The libertarian philosophies of R.C. Hoiles

Is it even possible to get unhooked from government? How can a nation unravel the insidious weave of obligations that enslaves its citizens? It’s my take that drastic measures are needed or our rights will soon be folklore.

I’ve yet to find anyone who values our two major parties, which are an embarrassing collection of perverted egos and broken character. Did you know there’s another choice? Tribune readers hold an alternative in their ink-stained hands. Bet most of you didn’t know the paper you curse, but count on, is deeply rooted within a third party, a long suffering one which still awaits its day.

Go to the Web for the biography of Raymond Cyrus (R.C.) Hoiles, 129 years old this weekend if he were alive. The Alliance, Ohio, native broke into the newspaper business in the early 1900s. Eventually a publisher, his vision grew into the Freedom Communications chain of TV and various newspaper holdings (33 dailies and 77 weeklies). In our home territory, Freedom owns the Tribune newspapers, which includes the Ahwatukee Foothills News and the Ocotillo and Maricopa Tribunes.

Hoiles was considered to be “one of the unsung heroes of the 20th century libertarian movement.” Today, that’s our gift to use wisely. It is said Freedom Communications’ philosophy is grounded in the “system of natural law.” Basically, the power is in the people.

Writer Carl Watner (“The Voluntaryist, Vol.3, No.6,”) explains: In 1950, a policy statement was issued by Hoiles’ company in regards to its standard for human behavior governance. It was taken from the Decalogue, the Ten Commandments and the Declaration of Independence.

The policy included the Yardsticks of Morality: “That every man is born with certain inalienable rights and that these rights are equally the birthright of all men, that they are the endowment of the Creator and not of any government.”

Hoiles’ philosophy of minimal government held tight to that yardstick. “We do not believe any man has the moral right to curtail the rights of his brother … to initiate force against his brother … We oppose socialism in factories, schools, churches and in the market place …”

Eventually, Hoiles’ closest advisors talked him into moving away from Christian references and into: “Persons, groups and governments ought not threaten to initiate force or use it to attain their ends.”

So now you know the DNA of the ink that runs through these pages. From the beginning, Hoiles fought taxes, unions and government-sponsored schools — a man ahead of his time. As he aged and changed and tolerated diversity among his editors and writers, his company grew. He took this quote from an ancient Greek prophet known as Zoroaster: “Salvation cannot be brought to any man or priest or teacher. It can only come from within each human being, and for himself. Salvation can be achieved by good thoughts, good words, and good deeds. All the rest is commentary and elaboration.” Amen.

Now, before my fellow writers in the Freedom papers accuse me of sucking up to the boss, I quickly add that I don’t and won’t agree with Hoiles or Freedom on every count. But I honor root ideas needed to pull us back towards rational thinking. Libertarian thoughts bring balance, and balance we need.

We’re bombarded by party promises which, when fulfilled, serve to imprison the rest of us: Forced into further taxation in order to have our children indoctrinated by group-think in government-funded schools; forced to fund world countries and power-broker agendas along with the United Nations; forced to finance pork, care for the illegal immigrant, pay for abortion as birth control and oh, so much more that is invisible to the commoner. And we thought slavery had been defeated.

Now, I don’t know to what extent publisher philosophies trickle down to you and me, but I do know this: writers and readers are free to move in said direction, when many other publications avoid — and in fact abhor — such forums. Here in the East Valley, one of the fastest growing communities in the nation, we are fortunate to enjoy a unique platform for desperately needed change.

The trick is to reverse harmful trends, and since this is about personal responsibility, it’s up to you and me to promote solid alternatives in answer to the chaos at hand. Freedom Communications offers one avenue. And, now you know why the Trib is so unique.

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Linda Turley-Hansen is a syndicated columnist and former veteran Phoenix television news anchor who lives in the East Valley. She can be reached by e-mail at letters@lindastake.com.