Attribute to L. Neil Smith's The Libertarian Enterprise
"Wisdom begins with the definition of terms."—Socrates
The primary law that naturally governs the behavior of all individuals
in all societies is: do not harm another.
- Society is an association of individuals where one exchanges or
combines one's resources with another in order to fulfill each one's
desires.
- All behavior that directly and proximately harms another is
naturally forbidden by society.
- All behavior that does not directly and proximately harm
another is naturally permitted by society.
- The only acceptable use of violence is to defend against those
who initiate harm against another.
Therefore:
The rightful liberty of the individual is unobstructed action according
to the individual's will...limited only by the direct and proximate
harming of another.
- Thought, inspiration and innovations come only to the
individual.
- The individual is the only means by which hidden potential can
be made real; by which the unmanifest is made manifest.
- Totally unique in one's ability to take in, prioritize and
process information, each individual is irreplaceable.
- The individual is responsible for his actions because it is his
will alone that animates him.
- The individual is able to evaluate the affects his behavior
will have on his interests faster and with greater accuracy than any
outside entity.
- Groups are composed of individuals in communication with one
another, each building upon one another's individual attainments.
- A voluntary society is one where every association and exchange
occurs on a voluntary basis.
- Once an individual is stolen from, killed, repressed or
otherwise silenced, his contribution through exchange and charity is
lost, and a precedent is set for other individuals to be likewise
harmed.
While the individual has this critical importance, he is only one,
making him easy prey for institutionalized robbers and slavers to steal
his essence.
The one attribute which distinguishes government from any individual or
organization found in society is government asserts the power to harm
with impunity. This power is sustained by society's belief that this
power is legitimate and beneficial.
- Governmental power is the undelegated power to harm others with
impunity.
- Government is not exercising delegated power when it moves
against an individual who is not harming another, because no individual
which composes society (or government) possesses such authority.
- Government is exercising delegated power when it moves against
an individual who is harming another, because every individual which
composes society possesses the power of self defense.
- Governmental power is not derived from consent because any
power derived from consent is extinguished when consent is withdrawn.
- Government is the prevailing militant entity that occupies
society in order to control and extract society's wealth.
- Government confiscates property from unwilling individuals and
is not obligated to provide any services in return.
- Government is not law, services, infrastructure, or other
services associated with government. Government merely pays for these
things with confiscated wealth in order to garner dependence,
obedience, and loyalty.
- Governments compete and cooperate with each other for
resources, and they consider societies to be a resource.
- Governments charter corporations and clothe them with limited
liability protection (which is a degree of the government's ability to
harm with impunity.).
- A free society has the strictest regulations because all who
initiate harm are fully liable to the harmed.
- Government argues the free market is too strict and therefor it
must shield companies from liability and legalize harm so the economy
can operate smoothly and innovations can be brought to society.
- Licensing and regulations are designed to increase the market
share for those who can/will comply by harming those who are
unable/unwilling to comply (both buyer and seller).
- When a capitalist uses government power he ceases to be a
capitalist and becomes either a fascist or a communist.
- Your opinion of the above facts determines your place on the
political spectrum.
My opinion:
Each individual has an interest in forever limiting the harm all
organizations may cause. Free individuals do not have a group of rulers
micromanaging one's daily affairs; they have a judicial system each may
use to settle disputes in an orderly and civilized manner.
The most practical solution to ending government is to eliminate the
demand for governmental power by innovating real-world alternatives.
The least practical solution is to restrict all governments by
constitution to the primary law:
1. All individuals and groups including all branches of all governments
are forever forbidden from initiating violence or otherwise harming
another by any means.
2. The only moral and lawful use of violence is to defend against
individuals, groups and governments who violate the above.
3. There are no exceptions to one and two.
Challenges, Clarifications, or Discussions Write to
[email protected]
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