Quotes by Rayo About Self-Liberation, The Statist-Servile Society, and More

Rayo (Tom Marshall) was an extremely interesting dude. In the 1960s, he laid the foundation for the most interesting, plausible freedom strategy: vonu. "Vonu" is an awkward contraction of VOluntary Not vUlernable, and is premised upon becoming as invulnerable to coercion as humanly possible by pursuing radical lifestyle changes.

Rayo's first lifestyle change was van nomadism and then wilderness vonu -- him and his freemate spent most of their time deep in the Siskiyou National Forest, nestled up in their polyethylene a-tent.

The following are some of my favorite quotes by Rayo, plus some comments of mine. Please enjoy and for more information, check out The Vonu Podcast. We are currently in Season 3, wherein we develop vonu into the modern day. It's been a helluva ride so far and we'd love to have you!

1) It’s a tough call, but this is definitely one of my favorite quotes by him. It even kicked off my vonu talk at the Midwest Peace and Liberty Fest, 2017: 

Freedom does indeed “need” more full-time professionals; not collective-movement preachers seeking a coterie of followers, but explorers/inventors/developer of liberated life-ways. –Libertarian Connection #15, November 17, 1970 

2) Rayo introduces the idea of vonuing in cities, for those who dislike the wilderness... 

To some, opting out evokes images of gathering berries in a far-off wilderness. Liberation does seem to be easier in uninhabited areas – at least as a do-it-yourself thing, which it necessarily is for the first pioneers. But it is also possible in large cities. Imagine, for example, an old expensive building, which appears to be only a private club, but which conceals an entrance way to apartments and workshops tunneled underneath. –Libertarian Connection #15, November 17, 1970 

3) If you challenge the State head on, you make yourself a target; but, if you keep your head down, practice great security culture, and implement other methods of direct action, you can be free and have little to no interaction with the State and its bludgies. 

At first thought it seems that any conflict between an individual libertarian and a large State is hopelessly one-sided, but this need not be the case so long as the libertarian sticks to self-liberation and doesn’t try to beat the Statists at their own games. –Free Trade, a supplement to INNOVATOR, November 1969 

4) There are many folks who don’t want to be free themselves until EVERYONE can be free. There are also others whose aspirations are more “altruistic,” and who see “opting out” as a sort of abandoning of others. This is not the case, as Rayo explains below. 

Existing governments are invariably ‘natural monopolies’ within their geographical areas. An increase in freedom – a reduction in government restrictions realized by any means short of armed insurrection – potentially benefits every individual within the nation who does not seek the unearned. –INNOVATOR, volume 2, November 1964 

5) Below, Rayo posits one possible way for libertarians to promote freedom at a profit. Sure, it’s plausible, but being a college professor in a leftist university not only increases city psychological pressures, but has tended to draw once-quality anarchists/libertarians back into the political sphere (i.e. Walter Block starting "Libertarians for Trump", Tom Woods' advocacy of State nullification, etc.). Additionally, for those who desire freedom NOW, this typically wouldn’t be a satisfying option and could actually make one more vulnerable to coercion. 

Long range cultural revolution activities are not, of course, to be deprecated merely because they will not bring freedom in our lifetime. Not only can an individual gain personal satisfaction by helping a revolution on its way, but a career in the education or communications field may bring tangible profits as well. The college professor in the humanities, the popular novelist, the writer of children’s books, the advertising executive – each receives remuneration for his work. –INNOVATOR, volume 2, April 1965 

6) Rayo did utilize some legal interstices (see above), but placed his freedom on vonu instead. Here’s why.

Liberty depends on laws and their interpretations, and so is easily destroyed. Vonu (while not necessarily illegal) depends on reality, not legality, and so is more durable. –VONU LIFE #1, May 1971 

7) Self-liberation = Self-seeking 

The range of interest of self-seeking is the lifespan of its readers. Self-seeking is looking for approaches to freedom that will yield results within a few decades at most, and which will directly benefit the liberators. Likewise, self-seeking examines ways for living more efficaciously in society as it is. –INNOVATOR, volume 2, April 1965 

8) No description necessary. Wow! 

The contemporary State is not only incapable of protecting “its citizens” from outside aggressors; it has become the biggest aggressor with its endless taxes, conscriptions and interferences. The State provides “justice” by mass terror, “freedom” by mass servitude, and “defense” by mass murder.  

Just as the State is obsolete as a means of defense against foreign governments and private criminals, so politics are obsolete as a means of defense against the State. Political “reform,” “revolutions” or “education” at most changes rulers and slogans; it does not bring about enduring freedom. In a community of a few hundred, democratic procedures can be helpful; in a nation of millions they are only placebos. –VONU LIFE, March 1973 

9) Sometimes, he had a way with words... 

So big, coercive government, like one-crop farming, is inherently bad ecology. Free “non-conforming” people, like diverse natural vegetation, are part of the earth. –VONU LIFE, March 1973 

10) Sadly, he’s right. 

Whether one will be happier as a freeman or as a slave partly depends on the individual. But this choice is not open to most libertarians. Relative contentment in servitude is possible only for those who believe in it; most libertarians are too independent and well-informed. For libertarians the choice is between freedom and neurosis. –Libertarian Connection #15, November 17, 1970  

I could go on, and on, and on, and on, but I think you get the point. If you're wanting more, as I said, check out The Vonu Podcast! In season 1, we discussed the philosophy of vonu; season 2 was the practice of vonu (or, strategies Rayo proposesd); in our current season 3, we're modernizing and updating the strategies he presented -- a lot has changed with the progression of technology. We'd love to have you!

You can also download Rayo's books for FREE in PDF format, or the handful of other #vonu publications we've digitized!

That's all, folks.