1) Anarchist Essays: Intro

I thought it might be nice to write a series of blogs explaining my belief in libertarian anarchism to give people a basic understanding of what I believe and why I believe it. I am not sure how many of these there will be however I am sure that these first few will only lead to more questions, and those questions will only lead to more essays/blogs.

I believe that a vital question must be raised: Is the government a legitimate and necessary institution? For most this is not a question at all. Which I find interesting considering that this concept is responsible for nearly every mass murder in all of history. This concept is responsible for the some of the greatest oppression of human beings.  This concept  even claims to own you.

Yet it is never questioned and always endorsed. Usually even loved, praised and considered moral.

I am here to claim that the government is not only unnecessary but evil and illegitimate.

My Influences

My journey began when I first read Ayn Rand at the start of my senior year of high school. I began to understand the importance of the individual and how it is not compatible with the state. Rand taught me many things and I hold her close to my heart how ever as I studied more it became clear that he was not entirely consistent.

As started to become involved with libertarian forums and I feel that it was then that my things started to really make sense.  Rand had set a foundation and the libertarians built off it more consistently. I was introduced to Murray Rothbard who was the first to coin the term Anarcho-Capitalism.  For the first time in my life I found my self asking the question of "is the state a necessary or unnecessary evil?" however I was not yet entirely convinced of anarchism.

As I was being active in these libertarian forums and online groups the infamous name of Ron Paul came up. At this point it was my belief that anarchy was preferable but for now I had to deal with the state, so I became fairly active in the Ron Paul movement.

However at one point or another it became clear that the Ron Paul movement was going to fail, I of course was quite discouraged, at which point I watched a youtube video by Stefan Molyneux the host of Freedomain Radio a very well done anarcho-capitalist broadcast that I enjoyed listening to from time to time. This video was called "An open letter to Ron Paul supporters" in which he explained that it is philosophy and our relationship with truth that sets us free, not politics. Not begging for freedoms that were never theirs to take, and that we will never get from them even if we try because state power only grows.

His message truly touched me, and sense I have let go of politics and given my self to philosophy and the study of Anarchy.

The Goal

What I hope to accomplish with these essays is a reference for myself and others on what my basic beliefs are so I am not required to repeat so much information all the time, and also to build a stronger foundation of my beliefs so that I can communicate them more effectively.

I know I am an amateur and I claim to be nothing else, how ever I would suggest that you take a serious read because I truly believe that I have some value to offer you in these essays.