by Ralph Swanson

Created on: October 09, 2008

The article while well intended is regrettably poorly researched and reads like something either extreme leftists or right-wingers eager to confuse Libertarianism with conservatism's extreme right, or an attempt to re-invent the wheel. This is an increasing problem on the web.

Both Libertarian and anarchist terminology is governed by an agreement of the major principals of the day in the late 1970's known as the Windhoek Agreement, including the US Libertarian Party and representatives of Iberian anarchist groups. it was based on originary historical and most consistent current usage informed by such dictionaries and sources such as Britannica 10th and Random House 1967 used at the time, and originary sources such as below. The writer uses pseudo-definitions that have crept into certain dictionaries from right-wing and leftist extremist groups since. It governs all LIO projects and relations, which rates groups accordingly.

In brief, Libertarianism politically involves the replacement of coercive programs with voluntary ones particularly by persons committed to individual rights. In accordance with common law, it views government organs as assistive and entirely optional agencies or trusts that in no way can limit rights but may be used to secure them.

Anarchism has several sometimes conflicting or superannuated usages, but none of them involve lawlessness. As originally defined it is as a minimal form of coercive government, which the writer seems to espouse but Libertarianism rejects, as voluntary programs have been demonstrated in all key areas of government. At present it is understood as involving a transitional process to Libertarianism based on non-authoritarianism and promotion of communal or shared arrangements It is helpful to think that voluntaryism is based on contract law, anarchism on common law, and Libertarianism on conscious use of natural law.

Finally, Libertarian entities have been in continuous existence since Roman times, and the LIO since the 1770's. To claim that Libertarianism is derived from the sayings of the US founders is singular.

However, an approved usage for Libertarian-oriented actions that involve minimizing coerced government abuses with Liberal policies and Libertarian-oriented or direction alternatives does exist, and is a main focus of the US LP at this time. For further information on world Libertarian activities, we suggest http://www.isil.org

R. Swanson

Chair, Advisory Board, Libertarian International Organization.

From Proudhon's original modern definition of anarchism:

http://www.spunk.org/texts/writers/proudhon/sp001863 .html
By the word [anarchy] I wanted to indicate the extreme limit of political progress. Anarchy is... a form of government or constitution in which public and private consciousness, formed through the development of science and law, is alone sufficient to maintain order and guarantee all liberties... The institutions of the police, preventative and repressive methods officialdom, taxation etc., are reduced to a minimum... monarchy and intensive centralization disappear, to be replaced by federal institutions and a pattern of life based upon the commune.[4] NB. "Commune" means municipality.
In the real world, all actual political constitutions, agreements and forms of government are a result of compromise and balance. Neither of the two terms, Authority and Liberty can be abolished, the goal of anarchy is merely to limit authority to the maximum.

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