'Law sewers'
I believe that people should be free to choose what kind of society they live in. That means that those who wish to live under a powerful government with "laws" controlling or regulating every aspect of their lives should be allowed to do so. Of course, that also means that those of us who want no form of external government at all should be free to pursue our path as well.
There are no longer any places that are not "legal cesspools". Some localities are worse than others, and some LEOs are worse about enforcing all the "applicable edicts" than others, but no place is any longer immune from the overbearing statism that infects America in these early years of the 21st century.
Just about every place is now drowning under a tsunami of "laws", regulations, licensing requirements, permits, ....and the list goes on. Some people obviously like that kind of an environment.
Different strokes for different folks. I have seen houses that were dirtier than a hog pen, too, where the occupants seemed perfectly content. However, it is wrong to make others live in your filth by polluting their homes as well as your own.
This means that in order to be free of such, freedom-lovers may have to carve a bit of freedom from the grasp of the tyrannies of the world, unless the tyrants, and those who are content to live under tyrants, can be convinced of our resolve to live unmolested.
"Law pollution" is a real problem. If people want a huge load of "laws" controlling every aspect of their lives, there are a couple of peaceful solutions that can be reached. Let them congregate in a few big cities like New York City, Chicago, or Los Angeles. Then let them regulate each other to death if that is what they want. Or, let them just leave the rest of us alone while we live among one another; overlapping societies in the same space.
What this comes down to is "keep your filthy government off my life".
********************
Monday, September 28, 2009
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Mapping freedom
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Mapping freedom
Freedom is a large, almost infinite, landscape, and to cover it all takes a mighty big map. No single person can explore it all, nor would any one person want to.
Freedom is a large, almost infinite, landscape, and to cover it all takes a mighty big map. No single person can explore it all, nor would any one person want to.
"FreedomLand" contains the territories of "Gun Rights", "Medicinal Freedom", "Sexual Enjoyment", "Property Rights", "Religious Freedom", and a multitude of other zones. Some of these zones share borders or overlap with one another. Some are on opposite sides of the map. One person can be at home in many different areas, yet may never have any interest in visiting some zones at all. That is natural and normal.
Your area of interest may overlap the area of another person's interest, but there can be two liberty-lovers whose areas have no overlap at all. It doesn't mean you area at odds, though. Only a person who is not "on the map" at all is against you. You know, someone like Obama, Bush, or just about anyone who works for government at any level. Sometimes even a cretin such as these has a point where their perpendicular philosophy of authoritarianism intersects the map of FreedomLand, because perpendicular planes can, and often do, intersect. That just means that on some particular point, they have the right idea. It doesn't mean they are right anywhere else, or that they are on the side of freedom. Even a stopped clock is right twice a day, but that doesn't mean that if you need to know the time you look there first. Neither does it mean that if that stopped clock agrees with your observations you should reject the information you got independently.
So grab your map, get out there, and check out the scenery. You'll like what you discover! To paraphrase a quote: "See Freedom First!"
Saturday, September 26, 2009
News vs philosophizing
News vs philosophizing
Why do I not analyze very many "news" stories in these columns? Because I'd rather help you learn to use the tool between your ears which will allow you to do the analyzing yourself. Plus, the news is just the same old thing, day after day: authoritarians against those they can push around.
Pick just about any news story and you will see the same. The players are interchangeable in most cases. Sometimes it is strong authoritarian types going up against weak authoritarian types, such as in the G-20 protests. Rarely it is people who really understand freedom going against authoritarians in "high places". Often it is just authoritarians attacking or planning an attack against people who have done nothing wrong, but who only want to live their lives unmolested. The rest of the time it is freelance thugs who commit the same acts as their governmental brethren, but without the silly hat of government as a protective talisman.
I could pick apart a particular news item each day, missing hundreds of local, national, or global events in the process, or I can try to help you see how to analyze and weigh the things you run across on your own. I have chosen the latter. There are plenty of extremely capable individuals doing the former. Give them a visit.
Why do I not analyze very many "news" stories in these columns? Because I'd rather help you learn to use the tool between your ears which will allow you to do the analyzing yourself. Plus, the news is just the same old thing, day after day: authoritarians against those they can push around.
Pick just about any news story and you will see the same. The players are interchangeable in most cases. Sometimes it is strong authoritarian types going up against weak authoritarian types, such as in the G-20 protests. Rarely it is people who really understand freedom going against authoritarians in "high places". Often it is just authoritarians attacking or planning an attack against people who have done nothing wrong, but who only want to live their lives unmolested. The rest of the time it is freelance thugs who commit the same acts as their governmental brethren, but without the silly hat of government as a protective talisman.
I could pick apart a particular news item each day, missing hundreds of local, national, or global events in the process, or I can try to help you see how to analyze and weigh the things you run across on your own. I have chosen the latter. There are plenty of extremely capable individuals doing the former. Give them a visit.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Understanding right and wrong is not hard
Understanding right and wrong is not hard
How do we tell "right" from "wrong"? When I ask this I am not talking about choosing the "right" color of car, or what to eat for lunch, where one choice was determined to be "right" and the other "wrong" based upon your mood or values. Rather, I am talking about "good" and "evil".
So, how do you discern between the two? Do you need a God or a religion? Do you need other people to tell you? Do you need a government to decide for you with its "laws"? Is "right" and "wrong" subject to a majority opinion, or a "vote"? Or, is it something that is set in your human genes, only to be altered by trauma, serious brainwashing, or abuse?
"Evil" is any act which harms those who do not deserve to be harmed right now, in other words, it is anything which harms "the innocent". It doesn't change its nature because you wish it would. It doesn't change because you "need" it to change. It doesn't change because your God (or a representative thereof) tells you it has changed in order to get you to commit some act you otherwise wouldn't. It doesn't change because some Ruler has passed a "law".
Every human, other than those who have been mentally or emotionally damaged, understands this concept instinctively. Experimentation and observation even show that some non-human animals have more of an understanding of "right" and "wrong" than has usually been suspected. In humans who have had this basic wiring altered, where does the damage which short-circuits this understanding come from? It can be from a physical or chemical problem with the brain, but it is usually the result of manipulation by an authority or "collective" which depends on confusing this natural human understanding. Religions and states are the two biggest offenders, but even individuals can be guilty of this. Sometimes it is decided by an individual who thinks it will "help" him to hurt others for some reason. In the short-term, it can "work". But it is still wrong.
I am quite certain you understand the difference between the two, even if you pretend you don't in order to get away with something without thinking badly of yourself.
Libertarianism, anarchism, or whatever you want to call the philosophy of liberty, flows logically from the acceptance of this simple understanding of the differences between "right" and "wrong". It really isn't that difficult to understand, unless you try really hard to miss the point. If that is the case, you might want to ask yourself "why?"
