Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Why a Blog?

To the reader who suspects my writings to be a manifestation of strutting conceit, a brief explanation.

It is my enthusiasm for ideas that impels me to present arguments, some original, some derivative, that I believe are true and compelling, and which may be of some small use to mankind. Genuine freedom may not be attained in my lifetime, but I hope to add a supporting voice to the growing discontent with the expanding, consolidating democratic state that increasingly treats us as wealthy children. For ideas are ultimately more decisive than guns, and the idea of liberty is perhaps the greatest of all.

The term libertarianism has many meanings, but I use it to describe the categorical rejection of politics. By politics I mean the violence-backed aggression practiced notably by the state, an institution which, by definition, initiates physical force against innocent people. Thus, liberty can only be realized in the absence of the state. Libertarianism is also the conviction that physical force is justifiable only in the defense of persons and property, whereas pacifism, which is also consistent with the nonaggression principle, is characterized by an unnatural refusal to use force for any reason.

My intent is to appeal to the general reader, who is not, as a rule, libertarian, and who consequently may believe that the present political situation in Canada and the West is satisfactory and healthy.

I plan to apply universal libertarian analysis to the Canadian public sector. My approach will emphasize a priori reasoning, but evidence-based arguments will also be considered.

Critics might wonder if I have something against Canada or the United States, and why I don't censure with the same zeal the more repressive regimes of, say, Saudi Arabia, China, or Uzbekistan. Though I freely acknowledge that southern Ontario is freer and more prosperous than many other places, it also happens to be where I live—as do most of my friends and loved ones. It is impossible to idly observe the petty tyranny occurring around me—and yes, it is virtually everywhere. To those who might accuse me of being anti-Canadian or -American, my response is that my ire is directed at states and governments—not the ordinary people these parasitical organizations purport to serve.

I wish to reassure friends and acquaintances employed in the public sector that nothing I write is to be taken personally, and, similarly, I hope that their career choices will not be responsible for their thinking ill of me.

Finally, the name of this site—ObviouslyTrue.com—is deliberately wry.