Hello,
I am Skyler Miller, president of the Student Libertarian Association. Adam has graciously offered to feature my articles on his website and I would like to first thank him for giving me this platform to express my ideas. I will be taking him up on his offer as often as my schedule permits. For my first article on Liberationis Reipublicae I would like to give a brief summation of how I perceive "liberty" and I would also like to make it clear where I stand in regards to the current political environment of the United States.
The United States was founded on the principle of liberty
and it is that principle that made this nation the greatest on Earth.
The founding fathers of this republic
believed that individuals should be free to pursue their own self-interest
without the inference of a tyrannical government.
It is that uniquely American ideal of rugged
individualism and an uncompromising defense of liberty that brought about the
greatest period of wealth, social progress, and innovation in human
history.
The United States became a
shining beacon of human achievement thanks to limited government and the
productive forces of the free market, but this nation has fallen into dark
times and the very things that made America great are now under attack.
Limited government has been tossed aside in
favor of an ever growing police state.
Individual achievement is now demonized by politicians and special
interests who believe that the producers of this country owe them a living.
Rational fiscal policy has degenerated into
an ever increasing debt and deficits as far as the eye can see.
Why has this happened?
The answer is simple: In their quest to win
elections the Republicans and Democrats have forgotten the true meaning of the
word LIBERTY.
Liberty does not mean
taking money by force and promising it to others in exchange for votes.
Liberty does not mean spying on United States
citizens and violating their privacy
at
airports across the country.
Liberty
does not mean forcing your religious beliefs or lack of belief on others. Liberty is an idea yes, but it is also more than that. Liberty is a state of being, one that allows humanity to progress to our highest levels of achievement. There are those that would claim that liberty is too dangerous of an idea, that we should avoid all risk and remain in a state of comfortable slavery. I would say to those people that they are in fact partially correct, liberty can be dangerous, there is an inherent risk involved in freedom, but I would say to those who would see us in chains that it is only through accepting risk that individuals create the greatest of marvels. Liberty is not a utopian idea, I do not claim to have a cure for all the ills of the world, rather I accept that danger is a natural part of the boom and bust cycle of life. So join me and together we can embrace this "dangerous" idea of liberty, I can only promise that a life of freedom is well worth the risk.
