Statement of Principles
by Marc Delphine

Preamble

As a Libertarian seeking public office, I seek a world of liberty; a world in which all individuals are sovereign over their own lives and no one is forced to sacrifice his or her values for the benefit of others.

I believe that respect for individual rights is the essential precondition for a free and prosperous world, that force and fraud must be banished from human relationships, and that only through freedom can peace and prosperity be realized.

Consequently, I defend each person’s right to engage in any activity that is peaceful and honest, and welcome the diversity that freedom brings. The world I seek to build is one where individuals are free to follow their own dreams in their own ways, without interference from government or any authoritarian power.

In the following pages I have set forth those basic principles that I and many Libertarians have determined subscribe to. In conjunction with the US Constitution, I will vote only for bills that are in alignment with these principles.

I hold that all individuals have the right to exercise sole dominion over their own lives, and have the right to live in whatever manner they choose, so long as they do not forcibly interfere with the equal right of others to live in whatever manner they choose.

Governments throughout history have regularly operated on the opposite principle, that the State has the right to dispose of the lives of individuals and the fruits of their labor. Even within the United States, the two major parties have granted to government the right to regulate the lives of individuals and seize the fruits of their labor without their consent.

I, on the contrary, deny the right of any government to do these things, and hold that where governments exist, they must not violate the rights of any individual: namely, (1) the right to life — accordingly I support the prohibition of the initiation of physical force against others; (2) the right to liberty of speech and action — accordingly I oppose all attempts by government to abridge the freedom of speech and press, as well as government censorship in any form; and (3) the right to property — accordingly I oppose all government interference with private property, such as confiscation, nationalization, and eminent domain, and support the prohibition of robbery, trespass, fraud, and misrepresentation.  *I am, however, pro-choice on abortion.  While I oppose public funding for an abortion, I am supportive of a woman’s right to choose an abortion.

Since governments, when instituted, must not violate individual rights, I oppose all interference by government in the areas of voluntary and contractual relations among individuals (gay-marriage is an example of this). People should not be forced to sacrifice their lives and property for the benefit of others. They should be left free by government to deal with one another as free traders; and the resultant economic system, the only one compatible with the protection of individual rights, is the free market.

1.0    Personal Liberty

Individuals should be free to make choices for themselves and to accept responsibility for the consequences of the choices they make. No individual, group, or government may initiate force against any other individual, group, or government. My support of an individual’s right to make choices in life does not mean that I necessarily approve or disapprove of those choices.

1.1    Expression and Communication

I support most freedom of expression and oppose most government censorship, regulation or control of communications media and technology. I favor the freedom to engage in or abstain from any religious activities that do not violate the rights of others. I oppose government actions which either aid or attack any religion.

1.2    Personal Privacy

I support the protections provided by the Fourth Amendment to be secure in our persons, homes, and property. Only actions that infringe on the rights of others can properly be termed “crimes.” I favor the repeal of all laws creating “crimes” without victims.

1.3    Personal Relationships

Sexual orientation, preference, gender, or gender identity should have no impact on the rights of individuals by government, such as in current marriage, child custody, adoption, immigration or military service laws. Consenting adults should be free to choose their own sexual practices and personal relationships. Government does not have the authority to define, license or restrict personal relationships.

1.4    Abortion

Recognizing that abortion is a sensitive issue and that people can hold good-faith views on all sides, I believe that government should be kept out of the matter, leaving the question to each person for their conscientious consideration.  Again, I oppose any public funding for abortion.

1.5    Crime and Justice

Government exists to protect the rights of every individual including life, liberty and property. Criminal laws should be limited to violation of the rights of others through force or fraud, or deliberate actions that place others involuntarily at significant risk of harm. Individuals retain the right to voluntarily assume risk of harm to themselves. I support restitution of the victim to the fullest degree possible at the expense of the criminal or the negligent wrongdoer. I oppose reduction of constitutional safeguards of the rights of the criminally accused. The rights of due process, a speedy trial, legal counsel, trial by jury, and the legal presumption of innocence until proven guilty, must not be denied. I assert the common-law right of juries to judge not only the facts but also the justice of the law.