How do we tell "right" from "wrong"? When I ask this I am not talking about choosing the "right" color of car, or what to eat for lunch, where one choice was determined to be "right" and the other "wrong" based upon your mood or values. Rather, I am talking about "good" and "evil".
So, how do you discern between the two? Do you need a God or a religion? Do you need other people to tell you? Do you need a government to decide for you with its "laws"? Is "right" and "wrong" subject to a majority opinion, or a "vote"? Or, is it something that is set in your human genes, only to be altered by trauma, serious brainwashing, or abuse?
"Evil" is any act which harms those who do not deserve to be harmed right now, in other words, it is anything which harms "the innocent". It doesn't change its nature because you wish it would. It doesn't change because you "need" it to change. It doesn't change because your God (or a representative thereof) tells you it has changed in order to get you to commit some act you otherwise wouldn't. It doesn't change because some Ruler has passed a "law".
Every human, other than those who have been mentally or emotionally damaged, understands this concept instinctively. Experimentation and observation even show that some non-human animals have more of an understanding of "right" and "wrong" than has usually been suspected. In humans who have had this basic wiring altered, where does the damage which short-circuits this understanding come from? It can be from a physical or chemical problem with the brain, but it is usually the result of manipulation by an authority or "collective" which depends on confusing this natural human understanding. Religions and states are the two biggest offenders, but even individuals can be guilty of this. Sometimes it is decided by an individual who thinks it will "help" him to hurt others for some reason. In the short-term, it can "work". But it is still wrong.
I am quite certain you understand the difference between the two, even if you pretend you don't in order to get away with something without thinking badly of yourself.
Libertarianism, anarchism, or whatever you want to call the philosophy of liberty, flows logically from the acceptance of this simple understanding of the differences between "right" and "wrong". It really isn't that difficult to understand, unless you try really hard to miss the point. If that is the case, you might want to ask yourself "why?"
Misunderstanding the revolution
Misunderstanding the revolution
Once again a racist has made some rather self-incriminating statements and has illustrated his lack of understanding and lack of principles all at the same time.
From the Twin Cities Daily Planet comes this "gem" from Ralph Remington (he possesses a proud firearm name, at least). He doesn't understand what is happening in the world around him, and is blaming others. So let me educate him.
First of all, Mr. Remington is a racist. His capitalizations in the piece illustrate the importance he places upon "race", as does his mindset. He claims the opposition to Obama's socialist agenda is based upon only the president's "race". If that were the case, freedom advocates such as myself would have been saying nothing during Bush the Second's ill-conceived reign. We were not silent; Mr. Remington was just not listening. Only a racist could decry justified opposition to Obama's agenda because of "sympathy" for, or identification with, Obama's "race".
If the Black Panther incident he mentions from May 2, 1967, happened just as he relates, given the opportunity I would be right there to support the absolute right of those activists to own and to carry their arms wherever they wish, as long as they do not initiate force, and I loudly condemn the rights-violations by the police who responded, and Reagan's self-serving reaction of passing the "laws" against open carry in California. Despicable authoritarian statists of every stripe often react badly to people exercising fundamental human rights.
Also, Mr. Remington, you must be willingly ignoring the race of the most "famous" open-carrier who was made such a big deal of in the mainstream media recently: the video shown by MSNBC was "creatively" edited to hide the race of the man with the AR-15 at Obama's Arizona appearance. But, we should be used to this sort of dishonesty from the mainstream media by now, shouldn't we?
Then he claims the demonstrators are "misquoting Thomas Jefferson to justify a call to arms". Really? Read beyond the one, feared, quote to the whole body of Jefferson's writings. Jefferson believed that tyrants needed to be killed, every time they came to power, and he recognized that freedom-lovers would die in the unpleasantness as well, in order to "water the tree of liberty". There is no "misquoting" going on, and the only misunderstanding comes from those who hate freedom and side with the tyrants. People like Mr. Remington, apparently.
Jefferson and many of the other founders of America were much less polite about saying what needed to happen to those who violated the basic human rights of "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" than most modern demonstrators and freedom advocates. Most of us are cowards compared to them. Jefferson and his ilk would have been saying exactly what they were thinking and taking whatever consequences came their way. Of course, there was no ironically misnamed "PATRIOT act" back then to be used to protect tyrants from justice.
If there IS the racial "subtext" that Mr. Remington hungers for, it is not coming from the REAL freedom advocates, but from a few of the disgruntled Republicans who are simply riding on the coat tails of the freedom lovers. They are not the ones tyrants really need to fear, though, since they are fine with tyranny as long as it is "their guy" doing the tyrannizing.
Those of us who matter don't care about a person's race, we care about his or her actions. We care about freedom. We are not "conservative", or "racist". A large number of us are LGBT, "Black", Hispanic, female, Asian, Native, or members of any other "group" that Mr. Remington falsely believes are on his side: you know, the side that believes it is OK to steal and murder as long as you wear the silly hat of "government", and do it for "health care" or some other disgusting collectivist program.
Guess what. It is not OK. We know it, and we will educate you if you lack the principles to figure it out for yourself. All of your favorite government programs, Mr. Remington, including the "Civil Rights Department" you keep mentioning, are based upon your erroneous belief that the government can ethically steal money from its rightful owners (the people who earned it) and then use that money to force people into living as the "majority", using government, desires, through force and threats of force. Your "government" always comes down, at its very foundation, to murder, Mr. Remington.
Like so many, you try to justify Obama by contrasting him to Bush. Bush was evil, was an international and domestic bully, and a traitor to the cause of freedom. He was no friend to gun owners, and was only a "gun-toting cowboy" in the way that certain crooked "lawmen" in the old west were. They could tote the guns, but everyone else was forbidden. Your "rational, and even-tempered president" is of the exact same type. He is another collectivist authoritarian. He is a life-long enemy of gun owners and free people everywhere. Just like Bush. Why, Mr. Remington, do you refuse to see and accept the truth? Why do you lie for Obama?
Guess what. I am fine with people "wearing Islamic attire" carrying, not just weapons, but fully automatic rifles, to town meetings or anywhere else, as long as they don't initiate force. I would happily do the same. It is the only way to keep government honest. Once again your racism is exposed, Mr. Remington.
You might be surprised to find that your "friends and family - White, Black, Asian, Latino, Native and LGBT", are not all as stupid and anti-freedom as you assume they are. Some of them are probably the very people you would fear and hate, if you bothered to get to know them.
Nevertheless, Mr. Remington, if revolution comes and you are there on your porch "with guns in the air and a beret on [your] head" (might I suggest a safer direction in which to point your guns? Perhaps at the actual aggressors?), I will support, and if possible defend, your right to protect your life, liberty, and property- to my death. Where do you get the authority to attempt to deny me the same freedom? I suspect you will be watching the wrong people while the real enemies of your life, liberty, property, and pursuit of happiness get you from behind. It isn't those you rail against who would deny you your freedom, after all.
