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Scarborough-Rouge River Libertarian Candidate
All-Candidates Debate at Albert Campbell Collegiate – Introductory Speech, Jan 11 ’06
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I’m concerned about the direction Canada is headed.

I’m concerned about foreign intervention and the bombing of civilians, and the humane treatment of prisoners, and with civil liberties.

And I’m concerned about the lack of liberty in general.

And that’s why I’m running as a Libertarian.

Liberty doesn’t mean freedom to hurt others, or freedom from responsibility.

Liberty means being free to do what you want with your life and property as long as you respect the rights of others.

The Charter protects some basic freedoms, but it doesn‘t go far enough.

The government has goals that tend to cancel out liberty.

Helping the poor, helping industry, improving the environment, … (*)

These goals – agree or disagree – are forced on everyone and are carried out through taxation and regulation and not through voluntary means.

The government makes these choices – not you personally.

The government manages a huge number of areas, including the economy, currency, broadcasting, etc. (**)

Many Canadians believe the government knows what is good for all of us.

In the science fiction movie Serenity, one of the characters, River, complains about her government.

She says, “People don’t like to be meddled with. We tell them what to do, what to think. Don’t run, don’t walk. We’re in their homes and in their heads and we haven’t the right.”

At the end of the movie, they see the terrible results and Malcolm Reynolds denounces the government’s belief “… that they can make people… better.”

Similarly, our government interferes (***) in order to manage your life according to what others think is best.

Thank-you.

Notes

*Other examples: improving your health, preventing you from buying unsafe products, protecting you from your own choices.

**Other examples: food, drugs and agriculture.

***Using taxation, regulations, victimless laws, social insurance numbers, etc.

(Original Post)