"Guard with jealous attention the public liberty.  Suspect everyone who approaches that jewel." - Speech to the Virginia Ratifying Convention, June 5, 1778.

As an expression of life, liberty is my priority.  You can feel your spirit being crushed whenever you pay taxes or have to wait in line at the DMV or other government office.  But living life, not asking for permission, that’s exciting and motivates people.  It’s the reason millions fled governments in Europe and other continents to come to North America.

Sadly, liberty is not a priority with many.  The 4th of July is really just like any other excuse for a day off work.

And for all the incessant complaints about governments, and they come from all parts of the political and non-political spectrum, not much is done to stop them from restraining that precious jewel, liberty, the essence of life itself. What is actually done to bring about this freedom the 4th of July is supposed to be about?

Alexander Haig is quoted as saying: “Let them march all they want, as long as they continue to pay their taxes.”

You can easily replace “march” with complain and not change the substance of the statement. The pigs http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_Farm profiting from this global farm don’t care how much the sheep complain; as long as the sheep cooperate and keep paying for their own enslavement the machine keeps grinding away. 

But, when the sheep stop cooperating, when the fire of liberty is sparked in their hearts, now there’s a problem for the pigs and dogs running the farm called the state. Haig’s statement contains the key to freedom though, it was also mentioned 400+ years ago by Étienne de la Boétie:

“From all these indignities, such as the very beasts of the field would not endure, you can deliver yourselves if you try, not by taking action, but merely by willing to be free.  Resolve to serve no more, and you are at once freed.  I do not ask that you place hands upon the tyrant to topple him over, but simply that you support him no longer; then you will behold him, like a great Colossus whose pedestal has been pulled away, fall of his own weight and break into pieces?”  http://tmh.floonet.net/articles/laboetie.html

Non-violent, non-cooperation is the key.  Our means must be consistent with the end: liberty is the end, so liberty is the means. Liberty is about action though. Unfortunately, most people are too afraid to stop cooperating with the pigs running the farm.  So the pigs can continue ratcheting up the control; all under the guise of protecting the farm of course.

There’s no way around it, getting to a voluntary society - building a truly free market �" requires non-compliance with laws, including the tax laws.  That’s why I advocate non-compliance with taxation on almost every radio show I do.  Is there risk involved?  Of course, not only is it considered a crime to give such legal advice, it’s also supposed to be a crime according to 26 USC § 7212 http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/26/usc_sec_26_00007212----000-.html

This is why networking with other liberty minded individuals is so important; building networks to trade without having permission in the form of licenses and other permits allows us to live free without as much risk.

I encourage not only bartering and using gold and silver for trading, but also P2P electronic “currency” such as Bitcoin, anything we can do to freely trade without using the Federal Reserve credit system is a step towards liberty and the free market.

Yes, such free trade has been described as “domestic terrorism”, http://www.marcstevens.net/articles/469-gangsters-seek-crackdown-on-bitcoin-good-luck.html but that is to be expected by the dogs helping to keep the farm going.

Building the free market, like most things, has risks associated with it.  Only acting consistent with our principals will bring about that liberty.  If we don’t, the reins will only get tighter.  I’ve only mentioned a few means to bring about a free market, there are many others, such as Ian Freeman mentioned in the last edition about setting up your own radio station. http://lrn.fm/broadcast/station/

Freedom isn’t a spectator sport though.  We can’t just sit back and hope others will take all the risks.  Let’s each make a goal to do something every week to bring us closer to a free market.  Consider my radio show, the No State Project http://marcstevens.net a vehicle to help you in whatever manner you choose to live free.  Make this 4th of July different; help bring about a voluntary society, stop cooperating with those who do not respect you enough to ask for our consent. 

Live your life on your terms, choose to be happy.  Find what inspires you and live. Awaken that feeling of liberty again.

Remember what this symbol stands for: agora, anarchy, action.  Cherish life, seek liberty and live.