Article originally published in the Indian Economist.
Interview with Co-founder and Executive Director Amanda Muell
Amanda Muell, a founder of Liberty on the Rocks, found herself
disappointed with the limited options for socialization within the
libertarian community. “The idea for the organization came about in 2008
when two colleagues and myself questioned ways to find younger
libertarians in the Denver area. We all worked at the Independence
Institute at the time, which is a free market think tank in Golden,
Colorado. We were used to seeing people sixty and over at a majority of
their events, which prompted us to consider organizing a happy hour
rather than another lecture-based event.”
Starting with just fourteen people in a single bar in Denver, Colo.,
Liberty on the Rocks now boasts dozens of chapters across the world.
“The driving purpose is to connect and inform anyone interested or
enthusiastic about libertarian principles,” says Muell. “We believe that
a strong liberty movement requires passionate people, and to keep them
involved you’ve got to make it fun. Relationships are also essential, as
they can act as the glue that keeps someone coming to events and
rethinking issues. We know that becoming a highly informed libertarian
occurs over time, and usually after myriad books, videos and
conversations. Liberty on the Rocks aims to keep people on that path of
exploration until they feel fully comfortable talking to others about
the philosophy of freedom.”
While most events are simple social gatherings, the scope of LOTR has grown with its success.
“Between 2012-2013, Liberty on the Rocks hosted nine educational
workshops around the U.S. that focused on economics, philosophy and
communications,” says Muell. “Local networks have also hosted speakers
and guests like Larken Rose, Jeffrey Tucker, Robert Murphy, Radley
Balko, and Stephen Kinsella, among others.”
Starting a local chapter of Liberty on the Rocks is a simple and
rewarding process, Muell explains, “any libertarian-minded individual
who wants to set up a [chapter] can start by going to
www.libertyontherocks.org. From there they can get started creating
their group online and organizing their first event. The national
organization can help by providing an email address, and website along
with a strategy call and/or email- based assistance where needed. From
there it’s as simple as finding a local bar or restaurant, setting up a
Facebook page, and marketing your events.”
The spread of Liberty on the Rocks has mirrored wider acceptance of ideas of liberty.
“There is no doubt the movement has grown over the last few years,”
Muell explains. “It also seems to be younger generations that are the
most enthusiastic about libertarian ideals, which is extremely positive.
It used to be a small minority of mostly anti-social individuals, and
was essentially devoid of women. Today those in the mainstream, both
male and female of all walks of life, are flocking to this cause. And
the beauty is that a majority of them just want to be left alone! This
is refreshing to see, as political movements of the past tended to focus
on imposing new rules and orders on the population.”
While Muell recognizes that government remains a major obstacle to
the free market, she is enthusiastic about the Snowden leak, the
increased popularity of Bitcoin and 3D printing, and the increasing push toward ending marijuana
prohibition. “All of these present challenges to the government for
different reasons,” says Muell. The first revealed to the American
people just how much power the government has, and that it isn’t just
used against discernible enemies. Secondly, technological innovations
and services rivaling public monopolies, like 3D printing and Bitcoin,
can make government a thing of the past by rendering their services
obsolete. Finally, when it comes to marijuana legalization, the big win
is the innocent people who won’t be going to jail for victimless crimes”
To capitalize on the expanding base of young libertarians, Muell
emphasizes that “it’s important to stay connected to others who have
similar values.”
“That doesn’t mean drop all your friends who aren’t libertarians, but
please be sure to find some who are,” continues Muell. “It can be
difficult to stay passionate about something you only hear others
discuss on television or podcasts. To continue learning new ideas and
discovering ways to live free, it helps to have friends who are doing
the same. This also may be important one day when you decide to have
children and want good role models in their life outside of you and your
spouse. So go to events when you can and don’t be too shy to say hello
to someone you haven’t met.”
There are countless opportunities for those interested in spreading
the ideas of free markets and individual liberty. “As the movement
grows, so do the ideas surrounding its advancement,” explains Muell.
“Gone are the days when your only option was to join a campaign or run
for office to be a liberty advocate. More people are finding there are
other avenues they can take to be free. These can include educating the
public on pertinent issues or inventing a new product or service to
rival public monopolies. This is partly why more are joining the
movement, because it’s not just about politics. Many libertarians are
entrepreneurs, or everyday advocates who share ideas with friends and
family, influencing those close to them. While short-term political
victories can be positive and important for our freedom, so can
technologies that may one day make governments obsolete. So if you love
liberty, find what it is that you are most passionate about and go after
it. We all have a purpose when it comes to advancing freedom.”
