A loser's competition

I see both "liberals" and "conservatives" (or any statist/archator in general) as really dumb. So dumb, in fact, that I can't bring myself to care whether they feel the same about me.

Which of them is dumbest at the moment is whichever one I'm noticing. And, pretty much, if they have done something noticeable, and that almost always means they did something stupid. It's the only trick they have.

Both of them sometimes take the right side-- the side of Rightful Liberty-- but they can't stick to it. They waffle as soon as they don't feel comfortable with where the path leads. And Rightful Liberty never leads to statism.

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Dealing with Princess Snowflake, a government employee

As I have mentioned before, against my wishes, my 9 year-old daughter is stuck in "public school".

I do my best to not make it worse for her.

I need to do better.

This year she has a very young, inexperienced "teacher" who is very brittle and delicate. My daughter likes her, and I try to keep it that way. No need to make her more unhappy than she is.

A few weeks ago, the woman sent out a message saying that the students were having trouble with the math vocabulary words.

I nicely mentioned that I would have trouble learning them the way they were being "taught" (but I didn't use sarcastiquotes).

The woman sends home a list of math words, stripped of context, and defined with other words the kids probably don't know. And my daughter has a much better vocabulary than most of her classmates, so if she has trouble understanding what is being said, I can only imagine the trouble other kids are having.

I politely said that, divorced from context, my daughter was having trouble attaching meaning to the words, and remembering the relationships. And, that if I were in the kids' shoes, I would also be struggling. I ended by saying I realized it wasn't her fault, that she was only teaching what (and how) she was required.

I got back a somewhat snarky reply, saying the words are taught in context in class (which just illustrates my point), and that if I had questions, I needed to call her. It was very dismissive.

I didn't call. She ignored my point when written out, why should I believe she would listen to me speak?

So, I let it drop and things haven't changed. Why would they?

But weeks later I got a message that my daughter wants to call me to come get her out of school every day at about 9:30am. She is distracted from completing her work, and is making the other kids upset, wondering why she doesn't want to be in school. The woman said my daughter told her this particular day that her pet had died, and she was very upset. She finished by saying that she cares about my daughter and doesn't want any kid to be unhappy in school.

Remembering my previous attempt at communication, I confirmed that a pet did in fact die during the night. Then I said, quite simply and honestly, that my daughter doesn't like school. That's it. I didn't say "hates school" or anything. And, I included a link to this: “Why Don’t Students Like School?” Well, Duhhhh…

I thought that would be fairly safe; not from a libertarian source, nor anarchist, or even from unschoolers.

I thought wrong.

My daughter's mother (I foolishly forwarded the "teacher's" message to her) contacted the woman and tried to find out what was going on. The teacher said she had gotten 2 comments from me (counting the one weeks before, apparently) and they made her "uncomfortable".

I wasn't mean, nasty, or unpleasant, and I certainly wasn't threatening to her. I can see no reason for her to have felt "uncomfortable" from my messages.

Well, suck it up, Buttercup. You are in a "job" that violates my daughter's life, liberty, and property (and mine, too). You enthusiastically sacrifice education for schooling. I consider you a child abuser, or at least an accessory. And yet I am still being nice when I need to deal with your unresponsive, entitled self.

Henceforth, if I need to refer to you, I will refer to you by your new name: Princess Snowflake.

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Political creatures can't run your life

(My Eastern New Mexico News column for January 25, 2017)

Another year, another president. Some people are optimistic; others are wringing their hands in apparent horror. As with every president, I'm a disinterested observer.

Presidents and other such political creatures haven't mattered much to me since I was in my twenties and began to grow out of my desire for a leash.

There has never been a president who had much impact on my life, unless I foolishly paid more attention to him than was warranted. The longer I live, the less frequently this happens.

Don't get me wrong-- I'm grateful America narrowly dodged the Clinton bullet and "only" got cracked over the head with Trump. I'm always mindful of small favors.

Many on the left are upset because the winner of the popular vote didn't win the office. I agree, although they undoubtedly won't appreciate my agreement. The reason for this is clear when you notice a fact studiously ignored when the election results were publicized.

