The first myth one has to debunk: that the state is merely a natural and organic outgrowth of political power, as old as the history of mankind or of organized society.
All societies require some sort of coercion to maintain order. But "the state" is a very specific and modern type of government institution which claims it can engage in criminal types of coercion with impunity.
Bassani shows that Jefferson was a special kind of libertarian. He did not believe in government, but for one or two areas. Nor did he believe in the "union" much less the nation stat e. He was a radical individualist who had no use for the political collective.
Surveys of libertarian-leaning individuals in America show that the intellectual champions they venerate the most are Thomas Jefferson and Ayn Rand. The author of the Declaration of Independence is an inspiring source for individuals longing for liberty all around the world, since he was...
