Lets change the world
Friends,
Most of you reading this already believe in the efficacy of freedom, or at the very least are sympathetic to the arguments in favour of freedom. However a belief in and of itself can be little different to a golden idea that sits lost in a dusty book on an obscure shelf in an old library. Ideas and beliefs only make a difference when they are translated into tangible actions. Throughout history it has been beliefs put into action that have shaped destinies and changed the world.
One of the things about the Internet that is immensely impressive is it’s ability to allow people of like mind to reach eachother and to aggragate obscure ideas into forceful well reasoned arguments. And I suspect that most people (although certainly not all people) that frequent blogs such as this do spend a lot of time reaching out to influence others and to be influenced by others and to both aggragate and diseminate great ideas. In the cause of freedom I think the larger community of freedom thinkers are already making an enormous contribution and have a very significant influence on the course of events in our world.
However I wish to ask a favour of you. I wish to ask that in some small way you make an additional difference in the world via the cause of freedom. And I wish to ask that your contribution goes beyond personally aggregating and disseminating ideas. And finally I wish to ask that you share news of your action, or else share with us whatever your small statement of commitment may be. This is not a favour that I ask that you do for me but rather it is a favour I ask that you do for yourself. Of course you can ignore me entirely in this plea but I hope that you won’t.
What small action will you undertake in the name of freedom over the next 12 months? In what tiny but meaningful way will you help to change the world.
Regards,
Terje.
42 Comments
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.
-
Recent Comments
Libertarians and ele… on Libertarians and elections (an… 
Dom Vasta on Libertarians and elections (an… 
Shem Bennett on Libertarians and elections (an… 
'Nuke' Gray on Libertarians and elections (an… Dom Vasta on Libertarians and elections (an… 
TerjeP (say tay-a) on Libertarians and elections (an… TerjeP (say tay-a) on Libertarians and elections (an… 'Nuke' Gray on Libertarians and elections (an… Shem Bennett on Libertarians and elections (an… 
Brendan Halfweeg on The Santa Claus Governmen…
Catallaxy Files- Open Forum: February 11, 2012 February 10, 2012 Sinclair Davidson
- Not all recessions are caused by the Fed February 10, 2012More middle of the night blogging. My economics is classical. The almost perfect overlay of my own book can be found in a series of notes taken by Nicholas Kaldor at the LSE in 1927-29 from lectures delivered by the great American economist, Allyn Young. These notes were only published around a decade ago but [...]Steve Kates
- Where’s Romney? February 10, 2012It is quite extraordinary to watch the American political process up close. Now, I admit I have been busy and I don’t watch much of the television and do not read a lot of the press. But before I arrived the thing I did want to do was see more of Mitt Romney since from [...]Steve Kates
- inCISe
- More on PHI rebate means test February 10, 2012When I wrote in Incise yesterday, ‘Rebate should not be means tested,’ I did not expect events to move quite as quickly as they have. The government seems confident it has the numbers to get the means test through. I wouldn’t be surprised if Rob Oakshott and Andrew Wilkie have indeed swallowed the government’s nonsensical arguments, but it will be interestin […]Robert Carling
- Quiggin versus Carling and Kirchner February 9, 2012John Quiggin accuses Robert Carling and I of ‘an appalling breach of elementary standards of research’ for not acknowledging that Alberto Alesina’s work on the effectiveness of fiscal stimulus and consolidations is ‘highly controversial.’ In fact, we referenced Alesina’s work precisely because it has featured so prominently in public debate, including in the […]Stephen Kirchner
- Police going too far February 9, 2012According to an article in the Sydney Morning Herald, police are lecturing parents for letting their children walk to the shops or catch a bus on their own, with senior police saying such incidents will be reported to the Department of Community Services (DOCs) if a child is considered at risk. But when is a child ‘at risk’? One mother was told it was inappr […]Sara Hudson
- More on PHI rebate means test February 10, 2012
- IPA news
- Let European dogs lie February 9, 2012Australians will be surprised to learn that, apparently, the federal government now has responsibility to help the city of...
- It's time to bring back the thrift February 9, 2012Ted Baillieu plans to shave 3600 jobs from Victoria's bloated public service. The state of Wisconsin in the US, with a...
- We'll huff, we'll puff, we'll blow the budget into surplus February 8, 2012Bill Clinton famously said, "It's the economy, stupid". So it is. Unsuccessful politicians might be inclined to argue,...
- Let European dogs lie February 9, 2012
I am sympathetic, as well as sympathectic, to the cause of freedom, and I will be spreading anti-politician jokes to anyone who can’t leave the same room as me.
