It's About Love

October 2020: I read this essay and added commentary for Episode 401 of the Everything Voluntary podcast.

I am wont to harp on non-libertarian political philosophies because of their foundation in violence. I'd like to take just a moment to explain something that I haven't done a good enough job explaining.

Libertarianism to me is about one thing, Love. I've said that the libertarian political philosophy can be summed up in one phrase, "Keep your hands to yourself." Why should we do this? There're all sorts of reasons why we should practice libertarianism, but I believe the primary reason should be out of love and respect for other people.

I want liberty for you as much as I want liberty for myself. I know that freedom is the only way that prosperity can be achieved, and I want you to have prosperity. I want you to pursue and find happiness. I want you to be free from the control of others. And I want you to be free to serve your fellow man.

Liberty implies responsibility. If the social contract exists, it exists as an implied contract between civilized people to keep their hands to themselves. To treat and behave towards each other how we want others to treat and behave towards us. We are not truly committed to the philosophy of liberty if we are not committed to allowing others the freedom we want for ourselves. Focus on loving your neighbor, and liberty and prosperity will naturally follow.