The Essential-Liberalism Manifesto (Article XII)
XII. ESSENTIAL-LIBERALISM VALUES (2/3)
5. Judicious use
of military power: The use of military force by the
state against other nations or outside groups should only be carried
out if done (a) in self-defense in response to a clear act of war
against the state’s vital interests or the lives of its citizens, or
against the interests of friendly states or the lives of their
citizens; (b) to thwart nations or groups who are posing a gathering
threat of likely attack on the state’s vital interests or on the
lives of its citizens, or the interests of friendly states or the
lives of their citizens; (c) to thwart nations or groups who are
sponsoring terrorism against the state or its citizens, or against
friendly states or their citizens; (d) to thwart nations or groups
who are committing genocide within or outside their own borders; or,
(e) to thwart nations or groups who are committing large-scale
atrocities within or outside their own borders.
Terrorism is any act that targets civilians
in order to cause them death or injury, or harm to their property,
with the further expectation that a broader disruption and fear
resulting from such act will lead citizens and their government to
make concessions to the group the terrorists are representing. Genocide is
the attempt to exterminate an ethnic or national group. Large-scale
atrocities are unjust human rights violations that result in the
suffering of numerous people from extreme physical and/or
psychological harm.
Means short of military force intended to
bring a halt to all such acts (i.e., acts (a) – (e)) must first be explored and
tried—directly and through international cooperation—and a thorough
cost-benefit analysis must be carried out to ensure that the likely
cost of military action would not exceed the likely cost of inaction
or lesser action, given the expected benefit. If military action is
undertaken, it should be carried out if possible with the support of
friendly nations and with due regard for international law. When time
is of the essence and the threat particularly grave, however, action
must not be unduly delayed.
Should the offending state end up being
occupied, the occupying state must not seek to turn the offending
state into a colonial possession, but rather should help it become a
non-offending sovereign state characterized by a greater degree of adherence
to Essential Liberalism tenets than was previously the case.
6. Abhorrence of torture:
Torture is the intentional infliction on another of severe pain or
of permanent or long-term bodily or psychological injury of a
substantial nature. As punishment or as deterrence, torture,
including methods that can be escalated to amount to torture but
fall short of it, is strictly prohibited in all cases. As an
information-eliciting method, torture is prohibited in all but the
most extreme “ticking-bomb” cases, i.e., an individual who is
soundly and firmly believed by the authorities in an
essential-liberalist government to have information that can prevent
an impending attack resulting in large-scale mayhem, and lesser
means do not lead such person to disclose their life-saving
information.
Methods that can be escalated to amount to
torture but fall short of it are also to be strictly regulated by
law; used only in clear cases involving a substantial threat to
national security or to the lives of citizens; authorized only by
select high-level officials; and applied only when lesser methods
fail repeatedly.
7. Use of one’s rights to seek to
withhold others’ fundamental rights not permitted:
In exercising any of one’s fundamental rights, if one’s clear
expressed aim is, or the end result of one’s actions would be, the
withholding of these fundamental rights from others, the state can
limit such conduct. For example, if an individual is running for
office on a platform that calls for denying a certain racial
minority of citizens any of the fundamental rights to life, liberty,
property, or the pursuit of happiness, such individual may be barred
from running for office until such time as his or her platform is
modified to comply with this requirement.
8. Importance of education and
educational institutions: The sciences, trades,
arts, and humanities are vital to the well-being of society and its
members. Therefore, proper education is mandated until at least the
age of 16, and qualified institutions are publicly supported.
Specifically, policies aimed at universal literacy, proficiency for
children in the basic subjects, and adequate teaching of the
importance of good character and civic involvement are supported
with public funds.
9. Open dialogue among members of
society encouraged: The open exploration and
exchange of ideas on all subjects of concern to human beings,
whether formally (as in research) or informally, is encouraged. In
such an environment, a broad marketplace of ideas is created, free
of unnecessary restraints, where society can develop its potential
more fully, and where each individual can pursue knowledge with the
aid of a great variety of information sources.
10. Resolution of disputes through
non-violent means: Peace within and between every
unit of society is held up as a high ideal. Such peace includes
tolerance of everything that comes within the purview of these
fundamental rights and principles. Members of society are duty-bound
to resolve all disputes among themselves through non-violent means
(except as specifically noted) whether directly, or with the help of
third parties (through mediation, counseling, etc.). If the
disputing parties are unable to compromise and reach agreement, and
their dispute is over matters that fall within the purview of the
law, they are encouraged to turn to state mechanisms, namely the
courts, to solve their dispute.
Plaintiffs abusing the legal system by
bringing frivolous lawsuits have their cases dismissed, and are also
required to pay the adverse party’s attorney’s fees and costs.
11. Importance of
fraternity: Though the primary legal duty of all
citizens is to be loyal to the state by upholding its laws, citizens
are also expected to conduct their lives with a broader spirit of
fraternity, civility, and a personal commitment to their fellow
citizens that goes beyond what is mandated by law. Basic respect
for, and tolerance of, all law abiding citizens and their
pluralistic views and practices creates in society an atmosphere
conducive to peaceful relations and to shared work on common goals
for a better future. The prevalence of one common, unifying language
also serves to promote these ends, as does the celebration of
national holidays and traditions and the preservation of the
important cultural and religious heritage of society.
Such fraternity does not mean, however,
insisting on a style of discourse that attempts to mask existing
differences, or demanding that every narrow minority position be
accommodated. Rather, the shared belief in the importance of the
framework created by the Essential Liberalism tenets and the
commitment to preserving such tenets allows each citizen to
experience the fraternal sense that comes from the understanding
that what unites the various citizens outweighs that which divides
them, and that together society will thrive or fail in living its
common destiny.
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Page last updated: October 15, 2008