Due to current economic, social and political trends (see globalization) there are certain aspects that have changed the social contract of government and hence the scope of its appropriate authority and responsibilities. The basic responsibilities of government are constant however, despite the perversion of these principles by many in the political forum today.
Like Libertarians, Global Libertarians see the main responsibility of government, at all levels, as defense through means of the military, intelligence agencies, police and other agencies. Laws and policies are necessary to prevent one person from taking away the rights of others. But very often, government uses laws to restrict the rights of an individual because some people, otherwise unrelated individuals, don't like what that individual is doing. We all need to think about how we treat other people and how they, or the government treats us. After all, who owes your body, your life and your time? Unfortunately, we must realize that we, "only have the rights we are willing to fight for." So, what are you willing to fight for? Party Platform
In today's capitalist modeled economy, efficiency is the ideal and highly rewarded. For most businesses and countries this will continue to be the theoretically ideal environment, provided that governments do not intervene aggreciously in the business world. To do this all governments, at all level, should do nothing but set minimum standards for safety in the workplace, fair practices and environmental concerns. (Also, to maintain a competitive edge in the global marketplace, education must be available to all but this will be dealt with within the social policy section despite its economic implications.)
Many Libertarians do not feel the government has the authority to raise revenue through taxation, especially income taxes, however the government has to raise funds to provide those services that we all benefit from and can be most efficiently provided for at the collective level. Therefore, the most reasonable would be either a flat rate tax on all income made by all individuals and businesses or a flat rate on all goods purchases. While the first is highly objectionable because it is an income tax, the second is economically worse as taxes inflate costs. The first is also more easily enforceable and fair. The tax needs to be the lowest amount possible to maintain an economically competitive edge, protect as much freedom for all individuals in the area, and any surplus returned in full to those that paid. Any additional funds would be raised voluntarily through lotteries, the sale of bonds, and various other established programs similar in nature. Specific Examples
Who owns your body? You? Your family? Your parents? The Government? And if someone else owned your body, who would decide how much of your body they owned? Another person? A group of people? How much would they decided? Libertarians, and GL, contend that you own your body, and hence your mind, soul, life, time, as well as the fruits of those things like your money. Henceforth, government cannot impose values on others, take what is not theirs, or create laws and regulations that unduly interfere with the rights of the individual.
It is the responsibility of individuals to take part in their communities. Individuals can also take on social action more efficiently and effectively than a government. Regardless however, people's time and money is their own, and it is their decision how they use it.
Many Global Libertarians are actually former socialists who wanted to see the problems of the world solved, but eventually concluded that government 'intervention' does not solve problems, and in most cases it make things worse and even creates new ones as well. At the very least, it is simply passing along the responsibility and this leads to disconnection to any community and the theft of individual rights. Hence, most Libertarians live by the 'Golden Rule': Treat others as you would have them treat you. Specific Examples
It must be consciously recognized that all government authority is directly derived from the individual. The government can not simply take away the rights of the individual unless said action would take away the rights of another individual.
Every freedom has abuses, so every freedom can be argues away if the rights of the collective are placed above those of the individual, and quickly they are. There are about 200,000 laws passed nationwide (local, state and national) every year and only approximately 100 repealed. We are slowly, but surely, heading towards a police state. We have so much prosperity and other nations have the opposite because we followed the philosophies of Jefferson and Locke, while they followed Marx and Engels. Why would we embrace collectivism now? Specific Examples
