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Western Libertarian Philosophy (200?)
Ernest Hancock Date: 07-08-2010 Subject: Western Libertarian Alliance - Philosophy The
Western Libertarian Alliance COVENANT
OF ALLIANCE with
individuals identified by and called to the western culture of rugged
individualism
and freedom. PREAMBLE Freedom
is
no invention of government. Nor do the privileged and powerful elect
provide
liberty to the governed. Freedom is the birthright of all sentient
beings. Liberty
is the gift that the individual gives him or her self as a reward for
thinking,
walking and working his or her own way through life. Freedom
and
liberty are not won or earned from collectivist cooperation or state
participation.
They are instead to be protected from those very forces. The
role of
government and centralization, without the unanimous consent of the
governed,
is to abridge these freedoms by placing limits on the actions of
liberty. Rather
than grant, award, or bestow: such government can only, at best,
protect in
the midst of compromise, limit in the name of safety, and pre-empt for
the cause
of collective control. We,
the Alliance
Members, serve notice to all who would seek to gather power unto
themselves
in the false name of the non-existent state: we are free. We work for
liberty
as we see the need. Our associations are voluntary and our initiatives
remain
individual. You tread on us at your peril. To
that end
and for these reasons we voluntarily covenant between us the Western
Libertarian
Alliance. ARTICLE
ONE: THE
MEASURE
OF ASSOCIATION IN THE ALLIANCE The
individual
of libertarian belief and action is a person who is "principled."
Principles of liberty, principles of freedom, and principles of
non-aggression
cannot be faked or selectively followed. Principles that are in the
individual's
make-up cannot be broken without personal pain and guilt. Only those
individuals
who are principled and libertarian can safeguard the issues of the
WLA. These
principles,
being the minimum adherence to the libertarian philosophy and the
standard of
association with the Western Libertarian Alliance, are enumerated as
follows; PRINCIPLE
ONE We
recognize
that each individual is the sovereign owner of his own existence and
of all
products of that existence, having no binding obligation to other
individuals
or associations save through voluntary association. We
pledge to
hold firmly in our individual and voluntarily associated actions to
the principle
of non-aggression. We will not initiate the use of force or fraud
against other
individuals or associations. Nor will we advocate or allow the use of
force
or fraud by proxy. We shall avoid, even at personal cost, any benefit
derived
from the initiation of force. We will dearly defend the right to not
associate
with individuals or bodies who do not act or speak in such a manner
that is
defined by this article. No
one is pure
and mistakes in life are made. When an individual may transgress the
principles
of libertarian philosophy, other individuals may or may not associate
with that
person as they wish. The goal of association with the WLA is based on
the greatest
adherence to truth and principles; not on acceptance of a short list
of ideas
pulled from an a la carte menu. A
member of
the WLA will be defined by his words and actions; not by a panel, a
list, or
a popular vote. PRINCIPLE
TWO We
honor and
value the right to self-defense from the initiation of force against
us. We
do not limit the right of the individual to protect himself, the
produce of
his labors, or his associations in whatever way he may see fit,
including force
and fraud, and that such a defense is in keeping with article one. We
recognize
and encourage the right of the individual to prepare for the execution
of that
right through the unconstrained ownership of whatever tools and
weapons he desires.
His right to own, carry, train with, and use weapons in defense cannot
and shall
not be constrained. PRINCIPLE
THREE Relationships
among individuals that are totally voluntary are inviolate.
Conversely, any
relationship not voluntary is considered unjust and void with
prejudice. Rights
are
neither collective nor additive. Two individuals have no more rights
than one.
