As the Declaration of Independence states a sovereign individual proclaims:
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.”
A sovereign individual knows that there are certain rights inherent and belonging to all people. The only way to remove those rights is through authoritarian or tyrannical means. A sovereign individual also recognizes the coercive nature of the state leads to the dissolution of rights.
A sovereign individual realizes that the state can never create rights, they can only restrict them. If an individual looks to the state to grant rights that individual is a subject not a sovereign.
A sovereign individual also realizes that the state will always seek to increase its power and influence. That expansion can only occur at the expense of individual sovereignty. To ensure individual sovereignty an individual must be engaged in the political process as detestable as it might be. A sovereign individual must first govern himself and then seek to influence his community to assert their rights to liberty.
If you are unwilling to assert control over your life and live like a sovereign, someone else will be ready to do so. They may do so with a light hand that includes the inconvenience of excessive regulation or minor invasions of privacy. Or they may be more forceful and deem you a nonessential worker and lock you out of your workplace stripping you of your ability to pursue happiness as you deem best. Or finally they may conscript you into their armies to die in wars of conquest or enmity, ultimately depriving you of life.
A sovereign individual recognizes the state as a necessary evil that must be limited in size and scope if any individual sovereignty is to exist. As more people view themselves as individual sovereigns entrepreneurship will increase, innovation will increase, prosperity will increase, happiness will increase, and the size and power of government will shrink.
As they barreled along in the subway Alexander turned to Sammy and asked “who are your heroes?”
“Like me personally?”
“Societal. In my age there were Achilles, Odysseus, Ajax and so many more. I want to know who the new heroes are.”
“Those are Greek dudes right?”
“Yes.” Alexander said disdainfully.
“Hey, don’t get mad at me cus I ain’t super booky?”
“I assume that means you don’t read much.”
“The last time I picked up a book was like third grade man. I live in the streets.”
“You have no place of domicile?”
“Dom a what?”
“A dwelling. A place where you sleep.”
“You take things too literally. I’m just sayin I was always roaming the streets. I had an apartment. It was small, so I spent as much time as possible outside in the city.”
“Who are the heroes of your age?” Alexander asked trying to get the conversation back on track.”
“I don’t know man. Everyone is so divided these days.” Sammy hedged as he looked around the subway to see who might be listening.
“Do you know of the Trojan War?”
“That’s the one with the horse. Right?”
“I have much to ...