Tip of the old sombrero to War on Guns for bringing this to my attention.
Once again a racist has made some rather self-incriminating statements and has illustrated his lack of understanding and lack of principles all at the same time.
From the Twin Cities Daily Planet comes this "gem" from Ralph Remington (he possesses a proud firearm name, at least). He doesn't understand what is happening in the world around him, and is blaming others. So let me educate him.
First of all, Mr. Remington is a racist. His capitalizations in the piece illustrate the importance he places upon "race", as does his mindset. He claims the opposition to Obama's socialist agenda is based upon only the president's "race". If that were the case, freedom advocates such as myself would have been saying nothing during Bush the Second's ill-conceived reign. We were not silent; Mr. Remington was just not listening. Only a racist could decry justified opposition to Obama's agenda because of "sympathy" for, or identification with, Obama's "race".
If the Black Panther incident he mentions from May 2, 1967, happened just as he relates, given the opportunity I would be right there to support the absolute right of those activists to own and to carry their arms wherever they wish, as long as they do not initiate force, and I loudly condemn the rights-violations by the police who responded, and Reagan's self-serving reaction of passing the "laws" against open carry in California. Despicable authoritarian statists of every stripe often react badly to people exercising fundamental human rights.
Also, Mr. Remington, you must be willingly ignoring the race of the most "famous" open-carrier who was made such a big deal of in the mainstream media recently: the video shown by MSNBC was "creatively" edited to hide the race of the man with the AR-15 at Obama's Arizona appearance. But, we should be used to this sort of dishonesty from the mainstream media by now, shouldn't we?
Then he claims the demonstrators are "misquoting Thomas Jefferson to justify a call to arms". Really? Read beyond the one, feared, quote to the whole body of Jefferson's writings. Jefferson believed that tyrants needed to be killed, every time they came to power, and he recognized that freedom-lovers would die in the unpleasantness as well, in order to "water the tree of liberty". There is no "misquoting" going on, and the only misunderstanding comes from those who hate freedom and side with the tyrants. People like Mr. Remington, apparently.
Jefferson and many of the other founders of America were much less polite about saying what needed to happen to those who violated the basic human rights of "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" than most modern demonstrators and freedom advocates. Most of us are cowards compared to them. Jefferson and his ilk would have been saying exactly what they were thinking and taking whatever consequences came their way. Of course, there was no ironically misnamed "PATRIOT act" back then to be used to protect tyrants from justice.
If there IS the racial "subtext" that Mr. Remington hungers for, it is not coming from the REAL freedom advocates, but from a few of the disgruntled Republicans who are simply riding on the coat tails of the freedom lovers. They are not the ones tyrants really need to fear, though, since they are fine with tyranny as long as it is "their guy" doing the tyrannizing.
Those of us who matter don't care about a person's race, we care about his or her actions. We care about freedom. We are not "conservative", or "racist". A large number of us are LGBT, "Black", Hispanic, female, Asian, Native, or members of any other "group" that Mr. Remington falsely believes are on his side: you know, the side that believes it is OK to steal and murder as long as you wear the silly hat of "government", and do it for "health care" or some other disgusting collectivist program.
Guess what. It is not OK. We know it, and we will educate you if you lack the principles to figure it out for yourself. All of your favorite government programs, Mr. Remington, including the "Civil Rights Department" you keep mentioning, are based upon your erroneous belief that the government can ethically steal money from its rightful owners (the people who earned it) and then use that money to force people into living as the "majority", using government, desires, through force and threats of force. Your "government" always comes down, at its very foundation, to murder, Mr. Remington.
Like so many, you try to justify Obama by contrasting him to Bush. Bush was evil, was an international and domestic bully, and a traitor to the cause of freedom. He was no friend to gun owners, and was only a "gun-toting cowboy" in the way that certain crooked "lawmen" in the old west were. They could tote the guns, but everyone else was forbidden. Your "rational, and even-tempered president" is of the exact same type. He is another collectivist authoritarian. He is a life-long enemy of gun owners and free people everywhere. Just like Bush. Why, Mr. Remington, do you refuse to see and accept the truth? Why do you lie for Obama?
Guess what. I am fine with people "wearing Islamic attire" carrying, not just weapons, but fully automatic rifles, to town meetings or anywhere else, as long as they don't initiate force. I would happily do the same. It is the only way to keep government honest. Once again your racism is exposed, Mr. Remington.
You might be surprised to find that your "friends and family - White, Black, Asian, Latino, Native and LGBT", are not all as stupid and anti-freedom as you assume they are. Some of them are probably the very people you would fear and hate, if you bothered to get to know them.
Nevertheless, Mr. Remington, if revolution comes and you are there on your porch "with guns in the air and a beret on [your] head" (might I suggest a safer direction in which to point your guns? Perhaps at the actual aggressors?), I will support, and if possible defend, your right to protect your life, liberty, and property- to my death. Where do you get the authority to attempt to deny me the same freedom? I suspect you will be watching the wrong people while the real enemies of your life, liberty, property, and pursuit of happiness get you from behind. It isn't those you rail against who would deny you your freedom, after all.
Tip of the old sombrero to War on Guns for bringing this to my attention.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
What does the state know about you?
What does the state know about you?
Don't assume the cops don't know things about you just because you are quiet and peaceable.
About ten years ago, around half-past dusk, in an average town in a nearby state, I was riding in the passenger seat while my wife-at-the-time drove. Pulling a particularly blatant act of poor driving in the middle of town, she made a left turn and cut off an approaching cop. She seemed completely clueless when I mentioned this error. Unsurprisingly the LEO in question made a turn, followed, and stopped her.
As he did the "your papers, please" shakedown on her, he bent over to get a better look at her passenger- me. He shined his flashlight in my face for a moment and uttered words that still echo in my mind to this day. He said "You are that guy with all the guns." I am not certain now if he actually added something to the effect of "we better keep an eye on you" or if my memory has added that in the years since, yet I feel it was implied, if not stated. I never said a word during the encounter.
The surprising thing is that I doubt I had more guns than the average person in the area. I did usually open-carry around town, and I dressed "uniquely", yet I had never been involved in any "incident" of any kind. I was quiet and reserved, and never made waves. I didn't yet spend my time writing, and didn't even have an email address, much less a computer. I hadn't bought any guns since I had moved to town (as far as anyone in government knew, anyway). I was still months away from being surrounded by the police due to a lack of communication at the elementary school. Yet, he recognized me as "that guy with all the guns".
Was he joking? Did he know something about me that I still don't know how he knew? Either way, it was a moment of paranoia made real for me. How would this event have turned out in today's "Tazer first, ask questions if he survives" police-state? Regardless of the intent behind the comment, it was just another brick in the wall that made me the delightful anarchist you see before you today.
What is in your "permanent record"?
*****************
Don't assume the cops don't know things about you just because you are quiet and peaceable.