Two million have no more rights than two. No group can possess rights
in excess
of those belonging to its individual members. We
must maintain
these principles without respect to any person's race, nationality,
gender,
sexual preference, age, or system of beliefs. Any entity or
association, however
constituted, acting to contravene these principles by initiation or
threat of
force has forfeited its right to exist. PRINCIPLE
FOUR The
right to
associate or to disassociate with individuals or groups is the sole
choice of
each individual. Involuntary association is the crime of slavery. As
each owns
his own body, product, and earnings. So too, he owns his own
associations and
has every right to exercise or withdraw all ties as he may see fit. We
uphold the
right of the individual, and groups of individuals, to speak and
believe whatever
they see fit to speak and believe so long as their activities based
upon that
speech and belief are in accord with the principles of Article One. No
individual
can or shall be excluded from society or governance by any collective
based
upon his speech or belief. PRINCIPLE
FIVE A
sovereign
individual holds complete and final power of judgment over his life
and holdings.
Therefore he has the right of privacy in himself, his thoughts, his
property,
and his associations. No other individual or collective is able to
properly
compel him to forfeit that privacy, even under accusation of criminal
act. That
individual's
property is his own to use and dispose with as he pleases. Whether his
property
is real, intellectual, digital, fiat, or associated, he can have no
threat of
its loss held over him for such threat is force. PRINCIPLE
SIX Any
government
instituted among individuals has but one authority, the unanimous
consent of
the governed. No individual can be placed under government's charter
by involuntary
servitude. Only the non-aggression principle shall compel all
individuals universally. As
such, the
only role of government is in protection of these rights and in the
universal
application of the non-aggression principle. PRINCIPLE
SEVEN Unanimous
consent
of the members of any association or territory is the only acceptable
mandate
for government activities. We
further
stipulate that these principles supersede all existing governmental
documents
or usage pertinent, that such provisions in Constitutions,
Charters, Acts, Laws, Statutes, Regulations, or Ordinances
contradictory or
destructive to these principles or the ends which this covenant
expresses shall
be null and void. ARTICLE
TWO: THE
MISSION
OF THIS ALLIANCE The
Western
Libertarian Alliance is a voluntary association of libertarians who
cannot compromise
away their liberty nor easily accept incremental success as a goal and
means
of regaining liberties stolen by statist collectivists and
might-makes-right
tyrants. "Western"
is not a description of location, but rather a culture of
individualism. Horace
Greeley's advice to "Go West, young man!" expresses the value we place
on the enterprising and independent spirit of western culture. MISSION
ONE: The
WLA is
a body with the goal of uniting the efforts of no-compromise, liberty
minded
individuals into a wider effort through voluntary association. MISSION
TWO: We
understand
that liberty and freedom belong to the individual no matter what
government
is in place over them. We also see that electing one or one-dozen
libertarian
people to federal office is no more effective than having no
libertarians in
office. Therefore, the focus of the WLA effort is primarily education
and outreach.
People need to be told that they do have a birthright to freedom no
matter what
the strongman says. We need to empower people with the knowledge,
skills and
tools of liberty so that they might live free. Then can we, without
foolish
effort, see a change in government and culture. MISSION
THREE: There
are those
who desire freedom and liberty but see no hope in establishing either
without
government's provision. There are those who desire freedom and liberty
but see
no hope in establishing either with any form of government in place to
protect
their labors. It is in the nature of the WLA to be a source and a
clearing house
for knowledge, tools and assistance that people may make use of in
order to
be empowered as individuals in their own struggle to gain freedom and
independence
in their own sphere of being. MISSION
FOUR: To
lead from
the individual outward, we must teach and practice the truism that
government
must change locally first, regionally second, and nationally last.
Through action
and effort, the WLA will value first and foremost individual effort
and local
activism. While not discouraging nationwide activism in most issues,
we will
de-emphasize the role of the federal government by marginalizing its
agents,
by rendering it irrelevant, and by empowering sovereign citizens. MISSION
FIVE: Rather
than
forcing a libertarian onto every ballot, we will seek to have an
activist educator
in every city. Rather than propping up an unelectable candidate for
majority
rule, we will raise up an effective cultural standard through
activities related
to the humanities. Not to discourage voting and campaigning for
office, but
to bring about an economy of effort; gaining the greatest goals for
the simplest
effort. This, until such time as there are enough people who will vote
uncompromisingly
for freedom rather than for the government trough. ARTICLE
THREE: THE
SCOPE OF
THE ALLIANCE The
name of
the WLA is by no means exclusive. Only it's purpose and mission is
exclusive.
