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Q&A: Free trade is cornerstone of Libertarian Party

 
Published Sept. 2, 2012

Free trade drives Libertarians

The Libertarian Party has claimed in past years to endorse open borders, which is not a popular concept today. Is this still in the party's platform?

The Libertarian Party supports free trade, work visas that are "easy to get" and controlled entry to the U.S., Carla Howell, the party's executive director, recently told Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The party's position on several issues can be found at www.lp.org/platform.

Section 3.4, which is on free trade and migration, states: "We support the removal of governmental impediments to free trade. Political freedom and escape from tyranny demand that individuals not be unreasonably constrained by government in the crossing of political boundaries. Economic freedom demands the unrestricted movement of human as well as financial capital across national borders. However, we support control over the entry into our country of foreign nationals who pose a credible threat to security, health or property."

Some excluded from health law

Must one be a citizen or legal resident to receive benefits under the Affordable Care Act?

Generally, yes. The law established a "high-risk" pool that is in effect until 2014 to provide health coverage for people who have high-cost pre-existing conditions. Only citizens and individuals who are "lawfully present" in the U.S. are eligible for this pool.

In 2014 and beyond, the law calls for a tax credit to help low-income individuals pay for health insurance. Only insurance covering citizens and lawfully present individuals is eligible for the tax credit.

Lawyer's 'birther' fine is paid

I remember several years ago that attorney Orly Taitz was fined $20,000 involving a case where she claimed President Barack Obama was not born in the United States. Did she ever pay the fine?

Taitz, a lawyer who lives in California, said she has paid the fine. The Columbus (Ga.) Ledger-Enquirer reported in January 2011 that she had raised $13,000 to help pay the fine, leveled in 2009 by federal Judge Clay Land of the Middle District of Georgia.

Car-riding pets often not safe

I often see pets riding in cars unrestrained. At the least, they are vulnerable if there is a collision. At the worst, they could cause a collision by distracting the driver.

Fifty-six percent of dog owners said they had driven with their dog in the car at least once a month and 29 percent admitted to being distracted by their dog while driving, according to a 2011 survey by AAA and Kurgo, which makes pet travel products. Only 16 percent said they had used a pet restraint in the car.