About ten years ago, around half-past dusk, in an average town in a nearby state, I was riding in the passenger seat while my wife-at-the-time drove. Pulling a particularly blatant act of poor driving in the middle of town, she made a left turn and cut off an approaching cop. She seemed completely clueless when I mentioned this error. Unsurprisingly the LEO in question made a turn, followed, and stopped her.
As he did the "your papers, please" shakedown on her, he bent over to get a better look at her passenger- me. He shined his flashlight in my face for a moment and uttered words that still echo in my mind to this day. He said "You are that guy with all the guns." I am not certain now if he actually added something to the effect of "we better keep an eye on you" or if my memory has added that in the years since, yet I feel it was implied, if not stated. I never said a word during the encounter.
The surprising thing is that I doubt I had more guns than the average person in the area. I did usually open-carry around town, and I dressed "uniquely", yet I had never been involved in any "incident" of any kind. I was quiet and reserved, and never made waves. I didn't yet spend my time writing, and didn't even have an email address, much less a computer. I hadn't bought any guns since I had moved to town (as far as anyone in government knew, anyway). I was still months away from being surrounded by the police due to a lack of communication at the elementary school. Yet, he recognized me as "that guy with all the guns".
Was he joking? Did he know something about me that I still don't know how he knew? Either way, it was a moment of paranoia made real for me. How would this event have turned out in today's "Tazer first, ask questions if he survives" police-state? Regardless of the intent behind the comment, it was just another brick in the wall that made me the delightful anarchist you see before you today.
What is in your "permanent record"?
*****************
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Cops see what they are trained to see
Cops see what they are trained to see
What is the particular "crime wave" sweeping through your community these days? I'll bet it is whatever your local LEOs have had "special training" to combat. I'll also bet that the "crime wave" really exploded after their training was completed.
Cops find what they are trained to find. They also frequently "see" what isn't really there. "If your only tool is a hammer, everything looks like a nail." If the local cops have undergone special training to catch "drunk drivers", SURPRISE! Suddenly every driver they run across is "drunk", and anyone they stop will be "tested" and harassed until they fail. (I've watched it happen with my own eyes, so don't claim it doesn't.) Or, they'll just be raped for their own good. If cops have gone to special training to find "child pornography", then suddenly everyone whom the cops wish to "get" for some reason is found to have "kiddie porn" on their computer. Coincidence? I doubt it.
I have a knack for seeing bones alongside the road, because I want to find them. Yet I have more false hits than real ones. The only downside of a false hit for me is a few wasted minutes while I check for an addition to my skull collection, and only find shattered aged PVC pipe or light-colored rocks. I think cops are the same way, yet their false hits destroy lives. Even a suspicion is enough to destroy someone no matter whether they are guilty or not.
I think it is time to train cops to see rights violations by individuals and by government and make it their job to stop those instead of instigating them. Better yet, consider "police" a 160-odd year failed experiment and send them home to find honest jobs.
What is the particular "crime wave" sweeping through your community these days? I'll bet it is whatever your local LEOs have had "special training" to combat. I'll also bet that the "crime wave" really exploded after their training was completed.
Cops find what they are trained to find. They also frequently "see" what isn't really there. "If your only tool is a hammer, everything looks like a nail." If the local cops have undergone special training to catch "drunk drivers", SURPRISE! Suddenly every driver they run across is "drunk", and anyone they stop will be "tested" and harassed until they fail. (I've watched it happen with my own eyes, so don't claim it doesn't.) Or, they'll just be raped for their own good. If cops have gone to special training to find "child pornography", then suddenly everyone whom the cops wish to "get" for some reason is found to have "kiddie porn" on their computer. Coincidence? I doubt it.
I have a knack for seeing bones alongside the road, because I want to find them. Yet I have more false hits than real ones. The only downside of a false hit for me is a few wasted minutes while I check for an addition to my skull collection, and only find shattered aged PVC pipe or light-colored rocks. I think cops are the same way, yet their false hits destroy lives. Even a suspicion is enough to destroy someone no matter whether they are guilty or not.
I think it is time to train cops to see rights violations by individuals and by government and make it their job to stop those instead of instigating them. Better yet, consider "police" a 160-odd year failed experiment and send them home to find honest jobs.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Why were YOU not paying attention?
Why were YOU not paying attention?
There is a pathetic tactic I have seen used time after time against those of us who value freedom. It almost seems as though those who pull it out of their hats (?) are following a script. It happens nearly anytime we freedom advocates say anything against one or another of the latest government schemes enacted or enhanced since Obama was coronated.
When those of us who are unimpressed by the latest socialist voter-bribing scheme speak out in opposition, we are usually treated to this gem: "Why weren't you speaking out like this while Bush was president?" Faced with that absurd question, all I can think of is "Why weren't you paying attention while I was speaking out against Bush's despicable acts while he was president?"
I'll tell you why the socialists didn't hear or notice: because they could only hear the chorus of their own gums flapping. If everyone is singing in harmony, you only hear that note which is discordant. Now that they are the ones busily singing their consent they can notice the notes of opposition. And they don't like it. They wrongly assume that anyone who dislikes Obama now must have been singing Bush's praises during his reign. That is a faulty assumption, and in my case couldn't be further from the truth.
Remember this, statists of whatever kind- Those of us who value individuals and their freedom don't change our minds just because the current POTUS changes. A difference which makes no difference is no different. Don't assume that we are like you. We have principles.
There is a pathetic tactic I have seen used time after time against those of us who value freedom. It almost seems as though those who pull it out of their hats (?) are following a script. It happens nearly anytime we freedom advocates say anything against one or another of the latest government schemes enacted or enhanced since Obama was coronated.
When those of us who are unimpressed by the latest socialist voter-bribing scheme speak out in opposition, we are usually treated to this gem: "Why weren't you speaking out like this while Bush was president?" Faced with that absurd question, all I can think of is "Why weren't you paying attention while I was speaking out against Bush's despicable acts while he was president?"
I'll tell you why the socialists didn't hear or notice: because they could only hear the chorus of their own gums flapping. If everyone is singing in harmony, you only hear that note which is discordant. Now that they are the ones busily singing their consent they can notice the notes of opposition. And they don't like it. They wrongly assume that anyone who dislikes Obama now must have been singing Bush's praises during his reign. That is a faulty assumption, and in my case couldn't be further from the truth.
Remember this, statists of whatever kind- Those of us who value individuals and their freedom don't change our minds just because the current POTUS changes. A difference which makes no difference is no different. Don't assume that we are like you. We have principles.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
"You're WHAT?!?" Eek-Yay?
I just found out I am going to be a grandfather in an uncertain number of months... less than 9, though.Am I not too young? I don't feel grandfatherly. I have a 2-year-old daughter. Of course, my older daughter lives 700 miles away and neither of us has the finances (or reliable transportation) to be traveling back and forth. But, really. I'm sort of in shock.
