Latest News

New Jersey Libertarian Party Endorses Thomas Massie for U.S. Secretary of Agriculture

Details: Written by: Paul Baratelli; Category: Press Releases; Created: November 15, 2024

Trenton, New Jersey – November 14, 2024 – The New Jersey Libertarian Party today announced its endorsement of U.S. Representative Thomas Massie (R-KY) for the position of Secretary of Agriculture in the incoming presidential administration.

Statement from the NJLP Chair Paul Baratelli:

Cato 2024 Report on Fiscal Policy of Governors

Details: Written by: Jay Edgar; Category: Latest News; Created: November 04, 2024

Cato has released their 2024 Fiscal Policy Report on America's Governors. Our Governor, Phil Murphy, has been given a grade of D or 42 points. This is an improvement from the 2022 Report (F/29) and the 2020 Report (F/32).

Below is their report on New Jersey taken from the report (Creative Commons license). Read the full report here.

Phil Murphy, Democrat
Legislature: Democratic
Grade: D

Phil Murphy worked at Goldman Sachs for two decades. He also served as finance chair of the Democratic National Committee and as US ambassador to Germany. Unlike his predecessor in the governor’s office, Chris Christie, who rejected tax hikes, Murphy supports them and receives a low score on this report.

Mad in New Jersey

Details: Written by: Joseph Dunsay; Category: NJ Libertarian Blog; Created: May 15, 2024

July is mad pride month. This has personal meaning to me, because I am a mad person, a person who has been through the mental health system. Mad people in New Jersey face systematic discrimination from the state that can deprive them of their freedom without due process. They can be incarcerated and forcibly injected with drugs without ever being charged with a crime. In my experience, psychiatric wards are more comfortable than prisons and have better food, but they still have locked doors that prevent psychiatric patients from seeing loved ones or going about their daily lives. The drugs given to mad people involuntarily also have unpleasant side effects. Some of them can be quite dangerous. We should fight for the rights of mad people to live free of this coercive psychiatric system.

Park Ridge Repeals Sections of its "Peace and Good Order" Ordinance

Details: Written by: John Paff; Category: Preempted Ordinance Repeal Project; Created: April 03, 2024

On March 26, 2024, due to outreach from Jim Tosone of the New Jersey Libertarian Party's Preempted Repeal Project, the Borough of Park Ridge in Bergen County repealed fifteen sections of its Peace and Good Order code.

Oceanport Repeals its "Disorderly Conduct" Ordinance

Details: Written by: John Paff; Category: Preempted Ordinance Repeal Project; Created: March 21, 2024

On February 15, 2024, following outreach from Kim Skorka of the New Jersey Libertarian Party's Preempted Repeal Project, the Borough of Oceanport in Monmouth County took action to abolish Article 1 of its Peace and Good Order code, which aimed to govern "Disorderly Conduct."

Oceanport's ordinance, like many others of its kind, was outdated and broadly defined. For instance, it included provisions that banned disorderly behavior in public places or even within private residences if it caused annoyance to others. Another part of the repealed ordinance prohibited allowing any premises to be occupied by individuals engaging in noisy, disruptive, or disorderly activities, or by those identified as prostitutes, gamblers, or vagrants.

The Libertarian Non-Aggression Principle: A Moral Guide to Conduct and Behavior

Details: Written by: Paul Baratelli; Category: Chair's Report; Created: February 19, 2024

The Libertarian Non-Aggression Principle is a key tenet of the libertarian philosophy, emphasizing the importance of individual freedom and the right to self-ownership. This principle serves as a moral guide for libertarians, shaping their conduct and behavior in both personal and political spheres. In this essay, we will explore the Libertarian Non-Aggression Principle, its moral foundation, and its implications for the conduct and behavior of libertarians.

At its core, the Libertarian Non-Aggression Principle is based on the belief that individuals have the right to live their lives as they see fit, as long as they do not harm others. This principle is grounded in the moral philosophy of libertarianism, which emphasizes the importance of individual freedom, self-ownership, and voluntary association. By adhering to this principle, libertarians seek to minimize the use of force and coercion in society, promoting a culture of peace and cooperation.

The Federal Reserve System of Central Banking in the USA is Unconstitutional

Details: Written by: Christopher G. Russomanno; Category: NJ Libertarian Blog; Created: February 08, 2024

Seal of the Federal Reserve At the time of the founding of the United States of America, and at various times thereafter, there was much heated debate over whether the new nation should have a central or national bank. The founders had seen what havoc was wrought by the Bank of England, a central bank, and the detrimental effects it had on that nation and its empire by a devaluation of its currency which enabled the never-ending stream of wars in which it was involved. The founders also had a vivid memory of what happened when the government run colonial bank created rampant inflation by printing an infinite amount of paper money. Inflation is a hidden tax which robs people of the value of their money by devaluing the currency. This is used to pay for the government’s debts. Accordingly, there is no provision in the constitution for the creation of a central/national bank. Therefore, the Federal Reserve (the Fed) system of banking in the United States of America is unconstitutional because of its ability to print unlimited amounts of fiat currency, or paper money, thereby robbing people of the value of their dollar.

