Disagreements, opinions welcomed and encouraged

Long an advocate of libertarianism, I have often been challenged by readers to present my precise editorial position on social government. I also have been demeaned, vilified and ostracized by some who vehemently disagree with my arguments for individual self-reliance and against the force of governmental collectiveness. As editorial and community director of the North County News, I sit as a member of an editorial board which determines content of the editorial opinions of this newspapers so what follows is written from the vievipoint of the editorial board. We do hear from supporters of the libertarian philosophy or from those who believe it is time for government to shrink its tentacles in deference to personal liberties. But in the main it is generally the folks who wish to debate our stance on the issues who are apt to let us hear about the errors of our ways. This is good. After all, the editorial opinion expressed on this page each week is offeied as a means to get readers to think about what it is that government really does for us. The opinions expressed on this page by the editorial board basically espouse the philosophy of the late R.C. Hoiles, founder of Freedom Newspapers Inc., parent company of Golden West Publishing, which publishes this newspaper. That philosophy is presented only on this, the editorial page, and not in our regular news columns. Mr. Hoiles believed that each individual was born with certain rights, derived from the Creator of Nature and that these rights may not be rightfully taken from that individual by anyone. These rights include the right to take action to defend life, liberty and any property, honestly acquired during the course of one's life. He believed that an individual has the right to join with others in defense of these individual rights; at the same time being constrained from aggressive actions which deprive others of these same rights. He refused to recognize that political government, as opposed by self-government, is a proper means to attain one's objectives. Political government entails the use of aggressive force in organization, financing and execution, according to Mr. Hoiles. Today, we echo that philosophy. Our real hope is to encourage others to be strong, self-reliant and responsible. While we use this page to present these philosophical viewpoints, the page is by no means our property alone. It is for the use of our readers, too. Some of you, perhaps, are opinionated and need a forum for your opinions. We offer this space for letters to the editor. We ask that all letters be signed and include an address and telephone number (for verification purposes). Letters should be typewritten or printed legibly.