Unreasonable demands on freedom
Unreasonable demands on freedom
People place demands and conditions on freedom that they never consider placing on its opposite: government. Some want to hear a detailed explanation of how they could easily handle every possible situation that might come up in their life, no matter how unlikely, before they will accept that freedom in their own life would be possible.
This is bizarre behavior. Under the current statism there are unexpected events happening every day. How can anyone really think that depending on the state keeps unexpected situations from occurring, or protects them when they do happen? Can they not solve anything on their own- do they need someone else to direct their every action? No. They handle most things just fine with no government guidance, they are just afraid of losing the "big daddy" who stands behind them. They are delusional to think he stands behind them as a protector. That isn't "daddy", that is an obtrusive, abusive, kidnapper who only claims to be a father.
No freedom advocate claims that freedom is perfect or that it will lead to Utopia. Of course, history and current events keep showing that statism is far from perfect and leads inevitably to tyranny and genocide, so I don't quite get the point of the objections.
I realize that there is a comfort in the status quo that isn't present when new territory is entered. Most people are willing to put up with a monster they know rather than step into the unknown. That is understandable, but if you block the path for those who are not so fearful you may discover that some people are willing to risk a lot, and push back, for freedom. It really is that important.
_____________________
For some great reading: Visit the "Stand Up For America" blog and read this guest commentary by Warren “Bones” Bonesteel– The Rise of Extremism. Good stuff.
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People place demands and conditions on freedom that they never consider placing on its opposite: government. Some want to hear a detailed explanation of how they could easily handle every possible situation that might come up in their life, no matter how unlikely, before they will accept that freedom in their own life would be possible.
This is bizarre behavior. Under the current statism there are unexpected events happening every day. How can anyone really think that depending on the state keeps unexpected situations from occurring, or protects them when they do happen? Can they not solve anything on their own- do they need someone else to direct their every action? No. They handle most things just fine with no government guidance, they are just afraid of losing the "big daddy" who stands behind them. They are delusional to think he stands behind them as a protector. That isn't "daddy", that is an obtrusive, abusive, kidnapper who only claims to be a father.
No freedom advocate claims that freedom is perfect or that it will lead to Utopia. Of course, history and current events keep showing that statism is far from perfect and leads inevitably to tyranny and genocide, so I don't quite get the point of the objections.
I realize that there is a comfort in the status quo that isn't present when new territory is entered. Most people are willing to put up with a monster they know rather than step into the unknown. That is understandable, but if you block the path for those who are not so fearful you may discover that some people are willing to risk a lot, and push back, for freedom. It really is that important.
_____________________
For some great reading: Visit the "Stand Up For America" blog and read this guest commentary by Warren “Bones” Bonesteel– The Rise of Extremism. Good stuff.
*******************
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Want a constitution? Go for it.
Want a constitution? Go for it.
I have no problem with a group of people writing a contract, or "constitution", which establishes how they will run their own society. That is just a form of self-determination.
However, I have a big problem with them deciding that their contract will apply to people who don't agree to it, and even to those who are not yet born. In other words, coercively forcing people to become part of their society regardless of their wishes. This is a violation of self-determination.
I no more agreed to live under a government established by the US Constitution than I agreed to live under a government established by any other people, anywhere else on Earth, at any other time in history. It matters not where I happen to have been born, where I live, or what year this may be. And it is absolutely wrong for anyone to demand otherwise.
I have signed the one "contract" I agree to live by.
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I have no problem with a group of people writing a contract, or "constitution", which establishes how they will run their own society. That is just a form of self-determination.
However, I have a big problem with them deciding that their contract will apply to people who don't agree to it, and even to those who are not yet born. In other words, coercively forcing people to become part of their society regardless of their wishes. This is a violation of self-determination.
I no more agreed to live under a government established by the US Constitution than I agreed to live under a government established by any other people, anywhere else on Earth, at any other time in history. It matters not where I happen to have been born, where I live, or what year this may be. And it is absolutely wrong for anyone to demand otherwise.
I have signed the one "contract" I agree to live by.
*****************
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Conservatives, lend me an ear- and an open mind
Conservatives, lend me an ear- and an open mind
Pardon me for a moment while I speak privately to "conservatives".
It is just a fact of nature; you reap what you sow (unless you are a hunter/gatherer or a crop thief).
This current administration is exactly what your support of government will always lead to: an imperial presidency, an arrogant run-away Congress, and an activist Supreme Court that will each do whatever they can get away with while they grind individuals and freedom in the gears of "the system". In other words: tyranny. It is time for you to admit your complicity and ditch your support for the half of government that you like so you can help the freedom-lovers get rid of the half of government you don't like. In other words it is time to accept responsibility for your part in what is happening and change your misguided ways.
A great many "conservatives", and some "libertarians", have made the US Constitution their god (or co-god, anyway). Even the ones who will admit that the current situation is an unholy mess seem to think "The Constitution is sacred, but here's how we can make it REALLY work this time".
Of course, the Constitution isn't the only thing people get overly reverent about. When people dwell too much on glorifying "The United States of America" it sets off my alarms, too. Individuals are more important than any collective. I understand why you want to feel special, but I think you are looking in the wrong place. Conservatives (and everyone else) need to look inside themselves, and not to a landmass or a government. I have often tried to get people to realize that "The United States" is merely the government; "America" is the land and the people. No government is worthy of respect, since they are all based upon theft and coercion.
I love America because I love the natural beauty and I love my family and friends who live here. I do not love the government that infests and infects America. If I had been born anywhere else in the Universe I think I would feel exactly the same about my local surroundings. That is just human nature. It is great to feel good about where you live, but it isn't good to then hate others because of where they live. It certainly isn't honest to judge people by the government that pretends to rule over them.
It is time for conservatives to accept that their support of the "conservative" socialist programs- like "national borders", the war on (some) drugs, and being "tough on crime"- only leads to more of the things they don't like, such as "gun control", high taxes, and a government that violates the Constitution. In case you wonder how your support causes unconstitutional government, it is because in order to give the "conservatives" what they want, government HAS to violate the Constitution because most of the things "conservatives" want are illegal (according to the Constitution) as well as being immoral and unethical.
I guess what I am saying is you are obviously free to continue on the path you have chosen, but you should know full-well exactly what it is you are supporting. Don't be shocked when free people, who stand beside you on some very important issues, abandon you to the wolves when you choose the side of tyranny on other, equally important, issues.
Pardon me for a moment while I speak privately to "conservatives".
It is just a fact of nature; you reap what you sow (unless you are a hunter/gatherer or a crop thief).
This current administration is exactly what your support of government will always lead to: an imperial presidency, an arrogant run-away Congress, and an activist Supreme Court that will each do whatever they can get away with while they grind individuals and freedom in the gears of "the system". In other words: tyranny. It is time for you to admit your complicity and ditch your support for the half of government that you like so you can help the freedom-lovers get rid of the half of government you don't like. In other words it is time to accept responsibility for your part in what is happening and change your misguided ways.
