Christine Smith's Blog

Two December 2010 photos – my father, me

Colorado Wild Turkeys (photos)

Colorado Wild Turkeys in November.

Sharing Liberty Ideas and Rejecting the Electoral Process & Political Parties

(Scroll below for details on the political path which brought me from minarchism to libertarian anarchism.)

For those who have recently inquired: I reject all the political parties. Not a one is about liberty. They're just about political games, internal and external.

From my own experience over several years, I have come to now reject the electoral process and political parties from my life, as I do not view them as an effective means to advance liberty. They are not worth wasting my time or money being directly involved with; there are far more effective activities (as well as organizations) to advance liberty.

The Libertarian, Republican, Democratic & other Parties

As for the Libertarian Party (LP), been there done that, it’s a bad joke; I’ve come to the opinion it’s no different (just smaller) than the Democratic and Republican parties. I’d no more be a member of the LP than I would the Republican or Democratic parties.

For those (myself included) who have called the LP “dead,” well, I now realize it was dead long before I ever joined it (as some libertarians who had left the party warned me when I joined). It exists not to advance liberty, but, like other political parties, to advance the egotistical agendas of a few (at the expense of those with true uncompromising libertarian principle). I don’t care how much it might grow, if it increases in size I think it’ll be as bad and statist as other political parties. There are, of course, many good libertarians who’ve joined the LP; I’ve met quite a few across this country, but the party itself is more than a waste of time, in my opinion, for individuals who truly are committed to libertarian principle and who desire to help others understand freedom ideas.

A number of people have been urging me for years to rejoin the Republican Party, as I thought about what they advised –Bring your values with you, but join a party that could help your involvement in politics– I went and read/scanned that platform – it disgusted me. Out of curiosity, as it has been years, I also scanned the Democratic Platform, and was immediately struck with its good-sounding words to help people when in actuality the outcome of policies it proposes hurts the very people it claims it wants to help. It’s also disgusting, and, of course, based on legalized theft (taxation), instead of voluntary charitable giving which is what I support.

As a number have said before me, there’s little difference at all between those two parties, and I’ll add the Libertarian Party into that observation as well. All other parties, likewise, have nothing to attract me for they are anti-liberty based.

Working Outside The System

As I thought more, and considered the entire electoral process and all its unjustness, and how political parties themselves are a part of it – I realized my place is not in working within such a system, but from outside of it. I don’t want involvement in politics for its own sake, I care only about advancing liberty. I am happiest and accomplish the most when I am sharing, quite joyfully, the things I have learned. That activity is where I shine, where I fly, and importantly to why I even do this: it is where I find the most receptiveness in audiences wishing to learn by reading and listening. I am enthused and zealous in sharing what I have learned, it as if the joy of awareness when I finally saw the truth is identical to the joy I feel when I am sharing those liberty ideas with others

Political parties, and the electoral process overall, is a relative dead end at this time due to the low state of spiritual consciousness in this country. They are an inefficient means to advance liberty. I care too much about integrity and principle to join with any organization whose leaders compromise with what the stated values and mission are about and/or who use the goodwill of its members to advance themselves, or which has an anti-freedom basis.

The people involved at every level of politics are for the most part people without regard for truth. It’s so bad that I care not to involve myself in any of it. I know there will be others (as I was) who will try to improve government and their political party through participation, but I believe, and I speak for myself, that it is an ineffective way, and I choose to use my time wisely. To be deeply involved in the current political electoral process which is not guided by principles and ethics is also extremely repulsive to an individual of integrity, because one does not share the premise they operate under. To even relate to such means much stress without little or no efficacy for the goal of increasing liberty. Many use the arena of politics for their own egotistical agendas. They want your help alright, they’ll say the right words, to get you to help them gain more power.

