Hi!

Attached is something that I hope you will find interesting and useful
(while you wait for me to slog thru my composition homework :-).

It is the text of a little pamphlet that first introduced me to the word 
"libertarian".  I received a copy of this pamphlet in 1962 from 
Professor John Hospers, who then taught philosophy at Brooklyn College, 
and who ten years later was the first Presidential candidate of the 
fledgeling Libertarian party.  (He received one electoral vote in 1972, 
as did VP candidate Tonie Nathans:  the first woman in history to 
receive an electoral vote.)

The fundamental definition of libertarianism given in this pamphlet
is kinder and gentler (and far better) than that which is popular 
with some young LP radicals -- who seem to believe that persuasion 
and proselytising are better pursued via their the "in-your-face", 
macho-flash shock tactics than by reason, rationality, and Aristotelian 
logic on which their Objectivist philosophy is itself based.

Anyhow, it was Hospers who formulated our "non-agression" principle,
which is the basis of the signed certification required of every
member of the Libertarian Party:

	I certify that I do not advocate the initiation of
	force as a means to accomplish political or social goals.

Specifically, this bars from our party anyone who would use government 
to initiate coercion against its citizens (or against another nation).
Libertarians accept no justification, whatsoever, for the initiation 
of force or threat of force against peaceful persons or their justly 
acquired property -- regardless of whether the agressor is a gang 
or a government.

Note the vital word "initiation".  Libertarians are not pacifists.
The certification itself is silent on the proper response to those who
initiate agression, and libertarians have no quarrel with government 
acting as the legitimate agent of a victim against the criminal
attacker.

Altho not explicit in the non-agression principle itself,
libertarians insist on accountability for one's actions.

I hope that helps clarify the philosophical basis of libertarianism,
in a political context where principles too often get lost in issues.
All libertarian positions on issues stem from, and must be consistent
with, this non-agression principle.

Because liberty is neither a "leftist" nor a "rightist" notion,
libertarians defy classification on a one-dimensional, left-right
spectrum.  David Nolan, founder of the LP, devised a more-accurate
two-dimensional measure that plots individual liberty and self-
governance on two axes:  economic and social.  An excellent
presentation of this political classification mechanism is found 
at:  http://www.self-gov.org/quiz.html  
Check it out!

Yours, in Liberty,
Bruce A. Martin