A great many "conservatives", and some "libertarians", have made the US Constitution their god (or co-god, anyway). Even the ones who will admit that the current situation is an unholy mess seem to think "The Constitution is sacred, but here's how we can make it REALLY work this time".
Of course, the Constitution isn't the only thing people get overly reverent about. When people dwell too much on glorifying "The United States of America" it sets off my alarms, too. Individuals are more important than any collective. I understand why you want to feel special, but I think you are looking in the wrong place. Conservatives (and everyone else) need to look inside themselves, and not to a landmass or a government. I have often tried to get people to realize that "The United States" is merely the government; "America" is the land and the people. No government is worthy of respect, since they are all based upon theft and coercion.
I love America because I love the natural beauty and I love my family and friends who live here. I do not love the government that infests and infects America. If I had been born anywhere else in the Universe I think I would feel exactly the same about my local surroundings. That is just human nature. It is great to feel good about where you live, but it isn't good to then hate others because of where they live. It certainly isn't honest to judge people by the government that pretends to rule over them.
It is time for conservatives to accept that their support of the "conservative" socialist programs- like "national borders", the war on (some) drugs, and being "tough on crime"- only leads to more of the things they don't like, such as "gun control", high taxes, and a government that violates the Constitution. In case you wonder how your support causes unconstitutional government, it is because in order to give the "conservatives" what they want, government HAS to violate the Constitution because most of the things "conservatives" want are illegal (according to the Constitution) as well as being immoral and unethical.
I guess what I am saying is you are obviously free to continue on the path you have chosen, but you should know full-well exactly what it is you are supporting. Don't be shocked when free people, who stand beside you on some very important issues, abandon you to the wolves when you choose the side of tyranny on other, equally important, issues.
It's a conspiracy!
When two or more people secretly plot to carry out a plan, you have a "conspiracy". Even the state passes "laws" against such things, and surely they wouldn't bother if conspiracies were never real. Ahem. Anyway....
No real historian would deny that conspiracies have happened in the past. The history books are filled with examples. You can even find many examples of people in foreign governments being participants in conspiracies.
So, really, the only objection that "rational people" can make against current conspiracy theories is that they simply can't accept that people who are involved in the US government could also be a part of a conspiracy. This is unrealistic and delusional.
'To serve and protect' or 'to control and intimidate'?
'To serve and protect' or 'to control and intimidate'?
If you see a guy walking along the highway, and you witness a cop car make a U-turn and pull up to him, which scenario do you expect to play out? Do you expect that the cop is asking the guy if he needs help, in other words seeking "to serve and protect" him, or do you expect that the cop is looking for an excuse to harass or "arrest" (kidnap) the guy?
If you are driving down the highway and a cop car pulls in behind you, do you feel safe, or does your heart skip a beat as you check your speedometer? Do you recognize a friend or a potentially lethal predator in your rear-view mirror?
If you are walking in town and a cop suddenly stops to speak to you, do you think he is looking out for you, or do you feel endangered? Do you understand that your justifiable apprehension can be used as an excuse for the cop to assault you at his whim?
I know which result or feeling is much more likely. My thoughts are not due to knee-jerk prejudice against LEOs, it is the result of years of rational observations. If you are paying attention, you will know that the police have become the standing army that the founders of America were concerned about. An army that is armed with weaponry illegally forbidden to you, and which your money is stolen in order to buy to be used against you. And now, that standing army is prepared to "legally" attack you with lethal violence for their masters in government. They are equipped with electric torture devices which they use more frequently with each passing day. They are preparing to "legally" rape you, stab you, and kill you if you resist. In this instance, resistance is completely ethical and justifiable, but the state will never admit it. You are on your own.
The police are your enemy- unless and until they stand up and refuse, unequivocally, to participate in any more violations against peaceable people, no matter what their bureaucratic masters demand. No excuses. The lines are drawn between the people and the state. Recent events are forcing people to choose sides.
If you see a guy walking along the highway, and you witness a cop car make a U-turn and pull up to him, which scenario do you expect to play out? Do you expect that the cop is asking the guy if he needs help, in other words seeking "to serve and protect" him, or do you expect that the cop is looking for an excuse to harass or "arrest" (kidnap) the guy?
If you are driving down the highway and a cop car pulls in behind you, do you feel safe, or does your heart skip a beat as you check your speedometer? Do you recognize a friend or a potentially lethal predator in your rear-view mirror?
If you are walking in town and a cop suddenly stops to speak to you, do you think he is looking out for you, or do you feel endangered? Do you understand that your justifiable apprehension can be used as an excuse for the cop to assault you at his whim?
I know which result or feeling is much more likely. My thoughts are not due to knee-jerk prejudice against LEOs, it is the result of years of rational observations. If you are paying attention, you will know that the police have become the standing army that the founders of America were concerned about. An army that is armed with weaponry illegally forbidden to you, and which your money is stolen in order to buy to be used against you. And now, that standing army is prepared to "legally" attack you with lethal violence for their masters in government. They are equipped with electric torture devices which they use more frequently with each passing day. They are preparing to "legally" rape you, stab you, and kill you if you resist. In this instance, resistance is completely ethical and justifiable, but the state will never admit it. You are on your own.
The police are your enemy- unless and until they stand up and refuse, unequivocally, to participate in any more violations against peaceable people, no matter what their bureaucratic masters demand. No excuses. The lines are drawn between the people and the state. Recent events are forcing people to choose sides.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Driving is a right, not a privilege
Driving is a right, not a privilege
It's hard to take back the freedom to exercise a right once it has been violated by government. The longer society has allowed the violation to continue, the harder it is to break through the brainwashing and correct the situation. Like driving a car. The lying liars in government have made most people accept that "driving is a privilege". It is most assuredly not.
The LEOs and their handlers are the worst about trying to pass off this lie. Of course they want you to believe the lie; that is where they steal most of their money and assert the most draconian control. If those in government can license you and register your vehicle, they can keep you from traveling when they decide it is not in their best interest. They have built a "Berlin Wall" around each of us while we applauded them.
Many otherwise rational people have bought into the lie, often parroting the state's line for them. This most often comes in the form of "Driving isn't a right, like gun ownership is". Both are absolute human rights, as is anything else that doesn't violate the equal rights of other people. Don't assist the state in its deceit, but point out the fallacy every time it is uttered.
Travel, by car, is not a luxury for most of us. It is a necessity. Because of the state's monopoly over the roads, we who travel have no choice but to use roads the state "maintains" and controls. A choice made while looking down the barrel of a gun is not freely entered into; it is not a binding agreement. The state thugs claim that your acceptance of a "driver's license" indicates you have agreed to be subject to anything they wish to do to you while you travel. So be it. That means it is time to stop submitting to the license, doesn't it.
