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Because each person has
the right to offer goods and services to others on the free
market, and because government interference can only harm
such free activity, we oppose all intervention by government
into the area of economics. The only proper role of the State
of Georgia and her political subdivisions in the economic
realm is to protect property rights, adjudicate disputes,
and provide a legal framework in which voluntary trade is
protected.
Efforts to redistribute wealth or manage trade through the
coercive power of the state are incompatible with individual
freedom. Government manipulation of the economy creates an
entrenched privileged class -- those with access to tax money
-- and an exploited class -- those who are net taxpayers.
1. THE ECONOMY
The Libertarian Party of Georgia wholeheartedly believes
that free markets are the engine of individual liberty. Government
intervention in the economy imperils both that freedom and
the material prosperity of all. We therefore support the following
specific immediate reforms: drastic reduction of both taxes
and state spending; an end to deficit budgets; the removal
of all governmental impediments to free trade; and the repeal
of all controls on wages, prices, rents, profits, and production.
2. TAXATION
Since we believe that all persons are entitled to keep the fruits
of their labor, we see no moral difference between common theft
and the forcible collection of money or goods from individuals
at all levels of government. Specifically, we:
- recognize the right of any individual to challenge the
payment of taxes on moral, religious, legal, or constitutional
grounds;
- oppose all personal and corporate income taxation, including
capital gains taxes;
- oppose estate taxation as a particular assault on families;
- support the repeal of the 16th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution
and the eventual elimination of all taxation;
- support unconditional amnesty for all individuals who
are accused, or have ever been convicted, of tax resistance;
and
- oppose all increases in the rate of taxation or categories
of taxpayers, including the elimination of deductions, exemptions,
or credits in the spurious name of "fairness," "simplicity,"
or alleged "neutrality to the free market." No tax can ever
be fair, simple, or neutral to the free market.
As an interim measure, all criminal and civil sanctions against
tax evasion should be terminated immediately.
oppose as involuntary servitude any legal requirements forcing
employers or business owners to serve as tax collectors for
federal, state, or local tax agencies.
In the event of fiscal crisis at any jurisdiction, default
is preferable to raising taxes or perpetual refinancing of
growing public debt.
3. GOVERNMENT DEBT
We support requiring a balanced state budget. To be effective,
a balanced budget amendment should provide:
- that neither the legislature nor the Governor be permitted
to override this requirement;
- that all off-budget items are included in the budget;
- that the budget is balanced exclusively by cutting expenditures,
and not by raising taxes; and
- that no exception be made for periods of fiscal emergency
created by government itself.
Governments facing fiscal crises should choose to default
in preference to raising taxes.
4. MONOPOLIES
We distinguish between de facto monopolies where competition
is possible but absent, and coercive monopolies. We condemn
all coercive monopolies, but recognize that government is
their primary source, through its grants of legal privilege
to special interests in the economy. In order to abolish coercive
monopolies, we advocate a strict separation of business and
State.
We defend the right of individuals to form corporations,
co?atives, and other types of companies based on voluntary
association. Laws of incorporation should not include grants
of monopoly privilege. At the same time, we oppose special
limits on the liability of corporations for damages caused
in non-contractual transactions. We also oppose state limits
on the size of private companies and on the right of companies
to merge.
5. SUBSIDIES
In a free state, government should not be allowed to victimizes
any individual or interest for the benefit of any other. Therefore
we oppose each and every government subsidy -- to business,
labor, education, agriculture, science, the arts, sports,
broadcasting, or any other special interest. The unrestricted
competition of the free market is the best way to foster prosperity.
The loans of government-sponsored enterprises, even when
not guaranteed by the government, constitute another form
of subsidy. All such enterprises must either be abolished
or completely privatized.
Relief or exemption from taxation or from any other involuntary
government intervention, however, is not a subsidy; we call
that freedom and we look forward to the day when freedom is
extended to all.
6. PUBLIC UTILITIES
We advocate the termination of government-created monopolies
and franchise privileges such as park management, garbage
collection, fire protection, electricity, natural gas, cable
television, telephone, or water supplies. Furthermore, all
rate regulation in these industries should be abolished. The
right to offer such services on the market should not be curtailed
by law. We support true privatization of as much State property
and services as possible, not the mere sub-contracting of
state capitalism. The contracting of private concessions is
but a first step; we long for the day that Georgia no longer
owns golf courses, hotels, or Stone Mountain Park.
7. UNIONS AND COLLECTIVE BARGAINING
We support the right of free persons to voluntarily establish,
associate in, or not associate in, labor unions. An employer
should have the right to recognize, or refuse to recognize,
a union as the collective bargaining agent of some, or all,
of its employees. As such, we applaud the legislature for
maintaining Georgia as a right to work state.
We oppose government interference in bargaining, such as
compulsory arbitration or the imposition of an obligation
to bargain. We also oppose all government back-to-work orders
as the imposition of a form of forced labor. The exemption
from anti-trust laws granted to labor unions is another government
interference; this exemption should be universal, or failing
that, should be eliminated.
Government-mandated waiting periods for closing factories
or businesses hurt wage-earners, rather than help them. We
support all efforts to benefit workers, owners, and management
by keeping government out of this area.
Workers and employers should have the right to organize secondary
boycotts if they so choose. Nevertheless, boycotts or strikes
do not justify the initiation of violence against other workers,
employers, strike-breakers, and innocent bystanders. |
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