The overwhelming winner of the popular vote was... "none of the above". Not Trump, but not Clinton, either. That's right-- the majority of people eligible to register and vote chose to not vote for a president at all, and their choice was rudely (and incautiously) ignored. Yet, some political addicts still believe elections are legitimate.

It has been pointed out, and may even be true, that ignoring the Los Angeles and New York City areas, Trump beat Clinton in the popular vote. I'm all for ignoring those two cities-- they have undue negative influence even without letting their politics control the rest of the population. However, the residents of those cities voted for a different ruler than the one being foisted upon them. Maybe it would be better to let them have the president they want, even if it isn't the president the rest of the country has. In fact, let every person who believes they need a president have the president of their choice. If this results in having 325 million presidents, so be it. This is the only possible path toward self-responsibility and rightful liberty, anyway.

No one can run your life better, or knows the details of your wants and needs more intimately, than you. You are the sovereign ruler-- the inalienable king-- of your own life, despite the contrary opinions of politicians, and the hirelings who impose those opinions. Don't abdicate your rightful throne to any pretender holding political office.

Best of luck, Mr. Trump. You'll need it.

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Quit doing the wrong thing

If you are violating the life, liberty, or property of anyone, you are doing wrong.

It doesn't matter if everyone does it.

It doesn't matter if everyone accepts it.

It doesn't matter if other people believe you are doing a good thing.

It doesn't matter if it's always been that way.

It doesn't matter that you love someone who does it.

It doesn't matter if you believe you're being useful or necessary.

There is simply no way to be in the right and violate life, liberty, and property.

Please, just don't do it, and if you do, please quit.

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The employer of the useless

Due to my utter lack of marketable skills, all my life people have tried to steer me toward government "jobs".

Just out of high school, I even looked into taking the post office test before being told I wouldn't be considered for hire because I wasn't a "veteran", so there wasn't any point. I'm now glad I didn't.

Once, a friend tried to get me a job with the state parks department. It turned out the only thing the guy interviewing me was interested in was getting me alone in a tent- which I picked up on during the interview, so the proposed camping trip "to see what the job entailed" never occurred.

And, people have told me I should be a teacher or other things that generally end up being government "jobs". I won't consider it.

But I do find it amusing that being pretty much useless results in being told to get a job with government. It's safe. It's lucrative. And apparently, you don't have to be of any use to anyone to collect the check financed by theft.

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Begging to be enslaved

From the blurb on Amazon about Eric Fromm's "Escape from Freedom"*:

The pursuit of freedom has indelibly marked Western culture since Renaissance humanism and Protestantism began the fight for individualism and self-determination. This freedom, however, can make people feel unmoored, and is often accompanied by feelings of isolation, fear, and the loss of self, all leading to a desire for authoritarianism, conformity, or destructiveness. (emphasis mine) 

Wow. If true, that's hard for me to take. And I pity anyone so pathetic.

"Unmoored"? Being chained to an aggressive thief makes people feel steady and safe? Can a person like that even be considered a person? Human, yes. I can see that, but without apparent "personhood". Pitiful.

"Feelings of isolation"? Nothing is so conducive to mutually beneficial relationships as liberty. If someone can impose themselves on you, you may not be "isolated", but is rape really preferable to solitude? Maybe some statists really believe so.

"Fear"? If liberty scares you, maybe you should commit a crime so you can be locked away for your own peace of mind- where someone else will make all your decisions for you and protect you from the unknown and the random.

"Loss of self"? Your "self" craves to be controlled? Not unless you are a hive insect. Instead, freedom gives you back your self. If you don't like you, or don't trust you, that could be uncomfortable, I suppose.

But, at the root of it all, I don't care if a person is so pathetic they feel they "need" "authoritarianism, conformity, or destructiveness", what I do object to is when these pitiable creatures feel the need to impose their shortcomings on their betters. And, yes, the truth may hurt their feelings, but those who don't need to be controlled, and don't desire to control others, are quite definitely better than those who don't want liberty.

