[wagglebee]

Sorry, folks, but as a small-l libertarian I believe that I own my own life.

To accept this libertarian precept one must reject the tenets of the Declaration of Independence.

God grants us UNALIENABLE rights, the libertarian rejection of the right to life requires the belief that a person can alienate that which is unalienable.

Self-ownership is fundamental, and non-negotiable for us.

This is exactly the same logic that has been used to justify the murder of over 53 MILLION innocent Americans -- the "self-ownership" notion that a woman can murder her child.

[robowombat]

Why does one have to accept the tenets of the Declaration which is nothing but a lot of political propaganda. The preamble is a collection of Enlightenment bromides and rather stale ones at that. The whole purpose of the Declaration was to score points against the crown and provide the rebels with some rhetorical ammunition. The basis of much of libertarianism is simply understanding that men are power oriented and greedy and one has to arrange things to restrain their natural appetites in order not to become a serf. There is no right or wrong here just a recognition of what a predatory and vicious creature the homo sapient is and that if you let him he will be a tyrant as it just comes naturally from our old reptile brain.