Voluntaryism: The Peaceful Evolution Has Begun

SOCALHUSKER · December 30, 2009

Voluntaryism: The Peaceful Revolution Has Begun

If You Vote, You Can't Complain

I'm sure you've heard the expression the other way around, but does it make sense? You knew the rules of the game before you played. If you buy the story at face value, then you believe in the rules of the game. If you didn't get what you wanted then at least in theory you lost fair and square. So why are you complaining?

The expression seems to be based on the notion that if you don't like the way things are, you should do something to change things. Of course the democratic process is presented as the one and only “something” you can do. It's not. Additionally, what if the thing you take issue with is the process itself? Imposing one-size-fits-all solutions based on who can amass the biggest gang is not the only or best way for society to address problems. Some of us don't buy into the rules of this dangerous game, so we choose not to play and we encourage others not to as well.

The System Is Violent

Not all systems are. A group of friends voting on where to eat is clearly not violent as one can always opt out and go elsewhere. But that's not the nature of a monopolistic political process. The decision chosen by the winners gets violently imposed on everyone, even those who didn't participate. Sometimes the decisions imposed are quite divisive, like taking your money under threat of imprisonment and using it to promote something you find morally repulsive. These controversial subjects addressed in a sweeping manner for all subjects create strife in pluralistic communities. In short, violence begets violence.

Why Hasn't Voting Helped?

Voting allows everyone to absolve themselves of responsibility. Individuals sacrifice or ignore their personal judgment for the process. Politicians don't take responsibility because they claim to be carrying out the will of the voters. Enforcers within the system, like soldiers and police, say they're just following orders. Voters have been convinced their only method of expressing themselves or affecting change is to vote, so of course they just vote for “the lesser evil” from extremely limited choices. They don't feel responsible for what their candidate ultimately does. Why would they under such limited options? So then how can politicians claim they're carrying out the will of the people in the first place? It's a vicious cycle of buck-passing.

Voting is a way of saying, “I want someone else to solve my problems for me.” Ultimately, no one takes responsibility for the harmful results of the system. We all have our notions of what those particularly horrible failures of government are, and though it varies from person to person, we almost consistently have a gnawing feeling that something about government has gone horribly wrong. Our values are different and until we face that reality, we will keep taking the wrong approach to addressing society's problems. Meanwhile, the bureaucracy becomes a wasteful and dangerously erratic machine because various powerful special interests are all pulling it in different directions and making your voice all the more insignificant.

So what can we do instead?

Voluntaryism. That includes any and all solutions that don't require force. If you have enough people who care about a problem to achieve a majority at the polls to force a solution, then you have enough people who agree and can work together in a strictly voluntary fashion to actually implement that solution. It's not a radical notion. It only seems that way because we're so indoctrinated into the false-solution of government. Leave the bureaucracy behind and do something yourself!

Meanwhile, insist that bureaucrats stop stealing from us and crippling our self-sufficiency. Don't vote for it. Demand it! Demand an end to the police state and the enforcement of victimless crimes. Don't offer your moral support to these false leaders to commit these acts. Don't offer your sanction with your vote. When individuals start thinking for themselves and respecting other individuals, we will start making progress toward a more peaceful and prosperous society.

Questions?

Thank you for taking the time to read this brief introduction, but don't stop now. Here are a few reasonable and common questions that you can find answers to in the sources provided.

Who will build roads?

What about domestic and national defense?

What about a social safety net?

How will disputes be resolved peacefully?

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