1. What is the RLC?
2. What does the RLC do?
3. I'm not interested in joining RLC-NC right now, but is there a public e-newsletter/ discussion list that I can subscribe to?
4. What is the RLC’s platform?
5. What is a libertarian Republican?
6. What is a conservative Republican?
7. How do libertarian Republicans fit in with conservative Republicans?
8. Is there a political map that can help me visualize where the libertarian and conservative Republicans are?
9. What famous politicians are members of the RLC?
10. How can I learn more about the RLC?
11. How do I join the RLC?
12. I'm a student. How can I get involved?
13. How can I start a local chapter?
14. Why don't you just join the Libertarian Party (LP) and work through them?
15. Would the RLC support a Libertarian Party candidate?
16. How can a group of libertarians be in the same party as the religious right?
17. What is the RLC's position on abortion?
18. What is the RLC's position on drugs?
19. Are there any other groups affiliated with the RLC?
20. I'm a candidate for office, how can I apply for assistance from the RLFCF?
21. Does the RLC ever have national gatherings of its members?
22. Does the RLC-NC have gatherings?
23. I'm really mad at you Republicans, can I complain to you?
24. I don't have a lot of money, but I want to help. What can I do?
25. Does the RLC rank elected officials on a liberty scale?
The Republican Liberty Caucus (RLC) is a grassroots, nationwide organization affiliated with the Republican Party (GOP). The goal of the RLC is to elect libertarian and libertarian-minded individuals to office. The RLC was formed in 1988 here in North Carolina, And now has members in every state.
We are expanding our nationwide base of libertarians active in the Republican Party. We publish a national newsletter and some state chapters publish newsletters as well. The newsletters provide libertarian Republicans with information about campaigns, issues and events of interest. Members are active in these various campaigns, etc. and seek to push libertarian candidates and issues to the forefront.
Our members also attend GOP conventions and gatherings, identify libertarians in the GOP, and cultivate relationships with them. We also maintain relationships with various single-issue groups, e.g. gun owners, in order to combine forces when necessary on an issue of mutual interest.
The national RLC as well as several chapters including the RLC-NC maintian a website in order to provide information to RLC members and attract new ones. The world wide web has proven to be a great outreach tool, and the RLC has experienced tremendous growth over the past several years.
I'm not interested in joining RLC-NC right now, but is there a public e-newsletter/ discussion list that I can subscribe to?
Yes. The general public discussion group is located at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RLC-NC.
If you want to receive the North Carolina Liberty Watch newsletter (1 per month), subscribe to: North Carolina Liberty Watch.
We strongly encourage you to become a dues-paying member. RLC-NC members enjoy a number of benefits, including the right to vote on candidate endorsements. If you are a pro-liberty elected or party official, we hope that you will consider signing our Liberty Compact pledge.
The RLC does not have an official platform like political parties because it is a political association and only affiliated with a major party. It is a group that seeks to support libertarian and like-minded candidates in the Republican Party. A platform is not an accurate reflection of the views of its members. It is a compromise between the people who are interested enough in political theory to argue about it. In the GOP and Democrat Party, candidates consitently run on issues at odds with the official party line. There seems to be little interest in the RLC to develop a comprehensive document outlining the RLC's view on every possible issue. There is, however, an official list of positions that the RLC supports. It was adopted at the 2000 RLC convention. Every individual person in the RLC does not necessarily agree with every position, and it is not a requirement of membership to support it. It does seem to reflect the general views of the members. Click here to view the Position Statement of the RLC.
The RLC supports:
- Lower and fewer taxes
- Balanced budgets through spending cuts
- Protection of property rights
- Privatization
- Deregulation
- Private options to Social Security
- Sound money policies
- Free trade
- Ending Federal welfare
- Phase-out of foreign aid
- Term limits
- Market-based health care
- Educational choice
- Freedom of speech
- The right to privacy
- Alternatives to the drug war
- The right to keep and bear arms
- All-volunteer armed forces
The goal of the RLC is to see that policies like these are implemented, not just written down on a platform.
What is a libertarian Republican?
