Tom G. Palmer Cato University Annapolis, Maryland 2011 And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor. Nine Lost Their Lives During the Struggle for Independence; Five were imprisoned; Many lost their fortunes, either outfitting troops, as a result of military action; Not one lost his sacred honor. We can make a difference by acting in concert. We can also make a difference by acting individually. What can one person do? 1. Educate Yourself to Become a Beacon of Information “Advancement of Libertarian ideals requires that each of us . . . achieve that degree of excellence in understanding and exposition which will inspire others to seek one out as a tutor.” ---Leonard Read Founder, Foundation for Economic Education 2. Don’t Be Afraid to Speak Out A. You Can Speak Out in a Dramatic Way, Entailing a Great Commitment…. Without This Woman’s Courage, How Much Freedom Would We Enjoy Today? Rosa Parks 1913-2005 Without This Man’s Willingness to Stand Up, How Many People Would be in Jail for Love? Dr. Franklin Kameny, 1925 -- Without This Woman’s Courage, How Secure Would Property Be? Susette Kelo Lead Plaintiff in Kelo v. New London “The specter of condemnation hangs over all property. Nothing is to prevent the State from replacing any Motel 6 with a Ritz-Carlton, any home with a shopping mall, or any farm with a factory.” Justice Sandra Day Oユ Connor How Secure Would Our Right to Keep and Bear Arms Be Without this man? Robert Levy Prime Mover in the Heller v. DC Case that Clarified that the Second Amendment Secures an Individual Right to Keep and Bear Arms B. You Can Speak Out in Less Dramatic Ways Letters to the Editor Letters to Elected Representatives Questions at City Council Meetings, Campaign Events, and Constituent Meetings 3. Give a Book to a Friend or a High School Student You Can Dramatically Change the Course of a Person’s Life What can you do in cooperation with others? 1. You Can Organize a Local Group to Combat Injustice and Promote Liberty 2. You Can Organize a Local Group to Combat Injustice and Promote Liberty Anti-Tax Pro-School Choice Pro-Peace Pro-Health Freedom Pro-Property Rights Protection Anti-Drug War Pro-Spending Control 3. You Can Provide Financial Support to Existing Groups Bill of Rights Foundation Institute for Justice Goldwater Institute Students for Liberty Institute for Humane Studies Atlas Economic Research Foundation Foundation for Economic Education Mackinac Center Americans for Limited Government NORML National Taxpayers Union LEAP: Law Enforcement Against Prohibition Drug Policy Foundation Heartland Institute FreedomWorks Competitive Enterprise Institute Cascade Institute Cato Institute Without This One Person, How Much Freedom Would We Have Today? Jacques Claude Marie Vincent de Gournay, 1712-1759 Successful merchant and businessman Intendant of Commerce, 1751-1758 Translator, financier, and publisher of works explaining the free-market Promoter of the slogan “laissez-faire, laissez-passer” Teacher and mentor to Anne Robert Jacques Turgot, in turn a great promoter of freedom, friend and collaborator of Adam Smith, advisor to the American Founders, enemy of slavery....and inspiration to a century of classical liberals Let Us Celebrate the Sponsors of Liberty..... • On the marker for Sir Christopher Wren, the great architect, buried in St. Paul’s Cathedral: LECTOR, SI MONUMENTUM REQUIRIS, CIRCUMSPICE. • “Reader, if you seek his monument, look around you.” • If you seek the monument to the supporters of liberty...look around you...at the freedom, the individuality, the progress, the wealth, and the prosperity of the modern world Each of Us Can Have a Positive Impact By Making Liberty One of our Life Projects So What Are We Waiting for? I Hope to See You Again in a Freer, Better World! --Tom