Objectivist Party

Objectivist Party
Chairman Tom Stevens
Founded February 2, 2008 (2008-02-02)
Ideology Objectivism
Laissez-faire
Individualism
Right-libertarianism
Seats in the Senate
0 / 100
Seats in the House
0 / 435
Governorships
0 / 50
State Upper Houses
0 / 1,921
State Lower Houses
0 / 5,410
Website
www.objectivistparty.us

The Objectivist Party is a political party in the United States that seeks to promote Ayn Rand's philosophy of Objectivism in the political realm.[1] The party was formed on February 2, 2008 by Tom Stevens; the date was chosen to coincide with the date of Rand's birth.[2] There are currently no Objectivists in Congress. The Objectivist Party stands for individual rights and capitalism.

The Governing Board of the party currently consists of founder Tom Stevens, Alden Link, Dodge P. Landesman, and Executive Assistant John Connor.[3]

There are various holidays celebrated in the Objectivist Party, such as Free Trade Day, Space Exploration Day and Individual Rights Day, all declared by Stevens.[4]

Platform

The Objectivist Party has four main principles: individuals have a right to life, individuals have a right to protect themselves, individuals have a right to their own thoughts, and individuals have a right to their own property. People of the Objectivist Party pursue "rational egoism" rather than altruism and believe that in order to act morally, one must pursue what makes them happy. The Objectivist Party also votes for a laissez-faire capitalism.[5]

The party supports the decriminalization of marijuana, gambling and other victimless crimes. It supports national defense but do not support involuntary service through drafts or the Selective Service Act. The party strongly supports a free market without interference from the government. They support controlling the country's borders and deportation of immigrants, but would consider allowing some immigrants with special skills to stay.[6]

Elections

2008 presidential campaign

The Objectivist Party's nominees in the 2008 United States presidential campaign were Tom Stevens for President and Alden Link for Vice President. Both were delegates to the 2008 Libertarian Party National Convention, where Stevens was re-elected to the national Libertarian Party's Judicial Committee.[7]

The Objectivist Party's ticket of Stevens and Link was listed on the ballot in two states, Colorado and Florida. They received a total of 755 votes: 419 votes in Florida and 336 votes in Colorado.[8]

2012 presidential campaign

During the Objectivist Party National Convention in St. Louis, Missouri from May 29 to May 30, 2010, Stevens and Alden Link were again selected as the Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates, respectively, for the Objectivist Party nomination in the 2012 general election as a result of a unanimous vote by the delegates. Stevens formally declared his candidacy for President on June 13, 2011.[9]

The ticket was again on the ballot only in Colorado and Florida. They also had write-in access in Alabama, Iowa, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Oregon, Vermont, Wyoming. Stevens and Link received 4,091 votes: 235 votes in Colorado and 3,856 votes in Florida.[10]

Electoral results

President

Election year Candidate Running mate # of overall votes % of overall vote # of electoral votes +/-
2008 Tom Stevens Alden Link 755 0.00057
0 / 538
Steady 0
2012 Tom Stevens Alden Link 4,091 0.0031
0 / 538
Steady 0

See also

References

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