Libertarian-Republicans are self-governors in both personal and economic matters. They believe government's purpose is to protect people from coercion and violence. They value individual responsibility, and tolerate economic and social diversity. Libertarian-Republicans are sometimes referred to as libertarian-conservatives due to their pro-libertarian position on individual liberty and their pro-conservative position on economic freedom.
What is a conservative-Republican?
Conservative-Republicans prefer self-government on economic issues, but want official standards in personal matters. They want the government to defend the community from threats to its moral fiber. Conservative-Republicans are sometimes referred to as right-conservatives due to their position on the right side of the political landscape.
How do libertarian-Republicans fit in with conservative-Republicans?
Libertarian-Republicans and conservative-Republicans both promote
economic freedom. In other words, they both agree that the free-market is the best policy for America. This is the one issue that unites all Republicans. We are all united to promote free-market capitalism and battle the fallacies and dire consequences of Authoritarian policies, such as Socialism and Communism.
Authoritarians are wrong in that they want government to advance society and individuals through expert central planning. They often doubt whether self-government is practical. Left-authoritarians are also called socialists, while fascists are right-authoritarians. In either case, they feel someone else can make decisions about your life better than you can in most instances.
Is there a political map that can help me visualize where the libertarian and conservative-Republicans are?
Yes.
Notes:
Enterprisers - Free market conservatives who support economic freedom but are inconsistent on civil liberties issues.
Conservatives - Moderate free enterprisers who favor a large government role in shaping society, particularly in social issues.
Liberals - Favor strong government interference in economic
affairs but are more laissez faire on personal liberties issues.
Moderates - Support moderate government intervention in
economic and personal affairs. Characterized by reliance on polls rather than principles.
Authoritarians - Believe in a strong state apparatus intervening extensively in economic and personal affairs.
What famous politicians are members of the RLC?
Members of the Republican Liberty Caucus Board of Advisors - U. S. Congress:
John Culberson (TX)
Mark Foley (FL)
J.D. Hayworth (AZ)
Sam Johnson (TX)
Ron Paul (TX) [also former chair of the RLC]
John Shadegg (AZ)
Nick Smith (MI)
Todd Tiahrt (KS)
All are members of the House of Representatives. There are others who are state representatives and senators.
How can I learn more about the RLC?
You can email us at jap@highstream.net to request more information.
To join the National RLC send a check to:
Republican Liberty Caucus
Finance Office
10878 Westheimer, Ste 395
Houston, TX 77042
To join the RLC-NC, click here to print a membership form.
The RLC-NC does not have the ability to accept payment over the internet at this time. We hope to add this feature soon. If you wish to pay with a credit or check-card and are so excited to join us you just can't wait, call 910-639-1839 and I will get you in touch with the national treasurer to speed up your membership.
The membership levels are:
- Benefactor - $5000
- Roundtable - $1000
- Associate - $500
- Patron - $250
- Sustaining - $100
- Premium - $50
- Regular - $30 (Couple - $45)
- Student/Military - $20
- Subscription Only - $18 (Not eligible to participate n official RLC activities)
Memberships include dues for both the national and state levels for one calendar year. members/subscribers receive six issues of Republican Liberty, the RLC's newsletter. Current members are eligible to participate in RLC functions.
I'm a student. How can I get involved?
E-mail us to find out more. Our focus is on establishing a network of students active in College Republicans and other groups. Like the RLC, this is a way for like minded people to find each other and work together.
How can I start a local chapter?
It is easy. Get in touch with our state officials, he or she can make the arrangements with you. The RLC is not just a grass roots organization in name only
Why don't you just join the Libertarian Party (LP) and work through them?
Many in our group have been LP members, some still are. A past RLC Chairman, Professor Cliff Thies, was the Treasurer of the National LP at one time. Our past chairman, U. S. Representative Ron Paul, was the LP presidential candidate in 1988. A former chairman, the late Roger MacBride, cast the only electoral vote the LP ever received. Everyone in the RLC joined for their own reasons, but it can be presumed that they all would agree that in many races the GOP is the best way to go in order to actually get a libertarian elected. It can also be said that the LP runs educational campaigns, where the goal is not actually electing someone, but educating the public about the libertarian philosophy. We are interested in getting candidates who hold the libertarian philosophy elected.
