The American government was designed to be a government of the people, by the people and for the people. The collectivists don’t and can’t see it this way since they want a government that is separate from and above the people. They claim to be for the people (collectively), but in reality, they benefit the ruling class or party and their lobbyists.
We focus a lot on individual responsibility and self-governance. They are important elements to our system of government. I was thinking about this responsibility and a thought hit me that I wanted to pursue. I won’t get it exactly right, but this is a great group to share it with and think through it and its consequences.
Libertarians generally want to be free and want others to be free. We want to be left alone. So why become a political leader? Why run for office? Other people aspire to such things.
So, what if we looked at self-governance a little differently. Let’s start with a common expression: A man’s home is his castle. What if we looked at self-governance as getting your own territory in order first? We would govern our territory well. For some that would be governing their apartment and for others it would be their home and property. We would arm ourselves to protect our territory. We would work at relations with our neighbors. We have trade agreements with other entities like our employers, employees, banks, grocery stores, etc. Pretty typical aspects of life.
Then the local, state and federal governments as we know them would be populated by emissaries elected by people looking for representatives for their home territories. Or better yet, people who govern their homes well would seek office to represent themselves and other likeminded kings and queens of their own castles and territories.
We wouldn’t allow others to disarm our personal territories. We wouldn’t stand for exorbitant taxation. We would speak up when money is taken from our treasuries and given to other territories.
So the first question we need to ask ourselves as adults is: “Am I the king or queen of my domain?” If I’m not, then this isn’t a government of the people, by the people and for the people. If the answer is “no” then it’s important to form a plan and take back the throne. Or live happily within the collective as a serf … if that is possible.
One reply on “Self-Governance: A Slightly Different Approach”
In my opinion, you have described the fundamental hierarchy of our Republic as defined in the United States Constitution — notwithstanding the “kings and queens” terminology. The rub lies in an apparently widespread fundamental lack of individual will to do what you describe in paragraph six:
Essentially, you have described a republican rather than a libertarian; the latter seems to me to be more isolationist than what you describe.