We hold that all individuals have the right to exercise sole dominion over their own lives, and have the right to live in whatever manner they choose, so long as they do not forcibly interfere with the equal right of others to live in whatever manner they choose.

Governments throughout history have regularly operated on the opposite principle, that the State has the right to dispose of the lives of individuals and the fruits of their labor. Even within the United States, political parties other than our own advocate for governmental powers extending far beyond the basic tasks of governance.

We, on the contrary hold that governments must not violate the rights of any individual, namely:

(1) the right to life — accordingly we oppose the initiation of physical force against people who have caused no harm;

(2) the right to liberty — accordingly we oppose all attempts by government to abridge the freedom of speech, to impose censorship, or to limit actions which cause no harm to others; and

(3) the right to property — accordingly we oppose all government interference with private property, including confiscation, nationalization, eminent domain, and the restriction of property rights beyond that which is necessary to protect the property rights of others. We support the prohibition of theft, trespass, fraud, and misrepresentation.

Since governments, when instituted, must not violate individual rights, we oppose all interference by government in the areas of voluntary and contractual relations among individuals. People should not be forced to sacrifice their lives and property for the benefit of others. They 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 ask that government establish the framework for a harmonious, prosperous society, and give the people the room to flourish.