That principle, stated simply, is equal freedom. It is equality in the sense that all power and jurisdiction is reciprocal. It is freedom because, if all power and jurisdiction is reciprocal, no one having more power or greater jurisdiction than any other, people are free to act within the jurisdiction of their own person and property. That is to say, if that jurisdiction is violated, one individual has exceeded his jurisdiction and another has had his jurisdiction trespassed. The two can no longer be said to be equal nor can the one whose jurisdiction was trespassed be said to be free.
Equal freedom is a moral principle nor a political policy.
And although in the past I have said that I believed in equality and freedom, just as most people in the United States say they believe in equality and freedom, a re-examination of my behavior in the light of this principle has demonstrated to me, as it should demonstrate to everyone else, that the United States is not based on the principles of equality and freedom, and my behavior before I came to this realization was not consistent with the principles of equality and freedom, just as the behavior of anyone who serves this nation, or any other nation, is not behaving in accordance with the principles of equality and freedom. In reference to the Investigating Officer's question comparing the Army to a large corporation, if I were to compare the Army or the United States government to a corporation, it would have to be a corporation of organized criminals the only difference being that criminals are usually not hypocritical or foolish enough to think that they are forcing others to do things for their own good or for the good of the society as a whole. Had I joined a corporation to work as a security guard and later realized that this corporation was forcing everyone living within a certain territory to support that corporation and abide by corporate policy regardless of moral disagreements, I would likely object just as I am objecting to military service. By Anarchist, I wish to be understood as a person who believes that society should be organized in such a way that all men rule themselves and neither rule others nor are ruled by others. I do not mean that rulers should be violently opposed.