This shows that anytime government tries to convince you to accept any limitation on any right, even the most "reasonable" limitation, they are doing it in order to harm you. They will use their newfound authority to control you, steal from you, harass you, and even kill you. Don't give an inch. Not one more. In fact, it is long past time to start regaining lost ground and start telling the aggressors of the state where to go.
It's hard to take back the freedom to exercise a right once it has been violated by government. The longer society has allowed the violation to continue, the harder it is to break through the brainwashing and correct the situation. Like driving a car. The lying liars in government have made most people accept that "driving is a privilege". It is most assuredly not.
The LEOs and their handlers are the worst about trying to pass off this lie. Of course they want you to believe the lie; that is where they steal most of their money and assert the most draconian control. If those in government can license you and register your vehicle, they can keep you from traveling when they decide it is not in their best interest. They have built a "Berlin Wall" around each of us while we applauded them.
Many otherwise rational people have bought into the lie, often parroting the state's line for them. This most often comes in the form of "Driving isn't a right, like gun ownership is". Both are absolute human rights, as is anything else that doesn't violate the equal rights of other people. Don't assist the state in its deceit, but point out the fallacy every time it is uttered.
Travel, by car, is not a luxury for most of us. It is a necessity. Because of the state's monopoly over the roads, we who travel have no choice but to use roads the state "maintains" and controls. A choice made while looking down the barrel of a gun is not freely entered into; it is not a binding agreement. The state thugs claim that your acceptance of a "driver's license" indicates you have agreed to be subject to anything they wish to do to you while you travel. So be it. That means it is time to stop submitting to the license, doesn't it.
This shows that anytime government tries to convince you to accept any limitation on any right, even the most "reasonable" limitation, they are doing it in order to harm you. They will use their newfound authority to control you, steal from you, harass you, and even kill you. Don't give an inch. Not one more. In fact, it is long past time to start regaining lost ground and start telling the aggressors of the state where to go.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Using government to your 'benefit'
Using government to your 'benefit'
Would it be possible to solve or prevent a problem using government? Of course. You would need to call theft "taxation" and kidnapping "arrest" in order to hide the reality of your action.
In some cases, it would require you to call rape a "blood test". It doesn't make it right, though. The end does not justify the means IF you have principles.
Look at this in a slightly different way. If a certain apartment building in town has a high population of freelance thugs, or peaceful people who do governmentally-unapproved things, you could trap everyone inside and burn it to the ground in order to reduce the local "crime rate". (That reminds me of the exact same action, with a different string of excuses, committed by unbelievably evil people.) You would need to call the arson and all your murders some other dishonest name in order to avoid the reality of what you have done. Or, say you want your neighbor's wife... you could kill him so she would be free to be with you. Still evil, but your problem is "solved", right?
Well, using government to get what you want is the same sort of unethical act. It is wrong. You can't ever do real good by using evil means. That includes reducing "drunk driving deaths", "drug" use, child pornography, "illegal immigration", or whatever the statist cause of the day happens to be.
That is why, no matter that others think it would "help" me, I won't use government. The cost is too high.
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Would it be possible to solve or prevent a problem using government? Of course. You would need to call theft "taxation" and kidnapping "arrest" in order to hide the reality of your action.
In some cases, it would require you to call rape a "blood test". It doesn't make it right, though. The end does not justify the means IF you have principles.
Look at this in a slightly different way. If a certain apartment building in town has a high population of freelance thugs, or peaceful people who do governmentally-unapproved things, you could trap everyone inside and burn it to the ground in order to reduce the local "crime rate". (That reminds me of the exact same action, with a different string of excuses, committed by unbelievably evil people.) You would need to call the arson and all your murders some other dishonest name in order to avoid the reality of what you have done. Or, say you want your neighbor's wife... you could kill him so she would be free to be with you. Still evil, but your problem is "solved", right?
Well, using government to get what you want is the same sort of unethical act. It is wrong. You can't ever do real good by using evil means. That includes reducing "drunk driving deaths", "drug" use, child pornography, "illegal immigration", or whatever the statist cause of the day happens to be.
That is why, no matter that others think it would "help" me, I won't use government. The cost is too high.
**************
Monday, September 14, 2009
Crime- The Definition
Crime is generally considered to be the violation of someone else. Either their life, liberty, or property.
There is also "victimless crime", which can't actually be a crime. This is mainly what The State seeks to control and punish.
"Crime", in the government sense, is just anything the government doesn't approve of. It could be right or wrong, or even morally and ethically neutral. Many hideously evil acts are not "crimes" if they are committed by government agents, and many truly good things are "crimes" just because the government says so.
The State commits actual crime, while pretending it doesn't, and punishes "crime" while pretending it is protecting "society".
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Sunday, September 13, 2009
States authorize violent penetration by LEOs
The war on unmolested travel has reached a new, dangerous, low. No longer must you only be concerned about the states' highwaymen simply robbing you as a part of their officially authorized job, but now they can "legally" penetrate your body with a foreign object. That is rape. It is also a stabbing.
Remember, rape is not about "sex", but about domination and humiliation. It doesn't matter whether or not the rapist gets sexual gratification from his act. The only thing that matters is that the victim is being harmed. This is a humiliating act of bodily penetration by someone who sees themselves as dominant. Such an act can never be right or good, and is never justifiable for any reason. Not "safety", and certainly not "the common good". I can't understand how anyone could consider this a reasonable act. Rapists need to be resisted, and decisively stopped no matter where they are encountered or who they are working for.
I say again: Forced blood theft by LEOs is rape. This matter is a definitive line-in-the-sand. No free person with an ounce of dignity would ever comply or submit to such an abuse as long as they were humanly able to resist, nor would any honorable person ever criticize anyone who fights back against such abuse. This needs to be stated loudly and clearly by every good person in America: "You attempt to rape me or anyone in my family at your own risk." Make no mistake: resistance will result in you being electrocuted or killed. At the very least, for refusing to submit, the state will forbid you to drive your own vehicle anymore. They are still wrong.
Courts have declared such rapes to be "legal". So what. "Legal" has nothing to do with it, since that term merely means "governmentally approved". Many things that are evil are "legal", and many that are good or neutral are "illegal". That a coercive collective which enforces a monopoly on force declares that it approves of an act shouldn't matter one tiny bit to you or me. Especially when it is approving an act that serves to advance its own power and control. If the "laws" permit this, the "laws" are wrong and need to be changed to reflect reality, or the "laws" need to be broken by those who are told to enforce them, and resisted by those subjected to them.
If you are a cop there comes a time where you can go along with department policy or you can choose to do the right thing and refuse to be a part of the growing cancer. This is that time. Will you don your brown shirt and go goose-stepping off the cliff of tyranny, or will you "grow a pair" and say "Not on my watch!"? Consider your answer carefully. One choice is right; the other is wrong.
