The following brief synopsis, which is by no means all-inclusive or detailed, represents a very brief summary of Freedom Party's Election '87 platform on the major issues that surfaced during the campaign:

Raising children, like having them, is an individual choice and an individual responsibility. It's the government's job to keep it that way.

There's no way to avoid the fact that taxes directly relate to government spending. Any talk about "tax reform", in the absence of dramatic cuts to government spending, can only mean higher taxes, higher government debt.

Rent controls violate fundamental private property rights and contribute to accommodation shortages and high housing prices. Rent controls don't work, and should be phased out as soon as possible.

Free trade means lower taxes, lower prices on goods and services, and more consumer and investment dollars available to create jobs and enterprises in areas where true economic demand exists. The sooner, the better.

People who cannot help themselves should be helped on an individual basis, considering individual needs, not by subsidizing entire industries and services or by instituting universal government programs. To the greatest degree possible, we must work towards establishing responsible self-supporting welfare and pension systems, privately funded, privately administered. Government should be the last resort for social assistance, not the first one.

Taxpayers should have the right to direct their education taxes to the school of their choice. Competition in educational services means higher standards, lower costs.

Competition, whether in business or labour, means more opportunity, lower prices, a healthier economy. No worker should be forced to join a union or to pay compulsory union dues; No businessperson should be forced to join a business association (BIA) or to pay taxes to them. Let's make the words "voluntary" and "consent" the keys to business and labour relationships.

"Sunday shopping" is not just a single issue. Sunday shopping involves individual choice, self-responsibility, private property rights, individual justice, freedom of religion, and free enterprise, to mention but a few of the real issues involved.

A private, competitive insurance industry is our only long-term ticket to social security. State-run auto insurance schemes, like state-run health plans and pension plans, are one-way tickets to bankruptcy. Let's keep it private.

Freedom of speech is a fundamental human right. Let's protect it. Say NO to censorship.

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Page last updated on April 28, 2002