Our Symbol

The Mustang As The Symbol Of The Liberal Party of America

We Will Make A Difference As Liberals

LPA: I've been asked by a few well-intentioned people, why are we starting a new political party? They have told me that we have enough political parties in America, and anyway, there are only two that really have a chance of getting a candidate elected.
If you think in terms of today only, then they are right, but the world, or even this country, doesn't only live for today. Hopefully it lives for tommorrow, next month, next year, and god-willing, longer than that. Time changes things, changes people, I know that it has changed me. I'm not the man I was ten, even five years ago, maybe I'm different than I was yesterday. What is the old maxim? "Time waits for no one?" I believe that. I also believe that time waits for no political party. The parties either change with the times, or they will be vanquished to the ash heap of history.
Look at the political parties that have come and gone in our country. We had Federalists, Whigs, Tories, Democrat-Republicans, Bull Mooses. We still have over twenty different political parties right now, and, more than likely, a thousand others that people have never heard of. They come and they go. Those that don't catch the spirit of the people, go by the wayside. The biggest downfall of a political party though, is when they try to be all things to all people. When a political party does that, they lose their identity.
That is what has happened to the Democratic Party. In this period of America's history, you can't tell the difference between a Republican and a Democrat except for the backround colors they use on their political posters. A Republican is red, and a Democrat is blue. That's it, that is the whole difference, the whole magilla as they say. You can listen for hours to a politician making a speech, and at the end of the speech, a coin toss would be a better indicator of which political party he or she belongs to than trying to equate what they said to any party platform. I believe that the major parties should just join forces and go back to being Democrat-Republicans. The only difference between the parties are the personalities.
If the only difference between the parties are personalities, then a presidential race is more akin to electing a prom king or queen that the leader of the most powerful nation on earth. We might be better off if we made the elections a reality show and gave them chores to do, with the best candidates winning the election. I have actually heard from people that they voted for George Bush because he had a nicer smile than John Kerry. I think that the smile was so important because the election had no real substance. During the debates, the two actually agreed with each other, more than they differed. That meant that the American people really didn't have much of a choice. Both men had nothing in common with the average American citizen that works from paycheck to paycheck. Why should they? The elections are financed by people with exactly the same backrounds as the candidates. People that are so far removed from the working class American that it's almost an event when they actually have to interface with a common working man.
Who let this happen? We all did. We let the Democratic Party go from being the party of the people, to the party of the dissillusioned rich. Unions have become big business themselves. Politicians have become celebraties, and government has become a way to pay off your richest benefactors from the sweat of the working class. Who represents the working class in the United States? Until November 15th, 2005 nobody did. Now we do. The Liberal Party of America. That is our promise. We will keep our promise. It is the only right thing to do. Help us restore a representative government to The United States of America.
We don't want your money. We want your time. We want you to think about what we are saying. The money part comes later, if we ever get into a position to field a candidate and win. Right now, we need to put the Democratic Party on notice. We need to tell the republican Party that there is now a mainstream party that gives people with liberal ideas a choice, instead of listening to the conservative hate mongering that we have been listening to for the last twenty years.
Liberal is not a four letter word. I am proud to be a liberal. I am proud to be a member of the Liberal Party of America. We would like you to stand beside us. Add a comment at the bottom of this article or write us at:

The Liberal Party of America
Post Office Box Coming Soon

We will send you an information packet, and ways that you can become involved in our movement to bring America back to its roots. We appreciate your help.

Euthanasia

LPA: Euthanasia should be legal if a patient has no medical chance of recovering from an illness. We believe that it is not the province of government to legislate morality. The right to take one's own life when faced with a painful condition that will certainly end in death not be taken away from that person. To do otherwise is wrong and immorral as well as cruel.

