Libertarian Party Florida

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The Libertarian Party of Florida or LPF, is one of the fifty U.S. Libertarian parties that 'champion individual Liberty' and in general challenge policies based on the model that government is supposed to do everything [Source: LP Statement of Principles]. This is done through promotion of voluntary, private, and non-governmental alternatives for each government program. Libertarians are expected to meet the legal or traditional definition of a Freeman or Libertarian, that is to take a pledge not to advocate initiating force as a problem-solving policy; and thus to respect other's rights. This is understood by Libertarians as including force initiated by fraud, or at a remove through institutions such as the government.

1 Overview
2 Activist Projects
- 2.1 Offices Held
3 External links

[edit] Overview

The LPF is the successor to the Florida Libertarian Movement, a founding group of the US National Party founded in 1971, and considered both one of the most ecumenical but also one of the most "Libertarian hard-line", yet politically successful, and managerially sophisticated Libertarian groups. Since 1990, when it was on the verge of collapse after two decades of effort with only 22 paying members, it has evolved into a network of about 1200 activists, several thousand registereds, and approximately 1 million--about 20%--of Florida voters who like what they're doing enough to cross over from the larger parties, or even decide to vote at all, on election day. Expressive of their belief that local citizen action is important even in Foreign Policy, they encourage support of citizen initiatives for cultural ties and exchange programs in troubled areas. Their sister party program encourages activists to share information with groups abroad; and include the Libertarian Movement for Human Rights of Serbia and the Libertarian Movement of Costa Rica.

[edit] Recent growth

A major factor in its growth was the adoption of a planning process involving all its activists, which decided to confront issues such as ballot access directly. Florida at that time was viewed as one of the states most hostile to third parties, (Source: Ballot Access News) with heavy requirements. An LPF-led coalition of over 20 organizations successfully advanced Revision 11, a Constitutional Amendment passed by 67% of Florida voters that mandated equal treatment of all political parties in Florida. Since 2000 the party has grown from 3 people in government to over 30, gets approximately 16% of the Statewide vote, and is generally considered among the most active US Libertarian parties, focusing effort equally on long-term education and public information projects, activist projects, and electoral activity.

In 1998 an LPF study determined that many people, including media and election supervisors, confused the LPF with other parties; they generated 2 media articles yearly. A volunteer media effort that contacted journalists and sent background sheets, coupled with meetings with local election supervisors, resulted in an average of several articles daily of a positive nature and a growth in registration and recognition as voters were correctly registered. A recent internal study (2004) show its major growth demographics to be women, minorities, small business people, and government officials attracted by what it describes as a 'strong citizen based-policy and problem solving' approach. Many respondents felt the LPF was doing a good job, and LPF feels this suggests it should continue its approach. LPF is highly decentralized around its consensus based state plan; affiliates are encouraged to place great emphasis on training and discussion, personal initiative, open teams, coalitions, strong less-is-more political campaigns, and devising carefully selected yet 'edgy' initiatives that elicit growing public and media response, often generating several articles across the state daily.

[edit] Platform/candidate program

The LPF champions individual rights and proposes non-governmental alternatives through public education, community activism, and political action. Libertarians in Government pledge to work for the voter with all groups, examine budgets line by line for abuses of rights, and target areas where non-governmental and private alternatives can do a better job.

[edit] Action areas

The LPF identifies 10 action areas in 3 core Program initiatives to better Liberty, and Justice, for All. These break out into 10 team action areas to advance human rights and propose non-governmental ways in Addressing Crime and Corruption, Bill of Rights, Personal Choice, Tax Elimination or Reduction, Public Service Improvement, Consumer Issues, Public Trust issues such as ballots, Citizen Input in Foreign Affairs, Emerging Issues, and Developing Citizen candidates who refuse public monies or unseemly donations. Each affiliate sets its own targets and policy actions drawing on a general strategic plan created by the members. A self-study version of the Program breaks out into the 2002 Libertarian Executive Summary Platform planks as specific key areas for citizen initiatives and action steps. It also contains proven suggestions for personal citizen action and a reading and resource list in the CHECKLIST FOR CHANGE tool. Typical action areas include:

[edit] Public education and Training

The LPF sponsors free workshops on tools for citizen activism, the Libertarian pledge of non-coercion, conflict resolution, and community problem solving. They are the first political party in the US to require candidates undergo continuing policy and consensus building training. Affiliates sponsor essay contests for students on Libertarian solutions and the Bill of Rights. There is an annual convention and conference open to the public which often feature activists and government officials from across the spectrum discussing Libertarian-interest topics.

[edit] Ballot restriction

The LPF continues in coalitions with Democrats, community organizations ad-hoc initiatives, and other means to work on electoral reform. In 2002, during its "Operation Full Slate" it used a process that allowed only a few signatures to back their slate of state House candidates, obliging triple checking of their petitions and isolating many problem areas that helped improve the process to the point that the petition had no challenges. It is active in promoting IRV and proportional representation initiatives.

[edit] Activist Projects

The LPF sponsors 'principled non-government solutions' emphasizing working in coalition with numerous organizations, and often with the other political parties on an official local basis. It sponsors networking, coalition, lobbying and legislative efforts that focus on what they feel are "edge" issues that oblige substantial changes in the public agenda. Their efforts have been increasingly positively described in the media as 'formidable' and 'brilliant.'

Among successful efforts are the removal of over 1000 antiquated laws from the Florida lawbooks, the defeat of a services tax that would have cost Floridians $1 billion yearly (Source: Florida House); and a wide array of local restrictions on everything from free speech to taxicab license fees. Continuing projects include initiatives at their websites such as against Eminent Domain, Corporate use of legislative perks, and requiring legislators to actually read the legislation they pass. Its website has forums and other features for activists of all groups, and is often the second highest hit Libertarian Party (LP) site, vying with the US National, UK and Canadian organizations, in English-language search engines such as GOOGLE.

[edit] Offices Held

LPF encourages candidates to focus not just on the election but the constituency building process over several elections and consensus work with other parties, with the result that Libertarians are, according to their website, in leadership positions in many advisory and elective boards, appointed by their older party colleagues. Contrary to recent studies that money is a major factor in third party success, LPF candidates may not accept public funds and are encouraged to do legwork while refusing large private contributions. Offices range from majorities on elected boards, local electoral advisory boards, and advisory positions at the Governor level. In 2002, the Florida House hired a Libertarian economist to advise it on tax policy.

[edit] External links

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