Philippine Classical Liberalism and Libertarianism: Unpopular But Remarkable

I find the message of my favourite marketing guru, Seth Godin, especially relevant to my political economic perspective.

With reference to Lady Gaga, Mr. Godin writes, (bold emphasis mine)

Do you think it bothers her that I don't listen to her music and wouldn't recognize her if she stopped by and said hi?

It shouldn't.

Even if you're a pop star, you don't need everyone to be a fan or a customer. And especially if you're not a pop star, worrying about whether everyone laughs at your jokes, buys your product or even likes you is counterproductive.

Unless you're running for something that requires a unanimous vote, it's a mistake to focus on the frowning guy in the back of the room or the dolt who doesn't get your subtle references or the miser who isn't going to buy from you regardless...

You're on the hunt for sneezers, for fans, for people willing to cross the street to work with you. Everyone else can pound sand, that's okay. Being remarkable also means being ignored or actively disliked.

BTW, I'm virtually certain that Lady (do her friends call her that?) doesn't read my stuff, so we're even.

I feel that this applies also to contrarians or fringe thinkers, who have been frequently ostracized, reviled, despised and dismissed for their unorthodox and unconventional ideas, despite being trenchantly correct for most occasions. (yes even in the financial market's standards)

That’s because conformity represents as the social norm or the need to get accepted, regardless if this means embracing popular delusions. In short, the implicit herd mentality.

Yet it would take so much mettle and grit to stand up to challenge such falsehood. A challenge only a few will likely partake of.

Nonetheless, not all contrarians share similar insights. [Think communists.]

And in this occasion I would like to credit my domestic classical liberals and libertarians colleagues, who despite the odds, have taken this challenge to expose mainstream delusions and have made some critical inroads in expanding awareness, organizing a niche/tribe for people with similar persuasions and the spreading of knowledge in the local community. I once thought that I operated alone. Not anymore.

The great Ludwig von Mises assimilated a passage of Latin poet Publius Vergillius Maros, or popularly known as Virgil, as his motto: Tu ne cede malis sed contra audentior ito ("Do not yield to the bad, but always oppose it with courage."); a motto, which I think, is worth carrying over.

So despite our unpopular stance, your passionate efforts have made fighting for such a cause, remarkable and inspirational.

Merry Christmas.