Imagine hundreds if not thousands of new businesses of varying size competing directly and indirectly with governments, challenging their authority, competing with their services and all the while creating a fertile soil for liberty to prosper. Discussions of this very idea have occurred, most notably by Samuel Edward Konkin III in his “New Libertarian Manifesto”. The idea that “counter-economics” can cause a peaceful and gradual pro-liberty revolution is extraordinarily appealing. However, what is disheartening is the lack of available literature and organization within the Libertarian movement to initiate what I will refer to as the Libertarian Business Machine.
What is the Libertarian Business Machine, or what even constitutes a Libertarian Business? A Libertarian Business is a for profit organization that through its’ operations of production or service, reduces the authority of the state, or outright replaces it. Each one of these individual businesses delivers a small wound or cut to the legitimacy and efficiency of the state, and acts as one cog in a larger “machine”. This Libertarian Business Machine is nothing more than the sum of all those businesses acting in respect to property rights and delivering death by a thousand cuts to the state. In summary, the Libertarian Business Machine is the means, or “machine” to regain our freedom by being active in the marketplace.
Here is the challenge to the wider Libertarian movement, how do we begin to establish businesses that fit this definition? Where do I find the literature to move concepts into concrete and practical business plans? If there is such a place that has all this, or that I simply skipped over it or was too blind to notice it, please do tell. I want the manuals, the proposals, the organizations, the ground work and the know how to get the machine pumping.
I want to initiate the beginning of collaboration between like-minded entrepreneurs, innovators, academics, engineers, artists, business owners, students, computer programmers, accountants, lawyers, doctors, carpenters, investors and every other manner of working or non-working Pro-Liberty person to start moving beyond concept and into action. Our greatest power is our understanding of human nature, morality, natural rights and the most efficient way to allocate resources, we understand that humanity is free, but sadly is in chains. Let’s take that knowledge and make it work to our advantage. Make money and revolution.
If you feel in any way inspired, begin doing what Libertarians do best, read. Read economics, accounting, how-to manuals and even the laws of your own country, and of others. Let’s begin with bridging the gap between those concepts and what we can put into action. Discuss the feasibility of these ideas with other Libertarians, and who knows, you might have a working business on your hands. No idea is too small or too big; brewing your own beer to avoid taxes to the establishment of private currencies. I would find it improbable that these tasks are impossible for us, even given that we have an authority acting to prevent it. Let us start in the direction to work for our freedom.
I have been bitten by the bug to get the ball rolling. Contact me if you feel the same way. Let’s get the great exchange of ideas going to get the steam roller running!
In Liberty,
Jaunas
Jaunas,
I have been thinking along similar lines, my $0.02....
1. I would suggest picking one target audience - perhaps one profession or community within the group of entrepreneurs, innovators, academics, engineers, artists, business owners, students, computer programmers, accountants, lawyers, doctors, carpenters, investors.
2. There are some groups out there already, rather than reinventing the wheel it would make sense to try and work with some of those existing groups. Our movement is already very splintered.
3. Keep in mind that many of us call ourselves liberty activists, there are some stark differences on what liberty means. However we are all evolving in our positions. I think what works best is a big tent approach that does not take sides in the politics game - but rather promotes a diverse set of liberty views/ideas.
4. From my few years examining this movement the biggest holes in liberty circles exist within the graduate business schools, corporate/larger businesses and the high tech community. Mackey, the Whole Foods CEO could use some to stand by him. The Koch Foundation has some activity in this area but I think they can do more.
Anyway - please pm me, I'd be happy to talk some more.
Thank you FeedMeLiberty for the reply,
I am pretty new to liberty activism, and glad to hear that there are other people and organizations who are thinking the same way. You are completely right that the wheel doesn't need to be reinvented, but I feel that we need to invent the axle. This is going to be an interesting experience, and hopefully if we broaden the the scope of our endeavors, and allow as many different professions and perspectives too collaborate and establish small operations, we open a new front in the struggle for Liberty. We still have great strength in being decentralized, we can adapt, reinvent, and are a harder target to hit.
I will look forward to talking to you about future ideas, and hopefully you can highlight some things that I missed, such as in this example.
A solid understanding of contract law is essential for the "machine" you are talking about. Most people don't understand how law affects them, and how they can write their own "laws" in the form of contracts. Substituting contract law for statute/judiciary is the foundation for sovereign interactions.
Jaunas: Here is the challenge to the wider Libertarian movement, how do we begin to establish businesses that fit this definition? Where do I find the literature to move concepts into concrete and practical business plans? If there is such a place that has all this, or that I simply skipped over it or was too blind to notice it, please do tell. I want the manuals, the proposals, the organizations, the ground work and the know how to get the machine pumping. I want to initiate the beginning of collaboration between like-minded entrepreneurs, innovators, academics, engineers, artists, business owners, students, computer programmers, accountants, lawyers, doctors, carpenters, investors and every other manner of working or non-working Pro-Liberty person to start moving beyond concept and into action. Our greatest power is our understanding of human nature, morality, natural rights and the most efficient way to allocate resources, we understand that humanity is free, but sadly is in chains. Let’s take that knowledge and make it work to our advantage. Make money and revolution.
You left the t off of .net in the link...