Cast Your Light Into The Darkness of Statism

I want nothing to do with hypocrites, nor those who primarily use the good cause of liberty merely to feed their social needs, and most especially I want nothing to do with those who would use the noble endeavor for liberty to evilly manipulate others. I despise liars, as I despise a system which provides only an illusion of representation, an illusion of a Constitutional Republic. I now personally view every political party and the current electoral process itself as unworthy of participation. (I am an unaffiliated voter, and vote only if/when there is a candidate, usually a local office, who I can be for (not simply against another) as I never vote for the lesser of any number of evils; and for those times there is something on the ballot affecting my life in which I want to cast a vote in favor of greater freedom (from say another tax or regulation this state/county wants to impose), often there is very little for me to vote upon, in which case I do not cast a ballot or leave many of the offices blank. The ballot box provides a most limited action, but at times, there may be an initiative or even a candidate for whom casting a vote for may to some degree increase liberty and decrease government oppression.) But when it comes to significantly affecting change, I realize the electoral process is a minor player at this time. Because for it to ever have a chance at being more effective requires more people waking up to what liberty is and to valuing their freedom, and that means a greater number of people educated to the core issues and the truth about them.

Want to make a difference? My advice: do it independently of political parties and out of the electoral process. Focus on educating others as to what you’ve learned. Share liberty. Expose falsehood. Stand for the truth every opportunity you have. Reach those in your life, and the public when opportunity arises (or make the opportunity), with your voice. Share ideas through books, magazines, and with true freedom groups and individuals that you trust who are consistent. Bring light into the darkness of statism by shining your light.

A Critical Mass of libertarians

Reaching the hearts and minds of individuals across this country is the key. When a critical mass of liberty-loving individuals is reached, the governmental tyranny in this country will be abolished.

Because before any significant change will occur, before the welfare/warfare state will be rejected, that critical mass must come into existence. That obviously will require many more people learning the truth. This means those of us who are libertarians must share what we know in a deliberate manner. You can reach people no one else can. Never doubt that your voice makes a difference, because it requires all of us who are true libertarians to be bold, courageous, and persevering in our outreach. There is something you can do. Commitment to libertarian principle requires wise action. Wise action can bring transformation. The “when” and “how” of wise action is for each individual to decide upon for himself.

I look at it this way: Considering the powerful tool of fear the government uses with the American people (which so easily manipulates their behavior), it is up to libertarians to appeal to the human spirit, the intrinsic spirit of independence, self-reliance, and the individuality and sovereignty of the individual. That, in the end, I believe is far more powerful when tapped and activated within one than even fear and all its feelings of seeking security provided by another. The spark that makes them an individual no matter how well covered with the years of propaganda and lies, still burns – though it needs kindling and then more fuel for it to increase. That’s where we as libertarians come in.

The basis of how so many people have lived for decades now is so far from that which founded this nation, that the fear of freedom rather than the demand that one’s freedoms not be infringed upon has become dominant. Speculations offer many possibilities: perhaps either the government and its empire will collapse from sheer economic fatigue from its costly welfare/warfare state and then those who have awakened will rebuild a society far more similar to our earliest beginnings, or perhaps the collapse will be avoided due to the sheer number of people demanding and forcing all in government to serve them (not the other way around). Either way or in ways we haven’t imagined, the more who have the libertarian perspective, who care about truth, the better all will be. Ideas of liberty and historical truth does appeal to individuals, it’s like giving them something they recognize and yearn for, and yet have had so little of it feels new, refreshing, and inspiring. Most people have disgust for an entity, as the federal government, once they remove their blinders and realize they’ve been manipulated by it.. Most, too, have a deep sense of wanting to be strong, to stand on their own, it was that which fueled the toil and risks taken to build this nation. I believe we need not know the final outcome, we need only focus on doing the good we can this very day. We must but stay on the right path.

My Path

For myself, all that I have experienced to this point has provided me with valuable lessons. I have learned much, and my path with its twists and turns, remains the same: my passion for sharing and increasing the liberty in the nation I call home is my direction. I will proceed as an individual (and join only with those who are consistent and uncompromising in their devotion and actions to the cause we share and espouse).