In addition, I will try to finish the book I am writing, which is very pro-libertarian. A policeman eventually heads up a group of activist libertarians (a combination of masons and the resistance) who give stay-out-of-jail insurance to drug-dealers, and other decent people, and who rescue them from prisons if they are caught. Their motto is ‘Liberating Victimless Underdogs’.
The fortune I make will encourage other people to take up literary careers, and will turn Australia into an enlightened nation.
So what will YOU be doing?
Well,
- I spend a lot of time on my website bitching about intrusive governments infringing on liberty
- I tell other motorcycle riders where it’s safe to speed without getting caught
- I warn other road users of the presence of speed cameras and police
- I encourage people to take up shooting
- I send the e-mail addresses of communist activists to Nigerian ’419′ scammers
I have (hopefully) corrected the sympathetic typo.
I’m going to spend very little time blogging (which, apart from being entertaining, makes no difference to anything) and use the time to ensure the LDP maximises its impact in the federal election.
I will enjoy the freedoms I have and treat politics with the scorn it deserves. People will continue being people and not grasping the long-term effects of the policies they vote for but it doesn’t matter because the long term process of globalisation and technology and creative destruction will wither down the State to more rational boundaries as mobile capital and skilled labour practice their freedom to exit to more encouraging jurisdictions and force competition between governments and simply render some socialistic policies unsustainable in the long run.
That is why economic openness is so important and more important than any other measure because the inexorable progress of globalisation will achieve more (and has achieved moreLabor were *forced* to deregulate what they did in the 1980s) than any amateur activism. So practice what you believe. As long as people are selfish, liberty will progress.
The one thing that can stand in the way of such competition is cartelisation between governments e.g. tax treaties, the evil EU bureaucracy and the like.
Economies were in general pretty open in the 1800s (more open than they are today) and yet things did not go so swimmingly for freedom in the 1900s. I agree that tax treaties represent a significant threat.
There were major reversals caused by war which in turn created the excuse for governments to clamp on things once war-economies were introduced. Of course that can still happen. Some things are different now than they were then – the Internet for one thing which allows for money laundering, online gambling, tax evasion. There are technologies for greater financial privacy, there are better developed financial markets that can punish governments for bad policies. I’m not saying things are going to be perfect but I’m even less convinced that activism has much effect on anything. The only other effective way to influence policy in a libertarian direction, is, to put it bluntly, be close to one of the elites.
Generally I’m of the view that libertarians should just give politics the middle finger, get rich, try to minimise their tax and enjoy life.
David’s right. Blogging makes little difference unless it’s part of something meaningful that could have tangible results. So I recently met up with some other victorian LDP members and have updated the LDP victoria website. We’ll now be having regular monthly meetings and hope to be registered in time for the next state election in 2010. I’m more of an academic type than a politician, but my main purpose is to get people to think differently about the issues: instead of arguing about funding levels, we should be arguing about whether certain government programs should exist at all. The LDP is the only pro-freedom thingo I’m involved in for the next 12 months, apart from weaving libertarian arguments into my university assignments.
Jason
I will enjoy the freedoms I have and treat politics with the scorn it deserves
Liberty doesn’t defend itself.
I joined the LDP. I wish you were in it too.
I think blogging is a good way to get your own thoughts sorted out. To spot inconsistencies in your own logic and to get ideas and criticisms from others. It’s a learning process and is therefore valuable. It may not be that important for everyone or that important at all times, but it shouldn’t be discredited. It’s a great tool.
I’d like to read your book Nicholas, personally I have a lot of hope for art influencing the world to keep increasing levels of libertarian and individualism. I’m currently working on a solo music project (other people in the bands I’m in aren’t necessarily libertarian). I’m halfway through building my home recording studio and I have heaps of libertarian lyrics that hopefully people will hear one day.
Politics and current events are constantly coming up in every day converstaions. I try to remind people I meet and work with about the uselessness of many government actions as much as I can. It’s a perspective they don’t often hear. I usually don’t get into arguments or deep discussions. Just keep gently pointing out the outdated and ineffective or harmful actions of the state. Throw one or two insights at them.
As suggested by the libertarian writer Stefan Molyneux, I’m the guy putting my hand on the shoulder of the distraught ambulance officer trying to revive the dead patient (metaphoric state). “He’s gone mate, there’s nothing we can do for him now, we have to move on”.
Tim
You’re building a home recording studio? Wow. I would love to do that. Expensive?
My plan is to get as rich as possible, as fast possible, as honestly as possible.
Jchester- the best way would be to marry a rich person! Rich, fast, and honest! The next way is to wait around and inherit wealth.
Good luck!!!!
