What LIBERTARIANISM Means To Me.

Libertarianism has been defined as a political philosophy that advocates only minimal state intervention in the free market and the private lives of citizens. This is true at its most basic level.

I elaborate my personal understanding of it.

At the core of libertarianism is respect for the life, liberty and property rights of each individual. In practice, this means that no individual, group, business or institution may initiate force against others unless in self defence. Force is any action that harms another’s person or legitimately acquired property.

Natural Law refers to a body of unchanging moral principles regarded as a basis for all human conduct. These principles evolved through trial and error within human societies throughout history. They were not created by governments. Instead they emerged as accepted “best practices” and were often adjudicated by wise tribal elders.

As communities grew in size and complexity, it became necessary to enact these social wisdoms into a book of rules with associated punishments for infractions to guide the desired behaviours. Enforcement officers and administers were needed and hired at public expense to ensure that laws would maintain public order, mete out penalties for public disobedience, and generally to be applied fairly and with respect.

Taxes were collected to pay the wages and expenses for these agents of enforcement. Over time, the temptations to use the mechanisms of enforcement - the money and legislative authority - attracted people to public office with less than honourable motives. Corruption was inevitable when the proximity to wealth and power were within reach.

“Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely”

Lord Acton made this idiom popular in the 19th century when public institutions were very tiny compared to today. He was keenly aware of they ways politicians and public officials expanded their powers. With this statement, he identified a truth about government: if left unchecked, the public sector will always grow well beyond its optimal size, cost and scope of authority.

History is riddled with stories of empires that declined into oblivion from their own excesses. This inevitably led to public unrest, distrust and disrespect between citizens and the public authorities, and a rise in the levels of disagreements, conflicts and even a bloody coup d’etat within most of those regimes.

The Libertarian-Conservative Leader Maxime Bernier prescribed 4 very Libertarian principles to guide his new federal party in 2019: Personal Responsibility, Individual Freedom, Respect and Fairness. I will always respect any politician who seeks to introduce elements of Libertarianism into public discussion. The more these ideas are shared and discussed, the greater the chance to stop Canada’s slide into oblivion.

PRINCIPLES Matter.

I subscribe to the belief that Freedom of Informed Choice for all citizens is non-negotiable in a true democracy. It is fundamental for survival. In the past, it has unleashed phenomenal creativity, ingenuity, and industriousness in human individuals and groups that have enabled humanity to thrive and prosper within it's many diverse civil societies.

To me, this Freedom must be protected at all costs.

Every individual must be able to exercise the inherent right to defend and protect his or her person (ie mind, body and efforts) and property (intellectual and physical assets) from any intentional and unwanted harm and/or aggression imposed by others. Slavery is the only alternative.

The “others” to whom I refer are the “collectivist” entities who's members act to sway (’lobby’, ‘bribe’, ‘threaten’) government officials for monetary subsidies or legislative “favours” that benefit only their self-serving special interests at a cost to others. Such organizations may include religious institutions, business cartels, activist NGOs, labour unions, or any other group organized for the purpose of forcing others to pay for their privileges and advantages.

The “greater good” is a mirage.

We live in an era when collectivism is woven into every political narrative and infuses all public policies. The individual is sacrificed or ignored in order to serve to the collective which is almost always referred to in nebulous terms. Few citizens stop to consider that every collective is comprised of individuals human beings each with their own unique life experiences and circumstances.

Governments generally serve individuals poorly. Their hundreds of thousands of regulations comprise a monolithic compendium of “one size fits all” bureaucratic rules and prescriptions that must be rigidly enforced. The expense to taxpayers for such poor, impersonal service is outrageous but they tacitly accept it knowing that they are powerless to do anything about it.

It's little wonder that Libertarians are always advocating for LESS GOVERNMENT. It's also very puzzling that so few citizens understand its obvious advantages.

What about Direct Democracy?

While Direct Democracy is not a recognized Libertarian concept, it comes closer than centralized governments to enable citizens to exercise their Freedom of Informed Choice. It's a form of participatory democracy that empowers citizens to engage more directly in public policy formation and decision making.

Direct Democracy, as practiced in Switzerland for nearly 400 years, was based on the principle of subsidiarity - the decentralization of government authority to its 26 local, self-governing communities called ‘cantons’. Imagine if subsidiarity was practiced within each one of Canada’s 338 federal and provincial electoral ridings? Only two levels of government would be needed instead of three.

Digital Direct Democracy offers a smorgasbord of choices.

The tools available in the modern Digital Economy can readily facilitate a form of Freedom of Informed Choice democracy that allows citizens to opt-in or opt-out of specific government programs. The implications of this are truly revolutionary and exciting. Read my Kindle ebook “Digital Direct Democtacy - A Libertarian Antidote to Digital Communism” for a full explanation of how digital tech can be harnesses to protect every citizen from the trend of bigger and more authoritarian governments.

Today's Libertarianism is not your grandpa’s Libertarianism.

Canada has changed since the Justin Trudeau’s dad was Prime Minister. He would be 105 if he were still alive today. The world in infinitely for dynamic and complex today compared to his era. The principles of Libertarianism are as valuable and relevant today as they were 50 years ago when the federal and Ontario parties were formed - perhaps more so!

Unfortunately, today’s Libertarian parties are stuck in the past and are floudering in obscurity. The ways that they govern themselves, raise money, attract new members and engage the public are archaic. The possibilities to gain a greater foothold in the public square are real as Maxime Bernier has proven, but a critical mass of new talent with fresh ideas is needed if Libertarian parties and their ideas are ever to make significant inroads into Canada’s political culture.