Dr. Mary Ruwart is a Libertarian author, speaker, and activist who previously served as an Adjunct Professor of Biology at UNC-Charlotte. Dr. Ruwart was the Libertarian candidate for Senate in Texas in 2000, and was a keynote speaker at the 2004 Libertarian National Convention and at the LPNC state convention in 2018. Additionally, Dr. Ruwart has served on the boards of the International Society for Individual Liberty, the Fully Informed Jury Association, and the Michigan chapter of the Heartland Institute. She is currently one of the scholars leading the Libertarian Solutions 3.0 online learning course run by Liberty International.

As we move into 2023, it’s tough to know which way the world is turning. Covid has wreaked havoc on our economy, our rights, and our health. Although the worst of the crisis is supposedly behind us, it’s uncertain what 2023 will bring. Many of us are still mourning our losses and frustration abounds. This is when we are most vulnerable, when we must take care not to be our own worst enemies.

The government has accumulated power throughout the crisis and it may seem at times that there is little we, as libertarians, can do. In our understandable frustration, it’s easy to lash out at our families, friends, and fellow libertarians instead. If we do, our abusive government will have succeeded in dividing us and we will be doing its dirty work for it. In times like these, we should be coming together and acknowledging our real enemy and vent our frustration constructively.

How do we do that? We come together and help those who are not in a position to fight the good fight. For example, in Gastonia, not far from where I used to live in Charlotte, members of the LPNC and Spike Cohen's "You Are The Power" have been holding rallies, speaking at public meetings, and raising money to help abused and disadvantaged homeless people being harassed by city and county government. These activists are building bonds with local community members, forming a diverse coalition of people from across all political, cultural and economic spectrums. If we expect others to embrace our philosophy of non-aggression, we have to be a living example of our principles in action. Be the neighbor known for offering a hand up, not a hand out. If we invest faithfully in our cause, the people we are trying to reach will have extra incentive to invest a little faith in our ideas.

Joining a coalition to obtain justice allows us to unite with those who feel the same on a single, simple issue. Our comrades in arms are more likely to listen to the libertarian message when they see our dedication to justice in action. Not only do we thwart the injustice of the state, but we gain sympathizers for the libertarian ideal. Isn’t this a much better way to release our frustrations than fighting among ourselves? This is the time to embrace our libertarian colleagues and together do good. Let's not let "them" divide us, but unite us!