Introduce yourself! Who, What, Where, Why!

[low preference guy]

I'm here to be with like minded people. I'm a libertarian, minarchist leaning, and I live in Kentucky. I would have voted for Rand, but I'm too young to vote right now! I've met the man, he even signed my copy of the Federalist Papers! I also met Ron Paul when Rand won the primary, and he was very nice.

I am a fan of Acton and Rothbard(although I'm not an ancap). My favorite President is either Washington, Jackson, or Cleveland. I watch Glenn Beck, Stossel, and Freedom Watch.

I have a blog called Libertatem where I have written my opinions on things, stories, and poems.

My theory on government is guided my Acton's maxim that liberty is the "highest political end," and all political action should be for maximizing freedom. I also believe, paraphrasing Hayek, that we must be prepared to limit our use of government for beneficial means if we expect to be able to limit its use for tyrannical measures.

My most pressing issue is probably the government's virtual monopoly on schools. The state has no right to make me be "educated" in their mind factories. I can learn well on my own, if I don't have all my time sucked away by compulsory schooling.

I'm happy to be here.

Welcome!

 

[Tyr]

I tried to create an intro thread but it wouldn't let me, oh well.


About me, I am a male, mid to late 20'sD), Paleoconservative and a Deist. I've pretty much been both my whole life, although learned the terms for my beliefs through research. Growing up I never paid much direct attention to the political system or parties, I just knew that my elected officials weren't acting in my best interests and it had little to do with the letters next to their names.

Around 9/11 is when I first started paying SOME attention. I couldn't find it in me to buy the official story that some Middle Easterners attacked us simply because of our faux "freedoms." Didn't exactly buy them being able to I.D. every single terrorist within hours of it happening either but that's a different story.

Skipping ahead to 2003, that is when I started paying alot of attention to the system. By that time I had learned the basics of the different political ideologies and philosophies, learned about Traditional Conservative and what all that meant and could see that George W. Bush and the Republicans in Government weren't very Conservative overall.

2008, a glimmer of hope and change. No not Obama, I mean Ron Paul. A gentleman who if elected would remade Government back into a Traditionally Conservative mode of operation, who unlike the two Bush's and Reagan wouldn't have merely promised one thing only to go in the opposite direction. I voted for, spread the word on and still fully support Mr. Paul as well as his son.

Today, I am becoming more involved in the actual process. Not so much running for office myself, more learning on how the system works and the ways I can be more involved. I've spent the last six months reading through this forum which has been a large help in my learning.

 

[teacherone]

^^great to have you! nicely written intro. we have a few members here who have run both successful and not so successful campaigns. be sure to ask advice!

 

[chuckasomas]

Greetings to all my friends in Liberty. I've met many members of this forum working for the Rand Paul 2010 Senate campaign. What a great experience that was and much of the success we had was due to the grassroots movement and platforms such as this forum.
I am a 32 yr old male living in Bowling Green, KY for now. My normal line of work is in Information Technology with 11 years of experience. Currently looking for employment now that I'm completely recovered from the Rand Paul campaign.
I don't think anyone starts out as a Libertarian... we are seekers of truth, passionate about our heritage, and independent. I've seen neo-cons converted from the Dark Side to the Light just by hanging out with Libertarians... it is contagious.
Kind Regards,
Charlie

Ron Paul 2012!!

 

[LibertyMage]

Welcome!

 

[Philosoraptor]

Hi, my name is Aron, I'm originally from Grants Pass, Oregon, just moved to New York a couple months ago, heard about this place on an MMA forum I go on and thought I'd check it out. I'm going to be perfectly honest I don't really know anything about Libertarianism, I'm interested to learn what you guys are all about.

 

[MRoCkEd]

Hi, my name is Aron, I'm originally from Grants Pass, Oregon, just moved to New York a couple months ago, heard about this place on an MMA forum I go on and thought I'd check it out. I'm going to be perfectly honest I don't really know anything about Libertarianism, I'm interested to learn what you guys are all about.

Welcome! Libertarianism in a nutshell is this: Individuals should be free to behave as they wish so long as they do not use force or fraud against anyone else.

Be sure to stick around.

