Classical Liberalism

Classical liberalism and Ethical Individualism, as articulated by Russell McAlmond, represent convergent philosophical approaches to governance that prioritize the celebration of individuality, limited government, and the conditions necessary for human flourishing. Both frameworks view the individual—not the collective or group—as the fundamental unit of moral and political life, rejecting hierarchies and coercion in favor of freedom, equality, and mutual respect.

In an era of deepening polarization, these ideas offer a path back to principled governance that transcends artificial divisions.

Classical liberalism, emerging from thinkers like John Locke, Adam Smith, and John Stuart Mill, posits that individuals possess inherent rights to life, liberty, and property. Government exists solely to protect these rights, remaining limited in scope to prevent tyranny and allow personal pursuit of happiness.

This tradition celebrates individuality by emphasizing personal responsibility, voluntary exchange, and the dignity of each person as an end in themselves. Similarly, Ethical Individualism asserts three core axioms: the primacy of individuality (each person as a unique "mosaic of experiences"), equal inherent value (no moral hierarchies among humans), and the immorality of group judgmentalism (rejecting stereotypes or collective blame based on identity factors like race, religion, or politics).

McAlmond interprets "love your neighbor as yourself" as universal respect for the sovereign individual, free from group labels.

These philosophies align profoundly in governance. Both advocate limited government to maximize human flourishing: Classical liberalism through restrained state power that safeguards individual freedoms and markets; Ethical Individualism through policies that honor personal uniqueness without imposing group-based preferences or punishments.

Limited government prevents the state from becoming a tool for factional dominance, allowing individuals to thrive through their own efforts and choices. Excessive government intervention, whether in economic regulation or identity-driven mandates, risks subordinating the individual to collective agendas—eroding the very liberty and dignity both systems uphold. Russell McAlmond, a Republican candidate challenging incumbent Jeff Merkley for the US Senate in 2026, embodies this synthesis.

Drawing from his experience as a U.S. Marine veteran and founder of the Center for Human Equality, McAlmond argues that the United States has drifted from its classical liberal roots toward a regressive "group-oriented tribalism." This shift manifests in identity politics, collective guilt narratives, and policies that categorize citizens by group affiliations rather than treating them as equals.

Such tribalism, McAlmond contends, regresses human relations by fostering division, resentment, and dehumanization—the opposite of the symbiotic trust that arises from respecting individuality.This departure harms all human relations and individual rights.

When governance prioritizes groups over individuals—through quotas, reparations rooted in ancestral blame, or demonization of political opponents—it creates artificial hierarchies, stifles personal agency, and fuels polarization. Citizens become proxies for collectives, losing sight of shared humanity and equal worth.

This not only undermines classical liberal institutions like equal protection under the law but also breeds distrust, hindering cooperation and progress.To advance, America must return to respecting unique individuality as a moral imperative.

Ethical Individualism provides the ethical foundation: Govern by recognizing every person's infinite value and sovereignty, rejecting groupism in policy and discourse.

Combined with classical liberalism's structural safeguards—limited government, rule of law, and free markets—this approach dismantles polarizing divisions, restores individual rights, and enables true human flourishing.

As McAlmond's vision suggests, a return to these principles offers hope for a united nation where governance serves people as individuals, not tribes—fostering harmony in diversity and strength through freedom. In reclaiming this shared heritage, we progress forward, building a society where every unique voice contributes to the common good without coercion or division.