I am an abolitionist, but I won't force you to be free.

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*I haven't read the book, but maybe I should. Although, I try to limit the "serious reading" nowadays. For sanity's sake.

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This is where to find Socialist Utopia

Where is socialism successful, and those living under it happy and healthy?

The same place where magic is real, where faster-then-light travel is possible, where shape-shifters live.

Fiction. All those things are in fiction. Books, movies, TV shows. But only in fiction.

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If you want to coexist with me...

No matter how I feel about a particular religion-- be it Islam, Christianity, Statism, or the belief in "authority"-- your beliefs are your business.

As long as you don't act on those beliefs by archating.

It's not my problem that you are Muslim until you try to force Sharia on people who aren't Muslims.

It's not my problem that you are Christian until you try to force Bible-based rules on people who aren't Christians.

It's not my problem that you are a statist until you try to force your "laws" and Rulers on people who aren't Statists.

Whatever your beliefs, don't use them to justify violating anyone who doesn't share them and I can coexist with you just fine.

But, once you do, I will not feel the slightest bit bad for defending myself or others from you and your beliefs. And your death at the hands of your intended victim will please me.

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Getting from Here to There

I've been pondering "gradualism" and "pragmatism"-- things over which I have disagreed with people in the past.

And, I'll probably continue to disagree in the future.

Let me illustrate my thinking.

You are Here. You want to be There. (I'll assume for the moment that "There" is Rightful Liberty, where everyone's right to do whatever they want, as long as it doesn't violate anyone else's equal and identical rights, is respected completely.)

If the path between Here and There was a nice, grassy meadow without threatening life forms or geological features, there wouldn't be a problem. Just go.

Unfortunately, that's not the case. Between Here and There are dangers and troubles, both seen and unseen. There are snakes and swamps and canyons. There are vast expanses of scree, and creeks. There are rutting bull elk, mosquitoes, bears, "laws", and cops. These things can't be completely avoided by skirting the territory; they might be minimized a little, though.

So, how to deal with it?

Some people want to go the long way around, befriending the mosquitoes and appeasing the cops out on the perimeter, while avoiding the hard path.

Others want to plow on ahead, just shoving their way through everything until they either get where they wanted to be, or die in the attempt.

Still others pick their way across, taking the shortest possible path the best they can, but never forgetting the destination.

The problem I have with those who try to go completely around everything is that too often, they forget where There is. Or that it even exists. They become comfortable with the status quo and hate anyone who threatens to remind them of There. They grow attached to some of the things they should recognize as wrong. Like cops, "laws", "nice" politicians, and the government military. Then they behave as a collaborator against those who refuse to pretend that bad things (and people) are not bad. They may even begin defending these violations.

And that's what I can't stomach from "gradualists" and "pragmatists".

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Principles, or a convenience?

If you have principles, they don't change just because you are personally affected by something.

If you do change, it means you probably didn't have principles to begin with, but were just following your feelings; a convenience.

Or, maybe you realized your previously held principles were wrong. It happens.

Or, maybe you have reasons why you felt the need to abandon your principles. I suppose that happens, too. The only reasons for that I can see involve a desire to do something your principles told you is wrong, and the desire to do it anyway was stronger than your attachment to your principles.

I recently saw a person publicly declare he is rejecting the Zero Aggression Principle (ZAP) after years of following it. The reason: Someone had insulted his girlfriend and he decided that the ZAP was inconvenient and "pacifist" because it informed him that using violence against the insulter would be something he didn't have a right to do. He didn't like this and started posting links claiming that words cause real harm.

He totally missed what the ZAP is.

It's not a Law, it is a promise.

I have always said, if you feel a need to do something you have no right to do, go ahead and do it. And live with the consequences.

If you reject the ZAP, my question to you is this: Who do you want to attack without feeling bad about yourself?

Please check out the Zero Aggression Project

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Government doesn't serve community

(My Eastern New Mexico News column for January 18, 2017- This one never showed up on the website. Perhaps it was deemed "too dangerous" or "rude".)