 

[Philosoraptor]

Welcome! Libertarianism in a nutshell is this: Individuals should be free to behave as they wish so long as they do not use force or fraud against anyone else.

Be sure to stick around.

That sounds good to me, I've been a libertarian all my life and didn't know it apparently lol...

 

[Bruno]

That sounds good to me, I've been a libertarian all my life and didn't know it apparently lol...

Welcome!

You'll like this free online book, then, it's a classic.

Ain't Nobody's Business If You Do: The Absurdity of Consensual Crimes in Our Free Country
by Peter McWilliams

http://www.mcwilliams.com/books/aint/toc.htm

 

[Philosoraptor]

Thanks man, I'll look through it.

 

[kliquid]

Hi everyone, my name is Nick and I'm from Minnesota. I've been a political bystander throughout my life but I have begun to learn more over the past couple of years. I found this website today and had to sign up after pledging my support at RunRonPaul.com.

I'm looking forward to spreading the word of libertarianism in the future. I am excited to be a part of this forum and I hope to learn more from all of you!

 

[teacherone]

Welcome aboard Nick!

This is a great place to learn!

 

[Brother Jonathan]

Hello my name is Jonathan. My sister used to call me Brother Jonathan, but until recently I did not know that Brother Jonathan was so highly regarded in the past. I plan to study more about early American history and share it here at Liberty Forest.

Brother Jonathan

"While Uncle Sam is now regarded as the universal symbol of the United States, he is actually an adaptation of Brother Jonathan, an even earlier National Symbol. Prior to the Civil War, Brother Jonathan was our primary symbol, and during the Civil War years, the mantle was passed from Brother Jonathan to Uncle Sam.

Brother Jonathan was a fictional character that personified the entire United States, and he can be traced all the way back to the founding fathers. Between 1776 and 1783, "Brother Jonathan" was a term used by the British Loyalists to describe the Revolutionary Patriots. It is generally believed that the character was based on Jonathan Trumbull (1710-1785), who was the Governor of Connecticut. It is reported that George Washington often said: "We must consult Brother Jonathan" when faced with a difficult decision.

It is interesting to note that in editorial cartoons and posters, Brother Jonathan often had many of the characteristics we now associate with Uncle Sam. In the political cartoon above, which is from the January 11, 1862 edition of Harper's Weekly, Brother Jonathan is pictured with a top hat, coat with long tails, and striped pants . . . all characteristics we now commonly associate with Uncle Sam. In fact, at first glance, most people would think the character in the cartoon is Uncle Sam.

As we study the political cartoons and posters of the Civil War years (1861-1865), we see a transformation in which Brother Jonathan is replaced by Uncle Sam. At the outbreak of the war, almost all material featured Brother Jonathan. By the close of the war, Uncle Sam was firmly established as the symbol of the country, and Brother Jonathan was pretty much out of the picture.

This transition is more than just a peculiar piece of trivia, and more than just a historical oddity. The transition represented a change in the fundamental nature of how we viewed ourselves as a country.

Brother Jonathan was a symbol of a Nation made up of a group of equal and somewhat autonomous states. Jonathan was a symbol of our brother and our equal in another state. Jonathan symbolized a Nation in which the States were primary, and the federal government was secondary. Uncle Sam, on the other hand, represented the federal government. As an Uncle, he was our elder, our superior, and our protector.

The transition from Brother Jonathan to Uncle Sam was accompanied by a peculiar transition in grammar. Prior to the Civil War, while Brother Jonathan was our symbol, the words "United States" were treated as two words with "States" being plural. For example, you would see sentences like this:

"With the end of the Mexican War, the United States are at peace"

During the Civil War, the dialect changed, and "United States" became a singular word. United States would be followed by the word "is" instead of the word "are". For example:

"With the end of the Civil War, the United States is at peace"

Uncle Sam became the symbol of a nation in which power resided at the federal level, replacing Brother Jonathan, who was the symbol of a Nation in which the power resided at the state level.

The Civil War settled this issue, and with the issue being settled, Uncle Sam became an enduring symbol for the United States."