Would the RLC support a Libertarian Party candidate?
The RLC does not support LP candidates in a race where there is a GOP candidate. This does not mean that individual RLC members are party line voters. Our internal suveys show that RLC members often vote for LP candidates, including in presidential elections. A person's individual choice with regards to voting is not a litmus test for participation in the RLC.
How can a group of libertarians be in the same party as the religious right?
Consistent with the RLC's goals, we try to build bridges to as many groups as possible. Sometimes we are successful, sometimes not. However, in many areas, the religious right do have some views in common with libertarians, e.g. school choice. The GOP is a big tent, and we try to convince as many Republicans as possible that we have the best ideas. The fact that libertarianism is a unifying vision is proven by the fact that the RLC shares members with both the Christian Coalition and Log Cabin Republicans.
What is the RLC's position on abortion?
Neutral. We have everything from pro-lifers to pro-choicers and in between. As far as libertarian groups go, you'll find that we are probably the most "tolerant" of the pro-life viewpoint. Our immediate past chairman, Representative Ron Paul (R-TX, 14th Dist.) is very pro-life. Many other members are pro-choice. It is not a litmus test, and it is not an issue that is often debated internally.
What is the RLC's position on drugs?
Officially we support "alternatives to the war on drugs." Specifically we have supported medical marijuana and opposed mandatory minimum sentences. Viewpoints of various people are, obviously, various. Many support complete decriminalization, others are skeptical of that. The group would probably agree with the statement that the war on drugs is a failure.
Are there any other groups affiliated with the RLC?
We have an affiliated Political Action Committee (PAC), the Republican Liberty Federal Campaign Fund (RLFCF). The president is Dr. Matt Monroe. The PAC's goals are the same as the RLC's, except that the PAC concentrates on getting money to candidates.
I'm a candidate for office, how can I apply for assistance from the RLFCF?
The PAC assists libertarians running for office as Republicans. If you meet those criteria, send your campaign information to the RLC's finance office. The material will be reviewed by the PAC board. They are looking for candidates who have a track record of supporting libertarian causes, and are in a race that can be won.
The PAC board can be contacted at:
Republican Liberty Caucus
Finance Office
10878 Westheimer, Suite 395
Houston, TX 77042
Does the RLC ever have national gatherings of its members?
The National RLC has a convention every two years, shortly after election day. Speakers include members of Congress and state legislators, leaders of public policy organizations, and political consultants geared to help the RLC achieve electoral success. At the business meeting, RLC officers for the following two years are elected. It also provides and opportunity for RLC members to meet their comrades from around the country, compare notes on political and policy issues and socialize with new and old friends. For information visit www.rlc.org.
Does the RLC-NC have gatherings?
Yes. We are hoping to increase the frequency of them too. As recently as Feb 1, 2008, we met to discuss formally chartering the NC Chapter of the RLC. For information on upcoming meetings visit the Triangle-Area [NC] Republican Liberty Caucus Meet-Up site.
I'm really mad at you Republicans, can I complain to you?
If you really want to, go ahead. We may share some of your concerns. It must be pointed out that we are not the Republican National Committee, who can be reached at http://www.rnc.org or for North Carolina. If you have a complaint for Republicans in general, it will be better directed there.
I don't have a lot of money, but I want to help. What can I do?
Money is the lifeblood of politics, but volunteers provide the sweat. There's a great deal you can do. Get in touch with the state RLC Coordinator and ask him or her how you can help. If you know something about a piece of legislation that no one seems to be talking about, e-mail anyone listed on this FAQ. Representative Ron Paul tells the story of how one vote ended up in Congress being 432-3. He knew on principle the bill was bad, and talked the two people sitting next to him into voting against it. You could be telling an even better story. If enough people take action like this, you can tell how YOU helped stop a bad bill from becoming law. You just need to get involved with a group that takes its politics seriously.
Does the RLC rank elected officials on a liberty scale?
Yes! The National RLC ranks Congressmen via the Liberty Index. Our Congressmen are ranked here. The State RLC ranked our legislature in 2000 and is looking to do so again soon.