I am going to found the Republic of Libertaria, a state of mind, where the currency is the LibG (Gram), the government is so small that when pollsters ask “what do you think of the government”, the majority answer will be; “government? We have a government?”
The budget will also be in surplus from a 10% flat tax.
A good idea, Jimfryar, but you could just take over The Principality of Hutt River Province, and call that place The Confederation of Libertaria! Or just go for the greek name for freedom- Eleutheria! Hutt River Province seems to have de facto independence already, so you’re halfway there!
There was a great quote from a journalist about Poland in the mid to late 80s that I can’t quite remember but goes something like “they lived as *if* they were in a free country”. Civil disobedience that ignores the nanny state without ignoring the principle of respect for others is called for. I’m thinking of taking up smoking big fat Churchill cigars and finding pubs that ignore smoking bans. I’d like to join a hand gun club, but in the UK that is impossible. I have even considered joining the Free State Project, but the likelihood of me being able to move to New Hampshire legally is possible. Perhaps Australia needs its own FSP? But which state?
Other than that, I wish I could contribute more to the LDP, but my current location and my disenfranchisement prevents. I have been thinking of enrolling in Britain just to vote UKIP, but I’m not big on their xenophobic undertones.
make that “the likelihood of me being able to move to New Hamshire legally is impossible”.
Nicholas
Do you really see a need for national boundaries. The way I envisage it, anyone who is being a libertarian is there, without the hassles of migrating.
We have to think beyond the square here.
I’ve been gradually accumulating the equipment I need. It’s fairly expensive but it is definitely easier to have a home studio these days compared to in the past.
I have some friends that record full time that give me advice.
These days it’s not uncommon for a group of musicians living in different states or countries to make an album. They record their bit in their own home studio, then email it to the next guy etc continually adding to the final product.
Jim, your comment made me think of these “virtual worlds” I’ve recently heard about on the internet? I don’t know much about them and they seem like they could be a waste of time, but I imagine they could easily operate on something that resembles libertarian principles?
We have a couple to start from, although they have boundaries.
They are: – http://cascadianow.org/index.html and,
http://www.jeffersonstate.com/
Our emblem will be a white dove, with an olive twig in it’s mouth, amd a sub- machine gun under its wing.
We have a couple to start from, although they have boundaries.
They are: – http://cascadianow.org/index.html and,
http://www.jeffersonstate.com/
Our emblem will be a white dove, with an olive twig in it’s mouth, and a sub- machine gun under its wing.
If we’re already in Libertaria, then how is that making a difference? And what is my 10% tax paying for?
Why not have two swans, one black, and one white, and both of them armed and dangerous! (Swans are the biggest herbivorous birds I could think of.) Our flower could be the rose, nice to look at, but you interfere with it at your peril!
Nicholas;
We need to set in place effective tools for the management of our nation, before others will welcome takeover bids for theirs.
10% tax is a figure that I pulled out of my head as an idea of a fair figure. After thinking about the few services our national board of directors would offer, it may be possible to adjust it downward. Unfortunately I am not an economist so I am unable to cost it out, however I note that Jefferson considered 10% to be excessive.
If 10% proves to be profligate it can be adjusted, I am not an authoritarian.
Now that I am getting into my stride, I see more ways of keeping costs down. Diplomacy can be handled by ‘libertariaforignrelations.blogspot.com, and so on.
My idea of the dove was the symbol of peace packing heat, however your swans hold merit, perhaps you can handle public relations for us.
Look seriously if you wanted to make one change that would have a lasting effect it would have to involve getting the Constitution changed. To take one possibility, if you could get the Constitution amended so that all takings of property by the government had to be subject to proper compensation, including ‘regulatory takings’, you could draw the State to almost a standstill. The government would not be able to do anything unless it was confident that there would be a net benefit (i.e. that it would be worth paying compensation to the affected property rights holder because there would actually be some genuine additional social benefit from the intervention).
I reckon all spending should be subject to a CBA. Should the finance and trade section entail a compulsury CBA test?
CBAs are easy to fudge Mark… the person paying for them (and often providing the information for them) generally gets the outcome they want.
What I’m doing — besides the usual, I’m thinking of tutoring political economy back at uni to corrupt the minds of the youth.
One option (though an expensive one) would be to “buy” a local council. You would run a group of candidates for the council positions on the platform of introducing a “voluntary tax” fund that would offset all council taxes… and promise to personally contribute enough to maintain current services.
Mark
My constitutional restriction works by creating an automatic disincentive for government to do anyhing unless it were sure there were a net benefit. Your solution doesn’t. Aa John said, CBAs can be fudged. Who’s going to rule on how adequate a CBA is?
