Editor’s Note:
Ron Paul, Distinguished Counselor to the Mises Institute, and a founding member, celebrated his 78th birthday this week. In this selection from a speech in the House of Representatives in 1999, Ron Paul outlines why private property and privacy are essential to the preservation of civil liberties. It is perhaps noteworthy that this speech was delivered before the creation of the Department of Homeland Security and before the Patriot Act, FATCA, “Know Your Customer,” warrantless wiretapping, and similar regulatory and legislative developments since 2001.
This selection is taken from chapter 10 of A Foreign Policy of Freedom by Ron Paul, available in both print and ebook editions at the Mises Store.
Privacy is the essence of liberty. Without it, individual rights cannot
exist. Privacy and property are interlocked. If both were protected,
little would
need to be said about other civil liberties. If one’s home, church or
business is one’s castle, and the privacy of one’s person, papers and
effects are
rigidly protected, all rights desired in a free society will be
guaranteed. Diligently protecting the right to privacy and property
guarantees religious,
journalistic and political experience, as well as a free market economy
and sound money. Once a careless attitude emerges with respect to
privacy, all
other rights are jeopardized.Ron Paul, Distinguished Counselor to the Mises Institute, and a founding member, celebrated his 78th birthday this week. In this selection from a speech in the House of Representatives in 1999, Ron Paul outlines why private property and privacy are essential to the preservation of civil liberties. It is perhaps noteworthy that this speech was delivered before the creation of the Department of Homeland Security and before the Patriot Act, FATCA, “Know Your Customer,” warrantless wiretapping, and similar regulatory and legislative developments since 2001.
This selection is taken from chapter 10 of A Foreign Policy of Freedom by Ron Paul, available in both print and ebook editions at the Mises Store.
Today we find a systematic and pervasive attack on the privacy of American citizens, which undermines the principle of private property ownership. Understanding why the attack on privacy is rapidly expanding and recognizing a need to reverse this trend are necessary if our Republic is to survive.
More @ Mises
No comments:
Post a Comment