How much would a libertarian society differ from the statist society in which we live? It would be radically different. Here are ten ways a libertarian society would be different:

1. No more welfare-state programs. A libertarian society would be one in which there is a total separation of charity and the state, similar to the separation of church and state. No one would be forced by any law or governmental program to share his money with others or to donate money to anyone. The decision on whether to help out others would be entirely voluntary. So, no more Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, subsidies, foreign aid, SBA loans, food stamps, public housing, education grants, FDIC, or any other program in which government forcibly takes money from people and gives it to others.

2. No more income taxation and Internal Revenue Service. Everyone would be free to keep everything he earns or inherits (and would decide for himself what to do with it).

3. No more drug war. All drugs would be legalized. Everyone would be free to ingest anything he wants, no matter how harmful, dangerous, or destructive. Of course, he would bear the responsibility for the consequences of his decisions.

4. No more Federal Reserve System and government-issued, irredeemable paper money. The free market would decide the monetary unit. The market would probably settle on gold and silver coins but it is entirely possible that even sounder money could arise.

5. No more economic regulations. There would be a total separation of economy and state. Just as we do not permit the government to subsidize or regulate religion, so it would be with the economy. The government would be prohibited from subsidizing or regulating economic activity.

6. No more gun control. Again, there would be a total separation of guns and the state. People would be free to keep and bear arms without governmental interference.

7. No more immigration controls. People from all over the world would be as free to travel to the United States to visit, tour, work, invest, and open businesses as people are free to travel domestically within the United States.

8. No more trade restrictions, including sanctions and embargoes. Americans and foreigners would be free to buy and sell whatever they want without governmental interference.

9. No more state involvement in education. There would be a total separation of school and state, similar to the separation of church and state. No more school compulsory-attendance laws, school taxes, school districts, and school buildings. Families would decide the best educational vehicle for their children, much as they decide matters relating to religion.

10. No more national-security state, including a standing army, military-industrial complex, and CIA. America would once again be restored to a limited-government, constitutional republic. No more foreign military bases, interference with the affairs of other countries, support of dictatorships, foreign aid, invasions and occupations, wars of aggression, kidnappings, renditions, torture, assassinations, and infringements on civil liberties.

Those ten libertarian principles would produce the most prosperous, peaceful, harmonious, safe, responsible, caring, compassionate, educated, healthy, and free society in history. That’s what a full embrace of liberty, freedom of choice, freedom of conscience, and the free market would bring.