Stop lying about your theft and aggression

There is right and there is wrong. There is a clear difference between the two.

If you feel it is necessary to do the wrong thing at least be honest about it. Admit you are doing wrong and don't pretend it is right. And accept the consequences.

What makes me mad is the dishonesty of people pretending that wrong acts are good just because they believe they are necessary. They are not. Wrong acts are still wrong even if your survival depends on committing them. Even if they are "legalized".

Initiation of force is still wrong. Theft is still wrong.

If you believe you need to strike first- initiate force- because you wouldn't survive taking the ethical high-road and only striking after the other guy has initiated force, then do what you believe you must but don't claim you did the right thing. You did not, even if your action is understandable to others who might like to justify their own wrong acts by validating yours. This applies to States and to individuals. Pretending that your aggression is right makes you an attacker and a liar (or a delusional psycho).

If you think innocent people will die without taking the property of others through "taxation", admit you are stealing (or advocating theft). Be honest that the "taxation" is still wrong. Nothing can make it right. Maybe you are under the belief that it is necessary (it never is), but don't claim what you are doing is right. That claim makes you a thief and a liar (or a delusional psycho).

Just drop the BS and be honest about what you are doing, and don't be shocked when the piper must be paid. Doing the wrong thing may seem "necessary" now, but it always comes at a high price that WILL be collected sooner or later. That's just reality.

Recognize, mind your business

Recognize, mind your business (As originally written; not as published.)

"Mind your own business" used to be the American way. Or at least, the openly-proclaimed preferred way to live. Sure, there have always been gossips and nosey folk; the meddlesome neighbors and busybodies who can't seem to mind their own business, who therefore feel the need to direct your life "for your own good" (the ego boost is icing on the cake).

These people spend a lot of time concerning themselves with what others are doing, and sneaking a peek into everyone else's windows in order to make sure no one is doing things they think they should not- or as H. L. Mencken said of "puritans": suffering from "The haunting fear that someone, somewhere, may be happy.". When their sickness becomes the basis of "law" and punishment their harm spreads beyond their physical reach.

It used to be that these damaged people were on their own, and generally had to hide their most objectionable activities from public view. There have been exceptions, of course, such as their favorite program from an earlier generation: Prohibition- Act 1, which failed to fool people and was repealed. They regrouped and attacked again. Now they are the ones making and enforcing the "laws"; wrecking lives and destroying the economy in the process. And too few people hold them accountable for the harm they do, thinking that their actions are necessary for "the common good".

Nowadays too few people seem to be able to even recognize when something is their business and when it is not. Even libertarians can have difficulty there, although we generally think it is better to err on the side of staying out of other people's lives rather than to err on the side of sticking your nose where it may not belong.

To those who can't stay out of the lives of others, I want to ask: Isn't your own life enough for you to stay busy with? Don't you have enough to do without worrying about who others are marrying, what they are smoking, what they believe, or how they live? Do you not respect private property rights?

All of these things are just Peeping Tom telling the rest of us his perversion is not only OK, but good for his victims. His victims must be punished for objecting to his molestations and for desiring to be left alone. Sure, you can justify almost any meddling if you stretch far enough, but that doesn't make it right.

Me? Cool?

I found this test over at Keeps Dropping Keys and decided I hadn't wasted enough time today, so...

Yeah, I have never thought of myself as "cool" in any way, shape, or form. But I'm glad to see I'm not too extreme on any of the categories. I guess. Does that mean I'm balanced or boring?

Helping?

You are NOT "helping" if your "help" is not wanted.

This applies to individuals as well as governments.

My daughter was playing today and wanted to "help" a smaller child. The kid did not appreciate her "help" and fussed. She told me she just wanted to help him, but I suggested she ought to see if he wanted her help first. She may learn, at 3 1/2 years old, what no president, congresscritter, mayor, or cop has ever apparently managed to learn.

That lesson, again, is that it is not "help" if the person doesn't want it, no matter how "noble" your intentions, and no matter whether the person is in actual danger.

Book Offer

I am offering a special deal on my books from now through April 19 (Patriots' Day), 2011.

One complete set- all 5 books- for one ounce of .999 silver. That is a regular $48 dollar price tag, discounted for real money.

I'm also offering a similar deal for "junk silver" coins (pre-1965 US dimes and quarters)- the full set of books for $2 face value 90% silver coins.

After the books I have on hand are gone I'll order more if necessary, but that shouldn't slow things down too much. If you want them signed or anything, be sure and specify, since that doesn't usually occur to me.

Contact me at dullhawk@hotmail.com and we'll work out the details.

Government advertising its own idiocy

Local government pinheads have come up with a new idea: prohibiting "wireless communication devices" in the school zone.

I guess this means books are "illegal" in school now. Along with voices and minds. And even the silly sign which announces the prohibition. Anything that communicates without using a wired connection to that with which it is communicating. Right?

Of course I realize the governmentally-damaged morons intend it to mean cell phones and that sort of thing. Just like the ones I see the local cops talking and texting on (daily!), and even worse- with his nose in his cop computer, while driving through this school zone. (I really need to make a video of these cops doing so, and post it one of these days.)

I happen to live in this particular school zone. Does this mean any "wireless communication device" in my house is also now "illegal"? Good luck enforcing that against me.