That is more clever than I realised Jason.
Normally a CBA is comissioned by the person of company responsible for the outlays, not the individual or group interested in only the “benefit” side of the equation. Constituional limitations on government power and aboliton of parliamentary salaries are the only ways to scare off career politicians who crave power and glory. Put parliaments in the hands of philanthropic people, make service to the country really mean that.
I’ll do more blogging…what?
Yep, a lot of Australians read Samizdata? Why not beg to blog about us and the LDP I say?
So I might do one article on Samizdata if they let me.
It might be a very cheap way to get more ALS and LDPers.
Ah, James Waterton has already done it.
I think it needs to be more in your face.
Brendan
You can still help with the LDP.
Have you and your pals at Samizdata ever thought about setting up a similar party in the UK? I know Perry often posts about wanting to set up a new party. I figure there is a more pressing need for such a party given all 3 major parties pro-statist position.
Also agree with you re UKIP – ‘closet racists’?
Maybe or maybe they are just victims of a very effective media smear campaign.
John, Terje and David – you should research the history of UKIP – they are a case study in how the media can destroy a party because of perceived racism and far-rightness.
LDP must avoid this.
The LDP is not far right and it’s views on opening up immigration (via FIAs) as well as civil liberties make that pretty obvious. It is not a racist party.
Terje
I know this, otherwise i wouldnt have joined. Its not me you need to convince. It’s the media, who will be ever-so-eager to destroy any new party as they have done with UKIP.
Being cast as “extreme” something or other is my major concern Pommy. It’s the main reason the slogan “anti-left, anti-right, pro-liberty” was adopted.
I don’t think the racism label would ever stick, but that leaves plenty of others. It may also be a reason why some of our social policies should have priority over our tax policies.
Have you seen what that swine Giuliani tried to do to Ron Paul in the debates? Tried to soundbyte him to death but Paul pretty much won the day by not playing into the game. He just told the whole truth and I believe that the public will side with him.
The LDP has the luxury of being right. Demonstrably right and I believe that will come out as long as you don’t play for soundbytes. There isn’t a politician who doesn’t treat the voting public like idiot children. If you treat them like adults then they will surely respond.
I don’t think the racism label would ever stick, but that leaves plenty of others.
They’d be more subtle than just saying it outright… they’d suggest we were a “One Nation clone” or something (even though we are the diametric opposite).
Fleeced I don’t think that would stick either.
David I agree that promoting the social policies is important in terms of positioning the parties identity. A low tax position is also important for the same reason. Happy to discuss both further but maybe in a different venue. Mean time I’m happy to hear what other people think about the LDP as a vehicle for promoting freedom.
“The LDP has the luxury of being right. Demonstrably right and I believe that will come out as long as you don’t play for soundbytes.”
Not sure if I understood you correctly Ben, but make no mistake – you need the soundbytes – that’s just human psychology: propaganda works (and by propaganda, I don’t mean lies, but simply “persuasive messages” that promote a particular cause)
It’s easier to sell a principle such as “freedom of choice” than it is to sell the myriad of policies which implement an actual freedom of choice! It’s what Joseph Campbell referred to as “concretizing the myth”.
Its interesting you guys are talking about racism and xenophobia; the first word that came to mind after reading the LDP immigration policy was ‘xenophobic’ – mainly because of the lengthy (and unnecessary) introduction where we are told how inferior people from other nations are (they don’t understand democracy, freedom,etc etc).
I wonder how many Australian born natives understand “what actually makes a country better“?
There’s nothing in there that immediately pops out as being principled. It’s not comparable to the US Libertarian Party’s immigration policy, which simply argues for:
1. Increased immigration intake
2. but ensure no immigrants receive welfare
That’s an easy sell because it tells people that we understand immigrants are able to fill in and contribute to our tight labour market (particularly at the lower end initially, but as they get more experience, also at the higher end) and they are free to come here to make their livlihood as long as they expect nothing from other taxpayers.
Immigrants are not going to take over Australia and completely change the system. The Australian Constitution has worked well for over 100 years and I fail to see the link between immigrants who have passed backgroud checks and threats to democracy itself. So why does the policy make such false claims?
I write for a few local Indian newspapers in my spare time but is there anything in the immigration policy I could ‘sell’ that would be of interest to ethnic communities or overseas students looking to get permanent residency for themselves or their families? The language of exclusivity used in the policy is not at all libertarian, so I’m at a loss on who would support the policy (unless we’re having an FIA with India).
But Sukrit it is true that we are better, at least as a domicile than other nations. Otherwise we wouldn’t have a net immigration rate.
I agree with 1. and 2. and their colloaries.