by short-term profits. Oppose this and think about long-term goals.
11. Quality of life: Individuals' quality of life is enriched by improving the quality of all of our lives.
    

highlights of national party platform

Libertarian Party

overview

I. Individual Rights and Civil Order

II. Trade and the Economy

III. Domestic Ills

IV. Foreign Affairs

There are lots of subjects that they do not cover in the platform. This does not mean that they approve their status quo.

highlights of national party platform

1. We support: Elimination of special rights and privileges for elected or appointed government officials...Revision of any law or regulation that exempts the government or its officials from compliance...Ending government funding of any political party or candidate...Revision of state and federal laws to enable all candidates for elective office to be included on election ballots.
2. Phase out all direct and indirect subsidies to foreign nations, foreign companies, and foreign citizens... Eliminate the double taxation of corporate profits... Eliminate regulations and mandates that make companies less competitive and cost jobs... Unilaterally end all domestic subsidy programs, trade barriers and tariffs... End government economic meddling that results in depressions and recessions that destroy jobs.
3. Support a true market in education -- one in which parents and students would not be stuck with a bad local school, because they could choose another... Implement measures such as tax credits so that parents will have the financial ability to choose among schools... Provide financial incentives for businesses to help fund schools and for individuals to support students other than their own children... Eliminate the U.S. Department of Education, which spends billions on education and educates no one. The growth of this agency and its numerous regulations is a major reason for runaway costs in American schools.
4. Establish Medical Savings Accounts...Restructure tax policy...Deregulate the health care industry..Replace the FDA...The agency should be abolished and replaced with voluntary certification by a private-sector organization...Privatize Medicare and Medicaid.
5. Five-point plan for making America's streets safe:...Protect Victim's Rights...If you are the victim of a crime, the criminal should fully compensate you for your loss...End prohibition. Drug prohibition does more to make Americans unsafe than any other factor...Get Tough on Real Crime...Libertarians would dramatically reduce the number of these early releases by eliminating their root cause - prison over-crowding...We believe that the private ownership of firearms is part of the solution to America's crime epidemic, not part of the problem...repeal waiting periods, concealed carry laws, and other restrictions that make it difficult for victims to defend themselves, and end the prosecution of individuals for exercising their rights of self-defense...increase employment opportunities by slashing taxes and government red tape. We would also end the welfare system with its culture of dependence and hopelessness. Most important of all, we would promote low-cost private alternatives to the failed government school system.

Natural Law Party

overview

'The Natural Law Party was founded in April 1992 to “bring the light of science into politics."'

Preserving the "natural, balanced, and harmonious status" of various things including government, health, economy, environment and so on, and preventing this status from being harmed/destroyed by various internal and external factors such as psychological conditions, current structures of government and economy, and bio-psycho-social conditions. "Stress" is emphasized as a destructive factor, and solution is the use of the Transcendental Meditation to reduce it. In addition, this party emphasizes restoration of balance in an individual's physiology and psychology, environment, and global economy. This party also emphasizes cooperation and coordination of various sectors of society to solve various social problems.

