The Libertarian Party was founded in Colorado in 1971 and held its first convention in Denver in 1972. In 1972 it fielded John Hospers for president and Theodora Nathan for vice president in the U.S. general election. It appeared on two state ballots, receiving a total of 2,648 votes in Colorado and Washington. In the 1976 elections, the party's 176 candidates garnered 1.2 million votes across the United States.
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Major Election Issues: Libertarian Party Position
The Libertarian Party believes there should be no involvement by government with regard to abortion. They oppose any government action or legislation that either prohibits or compels abortion. For more, read the
party platform.
The Libertarian Party believes that government--at the local, state, and federal levels--is the main offender in the contamination of the environment. The Libertarians propose that the first line of protection for the environment is the elimination of "sovereign immunity." The Libertarians support privatization of national park management. For more, read the
party issue highlights and the
party platform.
The Libertarian Party believes that government--at the local, state, and federal levels--is the main offender in the contamination of the environment. The Libertarians propose that the first line of protection for the environment is the elimination of "sovereign immunity." The Libertarians support privatization of national park management. For more, read the
party issue highlights and the
party platform.
The Libertarian Party seeks to remove all government involvement in the health care industry by working toward the following: the establishment of medical savings accounts; the deregulation of the health care industry; and the increase of accessibility of safe and affordable medicines to individuals. For more, read the
party issue highlights and the
party platform.
The Libertarian Party supports free, open immigration policies; such policies, however, do not imply immigrants have access to economic entitlements (such as welfare). For more, read the
party issues highlights and the
party platform.
The Libertarian Party supports the right of individuals to choose intimate partners. The LP calls for the repeal of the federal Defense of Marriage Act, as well as state laws and amendments defining marriage. For more, read the
party platform.
In general, the Libertarian Party calls for the privatization of wealth management. "We believe that all individuals have the right to dispose of the fruits of their labor as they see fit and that government has no right to take such wealth." For more, read the
party platform.
The Libertarian Party calls for a swift and safe withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq, stating that the United States is interfering with a civil war in that nation. For more, read the
party platform.
 
Libertarian Party Presidential Candidates