[Lnc-business] Member feedback on proposed resolution

[Justin O'Donnell]

Ms Mason,

I believe that it is further clarified in Platform Plank 2.0 Economic 
Liberty, we state "Each person has the right to offer goods and services 
to others on the free market. The only proper role of government in the 
economic realm is to protect property rights, adjudicate disputes, and 
provide a legal framework in which voluntary trade is protected. All 
efforts by government to redistribute wealth, or to control or manage 
trade, are improper in a free society."

I draw your attention specifically to the exclamation that "all efforts 
by government to redistribute wealth, or to control or manage trade, are 
improper in a free society." The collectivization and redistribution of 
property and business assets as described in recent rhetoric from 
self-proclaimed socialists is entirely within the scope of what is 
considered "improper in a free society" by our platform.

Also, Platform Plank 2.1 Property and Contract, we explicitly state "As 
respect for property rights is fundamental to maintaining a free and 
prosperous society, it follows that the freedom to contract to obtain, 
retain, profit from, manage, or dispose of one’s property must also be 
upheld." Reaffirming one's right to profit from one's property, which 
according to the promoted Rhetoric "Rent is Theft" is in contradiction 
with the principles of socialist property views. Furthermore, our 
implied support of one's right to make a profit in this plank, is 
actually in blatant contradiction to most socialist learning and 
teachings, that disparity of wealth and profit motives are inherently 
wrong.

Furthermore, Platform Plank 2.11, Labor Markets states "Employment and 
compensation agreements between private employers and employees are 
outside the scope of government, and these contracts should not be 
encumbered by government-mandated benefits or social engineering. We 
support the right of private employers and employees to choose whether 
or not to bargain with each other through a labor union. Bargaining 
should be free of government interference, such as compulsory 
arbitration or imposing an obligation to bargain" whereas self-professed 
Libertarian socialists advocate for a complete surrender of these rights 
from the employer/property owner on behalf of solely the employee.

So while the definition of Justly acquired property might be up for 
debate, the rights of property owners and business owners are not. And 
that is what this resolution addresses- a systematic perversion of 
Libertarian philosophy to accommodate philosophical leanings that 
dispell the rights of property and business owners. To be short, a 
socialist philosophy.

---
Yours in Liberty,

Justin O'Donnell
LNC Region 8 Representative
LPNH Alternate- LNC Platform Committee
Chair- LPNH Platform Committee
Candidate for US Congress, NH-2
www.odonnell2018.org

On 2018-08-14 21:52, Jacqueline Mason wrote:
> Dear LNC,
> 
> The Libertarian Party platform is very specific in that it qualifies
> its defense of property rights as applying to "justly acquired"
> property. Delegates are VERY picky about how things are worded. That
> qualifier was not just thrown in for shits and giggles.
> 
> Georgists, LibSocs, and others differ in what counts as "justly
> acquired." What is "just" is a long-standing moral, philosophical, and
> economic debate in which we can disagree yet still be ideologically
> libertarian.
> 
> A resolution that ignores that libertarians can have legitimate
> philosophical differences over this does not just reaffirm the
> platform, it goes beyond it in an effort to silence and drive out
> left-libertarians of all stripes.
> 
> I urge you to vote no.
> 
> Love,
> Jackie