Hi. I'm Sean Rife. I'm a twentysomething graduate student in experimental psychology at East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, Tennessee. I'm also an individualist and a "natural rights" libertarian (actually, since Nozick died, I'm probably the only natural rights libertarian - at least, it often feels that way).

A while back, I picked up an equality sticker. You know... one of these things:

...and almost stuck it on my car. I actually thought it would be an amusing contrast to the Bush/Cheney '04 sticker already on my back window.

But then I began to think about the context of the symbol and its larger implications. I initially failed to question the notion that gay marriage (a cause I vehemently support) is about equality. I now find myself in disagreement with this argument, but more importantly, I have come to reject the symbolism behind the HRC's well-intentioned campaign.

Look at the context in which "equality" is referred. Is the focus on equality of opportunity (i.e., equality under the law), or is it on equality of outcomes? F.A. Hayek has rightly pointed out that one cannot have both, as all humans do not enter the world with the same predispositions. So a choice must be made between the two. Which should it be? Why has equality come to be so revered in the first place?

I have no answers here, but in an attempt to more accurately identify the source of human prosperity - individualism - I made a new sticker:

This is not a slant against the HRC, mind you. I have nothing against their cause. However, the symbolism they have chosen to represent it is both inaccurate and misguided: gay marriage is not about equality, and people should not so much be concerned with equality as they are with individualism.

This is true on an interpersonal level as well as a larger, societal level. I've always been of the opinion that when you meet a new person, your approach should be to treat them as an individual - someone who is separate, unique, and inherently unequal to the rest of the human race.

It is also interesting to note that societies which focus on individualism produce better standards of living. In America, the greatest epidemic among the poor is obesity. In North Korea, people are practicing cannibalism to keep from starving to death.

In essence, when presented with these two basic constructs - individualism and collectivism - we are left with two extreme examples: America or North Korea. There may be some middle ground here and there (the quasi-socialist economies present in the European Union, for example), but it leans strongly towards individualism, and the space it occupies is shrinking every day. At least, I hope it is.

The upshot of all this is that anyone who wants an individualism sticker can have one. I'll send it to you for free. Hell, I'll even pay the postage (that is, unless I start to go broke - I seriously doubt these things will be that popular, though).

NOTE: The stickers make a lousy substitute for duct tape, so please order some only if you consider yourself to be an individualist. Thanks!

DUE TO A HUGE SPIKE IN REQUESTS DURING THE PAST FEW MONTHS, IT MAY TAKE QUITE A WHILE FOR YOUR STICKERS TO BE SHIPPED. PLEASE BE PATIENT. THANKS!

Order your stickers now!
(limit 3 per household)

Each sticker is made of weatherproof vinyl and measures 3.25" x 3.25".