Editing The Libertarian Way (section)

===The “Libertarian Way”   to address issues like  “Child Poverty”===
''Originally started by Gene Balfour, on Nov 24th, 2012.  This is a conversion from the content which was uploaded as a (non-searchable) pdf.  It was just basic text.  The problem is, nothing links here. I'm not sure what Gene wanted to do with this page.--[[User:JNMcLarty|Jeffrey McLarty]] 09:44, 27 November 2012 (EST)''


I have lived in Canada all of my life [since 1951] and, during this time, I have absorbed the ubiquitous message that we are fortunate to live a country full of caring and compassionate citizens – one that serves and protects every citizen by a broad slate of ‘free’ government programs.  

A lifetime bombardment of these messages has produced a powerful mechanism in my consciousness that leads me to quickly and reflexively turn to government when societal issues arise. This reflex has been so heavily conditioned that it feels natural to look to government for answers. 

This “government is the answer“ media message has been thick and consistent all of my life. It has been delivered by every form of Canadian media since the days of Pierre Trudeau. For most of us,  this pavlovian response to almost all societal problems is the norm. 

Many Canadians accept this “Government Way” without challenge because it offers the ‘easy way out’ of any societal problem. It absolves its supporters from taking any direct responsibility for the problem at hand. It is also very seductive because there is no obvious direct connection between the taxes you pay and the specific problem at hand. Therefore, you can free to take the ‘high moral ground’ having convinced yourself [and others] that you have already done your part. Having washed your hands of any culpability, you can also ‘scapegoat’ the government when it fails to achieve a satisfactory problem resolution. 

It is no wonder that, when our political leaders tell us not to worry because our hard-earned tax dollars are ‘hard at work ‘ doing all that needs to be done, and that theirs is the best possible solution, it’s a readily acceptable claim. It makes for the perfect salve for a painfully guilty conscience.

I have long ago rejected the salve and accepted the reality that government is rarely capable of delivering the best solution to problems. In addition, I have come to learn that government is the AUTHOR of many of society’s problems. 

In is now clear to me that the centralized ‘command & control’ methods that are the “Government Way” can in no way compete with the decentralized and personalized methods used by caring members within healthy and cohesive communities. This latter way IS the “Libertarian Way.”   

The ‘other part of me’ that has learned much in recent years instinctively knows with certainty that the “Libertarian Way” is best if I am sincere about wanting to see tangible results for people who genuinely need help. I have come to realize that my attraction to the “Libertarian Way” is the natural response of the caring and compassionate human being that I am.  I believe that it is also the natural response of any community member who willingly and energetically cares for people that he/she knows personally – friends, family, co-workers. 

My conscience now responds intuitively whenever the lure of the  Government Way tries to draw me because I know that the Government Way has failed us in so many ways in the past. I now feel a fleeting shred of guilt and shame every time I see myself lured by the ‘easy way out’. Fortunately “Libertarian Way” comes to the rescue and overpowers this conditioned reflex by drawing me towards a better, prouder path for me to take. 

I doubt that I am not the only one in society that has felt this guilt and shame; it took me a long while to recognize its source. As a Libertarian, I hope to convince anyone who has an open mine and a caring heart that the Libertarian Way is the more dignified and personal way to make Canada a better place within which to live and work. It offers a way to help in which we can feel proud and connected to our “fellow man”, and experience first hand the ‘joys of giving’ when we see the results of our efforts. 

Of course, the “Libertarian Way”  will enable every citizen  to feel infinitely more empowered to help our “fellow man”  when our tax levels are negligible and more of  our personal resources are freed up to care for members of our personal communities in this most responsible and self-affirming manner.