Libertarianism and Morality

Libertarianism, simply put, is the belief that the rights and freedom of the individual supersede the desire of groups and governments.

A simple statement, but it becomes very complex when you begin to dig into that philosophy. Libertarians do not believe that government should be abolished, as the anarchists do. Libertarians believe that the mission of government should be to protect the rights of the individual. The only caveat to individual liberty should be that the exercise of said liberty must not infringe upon the ability of other individuals to exercise their individual liberties.

Many counservatives feel that Libertarians are a paradoxical mix of conservatism and liberalism, as they see any alignment with groups such as the ACLU as anti-Christian liberalism, and any desire to limit and reduce government power as conservatism.

BUT, Libertarianism is neither conservatism nor liberalism in the modern sense of those terms. It is more of a throwback to the true intent of the majority of our founding fathers: that individual freedom, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, is the God-given right of all mankind. The point the founders made, "we hold these truths to be self-evident", means it is simply common sense and instinct to acknowledge that men should be free to make their own choices and do as they please as long as that does not conflict with the rights of other persons to do the same.

Libertarianism is sometimes compared to modern Satanism by those who wish to denounce this political view. These clever liberals and pseudo-conservatives will point to "Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law" found in the Thelemic foundation scripture and it's later versions to the effect of: "Let this be the whole of the law: An it harm no man, do what thou wilt." by modern Wiccans and Satanists (We apologize for using both those terms in the same sentence, and acknowledge that Satanism and Wicca are two very different practices that just share a few identical roots and traditions). They fail to consider that that line was stolen from from a long line of Judeo-Christian philosophers and politicians who espoused similar words long before the arrival of modern satanists like Levey and Crowley. It is common for Christians to say that the Libertarian tendency toward wanting to be left to do as he will if it doesn't hurt anyone else is fundamentally wicked and akin to satanism. They fail to realize that for many Libertarians, what they "will" to do is follow the commands of Jesus Christ...and that is as far from Satanism as east is from west, in many respects.

The reluctance, even opposition of Libertarians to laws that prohibit such things as unregulated narcotics, prostitution, and abortion are viewed as proof that Libertarians are immoral and non-religious by certain leaders in religious organizations. That assumption is very far from the truth; the belief that what we do not prohibit is automatically condoned is childish and presumptuous.

As folks argue and position for laws to make others do what they believe is right, they allow government to assume more and more power over their own rights. That includes the right to do what is RIGHT.

A government that enforces what is "right" is a tyrannical and totalitarian regime, oppressive to it's people and likely oppressive to other nations, depending upon it's economic and military power and willingness to meddle in the affairs of other countries.

A government designed and empowered only to protect and defend individual liberty, rather that what is right, is a government that stays out of the affairs of individuals and allows churches, charities, and businesses to thrive.

For those confused as to the libertarian stance on abortion, where the party states it should be left to the individual to decide, remember that Libertarians are the one group that will always defend your right to tell others that you believe abortion is wrong, and why. Conversely, they must also defend the right of those who argue the opposite, or they become hypocrites and no different that the two "major" political parties that have so long shared the lion's share of power in the United States and done so much to transfer our individual powers and freedoms to the government.

Libertarians are the folks who will defend your right to withhold your money from abortion clinics and instead give it to churches or private schools, or advertising agencies to post anti-abortion billboards...they believe that what you do with your money is your business, not the government's.

Libertarians are the folks who will defend you right to keep your own wages, and fight the government when it tries to rob you in the form of taxation and then give portions of your money to organizations like Planned Parenthood.

I stand as a libertarian not because I am for abortion, or against wars abroad, but because the stance of the libertarian party defends my right to decide these things for myself, according to what I believe. And it defends the rights of others to do likewise. I can take my influence and work to convince others that abortion is wrong without the government inhibition. I can support or protest international affairs according to my beliefs, instead of the government taking my money and resources and using them as it see fit.

In short, Libertarianism recognizes that the most important component of human advancement and morality is individual liberty.

The valuation of liberty grants the ability for all individuals to do what is right, despite the paradox that it also allows them the option to do what is morally wrong.

If granting the freedom to do what is wrong is required in order to grant the freedom to do what is right, then so be it.