Unions

LPA: It is difficult to know where unions belong in this new century. They have been a flashpoint between different ideologies. Unions have proven to be very beneficial at times, and very detremental at other times. They have a very good side and a very bad side. Unions carry with them, just by their very nature, a two-edged sword.
When a union moves in the right direction, it brings the workers higher wages, benefits, and job security. It gives the workers power that before unionization, they never had. When a union moves in the wrong direction, it ceases to benefit the workers, costs the workers money to belong to the union, and does nothing for them. We know about sweetheart unions that have more in common with management than with the worker, and these unions will do almost anything as long as it benefits the union. WHEN A UNION STOPS WORKING FOR THE WORKER, AND WORKS FOR ITSELF, IT BECOMES A PARASITE. WHEN A UNION WORKS FOR THE WORKER IT CAN BE A GODSEND. Either way, unions need to be very diligent when it comes to ethical issues, as they can be a tool for good or evil as almost no other organization can.
The businesses in states that allow unions the privilage to run union shops, are having difficulties in meeting union demands. All too often, pay and benefit demands are more than the bottom line can allow and some unions are difficult to work with, so the businesses either go under, or exist marginally. In other states (right to work states) the pay scales are barely above the poverty line and benefits are hard to come by, but businesses, not fearing retaliation from the unions, flock to these states because of the cheaper labor. In both cases, people suffer.
We are realists and we realize that there has to be a better way for business, and unions to operate. Since these situations affect the nations GNP, intervention by the Federal Government is warranted. There should be a union oversight board, as well as a business oversight board that act in tamdem to produce arbitration that is fair and equitable to both business and unions. It makes common sense when an agreement cannot be reached at the union-management level. We support binding arbitration, and oppose the so called right-to-work statutes in some states. We believe that the workers should be paid an honest wage for an honest day's work. We also believe that if we can't work for a moral compromise that benefits both the labor and management sides, the nation suffers.

War

LPA: The Liberal Party of America does not believe that The President has the power to bring the nation into a protracted state of war, without a declaration of war, approved by the House and the Senate. The authorization of the use of force measure should have a time frame. If within that time frame, either the President has accomplished his objectives, or he must go back to the Congress for another Authorization. We do not believe that the authorization of the use of force should be enough to bring this country into a long protracted war, with no clear cut goals or strategy, similar to what happened in Vietnam and Iraq.
Also, this country should not be free to wage wars of aggression, or "pre-emptive" wars on a country that may, or may not, attack us. We believe that there must be clear, incontrivertable proof, that a war is imminent. A war should not be used as a political weapon. It should only be waged when it is a measure of last resort and the vital interests of the United States are theatened. We do not believe that we should fight "wars of liberation" or any other war, unless the situation that is contemplated would affect the national security of the United States and it's citizens. We belive that becoming involved in a war that was unjustified, or immoral, should lead to the impeachment and imprisonment of the President of The United States of America. Lives should not be put at stake to bolster a failing Presidency, or to take the spotlight off another problem. War should be a measure of last resort. It is too easy for a nation that has the largest war machine in history to use force indiscriminatly.
While we realize that events in the world today move very fast, and the government might not have time to consult Congress or to ask for a vote from both houses of Congress before it acts, a full accounting of the incident should be brought to light as soon as possible. Also, at this time, the President should be held accountable for any acts of war he or she deemed nessesary.
One of the prime reasons for the existance of this political party is to help stop the meaningless carnage that the United States has been involved in in the last half of the twentieth century, and the beginning of this one. We believe that the use of military force should be made more difficult and only when diplomatic and economic measures have been exhausted, and the situation causes grave danger to The United States of America.

The Right to Bear Arms

LPA: The term "Liberal" is often used by the NRA and other pro-gun lobbys to portray a person or group that is determined to outlaw guns. This is a misnomer. We agree with the NRA that the Constitution gives us the right to bear arms. This is a fundemental right of every American. The old clever maxim "If they outlaw guns, only outlaws will have guns" is very true.
Guns ownership is a personal decision that an individual should make, not his government. There are many good reasons to own firearms. People use them for hunting, sport shooting, and self-protection. We don't believe that a person should have a fully operational field artillary weapon, or a machine pistol that is accurate at a range of three feet and can shoot a thousand rounds a minute, these have no use in legitimate sport. They are only meant for killing. If a person is a legitimate gun collector, and agrees to some kind of oversight of a gun collection, then even owning assault weapons could be allowed with justification. The Liberal Party of America is a political party that interpets out constitution as a template of our values. It has worked since this country has been founded, and we see no reason to tamper with it. We do stipulate that gun ownership carries with it, the responsibility to keep guns out of the hands of minors, and that the people that own weapons should face very swift and harsh judgement, should they ever neglect the responsibilities that go along with owning a weapon.