In determining the constitutionality of a central bank, with the ability to create unlimited amounts of paper currency, we can look to the constitution, our founding document, itself: “Article I Section 8 says that, The Congress shall have the power ... To coin money, regulate the value thereof ... and fix the Standard of Weights and Measures…To borrow Money on the credit of the United States.”¹ In Pieces of Eight, Edwin Vieira explains in detail why the founders used such explicit language when writing this part of the constitution:

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Northern NJLP Region Hosts Presidential Candidate Debate

Details: Written by: Jay Edgar; Category: News; Created: October 04, 2023

A Step Towards Equality: NJLP Spearheads Repeal of Loitering Code in Florham Park

Details: Written by: Ms. Arielle Shack; Category: Press Releases; Created: June 19, 2023

Florham Park Town Council Meeting FLORHAM PARK, NJ – June 15, 2023 – The New Jersey Libertarian Party (NJLP) today announces that after persistent advocacy, the Florham Park Town Council will finally repeal a long-standing code, deemed unlawful since 1978.

NJLP’s advocacy has led Florham Park to recognize the inherent issues with the code. The Town Council's decision to repeal aligns the town with New Jersey state law, mitigating potential legal ramifications and fostering a more inclusive social environment.

"The New Jersey Legislature decided not to include such crimes in New Jersey's Criminal Code due to the potential misuse, and every New Jersey town should adhere to this decision. We sincerely appreciate Florham Park Town Council's decision to delete these outdated and unfair codes," said John Paff, Chair of the NJLP Preempted Ordinance Project. "The NJLP is determined to continue our mission town by town across New Jersey, challenging and working to repeal any antiquated or illegal codes regulating street behavior. Our ultimate goal is to ensure our laws are fair, just, and upholding the rights of the people and the fundamental values of individual liberty as set forth in our constitution."

Florham Park Announces Intention to Repeal Loitering Code

Details: Written by: Jay Edgar; Category: Preempted Ordinance Repeal Project; Created: May 21, 2023

In response to a request from the NJLP's Prempted Ordinance Project, the Borough of Florham Park has announced its intention on the repeal of its Loitering Code. The invalid nature of their ordinance was pointed out to them way back in 2010.

Attached are the following documents:

How I Became A Libertarian

Details: Written by: Chris Russomano; Category: Latest News; Created: March 26, 2023

I think it was way back between 2007 to 2012 when I became a libertarian. I’ll use the small “l” for now. Because I had not as yet joined the party but my thoughts and outlook were becoming libertarian.

My father was, and is, a die-hard conservative Republican. So, not knowing any better, I was as well. I think one could have considered me a “Neo-conservative” or a “Neo-Con.” I believed in “America” and everything I thought it stood for.

In the public school I went to (I like to think of them as government-run indoctrination centers) I had been taught about the Founding Fathers and the Revolutionary War and all the noble ideas that came with it. Most of the Presidents were lionized especially the ones that got us into wars. I was taught that World War Two was “the good war” and that we definitely, definitely, should have fought that one, for the good of everyone.

The Over Regulation of Craft Breweries in New Jersey

Details: Written by: Chris Russomano; Category: Latest News; Created: March 26, 2023

I love craft breweries because they are small businesses that are the backbone of our economy, they invest in the local community making it more prosperous and, most importantly —they make delicious beer.

Craft breweries are small businesses that are the backbone of the economy and they create more jobs than huge corporations ever will. The owners are plucky entrepreneurs who have a strong strain of self-reliance and a can-do attitude that is sorely needed in New Jersey. These small businesses are an economic benefit because they increase tourism and increase revenue for the state. However, regulations in New Jersey are making it difficult for craft breweries to operate and thrive because legislators are doing the bidding of big business. Big business is afraid that craft breweries will cut into their profit by drawing consumers away. These big businesses can afford to give large donations to political campaigns as well as send lobbyists to Trenton to influence politicians who then enact laws and regulations that favor those who donate over others. I have always been confused by this. New Jersey is a “blue state” with the Democrats, for the most part, having sway over politics. Supposedly the Dems are on the side of the little guy and the common man, but they then enact legislation to hurt small business owners. The notion that any of our politicians care about the little guy is just a tired old trope that they pull out to pander to their base when they need votes.

Patterson Police Shooting Video Released

Details: Written by: Jay Edgar; Category: Police Accountability Project; Created: March 17, 2023

On March 3rd Najee Seabrooks was shot and killed by police responding to a 911 call from Seabrooks family. Numerous organizations are calling for federal investigation into the shooting.

Rage Against The War Machine: I Was Psyched; Now I Am Urgent

Details: Written by: Fox; Category: NJ Libertarian Blog; Created: February 20, 2023

Rage agains the War Machine - Vote Libertarian - White House This past Sunday, February 19th of 2023, I took my son to the Rage Against the War Machine Rally. This is a follow up to a previous essay explaining why I was psyched about the idea that people from different political philosophies can coalesce to fight for one cause and the opportunity to hear many speakers I admire present their cases for peace. I was not disappointed.

But I did not go there for entertainment. I did not bring my son to Washington DC to see the sights or gain a better sense of the greatness of America. No. To the contrary, we came to Washington DC to protest.

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