When I was a kid I was only interested in freedom (maybe along with some feelings of "safety"). As I grew I began to grudgingly accept some responsibility too.
When I became aware of the world outside my personal sphere, it didn't bother me that government existed. It seemed natural-- no one else seemed to think it was anything grotesque. Mainly because I gave it no thought at all.
During some of my pre-teen years, my dad was a lobbyist who would go to the Texas capitol as part of his job. He took me with him to learn about government. I spent time wandering the building and grounds (yes, on my own) and sitting in a little snack shop in the building. I met politicians, sat in their chairs, shook their hands, and had my picture taken with them. (Someday I ought to look for those pictures-- I have them around here somewhere.) One of those politicians later went to prison for some corruption thing.
Anyway...
I grew up mostly "conservative" (like my parents) but with a few non-standard views. I was always an environmentalist and started out believing government should (and could) "protect the environment". The inconvenient reality that most "environmental protection" had the opposite effect didn't go unnoticed, however. The cracks were showing.
For years I believed government should prohibit drugs and punish drug abusers. The more I learned from history, the shakier that position became. Everything like that I actually gave any thought to disproved the necessity of government. The cracks were growing.
Even as a young adult, I thought that maybe government had a point; that guns were just too dangerous and were more bad than good. Then, learning history and getting deeper into the claims and counterclaims destroyed that delusion for good. The cracks and splits started making chunks fall off.
Even as late as around 20 years ago (and still slightly when this blog began), I thought the US Constitution was great and that the main trouble with the US FedGov was that it ignored the Constitution too much. As I discovered the nature of rights I began to realize that the Constitution enshrined the violation of rights in favor of government power. Personally, I was done with it at that point.
I still like to use constitutional arguments against people who claim to love the Constitution while ignoring the parts they don't like (or hallucinating parts they want to be there, like "immigration" stuff). It's kind of funny. And I'll use it to demonstrate just how criminal the US FedGov has become-- it's even criminal by its own measure since it won't live within the limits laid out for it at its founding.
As part of this personal evolution, I stopped focusing on freedom and switched to liberty; freedom tempered with responsibility. I stopped accepting excuses for why "we" have to have political government. The whole thing shattered into tiny bits.
The main point is, that the older I get, the more anarchist I become. I don't buy any of the arguments in favor of governing others anymore. Even though, because of my history, I understand where those arguments come from.
If others are determined to cling to government, that's their business as long as they don't try to impose it on me. There's the rub-- the reason for any conflict. It's not on my shoulders. I'm fine with responsibility, but I won't take responsibility for the ethical failings of others. And supporting political government imposing itself on others is a major ethical failing-- none is bigger.
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