Health Care

LPA: Health care is one of the most important issues facing each individual in the United States. Too many people have no health insurance, and it is almost immposible to pay for a surgical proceedures, or a long illness from savings. Most individuals that have no health insurance end up in bankruptcy court, or they die of their illnesses, or they remain sick and or crippled. A family with very limited income can get medicaid, and a family with a large income can purchase health insurance. The vast majority of citizens that make up the middle class must rely on their employer for health coverage. Rising health care costs are making it difficult for employers to pay this premium for their workers.
National heath care could be an answer. If a company will not provide health care for their employees, then an addidional tax can be levied on them and that tax can be directed to a national health insurance fund. Health care is not a luxury item meant for the extremely poor, or the extremely wealthy. It is a right that all Americans should have by virtue of paying taxes. If health care cannot be guaranteed for it's citizens, then the state should not have the right to tax it's people. If the state can use its tax base for military weapons, covert operations, aid to impovershed nations, and other programs, it can provide health care for it's citizens. This is a moral issue that can't be ignored. It is incumbent on the government to provide basic health care for those that support it, the people.
The Liberal Party of America supports a national health insurance program that is uniformly administered throughout the country. It should be a federal program, paid by Federal dollars. We will support the candidates from either major political party that support national health care. It is the right thing to do.

Crime and Drugs

LPA: The "War on Drugs" is the longest, costliest war in American history. It is also a war we are losing. The drug war has provided more paychecks to more bureaucrats, law enforcement officers, attorneys and judges than any program in our history. It has also made criminals out of otherwise, decent, law-abiding citizens. There are as many drug offenders in prison as there are rapists and murderers. There are people serving life sentences for possessing marijuana weighing less than a pound. It has made millionaires out of drug runners, and widows out of peace officers wives. Just as many people use drugs now, than did at the inception of the war on drugs.
There is so much that can be done to stop the lives that are being ruined. There is so much that can be done to stop the taxpayers money from being washed down the drug enforcement sewer. New laws providing treatment to habitual offenders, and community service for first time offenders. The legalization of drugs should be left up to the individual states. Any profit from drugs should be heavily taxed and used for treatment programs and educational programs in schools that teach the ramifications of drug use instead of scare tactics. More emphathis should be placed on drug use as a medical problem and a social problem, than as a law enforcement problem. Money that is spent on chasing drug runners could be better spent on homeland security and health care. We not calling for complete decriminalization of all drugs, just a more balanced, sensible view on a problem as old as mankind itself. We believe that you can't legislate morality. Morality is taught, not legislated.

Military Service

LPA: Military service is one of the most honorable, patriotic, and selfless things that a man or woman can do for their country. Military service should be an honor, and people that serve should be respected, not just on Veteran's Day or Memorial Day, but everyday of the year. As much as military service should be respected, it should not be compulsory. It should be a choice a person makes, but rarley an obligation. The only time military service should be an obligation is in a situation of dire emergancy, when the choice of defending your country, or not defending your country is really not really much of a choice at all. When Congress authorizes the draft by a two thirds motion, than the draft should be supported.
In order to make military service more appealing and in order for to repay veterans for serving their country by putting their life on the line, a free education should be guaranteed after completion of service. Medical care should be provided to the veteran at no cost to them. Home loans should be granted to veterans. A veteran should never go hungry of homeless unless he or she refuses help from the government. The Veterans Administration should be one of the last government agencies to face budget cuts in lean economic times.

Reproductive Rights

LPA: This is a first segment in the platform of our political party. The Liberal Party of America supports a woman's right to choose what should be done with her body. We neither promote, nor condem abortion. The facts of the issue are central to the soul of the party. You cannot legislate morality. Morality is a very subjective thing. My morality may be different than your morality. The question is also answered by the history of abortion. The fact is, if a woman wants to abort the fetus she carries, she will, whether it is legal, or not legal. We feel that if abortions are going to be performed, it is better for everyone that the proceedure be done under medical supervision rather than in a back alley. There are some issues of morality that are black and white, some issues that are right or wrong. In the case of a woman's reproductive rights, that should be left up to the woman in question. The government should not be the arbitrator of morality in this instance.

