Review: "Don't Hurt People and Don't Take Their Stuff"

            Don’t Hurt People and Don’t Take Their Stuff:  A Libertarian Manifesto, by Matt Kibbe, is an excellent introduction to Libertarian philosophy and politics.

            The back cover of Kibbe’s book gives his “six rules of liberty” which he expands on in his book.

1.      Don’t hurt people.  Free people just want to be left alone, not hassled or harmed by someone else’s agenda or designs on their life and property.

2.      Don’t take people’s stuff.  America’s founders fought to ensure property rights and our individual right to the fruits of our labors.

3.      Take responsibility.  Liberty means responsibility.  Don’t sit around waiting for someone else to solve your problems.

4.      Work for it.  For every action there is and equal reaction.  Work hard and you’ll be rewarded.

5.      Mind your own business.  Free people live and let live.

6.      Fight the power.  Take a stand against corrupt authority.

Kibbe flushes out these “rules” showing that that United STATES of America ought

have a very small federal government – the state government should also be small but larger than the federal.  Here, I would put for that, biblically, government exists for two reasons – to protect her citizens and to punish evil.  Of course, there can be massive difference in what that all includes based on the person and philosophy that is being employed.

            The limited government system that he describes sounds in line with our founding documents and with biblical understandings.  However, the desire for power and more power is enticing, so I doubt the massive Republican and Democratic machines will ever subside to levels that show true care for all people.

            There is also something of a naiveite about the goodness of human nature which makes Libertarianism even less likely to supplant “the two parties.”  Humans, in my understanding, are basically evil – basically self-centered.

            That being said, I would continue to argue for a “secular” state which does not interfere with the practice of my religion.  Thus, I can accept that the state allows for the marriage of practicing homosexuals, for example, while, by virtue of my religion (not to mention, philosophical integrity), I cannot approve of practicing homosexual unions. Still, I take no action to support or thwart them.

            And so, I highly recommend this book to help one understand Libertarianism.  And, I recommend the philosophy of Libertarianism as good.

            [This review appears on my blog, Amazon.com, and Goodreads.com.]