Politics & Liberty
The Australian radical liberal Bruce Smith lays down some very strict rules which should govern the actions of any legislator (1887)
Found in: Liberty and Liberalism (1888)
The broad principles, then, which I should venture to lay down as guides for any one assuming the responsible position of a legislator are three in number.<br> <ol> <li>The state should not <i>impose taxes</i>, or <i>use the public revenue</i> for any purpose other than that of <i>securing equal freedom to all citizens</i>.</li> <li>The state should not interfere with the <i>legally acquired property</i> of any section of its citizens for any other purpose than that of <i>securing equal freedom to all citizens;</i> and in the event of any such justifiable interference amounting to appropriation; then, only conditional upon the lawful owner being <i>fully compensated</i>.</li> <li>The state should not in any way restrict <i>the personal liberty</i> of citizens for any other purpose than that of <i>securing equal freedom to all citizens</i>.</li> </ol>