 I believe serving the community can be a wonderful thing. However, the idea of service has undergone some peculiar mutations over the years.

The best way to serve the community is to do the best job you can, being useful, and not violating anyone's life, liberty, or property while doing it. Avoiding violations is the bare minimum to qualify as service. Master this and the rest will fall into place, even if you don't get the same praise and recognition as those who draw attention to themselves.

Those on the government's tax-funded payroll, who are often considered by their peers and a fawning public to be serving the community, aren't. If your job empowers you to violate or control others who have no choice but to fund you and are not permitted to refuse your service, you aren't serving them-- no matter the justification. Please quit.

The cashier is serving the community. So are the waiter and the dish washer. As is the good mechanic, and the dog walker. The knowledgeable hardware store employee who can help people avoid costly mistakes is serving heroically. Being paid for your service doesn't diminish it, as long as the pay is completely voluntary and your customers can choose to go elsewhere, or to opt out entirely if they don't want or need your service.

If people have no choice but to fund your job through taxes or other fees, you aren't serving them. You are preying on them. Even if you are doing something they might hire someone to do in a free market, compulsion means they aren't your customers, but your victims.

It would be nice if people would flee those kind of jobs, and seek jobs which are mutually beneficial and one hundred percent consensual. Jobs which actually serve society by helping individuals.

Yet, serving others doesn't even necessarily involve your job.

Pick up litter where you see it, and never contribute to the trash blowing in the wind. Open doors for those behind you. Lend a hand when you can. Don't drive aggressively, or distractedly.

Mind your own business unless invited to give your opinion or assistance. Be a good neighbor in every sense of the concept.

These are things you can do to have a positive impact on the people around you-- your community. Don't let self-contradictory definitions warp your view of what constitutes service. You can do it from where you are right now, and if you do, I honor your service.

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"Antifa"- just another type of anti-liberty bigot

"Antifa" are archators.
Just as bad as the fascists they claim to oppose.
So are Democrats and Republicans and other socialists.

Sure, they all fight among themselves, but they are NOT on your side. None of them. They are all just different flavors of anti-liberty bigot.

The enemy of your enemy is not necessarily your friend. Sometimes, as in this case, they are far more alike than different.

But, I do enjoy seeing them keeping each other busy and out of my hair. And I can't grieve when they hurt one another. It always seems so well-earned.

Socialist thugs

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Honoring "Law"

There is a fairly easy way to know when you can discount the next thing someone will say: when they say something positive about "the rule of law", or that "America is a nation of laws".

When I hear those things, I know the next words will be statist apologetics; justification to violate the life, liberty, or property of someone, somewhere, for some "reason".

Because, somehow, those "laws" which are touted never benefit the Rightful Liberty of the individual, but only some collective concept.

"Laws" of both kinds disgust me.

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"Context"

"Context" is a concept I have recently seen used a couple of different times to justify archation. As in, you just have to understand where "they" are coming from. They aren't wrong, they just understand the context of things. Put yourself in the shoes of people who want to give themselves permission to violate the life, liberty, or property of others.

I understand "context". I also understand it is inferior to principle.

"Context" means rape is OK to those who are afraid of principle.

Everyone who seeks to justify statism of any degree is afraid of principle. They have to make a choice-- and they do make one. They choose "context"- also known as "situational ethics".

It is true that not every decision is a "right or wrong" dichotomy. There are some "maybes" out there; some gray areas. But most of those where people want to claim "context" are clearly right or wrong, and the people wanting to use "context" are wanting to feel good about doing the wrong thing. Consequences don't care how you justify your archation.

It depends on the "context"?

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Response: Not Being ‘Evil’ Does Not Mean Being Foolish

enlightened rogue responded to my post Does evil justify evil? with this response: Not Being ‘Evil’ Does Not Mean Being Foolish

And, I agree with him to a point. But I do have a problem with this:

"Treating the symptoms of any problem will not ultimately correct its cause, but it will help lessen suffering from those symptoms and help prevent still further problems." 