I want to use my abilities, talents, and gifts of time and resources thoughtfully, carefully. Thus, I choose to focus entirely on writing and speaking to share liberty ideas. That’s how I was reached years ago – from authors and speakers sharing true uncompromising libertarian principles. They were individuals who were lights in my life, illuminating truth which my heart and mind recognized and responded to. Now, I devote myself to being the same for others.

UPDATE
Note: Since writing this article, Christine has now rejected the electoral process entirely – including voting for candidates regardless of their platform.She recorded a video on March 26, 2011 addressing this conclusion and decision.Christine Smith addresses the electoral process and common objections posed to those who reject voting for political offices because of a belief in non-aggression. Talk was 22 min. Video edited to YouTube 15-min. length-
You may view her 15-minute video, Voting is Evil” HERE.

Bio:
Christine Smith is a freelance writer, author, speaker, and a liberty activist from Colorado. Her articles have appeared nationally and internationally covering a wide range of topics, including the arts, technology, business, politics, health, the environment, and human spirituality. She has also been involved in humanitarian work on behalf of prisoners, their families, and women/children living in poverty.

Christine is 43 years old and unaffiliated with any political party. She is an adherent of the Austrian School of Economics, and is is a little “l” libertarian, referring to one who cherishes freedom, loves liberty, believes in personal responsibility, the non-initiation of force, free markets, and private property. She rejects the control of economic and social affairs by the state, and believes people should be able to live their lives as they choose, as long as they do not harm others.
Christine has appeared as a guest on numerous national and international radio shows.She credits The Law by Frederic Bastiat with eliminating all political confusion, as it clarified the immoral and unethical basis for all forms of governmental socialistic intervention. Christine attended Cato University’s “Economic Crisis, War, and the Rise of the State” program in San Diego, California in July 2009, and the Future of Freedom Foundation’s “Restoring the Republic 2008: Foreign Policy and Civil Liberties” conference in Reston, Virginia in June 2008.Politically involved since her early teens (in 1980, at the age of thirteen she campaigned for Ronald Reagan, distributing literature door-to-door and organizing a political rally in his support), she has actively campaigned for local, state and federal candidates, as well as being involved in a variety of political issues.

As a young adult through her mid-twenties, she was a Republican thinking the party actually cared about fiscal conservatism, respecting people’s financial freedom, and protecting the nation. Then for a number of years she registered as a Democrat, wrongly thinking they cared about the poor and others. In her late 30′s, she realized there was very little difference at all between those parties since they were like one big political party — the party of big government, violating individual rights repeatedly.

Becoming a registered member of the Libertarian Party, she was a candidate for the Libertarian Party (LP) presidential nomination in 2008. During her campaign, Christine was gratified to receive support from many libertarians nationwide (including receiving a landslide victory over the other LP candidates in the California primary on Super Tuesday), and appreciated the opportunity to speak at LP conventions in eight states. [Winning the CA LP primary with 25.2% of votes cast for LP candidates, no other Libertarian candidate came close to the thousands of votes cast for Smith. There were 11 other Libertarian candidates listed on the California primary ballot. Smith's 25.2% majority was followed by Kubby (17%), Root (13.9%), Jackson (8.8%) ,Phillies (5.1%) (Information from CA Secretary of State). The remaining 30% of registered Libertarian votes were divided between other candidates/write-ins.)] She was also a candidate (Libertarian) for the State House (District 60) in Colorado’s 2010 election.

Colorado Autumn 2010 Photos

In Colorado, the seasonal change from autumn to winter comes fast.

On the first day I went out hiking to capture some of the brilliant colors, a storm came in, raining at the altitude I was,
and snowing a bit higher on the mountain.The next day, I was able to acquire more photos as it was both a sunny and cloudy day, with about half the time the sun breaking through the clouds.

In my photos, you’ll see aspen, blue spruce, pine, scrub oak, other trees…and much more!

I feel the changes of the season just as I view them.
Happy to share some of the heaven of Colorado I live in with my friends through these photographs:>Click here to view my album.