It is the goal of the WLA to empower the individual to reclaim liberty
and exercise
freedom. Through this effort we hope to empower individuals to change
state
and federal laws and regulations that limit liberty. The WLA is by no
means
a nationalist organization or patriot movement. All freedom-loving and
liberty-minded
individuals should take heart in the alliance and participate in its
activities.
All peoples and all nations should be free and sovereign, liberty
coming as
a result of individuals exercising their rights as human beings. ARTICLE
FOUR: ASSOCIATION
WITH THE ALLIANCE The
WLA is
exclusive. Membership is dependent upon agreement with the Principles
stated
in Article One. Members need only agree to the principle of
non-initiation of
force, act and speak in accordance with these articles, and announce
their membership
openly. Any
member
can disassociate from other members of the WLA, as befitting voluntary
alliance.
Though the individual member may disassociate at any time, the WLA may
only
disassociate with an individual member by the measure of its own
Covenant of
Alliance. The judge of that association is the witness of the acts and
words
of an individual calling himself an alliance member. Only individuals
can align
or associate. Only individuals can choose to judge another by their
acts or
words. The old parable, "If it walks like a duck and sounds like a
duck:
it's a duck," is the model for association with the WLA. As no
board,
panel, or office exists in voluntary alliances, such model can be in
no danger
of takeover by unprincipled groups or individuals. Only the principle
defines
the member, not his paid dues or roll call. The WLA has neither to
measure by. No
one, ever,
speaks for the WLA. The WLA has no voice other than its individual
members.
The WLA has no authority other than the sovereignty of its individual
members.
The WLA has no rule other than this Covenant. All discussion with
individuals,
press, government officials, organizations, etc. shall be prefixed
with such
statements as "I believe." and "I am of the contention."
and the WLA shall only be represented officially by the statements in
the Articles
of this Covenant. Any member may read these Articles as a statement of
what
the WLA believes. CONCLUSION: The
Western
Libertarian Alliance shall be the organization of all libertarian
individuals
who are willing to work with other libertarians for freedom and
liberty through
freely associated volunteer alliances. This
format
for political and social activism uniquely utilizes trust as its
keystone. In
alliance we can trust other individuals to act for the good of the WLA
without
vote or bylaw. Those people who would violate principle and try to
enslave us
in our own organization will meet that trust as their undoing. For the
WLA will
trust freedom to rule us. Such trust will not engender any structure
that statists
may use to rule us. In
short, the
whole world can look at our Alliance and judge for themselves who the
WLA's
leaders, movers and shakers are. They can also clearly see who the
fakers are.
And should the fakers successfully deceive some among us, the
voluntary nature
of our Covenant will either deprive them of any power to usurp us, or
make us
less attractive to their goals for power. So
you, libertarian
individuals, go out now as Alliance members to fight the statists and
disarm
the collaborators. You need no leaders. You need no rulers. You are
free. THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE FROM In the due course of American history, the Libertarian
Party
of the United States of America stood as the first light of freedom
after many
years of the darkness of socialism's rise in this once free land.
However, it
is become clear that one cannot fight the beast by conjuring up
another beast.
