Patrick Smith, known by his pseudonym Not Governor, is an American entrepreneur, philosopher, podcaster, and voluntaryist activist prominent in the anarcho-capitalist movement. He is best known as the host of the Anarchast podcast, where he advances consistent anarcho-capitalist principles of self-ownership, the non-aggression principle (NAP), individual consent, and the complete rejection of the state as a coercive institution. Smith uses his platform to argue that true anarchism must be grounded in private property rights and voluntary exchange—rejecting “bottom unity” or non-propertarian forms of anarchism as invalid, self-contradictory and incompatible with liberty.
His symbolic “Not Governor” campaign and writings, such as The Declaration of Individual Independence and the Anti-Subjectivism – The Philosophy of Consent, emphasize personal sovereignty, the invalidity of political participation (including voting), and morality derived from consent rather than subjective or collective ethics. Smith’s work is celebrated for its uncompromising defense of liberty against statism, leftist “anarchism”, and watered-down libertarianism, promoting agorism, peaceful parenting, and tribe-building as practical paths to a stateless society.
Public details about Smith’s early life are limited, as he maintains a focus on ideas rather than personal history. He resides in the Dallas–Fort Worth area and identifies as a “Peaceful Dad,” entrepreneur, philosopher, and “bullshit detector.” A technology entrepreneur and CTO, he has been involved in ventures related to powersports, automotive technology, crypto, and hosting services. He is a father of three who practices unschooling and peaceful parenting, viewing these as direct applications of voluntaryist principles in family life.
Smith gained visibility in libertarian and anarchist circles around 2017–2018 when he launched the “Not Governor” campaign. Running symbolically for Texas Governor under the Libertarian Party banner (or as a “not-candidate”), he sought the nomination not to hold office but to use the platform to advocate for the abolition of government through NAP-consistent ideas. He promoted “not-delegates” and emphasized that liberty cannot be achieved through the “beggary that is voting.” The campaign aligned with his broader philosophy: individuals must declare independence from the state and build voluntary alternatives.
He founded and managed one of the largest voluntaryist communities in the world under Voluntaryists of DFW, and has been active in charity, street activism, and philosophical discussions within the anarcho-capitalist community. Smith has collaborated with prominent figures such as Larken Rose, Walter Block, and Stephan Kinsella through interviews and debates. He has critiqued political compromises (e.g., libertarian support for certain candidates) and defended pure anarcho-capitalism against socialist or minarchist alternatives.
Smith’s thought is rooted in anarcho-capitalism as the only coherent form of anarchism. He argues that any system lacking strict adherence to private property, self-ownership, and voluntary consent devolves into statism or aggression. Key themes in his work include:
Anti-Subjectivism - The Philosophy of consent: (co-authored by Patrick Smith and Christian G. Moore): A meta-ethical and normative framework that rejects arbitrary or subjective bases for morality—such as personal feelings, collective whims, cultural preferences, or “ipse dixit” assertions—as these render terms like “good” and “evil” meaningless and open the door to contradictions and “might makes right.” Instead, it grounds ethics in three foundational requirements: (1) objective reality exists independently of belief; (2) the three laws of logic (identity, non-contradiction, excluded middle) are axiomatic and essential; and (3) the default “state of nature” for all living beings is amoral, with no inherent moral authority of one over another.
The philosophy advocates rising above the amoral state of nature through consistent, non-arbitrary reasoning that prioritizes individual consent, voluntary interaction, property rights, and rational coherence—providing both a meta-ethical tool to evaluate other ethical theories and a practical guide for anarcho-capitalist/libertarian living.
Rejection of the state and political action: Voting and government participation involve one’s self in acts of coercion; true change comes from personal secession and building parallel voluntary institutions.
Peaceful parenting and unschooling: Applying the NAP and consent principles to child-rearing as a foundation for a freer society.
Critique of other anarchisms: Left-“anarchist” or “anarcho-socialist” variants are attacked for their collectivism contradictory to liberty because they undermine individual consent and property rights. Right-libertarian or “Libertarian Nationalist” variants are attacked for much the same reasons—“the other side of the same disgusting coin.”
His activism includes debates (such as representing anarcho-capitalism against libertarian socialism), street charity, public messages challenging law enforcement or politicians, and content exploring epistemology, restitution, and cultural issues from a voluntaryist lens.
Smith’s output is primarily digital and audio-visual, centered on education and outreach rather than traditional books:
Anarchast podcast / Disenthrall podcast (host): Long-running anarcho-capitalist-focused shows featuring interviews, debates, and monologues on liberty topics. Episodes include collaborations with Larken Rose (Letters from Anarchists: Objective Morality and Anarchy 101), critiques of high-profile libertarian debates (e.g., Dave Smith vs. Andrew Wilson), and discussions on privacy tools, parenting, and current events. The show emphasizes practical anarcho-capitalist living.
The Declaration of Individual Independence (available at NotGovernor.com): A personal manifesto asserting sovereignty and rejecting allegiance to coercive governments.
Anti-Subjectivism – The Philosophy of Consent (2022, published on AntiSubjectivism.com): A core philosophical work outlining consent-based ethics and objective morality.
Anarchapulco speeches (returning multiple years): Presentations on peaceful parenting, tribe-building, and freedom philosophy.
Debates and appearances: Anarcho-Capitalist vs. Libertarian Socialist debates, interviews on epistemology, street activism, and critiques of public property myths.
Additional content includes writings on liberty and social media, book club discussions, and responses to cultural events from an anarcho-capitalist viewpoint.
Smith continues to produce content that reinforces anarcho-capitalism as a practical, moral, and philosophically rigorous path to human flourishing through voluntary cooperation and the abolition of the initiating force inherent in the state.
