Once an individual who would advance liberty has settled on self-perfection as correct method, the first fact to bear in mind is that ours not a numbers problem. Were it necessary to bring a majority into a comprehension of the libertarian philosophy, the cause of liberty would be utterly hopeless. Every significant movement in history has been led by one or just a few individuals with a small minority of energetic supporters.

— Leonard E. Read

I read this quote a few times and like the thought advanced.  Many times people will question libertarians’ positions and point out that we live in a “democracy,” which is somehow supposed to negate the fact that our freedoms have been abdicated in many instances.  The standard reasoning is that a majority voted for particular rules or regulations.

Liberty does not require the approval of a majority to exist.  Anything that infringes on the “natural rights” or “property rights” of an individual is an affront to liberty.  The basis for liberty holds that the only valid laws of a government are those that protect people against the taking of their own property, this would also include crimes that subject an individual to violent, injurious behavior from others.

Under this principle, victimless crimes would not exist.  This would include drug laws, anti-smoking laws (except in government owned building), prostitution laws and any taxation that takes money from one person to give to another.  If someone wants to partake in an activity that may harm themselves, that is their business.  Society should not be forced to finance useless and extremely costly laws and programs designed to protect people from themselves.  The result of these laws and programs is the economic injury to all from the forced taking of their earned, economic capital.