Personal Responsibility

Individuals should be free to make choices for themselves and to accept responsibility for the consequences of these choices. Libertarians support of an individual’s right to make choices in life does not mean that they necessarily approve or disapprove of those choices. Every human being has the free will to live and act as he or she sees fit, pursuing his or her happiness as long as they respect other’s rights to do the same. Our government’s principal role is to protect our freedom and our constitutional rights of Life, Liberty, and Property, all crucial rights for building a free and prosperous society.  

Religion

Libertarians believe that government should not interfere in matters of personal conscience, such as religion. Favoring the individual’s freedom to engage in or abstain from any religious activities as long as they respect other’s right to do the same. Libertarians support the principle of separation of church and state, opposing government actions that either aid or attack any religion or endorse any religious or nonreligious position over another, given that the government was conceived only to protect its citizens, not to endorse any religious position.  

Family Values

Government was not conceived to nor is responsible for defining what a family is. The Libertarian Party seeks to abolish legislation and policies that define what a family is. Government does not have the authority to define, license or restrict personal relationships. Consenting adults should exercise their free will to choose their own sexual practices and personal relationships.  

Drug Policy

Libertarians view the federal “War on Drugs” to be a violation of the Tenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Federal authority to prosecute “crime” is limited to only a few subjects (treason, counterfeiting, piracy, offenses against the laws of nations, and violations of rights by state agents). We find no authority in the U.S. Constitution for extraterritorial criminal jurisdiction or expenditure of tax dollars to interdict drug trafficking. We view drug “abuse” as solely a state matter for social or medical intervention. We, along with other groups such as the Texas Nurses Association and the American Public Health Association, support legislation such as HB 1534 (2007) which would enable seriously ill Texans to utilize cannabis prescribed by a “licensed” (certified) physician. We favor the repeal of all laws creating “crimes” without victims, such as the use of drugs for medicinal or recreational purposes.  

Environment

Pollution and misuse of resources cause damage to our ecosystem. Libertarians support a clean and healthy environment and sensible use of our natural resources. Protecting the environment requires a clear definition and enforcement of individual rights in resources like land, water, air, and wildlife. Libertarians recognize that environmental advocates and social pressure are the most effective means of changing public behavior in regards to the environment.Â