A beautiful anecdote, and an even better closing that captures precisely the spirit all libertarians should have…
Conversation at a Grocery Store
As I was leaving our neighborhood grocery store, I was met by two college-age women who told me that they were working for Greenpeace, and would like to have my support.
“To do what?,” I asked.
“To help save the rainforests, protect endangered species, and end pollution,” one of them responded.
“Those sound like worthwhile ends,” I said. “What is Greenpeace doing to bring them about?”
“We’re trying to get the public to become aware of these problems,” I was told.
“So that the public will do what?,” I went on.
“To get people to stop doing business with the big corporations that are engaging in these destructive practices,” one woman answered.
“I have no problem with people withholding their patronage of business firms,” I said. “But what if this approach doesn’t alleviate the problems that concern you? What is your organization prepared to do in that event? Is Greenpeace dedicated to using voluntary, persuasive means to accomplish its ends, or will it resort to violence if necessary?”…[continue reading]