In the battle for liberty, words are weapons for Alan Bock.

As past editorial page editor of The Orange County Register (circulation: 306,000), Bock helped define the voice of one of the nation's most libertarian newspapers. As its current senior editorial writer, he has penned tens of thousands of words promoting his pro-liberty viewpoints.

But Bock's scope extends beyond newsprint. He's a regular columnist on AntiWar.com and a contributing editor at Liberty magazine. He has also written two books that address libertarian issues: Ambush at Ruby Ridge (1995) and Waiting to Inhale: The Politics of Medical Marijuana (2000).

Previously, Bock was executive director of the Libertarian Advocate (1976-1980), Washington correspondent for Reason magazine (1976-1979), and co-host of the syndicated radio talk show, The Fourth American Revolution (1994-1995).

Wherever he's speaking or writing, Bock persuasively promotes the notion that "the purpose of government is to secure our inalienable rights. Not to feed us, clothe us, medicate us, control us, lead us in worship, look after our mental health, or to nibble away at our rights and freedoms and expand its own power."

Here is a sampling of Bock's trenchant opinions:

* On marriage: "It shouldn't be necessary to get a license from the government in order for two people to live together. I would get the government entirely out of the business of conferring marriage privileges." -- OC Weekly, March 24-30, 2000

* On free trade: "Economic globalization, so long as it is based on unfettered movement of goods and people, and on trades that are not forced, is an almost unalloyed benefit." -- AntiWar.com, November 25, 2003

* On Thomas Jefferson: "If this country ever returns to the sturdy principles of liberty and republican virtue on which it was founded, then Thomas Jefferson's birthday should be a national holiday. -- The Orange County Register, April 13, 2003

-- Bill Winter

Quotable

"It has been my observation that going into government, especially in a high-visibility job, lowers a person's IQ by at least 50 points." -- Alan Bock on AntiWar.com, September 24, 2002

Books & Tapes

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