The Individualist Party

A few years ago, I found myself in a conundrum of sorts politically. Officially, I am a registered Independent, but politically I am anything but. Independents have no real platform which they would like to see a president run on and many of them are considered to be "moderates"-in the middle on most issues and simply understanding the importance of voting each election but torn between voting for the "lessor of 2 evils". I, on the other hand, know exactly what platform I would like to see a President run on, or a political party establish themselves on, and to that end I created the Individualist Party...Recently I came into contact with a local gentleman by the name of Jack Tymann. Mr. Tymann is a retired CEO and president of Westinghouse International and is a writer as well as a speaker at business and political functions locally and nationwide. One day I heard Mr. Tymann discussing Individualism and being an "Individualist" on a local morning radio show and called in to say that that not only had I been referring to myself as such for nearly the last 5 years, but had also written down a platform for the formation of a "political party" which I now choose to belong too. Mr. Tymann asked me to email him the document I had written defining this new party's platform, and, after some editing from him I am posting my final version of it here for all to see....

Individualism--

• An Individualist believes that the powers of the Federal Government should be limited to those specifically defined in the US Constitution. Any powers not specifically given to it by the Constitution be retained by the States, as per this Constitution.
• An Individualist believes in the absolute rights of freedom of choice for all individuals, with no hindrance of this freedom from the Federal Government.
• An Individualist supports the complete overall and/or abolishment of: Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, the IRS, the Department of Education, and any/all government funding of primary educational systems.
• An Individualist recognizes that state and local governments, in accord with State Constitutions, will establish policies and take actions as necessary to maintain an ordered society (criminal law, community ordinances, local socialized medical and educational institutions).
• An Individualist understands and supports federal actions taken to defend or better the nation as a whole (the most obvious being a strong military and when necessary - war).
• An Individualist believes in the sovereignty of our nations borders, and recognizes that formal citizenship is required to legally enjoy the rights and freedoms granted by our Constitution.
• An Individualist believes in a Federal Government as defined by our Founding Fathers -- with limited powers to regulate those industries whose impacts on society could easily be manipulated at consumer expense and endangerment.
• An Individualist recognizes that Free Market Capitalism is the best avenue for pursuit of individual goals and should be left unencumbered by Federal Government restrictions (taxes and regulations).
• An Individualist believes that in Free Market Capitalism the consumer is the ultimate judge of the success or failure of a company/corporation.
• An Individualist lives by the moral code “do unto others as you would have them do unto you” and understands the importance of all individuals within a society living peacefully with others.
• An Individualist believes in every person's freedom of choice on all matters, so long as that individual's choice doesn’t endanger the public at large.
• An Individualist recognizes that other individuals may choose a different lifestyle and/or hold different beliefs, and respects each individual's exercising of their freedom of choice.
• An Individualist recognizes the importance of free elections, and participates in local and national elections.
• An Individualist believes it is their responsibility (not the government's) to provide for their family and their own future needs.
• An Individualist recognizes that every individual has the right to work hard, benefit from the fruits of this labor, and succeed or fail with an absolute of no Federal Government involvement or intervention.
• An Individualist recognizes that limited Federal Programs are appropriate to assist other individuals who are in need and/or otherwise are unable to fend for themselves.
• An Individualist recognizes that rules (laws) should be adaptable and fluid to apply to those cases where imprisonment or fines would be detrimental to both society and the Individual in question.
• Finally, an Individualist recognizes the delicate balance of the ecology of our planet, and our impacts on it. To that end, the Individualist always continues to seek out better and more efficient uses of our natural resources so as to preserve our planet for our future generations.
  

Personally…



I believe that the most sacred right gifted to us by our "Creator", and guaranteed by the US Constitution, is the right of every individual to make his/her own choices and decisions.

Issues such as a person’s right to die and abortion fall into this category. Such issues that should not be judged by Federal or State Governments. Where necessary, they should be ruled on at the most local levels of government.

The Federal Government's role should be limited to disputes and relationships between its member states and international relations. Monetary reparations for natural disasters deemed ‘catastrophic’; maintaining national military forces; final oversight-but privatization-of our national airspace, waterways, and radio frequencies should also start with the Federal Government.

Social Security, Medicare and Welfare programs at the federal level-should be abolished. If local communities wish to levy taxes for these programs, so be it. However, we as a society must learn to take care of ourselves and our families first, and stop relying on the federal government to ‘take care of us’ when we reach a certain age.

People should get involved by voting; our tax system should be completely restructured so as to eliminate the need for the IRS.

The prohibition of Marijuana and hemp should come to an end.

Foreign policy should be based from a globalization perspective, relative to our importance in the global economy. Preparation for the inevitable contact with other species should begin, but only as a ‘background’ social program.

Funding for the research and development of future technologies and the cultivation of interstellar resources should also be top foreign policy priorities.