If treating the symptoms makes one comfortable enough to forget about the cause, the cause will stop being responded to. And this is what I see happen time after time. People only squeal about the symptoms as long as they are uncomfortable, but if you can make them comfortable again, they refuse to think about the cause until they are once again uncomfortable. I want statists to suffer from their poor choices.

 It's a difficult mess, to be sure.

Edited to add: If the symptoms aren't fatal, and the root cause is, treating the symptoms isn't "helping" anyone.

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Donation request

If anyone would like to help me afford something my 9 year-old daughter is asking for, a one time donation of $20 to $40 would really help.

It's nothing "important" enough for me to get myself into financial hot-water over, but it's important enough to her (and thus, to me) that I decided to make the request.

I also request that if you are a subscriber or previous donor, you ignore this and let someone new enjoy the endorphin rush this time.

Thanks for your consideration.

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Your ridiculous nosy neighbor

The USA is a GladysKravitzOcracy. It's ridiculous and pathetic. Yet, it can still cause problems for you and me when the nosiness gets into our private lives.

Innocent actions will be interpreted to be scandalous. And, even actions which are not completely innocent are still NOT the nosy neighbor's business in most cases.

I am thankful to people like Edward Snowden- including those like him who haven't yet been discovered- for exposing the rude and dangerous nosiness of the bad neighbor.

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Does evil justify evil?

To rely on the argument that as long as there is welfare and the risk of crime, there must be "immigration control" is a really poor argument.

You could justify almost anything that way.

As long as there is rape, there must be mandatory chastity belts.

As long as murder exists, there must be anti-gun "laws".

As long as ignorance is dangerous, there must be government schools, and as long as there are government schools, you must steal money from property owners to pay for them.

I could go on like that all day. You can't justify one evil by the existence of another evil. You've got to respect rights. Perhaps that will solve the problem you claim to be concerned about. Maybe it won't. But at least you'll stop being part of the problem.

The solution is NOT to violate people through violating property rights (which is what "immigration control" comes down to), but to STOP violating people through stealing their money and redistributing it, and by criminalizing self defense.

The reality of the existence of evil doesn't justify more evil. Get rid of the evil you are using to justify a second evil, rather than looking to a second one to counter the first. Or, at the very least, stop defending the root evils as an excuse for the secondary evils.

Quick! Build a second one to fight him off!

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Keep an eye out for the unexpected

(My Eastern New Mexico News column for January 11, 2017)

Life comes at you unexpectedly.

Risks are always near-- from aggressive people, the weather, or simply from Murphy's Law. No matter where you are or what you are doing, expect the unexpected, but don't let it consume your life.

You could worry yourself to death over dangers, or you can let awareness and preparedness become a game. Yes, it can be fun. Plus, it will make your life richer because you'll notice more.

Pay attention to your surroundings. Notice people acting strangely or things out of place. Listen to your gut.

I'm sure those in the Fort Lauderdale airport expected nothing out of the ordinary to happen. I would bet not a single person there was expecting any type of attack. After all, there were "no guns" signs posted.

The reality is those signs have never prevented a murderous attack. Not even one.

The honest translation of "no guns" is "We don't care if you die". No matter where the signs are posted, or whatever justifications are used, it is what they mean. Avoid those who place so little value on your life that they forbid you the proper self defense tools.

It doesn't end there. Bad people, and those who empower them, aren't the only thing which can ruin your day.

Exciting weather and car trouble are a bad combination. Keep some high-energy, non-perishable food-- peanut butter, for example-- in your car, along with a blanket. Keep water handy year-round, in case of emergency. Pay attention to the weather and expect the unexpected.

At home, store water and extra food, in case of trouble. If there's a medication you need regularly, get some extra into your rotation. Imagine different events, and plan ways you and your family would cope. Include your kids and see what ideas they come up with. Plan escape routes in case of fire, and where to meet to make sure everyone got out safely. Remind your children that windows aren't sacred, and should be smashed if it's the best way out. Don't forget to tell them to lay a blanket over the sill to protect them from broken glass as they escape.

