CodeSlinger had left a comment on a post about the ‘Occupy Toronto’ demonstration which I think deserves a post of its own:
Xanthippa:
By contrast, I found the crowd at Occupy Victoria very receptive to my libertarian message.
I didn’t go there to speak. I went to find out, first hand, what these people want. And what I discovered was… they haven’t got a clue.
I heard a lot of crowing about coming together, and a lot of whining about being oppressed, but no one had any idea what to do about it.
I didn’t go there to speak. But I couldn’t help myself.
So I spoke to the crowd about the importance of individual rights and freedoms.
The kind of rights that have nothing to do with what’s written on some piece of paper.
The rights we are born with. The rights nobody can take away from us.
The crowd applauded enthusiastically.
I remarked that we had heard a lot about tyranny and abuses of wealth and power.
But none of these abuses would be possible if we lived in a place that respects the inalienable rights and freedoms of every individual.
The crowd cheered wildly.
I said that we had heard a lot about collective action and direct democracy.
But a collective is made of individuals, and democracy is nothing but mob rule unless it respects the inalienable rights and freedoms of every individual.
The crowd roared its approbation.
I told them that this is the underlying cause and cure for all the diverse concerns of the assembled people.
This is what unites us.
This is the one thing we all need. We need to take back our –
Inalienable. Individual. Rights and freedoms!
And to do that we must set our government one simple task:
Protect the equal rights of every individual equally!
And beyond that – leave us the hell alone!
The crowd thundered unanimous agreement.
I didn’t go there to speak. But I’m glad I did.
Because it proved that these people are not as stupid as they are made out to be. They know truth and sense when they hear it. They just don’t hear it very often.
I went there to find out what this movement is all about.
I came away absolutely certain that now is the time to clearly and forcefully bring the libertarian message to the people of Canada.
The people of Canada are more than ready to hear it.
Xanthippa's Chamberpot 