First: We affirm that every individual is the exclusive owner of his/her own life and of all the products of that existence.

Second: We affirm that each individual is responsible for his/her actions and the results and rewards thereof, that freedom does not exist without personal responsibility.

Third: We affirm that no lawful right exists which allows one person to initiate force against another, and we defend the right of any person to resist oppression in any form.

Fourth: We affirm that rights are neither collective nor additive. No group of individuals has more rights than any one individual.

We therefore affirm that the sole lawful purpose of government is to secure these rights to each and every citizen. The activity of lawful government is restricted to:

1. Law Enforcement to protect the individual's right to life, liberty, property and the pursuit of happiness;
2. A Judicial System to provide an orderly process of disputes, to facilitate criminal punishment and restitution, and to secure equitable enforcement of voluntary contracts;
3. National Defense to preserve the natural rights of all citizens from all enemies seeking to abridge or violate those rights; and
4. Legislative and executive functions are constitutionally limited to the minimum necessary for the implementation of these lawful purposes.

Our silence about any other particular government law, regulation, ordinance, directive, edict, control, regulatory agency, activity or machination should not be construed as to imply approval.

2008 Planks/Stands on Specific Issues

• Income Tax: We oppose all forms of income taxes. We propose that government collect revenues through fees for services actually rendered. Basic services vital to a free and peaceful society can have their just expenses provided through minimal sales taxes. Government must live within its revenues. All taxes should be subject to popular referendum and include sunset provisions. We propose abolishing the mandatory income tax withholding that was instituted as a war-time measure.
• Property Tax: We do not believe that property owners should pay rent to the government on property they own or are in the process of buying. Municipalities can fund services they provide (e.g., garbage collection) through user fees. We support abolition of all property and use taxes, including those applied to automobiles and equipment used in business.
• Crime and Punishment: We support the equal application of the law to all citizens. There should be no prosecution in instances where there is no victim.
• Self-Defense: We believe all citizens have the individual right to keep and bear arms. We oppose any attempt to prevent law-abiding citizens, including government employees, from having the ability to defend themselves anywhere at any time. An individual's right of armed self-defense should not be restricted in public areas and accommodations (save courthouses and jails). We do not believe that government permission is required to give churches or owners of private residences the right to ban whatever they want to ban from their premises. Use of a firearm to threaten, injure or kill another person should be punished severely. (While we believe Utah's concealed carry permit law is contrary to the constitutions of the United States and Utah, we recommend abiding by all current laws.)
• Mass Transit: We believe that government-run transit systems are not cost effective and give inadequate service. UTA should be privatized and not subsidized. All Utah communities should lift restrictions on private transportation, such as bans against hailing taxis and on-demand jitney services.
• Anti-Smoking Laws: We oppose government interference in any private business. We affirm the right of smokers and non-smokers alike to patronize those establishments which cater to their preferences.
• Corporate Welfare: We oppose government subsidies, tax breaks, etc. for competitive business enterprises. We believe it is a corrupt use of tax dollars to reward businesses at the expense of the taxpayers. Using redevelopment agencies and eminent domain to take homes and businesses to give to other private parties is an abuse of government power.
• State Liquor Stores: Government should not have a retail monopoly on alcohol sales. We oppose advertising restrictions on legal products. We believe that such restrictions are illegal censorship and deny buyers the right to make sound decisions. We support the repeal of Utah's "private club" laws and believe that businesses offering legal products to adults should not be required to subject consumers to pay a "membership fee" or sign in.
• Education: Recognizing the importance of a well-educated citizenry to a strong republic, we affirm the right of parents to educate their children in whatever environment they prefer, including religious or proprietary schools, and their own homes.
• Drinking Water: We oppose granting the government the authority to mass-medicate communities by putting any medicines in our drinking water. We suggest that private companies provide fluoridated drinking water to those who want it on a subscription basis and not at tax payer expense.
• Women’s Health: We recognize that the U.S. Supreme Court has decriminalized abortion (Roe vs. Wade). We believe that it is unjust to use public funds to pay for abortion. Many Libertarian members and candidates hold either strong pro-life or pro-choice positions and do so without being in conflict with the Libertarian Party Ideals, Platform, and Principles.
• Medical Marijuana: We believe that government should not stand between doctor and patient. We support the decriminalization of marijuana for medical use.
• Right to Privacy: We support an individual's right to privacy from government intrusion. We oppose requiring a social security number for anything other than a request for government-provided social services.
• Professional Guilds: Members of the medical, bar and other associations burden the people with excessively high charges for their services for which they have obtained a government-granted monopoly. We believe nurse practitioners, certified paralegals and others should be allowed to provide their services directly to the public to the extent of their training and competence.
• Civil Asset Forfeiture: We oppose civil asset forfeiture laws. We believe it is the responsibility of criminal courts, following due process, to decide if property is to be seized. Allowing seizure of property based on unconfirmed probable cause creates a dangerous temptation and a conflict of interest for law enforcement agencies.
• Government Accountability: We believe that government employees should not be permitted to invoke sovereign immunity to escape accountability for their wrongful acts.
• Sunset All Laws: We believe all laws, save those against harming another person or property, should contain a expiration date forcing a review by the then-current legislature and allowed to die if no longer needed or if proven ineffective.
• Petition & Recall: We find Utah's requirements for petitioning government place an unreasonable burden on the petitioners and will support legislation to make it easier for citizens to initiate referenda and recall corrupt, incompetent or nonperforming officials.
• Truth In Bonding: We believe all requests for long-term debt via bonds, should require that the voters are fully informed of the total debt obligation including interest and all costs of maintaining the proposed project well before the vote.
• Special Elections: We believe that all voting for candidates, policies or bond issues should be conducted on Election Day in November.
• Fusion Candidacies: Utah's ban against multiple-party nomination of candidates forbids voters from exercising their political free agency and restricts candidates' rights to seek a broader base of support.
• Fully-Informed Juries: Jurors protect citizens from government excess. Jurors have the power to return a “not guilty” verdict if jurors believe that an acquittal will serve justice, the law itself is unjust, or the law is unjustly applied in a particular case. Instructions to jurors should inform them of this power.

We suggest that you read or view the following:

• The Philosophy of Liberty
• Libertarian Party of Utah Principles
• The Membership Pledge of the Libertarian Party of Utah
• Platform of the Libertarian Party of Utah
• The Libertarian Party on Today's Issues
• National Platform of the Libertarian Party