Ultimately your safety is always your responsibility. It can't be anyone else's.

Even if you never experience a crisis, being prepared can prevent inconveniences and smooth over all sorts of bumps in the road. And it might just keep you breathing one more day. I hope you never need any of your emergency preparations, but if you do, you'll be glad you were ready.

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When civility isn't enough

Some years ago I had a retail store. One thing I hated about having a business was having to deal with agents of the State. Sometimes, I just said "No" to them and refused further cooperation or communication.

One guy would stand on the front steps and call his supervisor to see what to do when I refused to comply. Nothing ever came of that. I tried to make sure it wasn't something they were willing to shut me down over, though.

Sometimes, in the case of things they would have shut me down over, I gave them what appeared to be what they were demanding. Especially in the case of helping my customers rat themselves out.

There was one particular issue I couldn't find a good monkeywrench for: I despised being forced to be a "tax" collector against my customers. Yes, I minimized the theft where I could.

But, I collected the money and sent it to government because otherwise I would have been murdered.

However, me being me, I did make my point.

But, I was still civil.

On the memo line of every check I sent to the various "revenue" gangs, I wrote "extortion payment" beside my account number. The State of Colorado never seemed to notice, but the woman in the city "revenue" office noticed, and it really bothered her. She repeatedly called me to complain or get an explanation. A time or two she even came into my store to confront me face to face. I was nice. I was polite. I was civil. But I stood my ground.

"Taxation" IS theft.

She would object "But that's how we pay the police!" I said "I don't need or want police. I want to opt out."
"You can't do that!"

She would say "But don't you want good streets?" I would say "Not if I have to steal from my customers to pay for them."
"But, but, but...!"

Her response was always one of complete exasperation. She would sigh loudly and hang up. And then call again in a few months.

I don't know why it bothered her so much. I was paying what she demanded. If there was nothing wrong with what she was doing, why not just let it go? Why make an issue?

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Civility all around

I'm civil to cops, politicians, and other bad guys in public-- as long as they aren't currently archating. I don't pretend they are anything other than what they are, though.

I have zero respect for thugs and bullies, no matter how they justify their evil actions. There can be no real justification for it. However, respect isn't necessary to just be civil. Never mistake my civility for approval of what you do, and don't think I won't turn if you start causing trouble.

I can be civil to those who are doing the same with me, and most bad guys are civil most of the time, to most people. Otherwise, they wouldn't survive. But they are what they are, based on what they do.

People who respect or honor these bad guys are also enemies of liberty-- but I apply the same civility to them, too.

Perhaps it would be more "principled" to always treat bad guys like dirt, in every situation and in every encounter. That doesn't seem like a pleasant way to live. I am willing to overlook certain things in certain circumstances in order to make my own life a little easier.

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Hacking at foamy branches

Those who object to some consequences of government, while never questioning whether or not government's existence might be the root problem, remind me of a person whose only objection to rabies is the drooling.

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When you're not that serious about a solution

If you claim to be aware of a problem, and say you want to solve it, but you won't do the minimum necessary, then you must not really believe the problem is very important after all.

Bullying is a prime example.

"Public schools", those socialist indoctrination prisons, are a primary cause of bullying. Ignorant prohibitions on self defense provide the rest of the cause.

So, if you aren't willing to abolish kinderprisons and to stop allowing self defense to be penalized, you obviously don't believe bullying is much of a problem, no matter how many words you expend on the subject. Any protests to the contrary fall on deaf ears-- what you do means more than what you say.

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Here's an idea...

If anyone filed "taxes", is getting a "refund", and would like to rub it in the IRS's face, buy guns and ammo.

Or make a donation to me.

Either way. 😉

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Don't play cops and robbers

The Nazis and Soviets were enemies. Which side were the good guys?

Both were evil. Yes, evil.

Cops and robbers are enemies. Which side are the good guys?

Both are evil. Yes, evil.

