Issue Position: Property Rights

Issue Position

Libertarian are staunch supporters of property rights. From our national platform: 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. Libertarians would free property owners from government restrictions on their rights to control and enjoy their property, as long as their choices do not harm or infringe on the rights of others. Eminent domain, civil asset forfeiture, governmental limits on profits, governmental production mandates, and governmental controls on prices of goods and services (including wages, rents, and interest) are abridgments of such fundamental rights. For voluntary dealings among private entities, parties should be free to choose with whom they trade and set whatever trade terms are mutually agreeable.

… And from our state platform: Property rights are the foundation of liberty and enable a free market economy to flourish.

* End the practice of using eminent domain powers to seize property for the benefit of private developers.

* Repeal the ability of local governments to turn over condemnation authority to independent parties.

* Eliminate the use of "blight" as a rationale for using eminent domain to seize private property.

* Oppose the National Animal Identification System.

* Oppose the use of government mandates to dictate the smoking policies of privately-owned businesses.

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