What I believe

published Apr 18, 2009, last modified Jun 26, 2013

These are the building blocks our new world ought to be -- nay, will be -- constructed upon.

  1. Many humans resent the responsibilities that are implied by consciousness. We accept those responsibilities and we embrace consciousness. Rather than letting things happen to us (avoiding consciousness), we accept consciousness and choose to act in our own interest. We do not seek the refuge of blaming others, neither do we take refuge in crowds. We are willing to act on our personal judgement, and we are willing to accept the consequences thereof.
  2. We believe in negative rights for all, derived from simple morality that everybody can deduce by mere observation and logic: That all humans should be free to do whatever they wish, as long as they do not intrude upon others; that no man has a right to the life, liberty or property of another; that we oppose aggression, fraud and coercion.
  3. We do not believe that our way of life, or any other, will make life perfect or trouble-free. We expect crime and disagreements and ugliness, and we are prepared to deal with them. We do not seek a strongman to step in and solve problems for us. We agree to see to them ourselves.
  4. We believe in free and unhindered commerce. So long as exchanges are voluntary and honest, no other party has a right to intervene – before, during or after.
  5. We believe that all individuals should keep their agreements.
  6. We believe that honestly obtained property is fully legitimate and absolute.
  7. We believe that some humans are evil and that they must be faced and dealt with. We accept the fact that this is a difficult area of life.
  8. We believe that humans can self-organize effectively. We expect them to cooperate. We reject impositions of hierarchy and organization.
  9. We believe that all humans are to be held as equals in all matters regarding justice.
  10. We believe that the more a man or woman cares about right and wrong, the more of a threat he or she is perceived to be by governments.
  11. We believe that there are only two true classes of human beings: Those who wish to exercise power upon others - either directly or through intermediaries - and those who have no such desires.
  12. Large organizations and centralization are inherently anti-human. They must rely upon rules rather than principles, treating humans within the organization as obedient tools.

Free, unashamed men cannot be ruled.  We are The Free and The Unashamed.

Culled from WendyMcElroy.com.  Found at /r/voluntarism.