And that's ignoring the fact that the majority of what cops do involves robbing people in one way or another. And it's also ignoring the fact that many cops actually go freelance and steal beyond what their disgusting "job" allows them to steal.

The same goes for cops against any other evildoer. Cops and murderers. Cops and rapists. Cops and kidnappers. Cops and anyone else who initiates force and/or violates property rights.

You can always have two bad guys who hate each other, and try to tell you to choose between them; that if you don't choose one side, you automatically support the other. It's a lie. Don't fall for the trick of believing you must consider one or the other to be the good guys; better than the other.

There is always a third, non-evil, option when you have bad guys pitted against bad guys. You are not being being reasonable to choose between cops and other bad guys, throwing your support behind one side or the other. It's a false choice. That path leads nowhere good.

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Led by their nose; excited by cruelty

Humans have this tendency to want to stick their nose where it doesn't belong. And, then when their nose discovers something, as it always will, they want to meddle.

That's what spawns government, but it's not the worst of it.

Humans are also capable of thinking up all sorts of creative cruelties and evil. One defining characteristic of the State is that those cruel and evil practices are almost always incorporated into it. This is how they choose to meddle, if they can get away with it.

Of course, then, as long as those things are done by people acting on behalf of the State, the cruel and evil nature of the acts are ignored. The pretense can be that those things-- in that context-- are righteous.

They aren't.

And it doesn't matter if it is something that was done hundreds of years ago, but which is no longer accepted, or something the evil bullies at the Pentagon thought up last year. Evil is evil, torture is torture. It can't be sanctified even if it "works". It turn you into a bad guy, even if your victim is also a bad guy. I want bad guys to always lose.

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Protectionism- For those who believe the world is too easy

The same kind of economic thinking errors that make people support corporate "taxes" (believing the corporations could pay them without figuring the expense into the costs of doing business) and make them believe renters pay no property "taxes" (because landlords just kind-heartedly eat that expense, I suppose) are probably happening in those who believe protectionism will help America's economy.

Now, I'll admit it will probably boost the free market economy (The Black Market), but it is always disastrous to the above-ground economy and those who depend on it. Yet, many of the people who will be hurt the most blindly support it every time some economically illiterate (or crooked and pandering) puppetician proposes it.

It's a major derpity-do moment. "Hey, I know- let's all drink bleach! That will really teach those people who sell us Kool-Aid a lesson!"

Again, I doubt the protectionism enthusiasts will learn anything when it comes back to bite them. They'll find someone else to blame and never notice their own stupidity.

Probably even dumber than this.

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It's your choice to live in liberty

(My Eastern New Mexico News column for January 4, 2017)

I want your life to be better. I want you to be happier. I don't know your individual situation so I can't tell you what to do to make yourself better and happier. Nor do I have the authority to impose my ideas of what might help in your life, anyway. No one does, although some seem to believe they do.

I believe liberty is always better than slavery, voluntary is always better than coerced, and trade is always better than theft. If you believe something different, I have the right to defend myself from your actions, but I probably can't make you change your mind.

I can offer my opinions; I can point to evidence. If your mind is made up, those will not change it. In fact, studies have shown you are most likely to dig in your heels and refuse to even consider anything which goes against what you have already decided to believe.

There is a big danger attached to ideas of making things better. It's a short distance between believing something is better and feeling justified in forcing everyone to follow it "or else".

That's the flaw with most "laws". Someone got a bright idea they decided would be better, and instead of trying to convince people it would be a good idea, they cheated and made it mandatory. By creating a "law" based on their idea, they imposed it with guns.

If something is a good idea, you don't need to force people to follow it, and if you do have to force people, it's a clear sign your idea isn't as good as you believe. In fact, it's probably worthless, if not outright harmful.

This is why I wouldn't force you to live free even if I could. Such a thing as "forced freedom" is contradictory, but even worse, you can't be free without understanding freedom. Even if freed of government enslavement, without an understanding of what freedom and liberty mean, a person would fall right back into the cage. And probably be grateful to do so.

