My final message to the Ontario Libertarian Party as party Chairman. by George Dance
(libertarian)
Saturday, December 20, 2008
In December, we hear a lot about 'spirit.' So much has been written about the traditional Spirit of Christmas -- the spirit of love, caring, and generosity that prevails at this time of year -- that little need be said about it here. Turned into today's more politically correct 'holiday spirit,' exploited by so many with a cause or a product to peddle, still it is real and known.
The holiday spirit exists, as a set of ideas and ideals that inspire people to act in ways that enrich their own lives and the lives of those around them. There are many such spirits in our lives. The one I would like you to think about just now is the spirit of liberty.
Think back to that moment when you first realized that you were a libertarian: that you were a sovereign moral agent, in control of your own life, and with full responsibility for it; that you control your own destiny; that you can decide what is good and right, and have both the right and the obligation to live by what you decide. That was the spirit of liberty entering into and becoming a part of your life.
Remember how you felt then -- how wonderful you felt -- and how that feeling has stayed with you through your lifetime. The fire may have died down, but it's still burning inside you.
I hope that one of your New Year's resolutions will be to rediscover and live that spirit of liberty more often in the coming year. I hope you resolve to live the spirit of liberty every day.
Think, too, of the satisfaction of putting that spirit into another person's life. Little is as gratifying as knowing that you were that important, that you made that much of a difference, in another human being's life.
Imagine what the world would be like if everyone were a libertarian -- if everyone lived the spirit of liberty, every day. What's stopping that from happening? It's not that libertarian ideals are being rejected. The fact is that the majority of people simply do not know what those libertarian ideals are. Few know much of anything about it; less have understood it, much less felt it. The spirit of liberty has never been brought into their lives.
I hope that bringing that spirit into at least one other person's life this year will also be one of your resolutions.
There are many ways to bring liberty to another person. Many libertarians have worked, and are working, tremendously hard to do just that. Some a -- lucky few -- even manage to do so on a full-time basis. But for most of us, that sort of commitment of time and effort is just not possible. Work, family, and so many other personal commitments and responsibilities keep us from doing all that we would like to do.
Which is why we organize. The advantage of an organization like the Ontario Libertarian Party is how it can increase our own effectiveness. The division of labour can multiply our results: each volunteer is able to concentrate on the areas in which he is strong, and be supported by other volunteers where he or she needs help. Those with the same interests and talents can accomplish more by working together; those with different interests can define and work out their own projects within the party framework.
Those too involved with family and work commitements for an active role can still contribute. Financial support is needed for us to accomplish anything of note. Our volunteers can do little without the proper resources, which we can get only by the help of our membership's voluntary donations of both money and goods.
All of our volunteer effort, all of our resources, must be concentrated on putting the spirit of liberty into the lives of others. That is my vision for the Ontario Libertarian Party.
I urge you to get more involved in communicating that spirit during the new year. Libertarianism is a powerful body of knowledge, true and important enough to make the world an incomparably better place. All of this knowledge is a gift that you were given, and that you can give freely to those around you. During the coming year, make it a goal to talk to the people in your life family, friends, business acquaintances about the ideas of liberty. Share your knowledge and insight with them, and watch it change their lives.
Don't forget the organization. The Ontario Libertarian Party has one purpose: to put the spirit and ideas of liberty into other people's lives. We have a great need for volunteers; too many things we would like to do remain unfinished, or even unstarted, for lack of help. Can you commit to one day a year of volunteer service to the Libertarian Party?
If you can't afford to contribute your time, you can support those who do. Financial support is essential in giving our volunteers the tools and resources they need to succeed. Can you commit to donating one day's pay to the Libertarian Party? That kind of financial commitment is just as valuable, and equally important to what we achieve next year.
Giving money is a relatively easy, effortless way of promoting liberty. For those with higher incomes, Ontario's generous tax credit system makes it even easier: The first $200 you donate to a registered provincial party, for example, gives you a tax credit of $150. Giving a day's pay a year is a minimal commitment.
Supporting the Ontario Libertarian Party financially in a meaningful way is a worthwhile project, and a needed help in putting the spirit of liberty into the lives of those around us. Remember, though, that it is not a complete substitute for personal action.
There is no action you can take in this coming year more valuable than personally putting the spirit of liberty into the lives of those around you, those you care about. Nothing is as crucial to the succss of our beliefs. And little is as personally satisfying.
I wish you the best of luck in being and doing the best you can be and do in the new year.
The views expressed
in this article are those of George Dance only and
do not represent the views of Nolan Chart, LLC or its affiliates.
George Dance is solely responsible for the contents
of this article and is not an employee or otherwise affiliated
with Nolan Chart, LLC in his/her role as a columnist.
Sorry, but I think that the "Libertarain Party" has lost its way. Repudiating the core ZAP, nominating Bob Barr as opposed to Mary Ruwart, and supporting the Iraq war (or any war) are all indiciation that it and eye don't see eye to eye. imho
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