Statement Of Principle

I was raised to do unto others as I would have done unto me. Throughout my life I have tried very hard to follow this simple rule.I am human. I have failed at times.But for the most part, I have been successful in upholding this basic principle. I was taught, and I have tried to teach my own children, that liberty is sacred. As long as I do not invade or usurp the rights of others, no man or government has the right to rob me of mine. I believe this to be true of all men and women. That the right of a person to choose from alternative courses of action, or from various sets of goals, without being restricted by authority, is the
truest form of freedom which is accompanied by the obligation to be personally responsible for our own actions.Do not allow man nor state to become your nursemaid, and resist those that would accept such conditions as right and proper. My prosperity should be determined only by me, according to my abilities and talents. This should be the goal of any individual.

"Under difficulties I have ever found one and only one rule, to do what is right, and
generally we shall disentangle ourselves almost without perceiving how it happened."

- Thomas Jefferson

If I meet with adversity, the challenge is mine to judge when to ignore it, reason with it, de-escalate it, or fight it. If I meet with pain, the burden is mine to carry it until it becomes lighter. If I meet with ignorance, the opportunity is mine to educate it. If I meet with suffering, the compassion is mine to aid and give comfort to it. If I meet with joy, the pleasure is mine to share in it.

I believe that the United States was founded on the principles of libertarianism. These principles were derived from the writings of philosophers such as John Locke and are evident in various
writings authored by the Founding Fathers. I believe that the US has strayed from these grand ideals at great cost and peril to the citizenry. The Bill of Rights has been greatly diminished
because of the appointment of activist judges by both Republicans and Democrats coupled with the election of politicians who believe the intervention of government is a panacea able to cure all of society's ills, from poverty to drug use. The truth is that we cannot legislate our way to total safety. Laws are a poor substitute for common sense and sound judgment. As John Locke wrote, "The only fence against the world is a thorough knowledge of it." I believe that the individual
American is best able to make decisions for him or herself.
In my weekly articles I intend to address the laws that prohibit adults from engaging in consensual acts. These topics include, but are not limited to, drug prohibition, prostitution, gambling, and homosexuality. I will veer off my chosen path from time to time and tackle
subjects such as gun control, speech issues, and the relationship between religion and the state. However, the topic I will put greatest emphasis on is drug prohibition since I believe it to be the
greatest threat to our liberty and Bill of Rights. I encourage readers to respond to my articles via our Bulletin Board and would only ask that those who disagree with me do so in a respectful manner.
Thank you for taking the time to read my Statement of Principles and I look forward to
seeing your posted comments!

To all

Huddled among the masses is a unique individual!
Knowledgeable; because they love learning.
Quiet; because there is power in Silence.
Unintimidated; because they remain forever alert to the subtleties of the human condition.
They avert pain and exploitation caused by:
Abusive spouses, Manipulating parents, Dishonest merchants, Misleading professionals,Incompetent educators, Victimizing politicians, and Overbearing governments.
The principle understanding that affords this individual the freedom and liberty alluded to by our country's founding fathers is that THEY are the most important person! Armed with context, bolstered by perspective, and empowered through unwavering honesty, the pleasures of this world are theirs to discover.

Pacificus

Radical Priorities, named after a book of essays by Noam Chomsky, is a bimonthly column dedicated to the rich tradition of left-wing libertarianism. The main objective of this column will
be to extend the Critical Spirit of libertarianism beyond the political realm and into all aspects of individual, social, and cultural life. My intention is to provide an entertaining mix of original
material along with plenty of space for responses to the various messages of readers. The basic tenet of left-wing libertarianism is that individual & social development takes place within a necessary tension between our needs for both autonomy & togetherness free of illegitimate
authority. It is within this never ending task that I write and act. Enjoy, think, and respond!

My basic philosophy is that you need laughter every day in order to remain a healthy human bieng. I intend my contribution to this publication to be a source of that, as well as my own style of thought, (and hopefully action) provoking tidbits. While I certianly do not possess the literary talent and experence of my fellow Columnists, I do have lot's of jokes! (And can build a web site lol) My biggest issue is the fact that our financial freedom has been robbed from our pocket books. Along with that, I believe I am held accountable for my actions, but sometimes more importantly, my LACK of action. Not doing good when you know to can have even worse of an effect.

Give a man a fish, he will eat a meal
Teach a man to fish, he will eat for a lifetime

Patriot

No man or woman is an island. Our actions, small or large, have the capacity to impact the lives of others. If you are not making an effort daily to move this country back toward the ideals set forth in the constitution, then you are aiding the Republican/Democratic take over; you are handing your country over to the greed of big government. Do not tell me why you cannot participate, tell me why you will not.
Do not ask me why I am a Libertarian, tell me why you are not.

LV

I believe in the rights of every person living life as they see fit, as long as they don’t infringe on my right to do the same.

I believe the founding fathers had the idea that government should be simple,to do nothing more than protect the lives, liberty, and property of it’s citizens, and to make certain laws that would continue to protect these basic rights.

I believe that even today this is what government should be doing. However, somewhere along the way we gave government the right to intrude in every aspect of our lives.

I believe it is time for us to take back our freedom and restore government to what it was originally meant to do.

"In general the art of government consists in taking as much money as
possible from one class of citizens to give to the other." --Voltaire