For one beast will remain after a clash of titans and the people will
still
live in the shadow of a giant beast who lords over them. The beast's
motives
matter not, his stature alone will tempt him eventually to force those
under
him to follow his will. Indeed, his benevolence will seem to justify
such force
over the people for their own good. No organization should exist in such a way that its
survival
becomes more important than the freedom of the individuals that form
it. No
such beast should wear the name "Liberty" nor call the bounds of his
shadow "Freedom." The only just power of any organization is that
which is just for an individual. Neither the LPUS nor any other
organization
has any justification for the use of force against its membership. The beast called LPUS that was formed by the people to
battle
the federal giant of statism has no faith in the libertarian principle
and sees
no hope in defeating the federal giant and so has allied itself with
the enemy
to enslave the people. Abandoning its mission principle, the
Libertarian Party
of the United States has attempted to control its members and usurp
their sovereignty
through a long list of violations of the Libertarian Principle: The LPUS has orchestrated the use of government power
through
threat of force to undermine sovereign state parties. The LPUS has dictated from the Watergate down to the
state parties. The LPUS has involved itself in fraud and deceit
against its
own members. Members of LPUS have advocated and condoned the
initiation of
force by supporting taxation for the purpose of funding internal party
elections. The LPUS has acted in a tradition of aristocracy and
elitism
as evidenced by its seeking endorsements of, and mimicking of our
political
masters rather than openly challenging their premises. The LPUS has turned its back on its founding documents
and embraced
the cynicism of the enemies of liberty, by insisting that individual
activists
blunt the message of freedom lest it offend their new masters in the
halls of
power and centralization. The LPUS has sold its birthright for a teat at the
government
sow, gaining little power and less respect from the statists. They
have then
turned and laid upon their affiliates the burden of their misspending
for this
small gain. Our freedoms and our labors are not the Party's to
barter away,
they are the beginning and end of the Party's reason for being. The
message
of liberty is not a 'pick and choose' menu, it is the bill for the
meal and
must be paid in full. They have no power over individual members, but
rather,
derive their existence by the unanimous consent of those members. This
existence
does not imply power over those individuals. Any assumption of power
LPUS derives
from its existence is unethical and amoral. The party does not define
the principle,
the principle defines the party. The LPUS has forgotten these foundations and refuses to
recognize
these truths, no matter the venue of discussion. The LPUS has
abandoned its
reason for existence. Therefore, we, as principled libertarians, must abandon
the LPUS.
We choose to withdraw from the voluntary association we once had with
the LPUS.
Our libertarian principles allow us to endure no further outrage as
the shadow
of the LPUS extends over its state affiliates and members. We are free. As with all kings, we need not kill the LPUS, we need
only stop
propping it up. Having no home in any political party that must conform
itself
to the statist model and work within the collectivist's limits, we see
no other
choice but to work outside of that methodology. Rather, we shall form
loose
associations of strong principles in hopes of working within the
culture to
change the hearts of the people. Our freedom will be made complete by
being
free from the false hope of vote, election, and incremental gain
through compromise.
We will be free of the burden of centralization's "voluntary" fee
or donation and have the freedom to teach and persuade the people to
liberty
rather than rely on the force of politics to change them by the very
force libertarians
should despise. In the end, LPUS has become the advocate of its own
brand of
neo-statism. No principled libertarian can associate with them without
compromising
the libertarian principle. As such, we can no longer associate with
those who
so easily compromise libertarian principles. We hereby sunder this
association
and render it null and void. If you agree and wish to be counted with us, then sign
below in
same format and forward back to the first name on the signatory list
-OR- e-mail
me with your information. IN AGREEMENT: Michael Trent Haggard, Winslow, Arizona, 2000 -
mikeh@cybertrails.com AN EXPLANATION OF INDEPENDENCE FROM Whereas we, the undersigned, share the grievances and
principles
outlined in the Declaration above, and Whereas, however, we have either never joined or
already removed
ourselves from LPUS (in most cases for reasons included in the
statement of
grievances above), we lack the option of resigning from it. We are
therefore RESOLVED: that the Libertarian Party of the United
States, while
it continues the abuses of libertarian principle and the failures of
performance
on behalf of their libertarian membership, cannot expect nor receive
our support.
We are proud to sign our names in solidarity, fraternity, and
friendship with
the signatories above. IN AGREEMENT: Kent B. and Frances H. Van Cleave, Bedford, Indiana,
2000 - kvc@tima.com Copyright © 2004 Western
Libertarian Alliance, All Rights Reserved Hosting donated by BetterThanYours.com |
