What's the New Liberty Party?

Response from Michael C. Marino, New Liberty Party National Chair

Monday 19 April 2004

Joe DeNeen asks: "Has anyone heard of the New Liberty Party?"

 I have; it is a political party that has members in New Jersey and Oregon.

 I don't know that I have seen the web page you mention; there are several web pages on the New Liberty Party. I do not do the web page programming for the NLP; indeed, it is, by and large, defunct.

 The NLP (not to be confused with the Natural Law Party) was started by Costatino Rozzo, who is also a member of the Socialist Party USA. In particular, the reason why I chose to join the NLP was twofold: first, it is not hierarchical, such as the SPUSA and most other political parties; second, it is oriented toward electoral action, and not so much oriented toward being an endless debate society.

 These two platform planks are termed "questionable" by Joe DeNeen (an explanation follows each):

Joe DeNeen: "4. Equal rights for all, including males who have been victimized by a liberal system that violates their 14th amendment rights."

 This is largely aimed at the draft and selective service system, both of which are aimed entirely at compulsory military service for citizens who are male; this violates the 14th Amendment provision of "equal protection under the laws"; in less technical terms, the selective service registration and draft are problematic because it renders the argument that "men do all the fighting, so they are the ones who are drafted" self-satisfying. There are men who are not inclined to kill and/or be killed for the benefit of the capitalists; requiring them to register for compulsory military service based solely on their sex is discrimination and unequal protection under the law. This should be nothing less than obvious.

5. Equal rights for everyone. Equal opportunities for all, initiate end of racism and affirmative action programs that promote reverse discrimination.

 Please note that: this is not aimed against ALL affirmative action plans. It is a stand against affirmative action plans that have the effect of promoting further discrimination. Discrimination and affirmative action are complex questions, for which blanket approval of any and all hiring programs that claim the name of "affirmative action" would be as wise as writing blank checks as a matter of course.

 Please further note that the United States has a legacy of discrimination against Italians, irish, germans, and various other Europeans, and not just an institutionalized system of discrimination against Africans, Asians, and Native Americans.

 The website's rant against socialism and politics that are not "gonadal" (to borrow Ralph Nader's term) is unworthy of much reply, except for this:

Joe DeNeen (qouting from a web page): "[The New Liberty Party] is a party of the working man- but what about the working woman?"

 The NLP is the party of working men and working women who are willing to look upon each other as equals. Working men and women who wish to focus on ways of finding new forms of sexism to combat old forms of sexism are encouraged to apply to join the SPUSA, instead.

 Solidarity Forever,
 Michael C. Marino
 National Chair, New Liberty Party