Helping people without using force

One of the great, and most common, arguments against libertarianism and for statism is the following: If the state doesn't do it, no one will. Therefore, we must collect taxes at the barrel of a gun to make sure "x" is taken care of.

May I call your attention to the RNLI (here also). They are completely voluntarily funded and staffed. They have saved over 137,000 lives, and they did it without forcing one pound out of anyones hand. Could this be done for other services we consider essential? Certainly! Most fire departments in the US are at least volunteer staff. Forest service, park service, perhaps even some police functions. Charities as well could be better funded, and run, if people had more money freed up from lower (or no) taxes. Mostly, I wanted to raise this point to show it's not impossible to do, no matter what the statists say.

Tyranny & Theocracy

This article relates the business of Iranian "Fashion Police". I think it is very instructive about the corrosive nature of government, and the difference between looking holy and being holy. Because these women are forced to dress more modestly, does it change their hearts? Do they think pure thoughts? Can or should we force people to do that? No. All government can do is effect the outward parts of peoples lives. In this case making women, who in the western world would be considered modest already, wear a longer coat. I'm sure that the government of Iran cloaks it self in legitimacy, as all governments do. I ask you: How can you be legitimate if you spend time and money measuring coat lengths or determining if a woman is showing too much hair?

Seek liberty in all things. Not just for your self, but for you fellow man.