 

[DevDoc82]

Introduction

Hello,

My name is Heath and I currently reside in Utah. I am a veteran of the current Iraq war and a loving husband to my wonderful wife. In the course of my undergraduate studies, which revolved are Middle Eastern Studies/Arabic, I realize how much meddling our government participated in, in terms of Middle Eastern Politics. Operation Ajax of 1953 caught my attention. I must say that after researching and reading material on the subject, I realized that all is not well in so called powerful and prosperous America. However, I did not know where to turn in terms political affiliation. I espouse the doctrines of the Constitution, of which I believe are divine, but current political trends left me addled. Then, I just began to rely on principles, which has led me to this road. I always thought I was a Republican, they do not endorse my brand of conservatism. I awakened to my sense and reached a verdict. I am a Libertarian/Constitutionalist.

I am here to solicit knowledge on a vast array of topics. First, I really want to know the best literature, concerning Austrian Economics, and where should I start my study of this topic? Also, I really want to build a powerful team here in Utah in order to get Dr. Paul's message to the Mormon people. I know we can sway them to Dr. Paul's brand of conservatism. Thank you for allowing me to be apart of this community.

 

[Kotin]

Hello,

My name is Heath and I currently reside in Utah. I am a veteran of the current Iraq war and a loving husband to my wonderful wife. In the course of my undergraduate studies, which revolved are Middle Eastern Studies/Arabic, I realize how much meddling our government participated in, in terms of Middle Eastern Politics. Operation Ajax of 1953 caught my attention. I must say that after researching and reading material on the subject, I realized that all is not well in so called powerful and prosperous America. However, I did not know where to turn in terms political affiliation. I espouse the doctrines of the Constitution, of which I believe are divine, but current political trends left me addled. Then, I just began to rely on principles, which has led me to this road. I always thought I was a Republican, they do not endorse my brand of conservatism. I awakened to my sense and reached a verdict. I am a Libertarian/Constitutionalist.

I am here to solicit knowledge on a vast array of topics. First, I really want to know the best literature, concerning Austrian Economics, and where should I start my study of this topic? Also, I really want to build a powerful team here in Utah in order to get Dr. Paul's message to the Mormon people. I know we can sway them to Dr. Paul's brand of conservatism. Thank you for allowing me to be apart of this community.

Welcome to The Forums!!!


Great to have you.

 

[low preference guy]

First, I really want to know the best literature, concerning Austrian Economics, and where should I start my study of this topic?

Have you read Economics in one Lesson by Henry Hazlitt? That's a good place to start. You can read it from a free PDF or buy the book.

For moral arguments claiming that if an action by an individual is immoral, then the same action performed by the government is also immoral, The Law by Frederic Bastiat (PDF) is an excellent book. An example of this is when somebody wants to tax people to further his pet projects. If it involves taking money by force, it is still theft, even if the government does it.

 

[DevDoc82]

Have you read Economics in one Lesson by Henry Hazlitt? That's a good place to start. You can read it from a free PDF or buy the book.

For moral arguments claiming that if an action by an individual is immoral, then the same action performed by the government is also immoral, The Law by Frederic Bastiat (PDF) is an excellent book. An example of this is when somebody wants to tax people to further his pet projects. If it involves taking money by force, it is still theft, even if the government does it.

Thank you for the insight, as to where to start in terms of economics. I really appreciate your time.

 

[CaliforniaMom]

Here's my little introduction... I'm Lisa, and I live in southern California. I've been browing this forum for the past week and decided to finally join and post. I voted for Ron Paul in the presidential election, and I'm happy that he's standing up for our freedom regarding the recent TSA scans and pat-downs.
His political beliefs match mine exactly, and it's nice to find a forum like this where I can discuss issues with others who support liberty and the constitution.

 

[MRoCkEd]

Here's my little introduction... I'm Lisa, and I live in southern California. I've been browing this forum for the past week and decided to finally join and post. I voted for Ron Paul in the presidential election, and I'm happy that he's standing up for our freedom regarding the recent TSA scans and pat-downs.
His political beliefs match mine exactly, and it's nice to find a forum like this where I can discuss issues with others who support liberty and the constitution.

Welcome! Great to have you here.

 

[inibo]

Welcome! Great to have you here.

What MRoCkEd said.