October 2005

By Major William H. Howcott (USAF RET.)

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This one-question test will press the limits of your Libertarianism and give you insight into your own, personal Libertarian views.

You're a traveler, walking alone through a forest carrying two hamburgers, one of which you do not need or even want, when you come across a hungry man sitting on a log. The man is starving to death, he's about to die from lack of food. You are aware that if you give him your unwanted hamburger, he'll live. But if you pass him by without giving him food, he'll starve to death. His life is in your hands. Now here is the question:

If you decide not to share your food with the hungry man, and thereby cause his death, should the government have the authority and power to prosecute and convict you for the death of the hungry man? - (Y/N)

This is the one-question Libertarian Stress Test. It pits liberty against the government's duty to protect innocent life. What do you think is the correct Libertarian answer ... and why? I would be interested in your answer and your reasoning.

About The Author

Major William H. Howcott, USAF RET.
106 Coldspring Road
Freehold, NJ 07728
732 462-8873
whowcott@optoline.net

Retired Air Force Officer
BS in Electrical Engineering
AAS in Business and Accounting
Wireless Engineer
Married - 5 children

Major Howcott was born in Mount Vernon, New York. In 1961 he enlisted in the USAF as a basic trainee. While still in the military, he attended Arizona State University, obtaining a BS in Electrical Engineering. In 1968, he was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant and assigned to Patrick Air Force Base in Florida. He worked at Patrick, during the inception of our space program, in booster and ICBM research and development and later around the world in fixed and tactical communications.

He left the military in 1982 when cellular communications was in its infancy and took employment as a mobile communications systems engineer where he designed one of the world's first cellular communications systems. He subsequently founded the National Communications Site Directory, a technical directory used nationally by cellular and PCS radio frequency engineers. He retired from engineering in 2002 to pursue his real interest, political philosophy.