Story co-reported with Samantha Lughart.
The National Libertarian Party logo. Photo from lp.org.
Although America is often seen as bipartisan, other parties attempt to chisel away at the image of a two-party system, such as the Libertarian Party.
The Libertarian Party of North Carolina has existed since 1976, with 28,000 people registered as Libertarian in the state.
With a platform built on freedom, party members believe in more individual freedom with less restriction and government control.
Within the party’s preamble is the statement, “The Libertarian Party of North Carolina holds that state, county, and local governments should never stand in the way of the people of North Carolina—of who we are, who we can be, and what we can achieve—so long as each individual respects those same rights of others.”
According to their online platform, the LPNC takes strong stances on drugs, guns, immigration, the death penalty and healthcare, as well as a variety of other topics involved with the control and operation of the country and its states.
Party members believe in ending drug restrictions, having gun rights without government involvement and welcoming immigrants, believing that all people within the United States have equal rights regardless of documentation. They also believe that healthcare should be privatized in the effort to create more effective and responsive care options.
The LPNC was established on a platform that the government should not be as involved as it is now with individuals’ rights and lives, and members disagree with government taxes that encourage this involvement. On a larger scale, the platform of the LPNC reflects that of the national Libertarian Party
Clifton B. Ingram Jr., former Libertarian party candidate for North Carolina Senate District 50. Photo provided by Clifton Ingram Jr.
The LPNC had one candidate running for North Carolina State Senate District 50, Clifton Ingram Jr.
The seat is currently held by Republican senator Jim Davis. Ingram has since dropped out from the race due to lack of support.
Before dropping out, Ingram elaborated in an interview on his ideas about the country’s government and the people. As a Libertarian, he believes in the idea of “choice.”
“Freedom to choose how you worship, how you assemble, which health care, which school, who you marry, who you have sex with, what type of gun you want, which drug you need, or what you want to do with your body, is your business and not the business of the government,” Ingram said.
Ingram also believes the student vote is important, although he thinks they should be more active in the political community.
“Honestly, I wish students… would call the political system out, instead of just checking an ‘R’ or ‘D’ like we do currently,” and encouraged students, saying, “use your vote, use your voice, use your music” and “do anything you can to better yourself and your community.”
Ingram hoped to give North Carolina more of a choice in regard to their State Senate candidates and wanted voters to know that the Libertarian Party is a party that has their individual rights in mind.
