"We believe that human happiness requires freedom
and that freedom requires limited government."
by:
Charles Alan Murray
(1943-) American libertarian political scientist, author, columnist, and pundit
Source:
What It Means to Be a Libertarian: A Personal Interpretation (New York: Broadway Books, 1997), p. xi
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Some persons prefer numb, a non-awake existence, a slave mentality, the limitations of immorality, etc. etc. to that of freedom and true happiness. I believe that ultimate human happiness and joy require freedom.
 -- Mike, Norwalk     
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    Amen to Mr. Murray And Mike!
     -- helorat, Milton     
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    In a free country, a person may choose a numb, sleepy, slave existence. A problem arises when a less-than-limited government steals our hard earned money to give it to sleeping slaves, and others outside our country.
     -- Joe, Rochester, MI     
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    Absolutely! And upon those principles our government was constituted.
     -- E Archer, NYC     
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    Who are the most miserable people in the world? The so-called liberals.
     -- Ken, Allyn, WA     
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    Hog wash, the two are orthogonal. Freedom can be found both with a limited government, and within an active one that cares for its down trodden (as my religion teaches we all should do). And Ken is way off base, happiness is not a function of being liberal or conservative (though I do observe that most of the radical right is deeply full of irrational fears, but they seem very happy to wallow in their fears).
     -- Anonymous, Reston, VA US     
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    Sorry Anon, poor word choice on your part. Limited government perforce means increased freeedom, and yes that means the freedom to starve if you cannot or will not compete.
     -- Eric, Wichita, KS     
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    Freedom comes from limited population. The pioneers kept moving west as the east got more crowded. The pioneers were liberal in helping each. The first laws gining women rights and political power was in the free and liberal American West. Apparently Ken never heard of Scrooge (and that is a shame at this time of year) who is the quintessential and essence of the me first conservative. As we know when Scrooge became a liberal and doubled his employees salary, he Scrooge became a very happy man. Liberals are only miserable because of the stupidity of the non-liberals like the ones who attack global warming as a left wing/liberal media driven lie. Wake up folks to the stupidiy around us especial in the conservative ranks!
     -- Waffler, Smith, Arkansas     
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    The minute that government starts to care for the downtrodden in a monetary way it becomes a tyrant. The politicians create a class warfare propaganda system to try to shame anyone that opposes any restraint on the giveaway spending. Those that want to help in a real way to improve the lives of the less fortunate are called heartless or right wing extremists. While the "Good" guys build a system to entrap the poor in a perpetual state of dependence so as to keep them as loyal voters.
     -- warren, olathe     
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    People do not need freedom to be happy because you can always be happy when you are in jail. But freedom does require limited government with a Biblical basis.
     -- Josiah, GI     
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     -- Floyd Hyatt Jr., Cincinnati Ohio      
    I love this game :)
     -- Upoznavanja, ny     
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    Limited government meaning keep them out of your pockets.
    Freedom from oppression. We are as free today, there are more that do steal through usury today. But that's ok ? I don't think so. Get a grip Waffler. You must like strip joints by the high school to, that's pretty liberal.
     -- watchman 13, USA     
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     -- James, Crossville, TN      
    watchman 13, Waffler over the years has said some pretty amazing things like, rape is ok if the majority vote it in. He's all for full blown democracy (man being god with ability to create law).
     -- Mike, Norwalk     
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    Anonymous and Reston are nuts but Josiah's comment is a little peculiar. I haven't seen too many people who were happy in jail. Maybe a few who" have found Jesus" but they all seem happy to leave Jesus in and get themselves out of prison. And what on earth is " limited government with a Biblical basis". Certainly not the Old Testament basis. I suspect that limited government is paying attention to the Constitution which our government never does.
     -- jim k, Austin, Tx     
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