Rick Lowe
I'm about a third of the way through Libertarianism: A political philosophy whose time has come, by Dr. John Hospers.
Released in 1971 when Dr. Hospers was the presidential candidate in the US for the Libertarian Party, it is a very clearly written manifesto for everyone, not only those interested in the Libertarian philosophy.
By the way, Professor Hospers was the Director of the School of Philosophy at the University of Southern California.
I think it's out of print now, and I'm reading a friends copy, but if you see it any where, don't hesitate to pick it up it.
Visit Amazon.com to get your copy. Or visit Amazon at this link… for a newer publication.
Most right thinking people believe in the rights and values of liberty and freedom.. This is true no matter what brand you call yourself, conservative, libertarian or even FNM or PLP.. Freedom gives us real life choices, but these choices must be exercised within the context of natural rights and established law.. In other words, freedom of individual decision making and specific action extends no further than the end of ones noise…
As a freeman, one can say that they have the absolute right to abuse alcohol, tobacco and addictive drugs.. Further they claim that such usage, when carried out in the privacy of their homes, harms no one.. Such self-destruction is an individual choice and not a collective one.. So be it, but there is a tremendous cost to the public in terms of public health care and public safety.. This can not avoided when individuals can do what they want to do to themselves and when ever they want to do it.. As a safeguard to liberty and freedom, society is forced to enact “rules of conduct” and “basic standards of behavior” which must apply to all members of society.. The “common good” is necessary for the survival of any given social structure..
Yes, man should be free to make individual choices, hopefully educated and wise decisions.. If one elects to use addictive substances, then that is his choice in exercising his free will.. BUT when he then needs public assistance and costly medical treatment, he should be excluded from public assistance.. The public should be free to just say NO.. There is far better uses of our public facilities for those who are in need rather than those who elect the path of self-destruction..
Is the public responsible for ones self-abuse??
Freedom must be nourished and protected, and not abused by those who profess to love liberty and freedom…