New prez won't change politics as usual

(My Eastern New Mexico News column for January 26, 2025)

Are you tired of overwrought political drama? Can we stop hyperventilating over the political hysteria of the past and get on with real life again? I hope so, but I've seen an awful lot of panic on social media over the past few days. Some people are coming unhinged and could become dangerous. If you think the world will end-- or has been saved-- because there's a different president, you put too much faith in politicians.

Now that there's a new (or perhaps "recycled" is a better word) president, how are you feeling? Optimistic? Doomed? Wondering "What's a president?"

I'm glad Biden is gone, but now the work to point out the bad things President Trump will do begins. Again.

The only promise Trump made that I cared about was his promise to free political prisoner Ross Ulbricht on "day one". He technically broke the promise but got around to it the second day. Better late than never. Politicians never care about their promises as much as we care about them being kept to the letter.

Whatever else Trump does, I'm grateful he followed through with this one.

As for the rest, I expect politics as usual when it comes to liberty. Politics is easy; liberty is hard for politicians. It goes against their instincts and makes the other government functionaries angry. They'll look for any excuse to avoid respecting liberty. It's why they prefer to use the watered-down word, "freedom".

Some of the things conservatives want from Trump would be a good change for liberty. Others are as disastrous as the things the Biden administration was doing, just in different directions. Authoritarianism of any flavor is always the wrong way to go.

Maybe I'm jaded. Maybe there will be a positive change. I would love to be pleasantly surprised. Whatever happens, we aren't out of the woods. As long as there's a political government designed to violate your liberty, as they all are, and politicians willing to be the ones committing the crime of governing others, there will be work to do.

Protecting liberty-- your freedom to do everything you have a right to do because it violates no one else-- is a never-ending task. It's one no politician is capable of doing. Or willing to do. Defending liberty is something only you and I can do. I intend to do my part; I'm counting on you to do yours.

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What is praiseworthy?

Your “race” is not something to be praised.
Your sex is not something to be praised.

These things are beyond your control, and none is better than any other. Praising (or rewarding) anyone for something like that is dumb.

Also, what you do with your genitalia is not something to be praised, as long as you aren't violating anyone else with what you do.

This brings up what is worthy of praise-- not violating the rights of others. When you don't stand in the way of their liberty. Regardless of the excuse you use, including if you use "race" or sex as your justification. This is usually better than "helping" them.

You can still speak out when you think (or know) they are doing something that will result in them hurting themselves. You can tell them, ridicule them, or beg them. Those things are within your rights, even if they don't like it. You simply have no right to initiate force to stop them. "Force" includes legislation; the threat to kill them with government.

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