Attribute to L. Neil Smith's The Libertarian Enterprise
(With apologies to Thomas Jefferson—not for originating it, but because so many people have gotten it wrong or forgotten it completely.)
We hold these truths to be self-evident:
That all Men are created equal—
And all women are created equal with men,
Asian, black, Hispanic, indigenous peoples, and whites are created equal,
Gay and straight and trans are created equal—
And are endowed by their Creator—
Whether they envision a Creator God, Goddess, Gods, or uncompromising Nature,
Either of whom created mankind a wild animal, tamed each only by his or her own will; and,
Whether their creed be Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jew, Moslem, Pagan, Shinto, Sikh, or any of a hundred others—
With certain unalienable rights,
And that among these rights are life—
With the essential corollary right to defend that life—
Liberty—
In thought, creed, word, and deed,
Saving only that, while the choices of others may be confronted or questioned,
Their compliance cannot be coerced, only humbly petitioned,
And that speaking false of any is not liberty, but uncompromised aggression,
As much as any initiation of physical force;
With the essential corollary right of each person to defend their liberty,
And the life and liberty of others,
By word where possible, and by deed when challenged
By individuals or by any collective;
But also with the acknowledgement that each person
Is responsible for the consequences of their words and deeds—
And the pursuit of happiness—
By the freedom of association,
The freedom to select and practice a profession,
The freedom to buy and sell property,
Buy and sell goods and services,
For a fair price and under equitable contracts,
To obtain what safety and security may be found
By trusting in the Goodwill of their fellows and associates,
And defending themselves responsibly otherwise,
Without encumbrance, save each his or her individual creed and conscious.
—That to secure these rights,
Governments are instituted among Men,
Deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed—
The unanimous consent, lest one obtain a tyranny of either majority or minority.
—That whenever any Form of Government
Becomes destructive of these ends,
It is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it—
By reasoned discussion and debate, and by the polls where possible,
By whatever means are necessary to preserve their lives and liberties otherwise—
And to institute new Government,
Laying its foundation on such principles
And organizing its powers in such form,
As to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.
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