The Lower Mainland was a hotbed of talk radio during the 1970s. Almost everyone listened to the banter, idealistic and otherwise, that bounced around the airwaves, and young Lewis Dahlby was an avid listener.

Two of Dahlbys favourite hosts were the gravelly voiced Pat Burns and controversial Ed Murphy. Burns would talk about a little French book titled La Loi, or The Law, written in 1850 by Frdric Bastiat espousing values adopted by Libertarians, while Murphy had a couple of guests promoting the philosophys values that oppose governments using force or coercion to get what they want.

Dahlby, who is running for the BC Libertarian Party in the New Westminster riding in the May 14 provincial election, became convinced it was the way society should go when he tried to put a mobile home on his property in Coquitlam.

The city said he could only do so if he went to all his neighbours in the area to see if it was all right with them.

All but one was in favour.

When it finally went before council, most of its members supported him but the rigmarole he had to go through to make it happen only deepened his beliefs.

Why should seven councillors have the right to decide what kind of house I live in? Its up to me, not them, says Dahlby.

Libertarianism is the most morally valid philosophy there is. I like to say were at the pinnacle of integrity.

For example, even something as simple as a minimum wage law violates individual rights to work for whatever rate they want or be willing to pay, says Dahlby.

On top of that, he believes its also bad policy since increasing the minimum wage creates poverty because employers have to reduce staff to pay for the rise in pay.

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CANDIDATES UP CLOSE: Libertarian