TIMELESS PRINCIPLES
Individual Rights (includes property rights) and Responsibilities
by Matt Arnold, LPR President '08
The most fundamental principle at the core of LPR – in many ways, the principle from which all others derive - is the recognition that individuals have rights, particularly property rights (including the “property” of “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”) and that individuals are personally responsible for their own actions – or inaction. Indeed, to quote from one of the seminal works that influenced my political philosophy growing up (I think I first read it in 8th grade) – Robert Heinlein’s “The Moon is a Harsh Mistress” (yes, this is also a shameless plug for the LPR book club).
Concepts such as ‘state’ and ‘society’ and ‘government’ have no existence save as physically exemplified in the acts of self-responsible individuals." In other words, all choices are made by individuals and no individual can shift or share responsibility for one's own choices.
"In terms of morals there is no such thing as a ‘state.’ Just men. Individuals. Each responsible for his own acts."
It is the underlying philosophy of our form of government that individuals, and individual rights, precede government or “the state.” As stated in the Declaration of Independence, it is “to secure these Rights” that “Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed.”
Government, therefore, is nothing more than a voluntary association of individuals; a “social compact.” In fact, all human progress, all lasting human accomplishment, results from individual actions and the voluntary associations of individuals through cooperation or trade. Or to borrow a currently popular phrase, it really does come down to the “power of one.” Against the seeming power of the collective, resistance is NOT futile.
LEADERS IN ACTION
featuring Wesley Dickinson (LPR07), and TL James (LPR06)
The media has been invaded by a new, proletarian-looking group. But don’t be fooled by the Marxist-looking logo of these citizen journalists; they fight on the side of liberty, limited government, and individual rights.
Wesley, TL, and two of their blogging comrades founded People’s Press Collective (www.peoplespresscollective.org) to provide a liberty-focused online news alternative to the mainstream media.
Nearly three dozen bloggers and grassroots activists (many of whom are graduates of LPR) descended on the DNC to capture the irresponsible shenanigans of the left, regularly ignored by traditional media. People’s Press Collective received national attention for capturing the more hateful and racist protests and riots using New Media technology and cutting edge software, including streaming live web quality video from their cell phones directly to their website.
People’s Press Collective have turned their sights on the Colorado ballot initiatives to use New Media and the web’s technology to fight the 21st century battle online. Their greatest coordinated efforts were in supporting Amendment 54: Clean Government Colorado and in fighting Amendment 59: TABOR Killer.
Pending a reinstatement of the Fairness Doctrine next year, liberty-focused news reporting will be pushed from the airwaves onto the internet where individuals still reign and the People’s Press Collective is on the frontline fighting the battle for liberty, limited government, and individual rights.
For more information, contact us at peoplespress@rocketmail.com.