I respect your right to make mistakes and do the wrong thing. I hope you learn from your experiences. I hope you venture from the cage just enough to discover it's nice out here, and the things you have been trained to fear are mostly shadows and illusions. I want you to live in liberty because I'm certain it would be better for you. It's still your choice.

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"Libertarian" and "anarchist" Trump supporters?

I see a lot of people very upset over the libertarians and anarchists who have become enthusiastic Trump supporters.

These upset people are focusing on the fishy-smelling foam and the transient waves that lap across the sandy beach rather than focusing on the ocean.

Some people will come and go-- chasing every "new thing" that comes along: Ron Paul, Trump, or whatever.

But there's a core that stays consistent. Those are the ones to watch. Let the shifty ones do their thing-- they were never really on your side, anyway. They may stink up the beach, and tear down sand castles, and get a lot of attention, but they don't really affect the ocean depths too much.

There's a difference between enjoying the anguish Trump is causing to certain factions of the statist "left" and actually supporting his assaults on Rightful Liberty. I love the former and despise the latter, myself.

Don't focus on what people call themselves- look at what they do.

"Libertarian" and "anarchist" Trump lovers

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A reality primer for Mr. Trump

Trump seems to need some understanding concerning "immigration": so, one, two, and three.

"Trade deficits": this phantom again?

Pipelines: If your pipeline depends on theft of private property ("eminent domain"), then you are a thief; a socialist. You are committing evil. You can't do good through evil means.

Rightful Liberty and rights: They aren't dependent on where you were born or where you live. Even the Declaration of Independence didn't make that error. Human? Then you have the exact same rights as every other human, whether gangs of bullies respect those rights or not. Period.

His support for cops and the War on Politically Incorrect Drugs: Decent people can't support cops, and prohibition is stupid and evil.

Now, I like the fact that Trump has thrown the status quo "establishment" into minor chaos by refusing to go along with some of its sacred traditions. And, I hate that he is violating Rightful Liberty, believing this can somehow make a dying nation-state (there is no other kind) "great again". At least he's not boring.

But his fans and haters? They are boring in the extreme.

Trump, his fans, and his haters, all need this book: Problem? Solved!

You're welcome.

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Looking at "the Other"

Ever noticed how nationalists always think of "others" as dirty, disease-ridden, stupid, criminals?

It sure looks like projection to me.

What are they seeing?

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Religious archators

I am not "for Islam". In fact, I hate Islam. Not just "radical Islam", but all Islam. That's just how it is. For that matter, I'm not too fond of any religion. I know this may not be rational, and I would never support any "law" restricting religion (or anything else) in any way. That's the difference between me and most other people. I know my feelings are just feelings.

So, while I'm not "for Islam", I am for Liberty. And Liberty necessarily includes the right to blow the brains out of any idiot who violates anyone for any reason. Most of the "laws" and policies aimed at Muslims are going to hurt Liberty much worse than it will hurt them.

If someone is violating you or your property in the name of their religion, be it Christianity, Islam, or "The Law", I support your acts of self defense.

I simply don't like people who archate for any reason. I like it when archators die in the act of archating- I don't care what their justification might have been. Justice is served by their death-- or, perhaps in that case justice is not even necessary.

I don't like when people move here from other territories and commit archation. Not as a part of a gang; not because they believe their religion is served by it; and not just because they are a jerk. But, I see zero difference between an archator born in this town and one born in Mexico or Syria. The act is what makes it wrong, not their birthplace.

I also don't like it when people archate to build a wall to "seal the borders" and thus violate the property rights of everyone on both sides, and especially those whose property lies along the path of that wall. They are doing just what they accuse those they are trying to keep out of doing.

The wall-lusters are just like those they hate. They are acting exactly like "radical Muslims", "illegal aliens", and criminals. They are violating the life, liberty, and property of others. They don't see it, because they desperately don't want to see it, but it's the truth. They hide the superstitious nature of their desire-- their own twisted religion-- from themselves, because otherwise they might have to see themselves as the bad guys. They hide their true nature behind nice-sounding lies.

I see through their lies. Don't you?

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