Many years ago, my wife, Josie, and I were statists. Well… superficially, anyway. Deep inside, we knew (or, at least, sensed) that something wasn’t quite right with it. However, most of the social circles in which we moved were chock-full of statists, and everyone wants to fit in. That makes sense; right? It’s the excuse I tell myself, at least. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

That all started to change, though, back in 2009 or so, when we first encountered what some called the “tea party”, others referred to as the “liberty movement”, and, still others (statists) simply saw as a bunch of kooks. A few years of learning the 3 Rs — Ron (Paul, that is), Rothbard, and Rockwell, key figures in the liberty movement — and here we are, proud to count ourselves among the kookiest!

That explains the Liberty aspect of this lounge. We want to spread that infectious disdain for so-called authorities (here at Lipstick Liberty, “the SCAs”) and for the corporatists who bribe and blackmail them. We want to encourage nullification of all government edicts, and to call attention to and celebrate nullification wherever we see it happening! Likewise, we want to discuss articles and books that have awakened us and introduce you to some thoughts you may not have considered before.

As for Lipstick, once people free their minds of delusions about the legitimacy of political authority and realizes that we have absolutely no duty to the state, they are freer to focus on other pursuits. In my case, that “something else” is beauty. That includes beauty in nature (e.g., turquoise breakers on white sand), beauty in art, and the beauty that is femininity, especially as celebrated in a woman’s facial features, enhanced with makeup.

Josie, being a gal, had access to makeup, and society’s “permission” to concern herself with it from her teen years forward. It was never an obsession for her (as it was for me), but was a skill she had definitely honed by the time she and I met. For me, though, being a guy, experiencing makeup has been a little bumpier road — albeit an often enjoyable. The company Josie and I have both kept over the past 30+ years — those I refer to as “the trads” — typically disapprove of cosmetics on men and often hold misconceptions about male makeup artists. Luckily, there have been exceptions over the years. (We miss and think about you every day, Jan!¹)

Finally, there was a time — a time when I first thought of a term I think was original, “Lipstick Libertarian” — when most libertarians were men. It didn’t make sense to me, as the principal concept, the non-aggression principle (NAP), seems so obvious that it would be embraced by both sexes. However, to some, it just isn’t obvious. A small part of the thinking behind the name for this blog, therefore, has to do with making Libertarianism/Anarchism/Voluntarism more appealing — or attractive — to everyone, gals and guys alike.

So, relax, touch up your lipstick (whether real or imaginary), pour a glass of wine, crack open a well-worn and dog-eared copy of For a New Liberty, and join us for this excursion. We’re going to have a great time together!

✌🏽🖖🏽💄🧜🏽‍♀️

1. Jan is Josie’s sister, who left us for the next life in 2010. Not only was she a makeup aficionada, but she also embraced and encouraged Jacky’s enthusiasm for the art. ↩︎