On Meeting Kevin Duewel of Students for Liberty

Got a chance to meet Kevin Duewel of Students for Liberty with fellow libertarians from here in the Philippines.

He mentioned the importance of having think tanks or institutions like Minimal Government Thinkers. And it's true, Nonoy Oplas, the head of MG Thinkers, is always inviting me to different events or forums including meetings with people from different international organizations such as the one I'm talking about right now and it's really a great learning experience and a way to meet other individuals interested in liberty.

Kevin also reported the success of IDEAS in Malaysia and the significance and role of organizations like Atlas Network or Cato Institute in defending liberty worldwide. It is very encouraging to know that although we are very few here in the Philippines, there are many organizations in other parts of the world that are growing and getting results when it comes to promoting libertarianism and changing public perceptions.

It was interesting that we discussed how we all have "real lives" in a way that writing about or promoting libertarianism will not really pay the bills. It is something we do out of pleasure much like an intellectual play of sorts. And it is very true that I enjoy the company of passionate libertarians because it is a way of taking a break from the typical statists I encounter every day. During a few drinks with some of them after the meeting, we even concluded that the only consolation we get, in place of being marginalized and unpopular, is knowing that we don't have the pretense of knowledge of those who worship the status quo haha.

Spicy beef stuffed with cheese (I forgot the actual name of the dish)
At one point during the discussion, we discussed strategy and approach in promoting liberty. The ideas were very interesting. One was to appeal to common problems society is facing right now, a more targeted approach, and provide libertarian solutions. It does make sense because many will be surprised at how much in common they have with libertarianism and how much of it has been misinterpreted. 
Take this interesting article on Students for Liberty, for instance, about Libertarian Occupy Wall Street Demands: very different from the mainstream statist/socialist demands but are reasonable alternative rebuttals against the same problem. 
It's always nice to meet new friends from other parts of the world who are fighting for the same principles. Students for Liberty is a non-government organization that focus on helping liberty-minded individuals and groups in the US and all over the world.