As advocates of a truly free society, we voluntaryists, unlike the statists who outnumber us, do not engage in traditional political activism. This simple fact got me thinking about a habitual plan or checklist each of us might form or follow quite naturally, in the course of our daily lives, in order to promote the kind of stateless socioeconomic order we envision. In doing so I arrived at seven core essentials, listed here in what I believe to be a descending order of import, from most to least effectual:
1.) Spreading our ideas. As most of us already know, comparitively few people will listen to or agree to seriously learn about voluntarist philosophy. But a few will. Introducing the uninitiated and fellow-travellers from less “radical” camps to voluntaryist literature, videos, websites, and other media is key to deprogramming statist prejudices and misconceptions about governments.
2.) Agorism, barter, metals, cryptocurrencies. Finding ways to avoid and subvert use of government-issued fiat currencies – and the taxation associated with such use – deprives those calling themselves the State of a great deal of power they otherwise have over us. Indeed, even the head of the International Monetary Fund made a very recent and open admission about the future of cryptocurrencies and the potential threat it poses to centralized banking and governmental control of traditional “money.” Every transaction made, in any form, which utilizes a non-State medium that insures privacy and insulation against inflation, potential seizure, and taxation is a victory for liberty.
3.) Homeschooling/Unschooling. Allowing young people (or any person!) to seek an education outside of state-sanctioned mechanisms is absolutely critical to breaking the government-centered society paradigm that permeates such stultifying tax-financed institutions. If the future is to be one of freedom, the current newest generation and all those that follow must have the widest possible opportunity to learn about the real benefits of liberty, free markets, and sovereign autonomy. These are personal values and elements of knowledge no governmental forces will or can condone or withstand. Freeing students from the moral and intellectual prison of state brainwashing is a must.
4.) Avoiding government employ. In all forms. From cop to postal worker, from schoolteacher to CIA agent, government institutions require willing manpower even more than they require tax revenues. When people are unwilling to work for government – both directly, or as outside contractors who provide supplemental goods and services – the State simply cannot function. Then the free market must take over. And that end result is the goal of every voluntaryist.
5.) Non-voting. This should be self-explanatory. The only “vote” possible for a voluntary society is a non-vote in all political elections. In fact, non-registration sends an even clearer message to those who wish to control us, and it means you end up on one less government list too.
6). Guns and prepping. While I would think most would want a wholly peaceful transition from a coercive state-centric society to a free one, to ignore what history has shown us regarding governments would be tragic and naive, if not in fact suicidal. It is imperative we provide for our own defense with weapons. It is equally important to be able to provide for our own sustenance in case of any number of conceivable future contingencies (war, social upheaval, economic collapse, etc.). Stockpiling food and drink in cans and jugs, freeze dried comestibles, MREs, personal hygiene products and medicines, and growing and raising crops and livestock are all ways of making ourselves far less dependent on outside entities for our basic survival. Solar panels, windmills, and generators can all make us less energy dependent, as well.
7.) Living life. This might actually also be most fitting in the #1 position itself. Life is finite and precious. We all only have so much of it, and how much, we know not. None of the above is to suggest squandering it with obsessive activism (unless that’s what most floats your particular boat). Rather, these are all suggestions that, once implemented, can more or less become part of a passive routine, requiring little to no effort beyond certain initial threshholds. It is important to recognize at all times, I think, that even under the increasingly intolerable yoke of the State, our existence still contains many pleasures and wonders to enjoy to the fullest: Travel, hobbies, intellectual stimulation, music, food, the outdoors, relationships, sex…you get the picture. Have many of those moments. Delve deep into them. Cherish and relish them to the fullest. Be you.
And as much and often as possible, in spite of present circumstances, be free.