If a person is obviously not able to control his vehicle for any reason and is a real threat to the innocent, I support the self-defensive act of helping get him off the road. If a person harms others with his vehicle, for any reason, hold him responsible. Anyone who causes any harm needs to accept the consequences of his actions, whether he is a drunk driver, a LEO, or both.
I am sorry that some innocent people have died due to drunk drivers. That is still no reason to set up road blocks nor to advocate the violent attacking of travelers because some LEO either suspects the person may have some alcohol in their blood, or because some LEO is a perverted predator who gets his jollies from hurting people. The "laws" are only making the problem worse and making the real drunk drivers more dangerous. And this will keep happening until we plainly and unequivocally say "Enough!"
Well, I have said it.
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Remember, rape is not about "sex", but about domination and humiliation. It doesn't matter whether or not the rapist gets sexual gratification from his act. The only thing that matters is that the victim is being harmed. This is a humiliating act of bodily penetration by someone who sees themselves as dominant. Such an act can never be right or good, and is never justifiable for any reason. Not "safety", and certainly not "the common good". I can't understand how anyone could consider this a reasonable act. Rapists need to be resisted, and decisively stopped no matter where they are encountered or who they are working for.
I say again: Forced blood theft by LEOs is rape. This matter is a definitive line-in-the-sand. No free person with an ounce of dignity would ever comply or submit to such an abuse as long as they were humanly able to resist, nor would any honorable person ever criticize anyone who fights back against such abuse. This needs to be stated loudly and clearly by every good person in America: "You attempt to rape me or anyone in my family at your own risk." Make no mistake: resistance will result in you being electrocuted or killed. At the very least, for refusing to submit, the state will forbid you to drive your own vehicle anymore. They are still wrong.
Courts have declared such rapes to be "legal". So what. "Legal" has nothing to do with it, since that term merely means "governmentally approved". Many things that are evil are "legal", and many that are good or neutral are "illegal". That a coercive collective which enforces a monopoly on force declares that it approves of an act shouldn't matter one tiny bit to you or me. Especially when it is approving an act that serves to advance its own power and control. If the "laws" permit this, the "laws" are wrong and need to be changed to reflect reality, or the "laws" need to be broken by those who are told to enforce them, and resisted by those subjected to them.
If you are a cop there comes a time where you can go along with department policy or you can choose to do the right thing and refuse to be a part of the growing cancer. This is that time. Will you don your brown shirt and go goose-stepping off the cliff of tyranny, or will you "grow a pair" and say "Not on my watch!"? Consider your answer carefully. One choice is right; the other is wrong.
If a person is obviously not able to control his vehicle for any reason and is a real threat to the innocent, I support the self-defensive act of helping get him off the road. If a person harms others with his vehicle, for any reason, hold him responsible. Anyone who causes any harm needs to accept the consequences of his actions, whether he is a drunk driver, a LEO, or both.
I am sorry that some innocent people have died due to drunk drivers. That is still no reason to set up road blocks nor to advocate the violent attacking of travelers because some LEO either suspects the person may have some alcohol in their blood, or because some LEO is a perverted predator who gets his jollies from hurting people. The "laws" are only making the problem worse and making the real drunk drivers more dangerous. And this will keep happening until we plainly and unequivocally say "Enough!"
Well, I have said it.
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Silver Dubloon Update - Updated 9-13-2009
(click on picture to see it larger)Read the updates at the bottom...
I have decided to try to go ahead and have the "Silver Dubloons" made. (If you don't know what I'm talking about, read this and this first.) -Please read the comments below for an explanation of "dubloon" vs "doubloon".
Now it is up to you. Above is the picture of what they will look like. Tell me how many you want (they are $25.00 - or an ounce of .999 fine silver- each). I need to have commitments for close to 500 of them before I can take the next step, which will be to ask those who have committed to coins to go ahead and pay for them. I will then send the payment in and have them minted. It will then take a few weeks for the coins to be minted, and for them to be shipped to me, and for me to send them on to you.
So, if you are interested, please email me at dullhawk@hotmail.com and tell me how many you want, along with your contact information.
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Now it is up to you. Above is the picture of what they will look like. Tell me how many you want (they are $25.00 - or an ounce of .999 fine silver- each). I need to have commitments for close to 500 of them before I can take the next step, which will be to ask those who have committed to coins to go ahead and pay for them. I will then send the payment in and have them minted. It will then take a few weeks for the coins to be minted, and for them to be shipped to me, and for me to send them on to you.
So, if you are interested, please email me at dullhawk@hotmail.com and tell me how many you want, along with your contact information.
__________________
Added 5-4: This is coming along nicely, but has slowed down in the past couple of days. If you know anyone else who might be interested, or if you belong to a forum where people might like this, please help me spread the word. The faster I can collect all the pre-orders, the sooner I can have them minted.
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Added 5-16-2009: You may notice I had to raise the price to $25. This is due to the current price of silver. If you previously pre-ordered at the lower price, your price is safe. New orders will be reserved at the new price unless silver prices come down, then you will get a lower price. The price you agree to may come down, but it will not go up. I am not in this to make money right at first, but I am also not in this to LOSE money. I hope everyone will understand.
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Added 9-13-2009: Until and unless I can just afford to have these minted, and then sell them afterwards, I am guessing it won't happen. Pre-selling didn't work (although I sincerely thank those of you who did pre-order), plus I had bad timing since silver prices started up as soon as I started trying to promote this. I won't give up the idea. If anyone wants to invest a sizable sum to get these minted, let me know. It would take over $10,000 to do, depending on current silver prices.
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Saturday, September 12, 2009
One of the good guys
One of the good guys
In the comments on yesterday's column, a reader asked who and where "the good guys" are. That's a fair question. Therefore I present one for you today.
I'm sure most of you have heard of Larken Rose. Those who deny that taxation is theft don't like him much. That wouldn't be me, however. Everything I have ever run across that he wrote or said, I find very inspiring. He dares to speak uncomfortable (for some) truths without apologizing. I admire him for a lot of things; not the least of which is that his mere existence exposes the "tyranny deniers" for what they really are by their opposition to his opinions.
This speech (transcript here), which he gave on July 4, 2009, is typical "Larken". Here is the first of the 3 parts (less than 30 minutes total- watch it all): link
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In the comments on yesterday's column, a reader asked who and where "the good guys" are. That's a fair question. Therefore I present one for you today.
I'm sure most of you have heard of Larken Rose. Those who deny that taxation is theft don't like him much. That wouldn't be me, however. Everything I have ever run across that he wrote or said, I find very inspiring. He dares to speak uncomfortable (for some) truths without apologizing. I admire him for a lot of things; not the least of which is that his mere existence exposes the "tyranny deniers" for what they really are by their opposition to his opinions.
This speech (transcript here), which he gave on July 4, 2009, is typical "Larken". Here is the first of the 3 parts (less than 30 minutes total- watch it all): link
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