Talk:Civil libertarianism

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Definitions related to Civil Libertarian[edit]

I wanted to collect some definitions here that we might reference in our discussion on how to develop/enhance the article.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/civil%20libertarian?r=14

Civil libertarian

a person who actively supports or works for the protection or expansion of civil liberties.

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/civil%20libertarian

Civil Liberty

freedom from arbitrary governmental interference (as with the right of free speech) specifically by denial of governmental power and in the United States especially as guaranteed by the Bill of Rights —usually used in plural

http://www.lp.org/platform#sop

Platform of the Libertarian Party

[snip]

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, all political parties other than our own grant to government the right to regulate the lives of individuals and seize the fruits of their labor without their consent.

We, on the contrary, deny the right of any government to do these things, and hold that where governments exist, they must not violate the rights of any individual: namely, (1) the right to life -- accordingly we support the prohibition of the initiation of physical force against others; (2) the right to liberty of speech and action -- accordingly we oppose all attempts by government to abridge the freedom of speech and press, as well as government censorship in any form; and (3) the right to property -- accordingly we oppose all government interference with private property, such as confiscation, nationalization, and eminent domain, and support the prohibition of robbery, trespass, fraud, and misrepresentation.

[snip]