I had started writing this blog when I discovered that Sunni had already kinda beat me to the punch on some of my points. Oh well. I will go ahead and say what I was planning to say anyway!
Even though my family thinks I am rather odd, I feel that in a lot of ways I owe them for my oddness. It was my family who raised me and therefore encouraged me to exercise my ability to think for myself. I may have come to some different conclusions than they would have chosen, but without the freedom to think for myself, I would have never become an anarchist. With their support I was able to resist the brainwashing effects of the public "school" system. I was able to see through the smoke and mirrors of the state. For those things, and more, I thank them.
I think my differences with my family concerning individual liberty come down to the incontrovertible fact (in my eyes, at least) that is is absolutely wrong to punish a person for activities that harm no one but himself. Particularly as in "drug abuse". That fact stymies them every time. They just can't see it. I don't think it is a good thing to harm yourself with anything (medications, "cutting", overeating, job addiction), but adding "punishment" to the equation is just sick and perverted. Talk about making a bad situation worse!
If a person who is abusing drugs harms others, he is subject to self-defense (or owes restitution) just the same as anyone else. I am not excusing aggression by him or by anyone else. His problem does not give the state or anyone else the authority to coerce him to change his self destructive behavior; not through kidnapping (arrest, or forced treatment) or theft (fines, or civil-asset forfeiture). If you try to do so, you are the one committing the aggression and subject to the price of such behavior. And that is just as it should be.
My family would probably disagree, citing some responsibility to save people from themselves, or to prevent aggression before it happens. Unfortunately, they would be causing more damage than they prevented. Giving the state power over the lives of non-aggressors is the worse possible thing you could do to individual liberty. It just comes down to what you value. I can't speak for you, but as for me, I choose liberty!
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And you made some excellent points that I did not in my ramble. Like you, I did not grow up in a pro-freedom family, but I had a lot of room to think about all kinds of things. I prefer to focus on the good that came out of my childhood, forgive the bad, and move on with enjoying the rest of my life.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sunni.
ReplyDeleteI think we all screw up our children in some way, despite the best intentions. I hope my children will forgive me for my mistakes and love me anyway.
Hey, thanks for stopping by my blog. I found yours quite by accident while looking at information on the Gadsden flag and came upon your "Time's Up" flag. Very well done. You are a true libertarian/anarchist in the best sense. I admire your courage.
ReplyDeleteAnd I admire your courage, as well, Fitz. I plan to make your blog a regular stop.
ReplyDeleteI think we all screw up our children in some way, despite the best intentions. I hope my children will forgive me for my mistakes and love me anyway.
ReplyDeleteYes; perfection isn't possible in this realm. With my children, I try to use my mistakes—and idiosyncrasies and foibles—as learning opportunities, rather than things to be swept away and never discussed. So far, it's working: they're not the least bit intimidated by grownups; and they recognize it (and often are amazingly empathetic) when I'm having a hard time.