Irwin Schiff – Goal of Libertarian Party is Getting a More Libertarian Environment

“The thing is how would my candidacy help promote a more libertarian environment in this country? The reason for the party is to get a more libertarian environment; not to necessarily strengthen the party, because we are not interested in patronage.” An excerpt from a speech by Irwin Schiff for the Libertarian party presidential nomination at the 1996 Libertarian National Convention.

Source: Peter Schiff YouTube channel.

Transcript:

Well, the thing is how would my candidacy help promote a more libertarian environment in this country? The reason for the party is to get a more libertarian environment; not to necessarily strengthen the party, because we are not interested in patronage. Republicans and democrats are involved in politics because of the patronage and the money they make through politics.

The fact of the matter is in the past twenty twenty five years we've run libertarian candidates who've been very articulate. Andre Marrou and certainly Ron Paul. But do we have any more libertarian environment now than when we started 25 years ago? I submit we have a more authoritarian a more dictatorial government, as evidenced by the fact that we have civil seizures and forfeitures.

Now, the only way we are going to get a more libertarian environment is by reducing the power and influence of the Federal government. And the only way we can do that is cut off its source of funds.

See, the American public believes in obeying the law, and unfortunately millions of Americans really think there's a law requiring them to pay income taxes when there is no such law.