song for theme #50A: Libertarian

“Live and Let Live” by Stephen P. Cook

to be sung to the tune of “Peaceful, Easy Feeling” by Jack Tempchin / The Eagles

 I like the non-aggression principle¹

And don’t like coercion

Respect my rights, my property, leave me alone

Unless I want interaction

I just wanna live and let live²

Please don’t come looking for me

Enjoying my freedom and liberty

Don’t threaten or assault my property³

My family or my person

If you do you’re liable to meet

My good friends Smith and Wesson⁴

 I just wanna live and let live

Please don’t come looking for me

Enjoying my freedom and liberty

If you’ve come to tax or restrict

Or search for victimless crime⁵

We’re all consenting adults “free to choose”⁶

So you’ll just be wasting your time

I just wanna live and let live

Please don’t come looking for me

Enjoying my freedom and liberty

Yeah—ah

SONG—NOTES / COMMENTS

1—The non-aggression principle, as expressed by libertarian philosopher and writer Ayn Rand (1905-1982), says coercive

      physical force or the threat of such force against person or property should never be used first, and only has legitimate use for

      defensive purposes by individuals or by governments to punish law-breakers.

2—“Live and let live” is an expression based on the idea that people should be able to live their lives in any way they see fit as

      long as they aren’t bothering other people.  How one interprets the “bothering other people” qualifier can determine the extent

      to which one accepts government regulation of certain activities.    

3—Many libertarians believe that individual possession of private property gives people rights that help guarantee their freedom,

      and that government challenging those private property rights is tantamount to government trampling on their freedom.

      Americans who put private property on such a pedestal typically oppose government restrictions on how they use their land,

      and government employees trespassing on their property—perhaps citing the fourth Amendment to the USA Constitution to

      bolster their legal standing.

4—A USA gun manufacturer. Many libertarians value and exercise their right to keep and bear firearms.

5—Victimless crimes are certain behaviors that most societies frown on, and many have restricted or made illegal, but nonetheless

      seemingly involve only consenting adults and have no immediately obvious victims.  Examples include gambling, marijuana

      use and prostitution.    

6—Free to Choose is the title of the 1980 book by economists Rose and Milton Friedman and ten-part television program. The

      philosophy it is based on promotes free market capitalism and excoriates government intervention and regulation in matters

      that could be left to market forces alone—arguing that the meddling contributes to economic inefficiency and brings with it a

      great cost in loss of personal freedom.

 Comment: freedom loving, pro “virtue of selfishness” believers in this theme are open to attacks questioning their unwillingness to share, support common good, etc.  This song provides emotional armor against that.  The dialogue between libertarians and social welfare state advocates is typically emotionally charged.