This stance is an Allen County Libertarian Party exclusive.
While this may seem counter-intuitive to our marijuana legalization stance as well as our stance on government assistance, we do believe in at least attempting to curb the abuse of the government assistance programs that are currently being utilized. Our train of thought here is that we understand that some people who currently qualify for government assistance do truly benefit from it, but we also feel if our tax dollars are going to support them, then they should have to prove some form of responsibility.
What we would like to see is that the people who are applying for government assistance, and those that the do ultimately get issued assistance, show that they are making an attempt at following the law of the land. While we may not support the current laws in place, we do not, under any circumstances, promote disobeying any law set in place.
Drug testing those who receive benefits is a necessity. The most current figures that were found were noted in 2000, where almost 9.6% of people or families receiving government assistance were illicit-drug users, as opposed to 6.8% of non-assisted people. With almost 10% of users testing positive, that is a lot of money saved. In 2007, Allen County had 15,258 recipients and paid out a total of $11,385,515 in food stamps. Assessing that 10% of those cases would fail a drug test, Allen County would save $1,138,552 a year. That’s right, just by eliminating drug users from the system, Allen County alone would save over one-million dollars a year! The State of Ohio would save $132,942,260 a year if this program was initiated.
Funding of this program would be simple. For those familiar with unemployment, your first week claimed is unpaid for processing fees. This can easily be transitioned into other government assistance programs such as food stamps where the cost of the tests are merely deducted from the benefits paid out.
We believe in personal responsibility, and we believe if you make a choice, it is yours to make. However, we also believe if you make the wrong choice, there must be consequences.
What are your thoughts?
Support individual’s right to choose, even if we disapprove
Individuals should be free to make choices for themselves and to accept responsibility for the consequences of the choices they make. No individual, group, or government may initiate force against any other individual, group, or government. Our support of an individual’s right to make choices in life does not mean that we necessarily approve or disapprove of those choices. Source: National platform adopted at Denver L.P. convention May 30, 2008
Repeal all laws against homosexuality
We advocate the repeal of laws regarding consensual sexual relations, including prostitution, and the cessation of state harassment of homosexuals; [and] the repeal of laws prohibiting the distribution of sexually explicit material. Source: National Platform of the Libertarian Party Jul 2, 2000
Right to complete freedom of expression includes pornography
We defend the rights of individuals to unrestricted freedom of speech, freedom of the press and the right of individuals to dissent from government itself. We oppose any abridgment of the freedom of speech through government censorship, regulation or control of communications media, including, but not limited to, laws concerning: Obscenity, including “pornography.” Source: National Platform of the Libertarian Party Jul 2, 2000
Allen County Libertarian Party of Ohio 