CrustyCurmudgeon.com
Title
The Crusty Curmudgeon
Description
I am the crusty curmudgeon. I live in the United States. I am a libertarian and an attorney. I have a law degree, a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering and an M.S. in Astrodynamics.
What the heck is a libertarian? Most people don't understand Libertarians—or try to. They are viewed as eccentrics. In a nutshell, we believe that each and every adult in this country should be able to do anything they please unless it coercively interferes with another's rights to do the same or they have waived their rights.
The term, "coercively," is important. If you wanted to walk down a public street and I was standing in your way, I would be preventing you from doing what you wanted to do. But I haven't done anything wrong as I haven't coercively interfered with your rights, and you don't have the right to an unimpeded stroll down a public street. Indeed, the Libertarian conception of rights recognizes only so-called "negative" rights. That is, rights that do not compel any other person to act. A "right to health care," for example, is not recognized by Libertarians because it compels someone else to provide health care. Individuals possess the rights to Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness. These are all negative rights. The Pursuit of Happiness includes, most importantly, the right to property—that is, the private ownership of property. But it also includes other fundamental rights, such as the right to be let alone. (The Ninth Amendment to the United States Constitution addresses such rights.)
