THE CREED OF FREEDOM

INTRINSIC NATURE OF RIGHTS
I believe that only individuals have rights, not the collective
group; that these rights are intrinsic to each individual, not granted
by the state; for if the state has the power to grant them, it also
has the power to deny them, and that is incompatible with personal
liberty.
I believe that a just government derives its power solely from
the governed. Therefore, the state must never presume to do anything
beyond what individual citizens also have the right to do. Otherwise,
the state is a power unto itself and becomes the master instead of the
servant of society.

SUPREMACY OF THE INDIVIDUAL
I believe that one of the greatest threats to freedom is to allow
any group, no matter its numeric superiority, to deny the rights of
the minority; and that one of the primary functions of just government
is to protect each individual from the greed and passion of the
majority.

FREEDOM OF CHOICE
I believe that desirable social and economic objectives are
better achieved by voluntary action than by coercion of law. I believe
that social tranquility and brotherhood are better achieved by
tolerance, persuasion, and the power of good example than by coercion
of law. I believe that those in need are better served by charity,
which is the giving of one's own money, than by welfare, which is the
giving of other people's money through coercion of law.

EQUALITY UNDER LAW
I believe that all citizens should be equal under law, regardless
of their national origin, race, religion, gender, education, economic
status, life style, or political opinion. Likewise, no class should be
given preferential treatment, regardless of the merit or popularity of
its cause. To favor one class over another is not equality under law.

PROPER ROLE OF GOVERNMENT
I believe that the proper role of government is negative, not
positive; defensive, not aggressive. It is to protect, not to provide;
for if the state is granted the power to provide for some, it must
also be able to take from others, and once that power is granted,
there are those who will seek it for their advantage. It always leads
to legalized plunder and loss of freedom. If government is powerful
enough to give us everything we want, it is also powerful enough to
take from us everything we have. Therefore, the proper function of
government is to protect the lives, liberty, and property of its
citizens; nothing more. That government is best which governs least.

-Author Unknown

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