Lib-er-tar-i-an n. 1. The opposite of authoritarian. 2. A political philosophy based on personal responsibility, civil liberties and free markets. 3. The third party in American politics, with over 300 members holding public office.

What is a Libertarian?

For over a quarter-century, Libertarians have been the only political party defending both economic and civil liberties.

Libertarians are recreating and restoring the original American political coalition — a coalition of free individuals, seeking neither favors for ourselves nor aggression against anyone -- a coalition of universal human rights, not special rights.

Libertarians do not seek to impose our values (economic or social) through government action. We would limit government force to defensive actions only. That’s the difference between libertarians and authoritarians.

Our principles, and our values, are based on shared American values of tolerance, self-reliance, personal responsibility, the rule of law, individual liberty and voluntary exchange.

Party members and supporters come from the political left -- for our principled stands on individual liberty -- and from the political right -- for our principled stands on economic liberty.

The National Party

With over 300 Libertarians in public office, we are the Third Party in American politics.

In Washington State

The next time you buy food and pay no sales tax, thank the Libertarian Party. Our popular ballot initiative caused the legislature to repeal the tax on survival.

Our 1994 lawsuit revealed illegal partisan campaign activity by taxpayer-funded legislative caucuses of both older parties.

As the party of true Equal Rights — we were the only state party to immediately endorse and gather petitions for the Washington State Civil Rights Initiative (I-200).

We opposed the I-676 gun grab, and supported drug medicalization.

The Wall Street Journal noted our opposition to the tax-subsidized Seahawks stadium. Libertarians support free markets, oppose corporate welfare, and know the difference.

Voter approval of all tax increases has been part of our state Platform and/or Program for over 20 years. Libertarians endorsed I-695 six months before any other state political party, and we ranked as the campaign's #3 financial supporter.