Protecting Liberty

I'll move myself and my family aside
If we happen to be left half alive
I'll get all my papers and smile at the sky
Though I know that the hypnotized never lie
--The Who

It is the natural right of all human beings to pursue their interests--as long as they do not forcibly interfere with the pursuits of others. This is the essence of liberty.

Because some will be tempted to live off the backs of others thru use of forcible interference, it is also the natural right of individuals to protect their liberty from such invasion.

As such, individuals must acquire capabilities for defending their interests. Home security systems, self-defense skills, and weaponry exemplify such capabilities for defending against direct assault. People might also combine their capabilities with those of others to build strength in numbers. For instance, walking down a poorly lit street with someone else rather than by oneself reduces threat of invasion and increases self-defense capacity.

However, many perpetrators may not seek to invade a person's liberties directly. Instead, they may find it more efficient to hire a strong armed agent to do their bidding. Because government tends to be an attractive agent-for-hire in this regard, individuals must also invest in capabilities for keeping an eye on this potential threat, and acting in manners that curtail government invasion of liberty.

An implication is that, as distasteful as it is for many, individuals must invest some of their attention in the political sphere. They need to become knowledgeable about political systems, monitor political trends, and be ready to act when their liberty is threatened by politically motivated principles and their strong-armed agents.

If people do not develop political awareness, then their interests are more likely to be compromised over time.