highlights of national party platform

1. Prevention-oriented health-care. Medical savings plans and insurance vouchers for Medicare and Medicaid. Reduce abortions through education -- not through legislation. 
2. Moratorium on releasing genetically engineered organisms into the wild. Labelling genetically engineered food. Make organic farming and integrated pest management government policy. Research the impact of dietary change on health and longevity and conduct educational campaigns. "The Natural Law Party therefore recommends educational programs to develop the consciousness of the farmer and thereby reduce stress, improve the farmer’s health and well-being, and promote the skills to meet new management challenges... Similarly, the reduction of stress in the collective consciousness of society, combined with the Natural Law Party’s focus on education, will influence consumer choices toward higher-quality food, better health, and more life-enriching behavior -- life in accord with natural law ."
3. "The Natural Law Party would therefore impose a moratorium on the death penalty unless and until our criminal justice system demonstrates its ability to impose this harshest of all sentences justly and fairly." To reduce crime, reduce stress in at-risk individuals via Transcendental Meditation combined with tough penal code. Computer-assisted community policing. Revitalize inner-city areas.
4. "...the U.S. should not implement further major reductions of defense expenditures at this time...The role of America should be to foster peace and prosperity in the family of nations, rather than to act as the world’s policeman." Promote peace through Transcendental Meditation. "...we would therefore support a 'prevention wing' in the military...Selected military personnel and resources could quickly adapt to roles such as drug interdiction and border defense."
5. "We will cut our burgeoning prison population in half by decriminalizing nonviolent drug offenses, directing such offenders to drug education, prevention, and rehabilitation programs."
6. "The Natural Law Party strongly advocates proven educational, job training, and apprenticeship programs that develop intelligence and creativity, prevent school dropouts, and bring life into accord with natural law." Flat tax with exemptions for poor. Supports enterprise zones. "For example, research has found that even a single group of 7,000 to 10,000 practitioners of Transcendental Meditation and its advanced programs can produce a significant decrease in inflation and unemployment rates, as well as improvements in other economic indicators."
7. "THE SOLUTION TO ALL OUR NATIONAL PROBLEMS lies in proper education...The Natural Law Party proposes to upgrade the U.S. Department of Education to a Department of Educational Excellence, which would charter several federally funded model schools in which successful educational innovations of all kinds could be implemented and researched. Based on the success of these programs, parents and educators across the country could choose the ones they felt would be most appropriate and effective in their neighborhoods." Raise teacher salaries by $10,000/year through block grants to states.
8. "The Natural Law Party would therefore support the permanent establishment of coherence-creating groups on the national, state, and local levels to dissolve communitywide tension and negativity."
9. "The Natural Law Party would create an immediate shift in U.S. foreign policy away from military aid toward a more life-supporting policy based on the exportation of U.S. know-how."
10. "We will vigorously enforce existing gun control laws, since we believe that the widespread availability of guns is, in itself, a significant contributing factor to the rise of violent crime. We also support child safety locks, waiting periods, and background checks to help prevent guns from falling into the hands of children and convicted felons." "The Natural Law Party is the only political party to offer scientifically proven programs to reduce built-up social stress and thereby reduce crime and violence..."
11. "...the Natural Law Party intends to reduce prejudice and bigotry in society through more effective educational programs that develop broad comprehension, increased intelligence, and improved moral reasoning, and by reducing social stress that leads to fear and divisiveness."
    

Reform Party

overview

Government and government officials should be ethical and accountable to the people who elected them. The Party also emphasizes to restore integrity, accountability and fiscal responsibility to government and its leadership. It is important to comply with the U.S. Constitution which determines various government activities such as regulation of trade using tariffs and treaties, foreign policy, immigration, and the size, scope, and authority of the Federal government. The Party supports the issues such as social, moral, and civil rights that is guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution. The foundation of the Party is the activity of grassroots citizen volunteers. Diversity is appreciated as long as the customs, beliefs, and private actions of persons do not infringe upon the rights of others.

highlights of national party platform

1. Fiscal responsibility: a balanced budget amendment, any budget surplus goes first to pay down the federal debt, remove trust funds from budget calculations, merge the Office of Management and Budget with the General Accounting Office, disband Department of Housing and Urban Development linked with revenue guarantee program for cities. Migrate Social Security to a system of private accounts. Prohibit discressionary spending of FICA and use of Social Security to balance the budget. Reform the tax system.
2. Institute term limits for House and Senate. Implement campaign finance reform including guaranteed free media access and outlawing PACs.
3. Oppose "Fast Track" trade legislation. All trade agreements are treaties and require a 2/3 majority of Senate for passage. U.S. withdrawl from WTO, NAFTA, IMF, and World Bank. Revoke Most Favored Nation trade status for nations that violate human rights. "Buy American" policy that patronizes American goods.
4. Interpreting the Constitution must be based on the words and intent of its framers. Any changes should require a Constitutional amendment. Withdraw from UN immediately and require UN to move out of USA. Terminate all foreign aid immediately. Opposes World Court.
5. No amnesty for illegal immigrants. Require verifiable proof that a prospective employee is a U.S. citizen or legal alien. Accepts use of Armed Forces to help border partrol. Child born to illegal immigrants on US soil is not a citizen. 10 year ban on legal immigration except for spouses or minor children of US citizens, then limit immigration to 250,000/year. Reform visa system to give priority to reuniting nuclear families. Ban importation of temporary foreign workers. National campaign to assimilate immigrants. Designate English the official language of the US.
6. Dismantle Department of Education. Immediately end diagnosing ofl and perscribing medicine for, ADD, hyperactivity, and depression by schools. Oppose bilingual education. Oppose federal funding of education.
7. Repeal all federal gun control legislation.
8. Marriage is one man and one woman.
9. Oppose rise in state police powers and laws that allow fines and seizures without due process. No monitoring of communications, associations, or examining personal effects without due process.
10. Oppose homosexuals serving in the military.
11. Parental notification if child requests abortion or birth control. Support overturning Roe v. Wade.
12. Oppose "hate crime" laws.
13. Abolish the Federal Elections Commission. Refer violations of elections laws to the Justice Department instead.
14. Provide some form of congressional representation for residents of Washington DC.