We Are Losing Our Freedom

LPA: The Patriot Act is being overhauled. Key elements are in front of Congress to be made ongoing. One of the most sinister elements of the Patriot Act, the right of the FBI to look into a person's medical records, or for an internet provider to turn over it's logs, or for a bank to give copies of personal bank statements, or libraries to show what books and media you are checking out, this is all being done without a warrant from a judge, and over 30,000 of these have been done this year. All of this information about you can be turned over to the FBI without a written order of a judge. The person that turns it over to the FBI is forbidden by law to tell you, or anyone, that this has been done, because that is against the law. In other words, you can have your whole life investigated by the government, and not even know about it.
This is all being done in the name of "National Security". If the government doesn't care for a new political Party such as the Liberal Party of America, it can go into my medical charts, my bank statements, my computer and any other place it can gather information, much like the Gestapo, or the KGB or any other secret police unit, anywhere in the world.
The New York Times had an editorial called "Return of the Patriot Act". You can read it in the issue of November 18, 2005. We hope that you read it, and contact your Represenatives and try to get this attack on your civil liberties stopped. This is not a drill. You really are losing your freedoms. What will be next in the name of freedom? The right to assemble? The right of free speech? Is my e-mail being read by Agent Smith? Is Yours? It is your duty as an American citizen to help stop the government from eroding our civil rights under the guise of patriotism. Don't let them make this a permanent law. Don't let them do this at all. Please value your privacy. The freedom you save my be your own.

JFK's Definition of a "Liberal"

LPA: From John F. Kennedy's acceptance speech of the New York Liberal Party Nomination, September 14, 1960. Read the entite speech at :http://www.cjnetworks.com/~cubsfan/whatis.html

What do our opponents mean when they apply to us the label "Liberal"? They mean, as they want people to believe, someone who is soft in his policies abroad, who is against local government, and who is unconcerned with the taxpayer's dollar, then the record of this party and it's members demonstrate that we are not that kind of "Liberal." But if by a "Liberal" they mean someone who looks ahead and not behind, someone who welcomes new ideas without rigid reactions, someone who cares about the welfare of the people-their health, their housing, their schools, their jobs, their civil rights, and their civil liberties-someone who believes we can break through stalemate and suspicions that grip us in our policies abroad, if that is what they mean by a "Liberal," then I'm proud to say I'm a "Liberal."

I Feel Honored to Call Myself Liberal

LPA: When Sue Gamble asked me to help her with this endeavor, I was thrilled. The idea of starting a new political party is to me, a giant responsibility. I have no idea of how we will start, or where we will go with this. I don't know how or when we will field any candidates for office or just endorse the best candidates. I suspect that if this party takes off, that we will field our own candidates once we have enough support to not be spoilers for an election. I talked with Sue and told her that if in the future, we would never run a candidate in the way that ruined John Kerry's chances in 2004. That was a miserable move in my opinion. Nader knew he didn't have a chance in hell of winning that election. Still, he wanted to make a point and feed his own ego by taking votes away from somebody that might have saved us from looking like the Third Reich in many countries eyes.
I also told Sue Gamble that I would keep my ties to the Democratic Party. They are the only viable alternative to the Neo-Conservites that the Republicans have been courting for the last decade. I believe that this country is at a great point in history. It will either go wildly to the right, or the pendulum will swing back towards sanity. I would like to believe that the Liberal Party can help move the pendulum in that direction. I believe that if we work hard enough, and if enough people can stand up to the right and join with us, we can make a difference, and take back our country from the hijackers, without causing a crash. I believe that together, we really can make a difference.

What is the Liberal Party of America?

LPA: The Liberal Party of America is a party that believes that "all humans are created with certain inalienable rights, amoung them are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness". That is the basic tenant of the U.S. Constitution, and it is the basis of our political party. The only reason a nation is allowed to war upon another nation is when the above rights are violated and it affects The United States and it's citizen's. We are not the world's police force or a world government.
We also realize that except for personalities, that there is not a large divide between the Democrats and the Republicans. The two are almost the same, reaching toward the same voting blocs. We are liberal. We believe that the government should have little say in our day to day lives, as long as what we do, does not trample on the rights of others. We do not judge anyone by the lifestyle they choose, as long as it does not hurt anyone else. We do not believe that the Federal Government should set standards in our schools, these are individual state responsibilities. We do not believe that the government should be influenced by religion. We believe in the strict seperation of church and state. We do not believe that the government is the shepherd of morality. Morality is decided by individuals. The government is created to enforce the law of the land. All laws should be enforced equally, it is not the government's province to decide which laws should be enforced and which laws won't. That leads to tyranny.
These are our founding principles. They are based on the United States Constitution.