Aside from the good feelings one gets, the sense of moral superiority engendered by the act, voting Libertarian this year will make all the difference in 2016. Any party that gets at least 5% of the vote gets some of the public financing loot doled out by the gubmint*. In this case, that should be around $90 million smackeroos, roughly 75 times what they had to spend on this campaign. So read their platform, parts of which I have excerpted here, and realize that these guys are the real deal, and let’s give them the voice they need to make a difference four years from now.

Let’s get started; I have highlighted portions that might be of interest to RNL readers…

…we oppose all interference by government in the areas of voluntary and contractual relations among individuals. People … should be left free by government to deal with one another as free traders; and the resultant economic system, the only one compatible with the protection of individual rights, is the free market.

We support full freedom of expression and oppose government censorship, regulation or control of communications media and technology. We favor the freedom to engage in or abstain from any religious activities that do not violate the rights of others. We oppose government actions which either aid or attack any religion.

Protection from unreasonable search and seizure should include records held by third parties, such as email, medical, and library records. Only actions that infringe on the rights of others can properly be termed crimes. We favor the repeal of all laws creating “crimes” without victims, such as the use of drugs for medicinal or recreational purposes.

Sexual orientation, preference, gender, or gender identity should have no impact on the government’s treatment of individuals, such as in current marriage, child custody, adoption, immigration or military service laws

Recognizing that abortion is a sensitive issue and that people can hold good-faith views on all sides, we believe that government should be kept out of the matter, leaving the question to each person for their conscientious consideration.

We support restitution to the victim to the fullest degree possible at the expense of the criminal or the negligent wrongdoer. We oppose reduction of constitutional safeguards of the rights of the criminally accused. The rights of due process, a speedy trial, legal counsel, trial by jury, and the legal presumption of innocence until proven guilty, must not be denied. We assert the common-law right of juries to judge not only the facts but also the justice of the law.

The only legitimate use of force is in defense of individual rights — life, liberty, and justly acquired property — against aggression.

We oppose all laws at any level of government requiring registration of, or restricting, the ownership, manufacture, or transfer or sale of firearms or ammunition.

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.

The owners of property have the full right to control, use, dispose of, or in any manner enjoy, their property without interference, until and unless the exercise of their control infringes the valid rights of others.

We support a clean and healthy environment and sensible use of our natural resources.

Free markets and property rights stimulate the technological innovations and behavioral changes required to protect our environment and ecosystems.

We oppose all government control of energy pricing, allocation, and production.

We call for the repeal of the income tax, the abolishment of the Internal Revenue Service and all federal programs and services not required under the U.S. Constitution.

We support the passage of a “Balanced Budget Amendment” to the U.S. Constitution, provided that the budget is balanced exclusively by cutting expenditures, and not by raising taxes.

We support the right of free persons to associate or not associate in labor unions, and an employer should have the right to recognize or refuse to recognize a union. We oppose government interference in bargaining, such as compulsory arbitration or imposing an obligation to bargain.

Recognizing that the education of children is a parental responsibility, we would restore authority to parents to determine the education of their children, without interference from government.

We oppose laws that effectively exclude alternative candidates and parties, deny ballot access, gerrymander districts, or deny the voters their right to consider all legitimate alternatives.

Whenever any form of government becomes destructive of individual liberty, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to agree to such new governance as to them shall seem most likely to protect their liberty.

I am approximately 90% in favor of this platform. Although I, and B as well, would like to see an end to corporations, a government that was effective at preventing the domination of the individual by any entity would satisfy my misgivings in that area.

I also feel that the government did a fine job cleaning up our air and water, and that pollution of the environment must be dealt with immediately, without waiting for the private sector to act. however, a private initiative to point out polluters and boycott them might work, something along the lines of Consumer’s Union’s work in publicizing the effectiveness of products comes to mind.

So B, Kells, my fellow Ron Paul-likers, c’mon! Be a part of the 5% that guarantees a Libertarian voice will be heard next time, when we will need him more than ever.

*The Libertarians would end this program, but they would be stupid not to take advantage of it.