Libertarian values bring peace

Being libertarian isn't all fun and games. We are not necessarily the "party crowd" we are sometimes made out to be.

While some libertarians are undoubtedly that way, as are many non-libertarians, it certainly isn't a given.

Libertarianism is not about taking liberties, but about respecting the liberty of others to do as they wish with their own life as long as they are not stealing or attacking.

Many, perhaps most, libertarians have very ordinary personal lives. Some may never shoot or own a gun, may never smoke marijuana regardless of whether it is still criminalized, and may have no desire to do anything sexually experimental.

Libertarians are not usually "libertines," although we will defend the right to be one — within limits.

Many have very deeply held moral beliefs that are quite familiar and traditional. And while realizing we have no right to tell others how to live, we know some choices are not right for us.

We accept that we have no right to make those choices for others.

I may have no interest in doing something, but as long as the activity is consensual, I would never dream of stopping you or reporting you to "the authorities." It's simply none of my business.

This has nothing to do with a libertarian's personal, moral beliefs. Libertarians know enough to not interfere with the non-coercive behavior of others even if, personally, we find it disgusting.

No one's personal idea of "immoral" should equal "illegal" nor become an excuse for using any form of coercion, official or private, against people.

This is what leads to horrors such as Sharia law and the war on politically incorrect drugs.

We understand there is no such thing as "harming society" because apart from individuals, "society" is meaningless; if no third-party individual is harmed, no one is harmed.

We generally understand that being offended is not the same as being harmed. This is a hard concept for even some libertarians to live.

We libertarians understand the value of minding our own business as long as the behaviors at issue are voluntarily engaged in by all individuals involved.

Minding your own business and letting go of the desire to control the lives of others brings peace to your own life and is the truly neighborly way to be.

At its heart, libertarianism is the radical idea that other people are not your property. What could be more self-evident than that?

Kent McManigal is a freelance writer who sometimes offers commentary on our websites. Contact him at:

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