Pissed beyond words... STILL steaming

I just got this email from Bernard von NotHaus:

Dear Liberty Dollar Supporters,

I sincerely regret to inform you that I was found guilty on all four counts regarding the Liberty Dollar in less than an hour on Friday, March 18. The only explanation is that a strong, anti-liberty person took control of a weak-willed jury and pushed the verdict through in record time in spite of well worded Jury Instructions. A government forfeiture hearing immediately followed the conviction. PLEASE NOTE: Your property is at risk so please continue to read these emails and take action so the government does not steal your property. An appeal is planned but that will take years. More news to follow. An unofficial, but most interesting account of the trial is available via Heather's blog at:
http://www.liberty4free.com/Liberty%20Dollar%20Trial.htm
God help you and our country as American descends into a hellish hyperinflationary future without the benefits of the Liberty Dollar.

I am very sorry our efforts to return America to value failed.

Thank you so much for your support.

Bernard von NotHaus
Monetary Architect

Bernard, YOU are not the one to be sorry. There is no guilt on your part and you should feel no shame.

Like I said before, this injustice is just plain wrong. A man who didn't just do nothing wrong; he did the right thing, and is being punished by those who are actively doing the wrong thing every day with every breath they take. That prosecutor, judge, and every scumbag on that jury are not worthy to lick the toilet clean after Bernard uses it.

I'd still like to see them forced to do so, however.

Pissed beyond words- Liberty Dollar verdict is WRONG

I have to admit it: I feel enraged.

Something in the news has made me more angry than I ever remember being about something that didn't hit me personally. That "something" is the conviction of Bernard VonNothaus of the Liberty Dollar.

The government agents committed theft. The government dragged the case out rather than giving Bernard a fair and timely trial; meeting every deadline by only minutes. The government lied to get a conviction. The judge lied to get a conviction. The jury failed in its duty in order to return a conviction. There is plenty guilt, but where is the shame?

Every evil committed in connection with this case was committed by those associated with the government, or by the jury members who should have known better than to convict an obviously innocent man.

Usually I can forgive a jury since I know juries are selected to weed out anyone with any brains or ethical sense. This time I am too angry to let the jurors off on account of gross stupidity. They should have known better. If you are too stupid to be informed, you are just what the government looks for in a juror. A stupid cud chewer only too happy to be nothing more than a rubber stamp for the government's agenda.

Bernard NEVER presented the Liberty Dollar as US currency, and would have been insulted to have his REAL money be confused with the government's worthless FRNs or over-priced inferior silver coins.

I remember from the very first time I found the Liberty Dollar how careful he was to keep harping on the fact that it was NOT US currency or even a coin (although a coin it indeed is- in spite of government lies to the contrary which he was trying to coddle for his own protection).

He even had a statement from an "official" of the US government itself affirming that the Liberty Dollar WAS NOT "COUNTERFEIT" and WAS "LEGAL". And then the lying, kidnapping murderers stole his property and caged him anyway.

I saw an ironic statement somewhere yesterday (I forget where) that said: when has it ever been the case that "counterfeit money" was worth more than "real money"? Exactly right. There IS counterfeiting going on, but not by Liberty Dollar. The Federal Reserve is the world's biggest, most brutal and evil counterfeiter. And the government thugs who pursued and prosecuted Bernard (and the other victims of this case), and the taterheads who sat on that jury, are complicit in the counterfeiting and the kidnapping and theft. They are the domestic terrorists. I'd like to see them ALL held accountable.

Update: Part 2

Relying on help disaster in itself

Relying on help disaster in itself (As originally written; not as published.)

The videos and stories coming out of Japan in the wake of the major earthquake and tsunami are heartbreaking. The fact that so many people did so little personal preparation, counting instead on government's promise to "take care of things", should be educational.

Sure, you and I may be high and dry on the Llano Estacado, and a major earthquake in our neighborhood is unlikely while a tsunami is simply not going to happen here without an asteroid hitting the Gulf of Mexico. In which case we'd be incinerated by the blast wave before the water got to us anyway. Some things can't be planned for.

Every location has the potential for a major catastrophe. It could be a natural one like a tornado, blizzard, or a pandemic, or it could be a man-made one such as a nearby military base drawing an attack to the area, a food shortage, or martial law being declared.

We need to be aware of the things that can happen right where we are at all times. We need to have a plan that doesn't involve waiting for government to disarm us, force us from our homes, herd us into a gym, and making us stand in line to hand us MREs. We should have a plan to provide clean drinking water for ourselves rather than hoping the water tanker makes it to us before it runs dry. We need to have the means and the knowledge to watch out for ourselves, our family, and our neighbors. Thinking someone else will take care of us after disaster strikes is inviting worse disaster. It is taking a papercut and turning it into a decapitation.

Now, as they say, the best laid plans can always fail. Your emergency supplies might get blown away along with your home, or you might get caught miles away from your family and home when The Event strikes. You can't plan for every contingency, but you can plan for those you can foresee. And you can have backup plans that are flexible.

Some people might think of this as being "paranoid". It isn't. It is being responsible for ourselves just as people have always needed to be, regardless of assurances to the contrary. Your great grandparents would approve of your responsible planning since it is something they did on a daily basis.

Plan for the worst while hoping for the best and continually striving for better. You can even make a game of it. It can be fun and empowering.

Kent knows! I knew that I knew!

Sometimes I get curious about the oddest things. This is one of those times.

I wondered what my name, "kent", might mean in other languages. So, I went to Google translate and went through all the listed languages to see what might pop up.

Mostly, it meant nothing other than "kent", however, in a couple of languages "kent" means "city". Not particularly exciting to me. But Dutch was a different story. Supposedly, in Dutch, "kent" means "knows". Yeah!

Now, I'm not gonna go all "Fred" on the world, or anything. But I did appreciate that little tidbit.

Spread the meme

Just wanted to drop some reminders.

Please check out my books, and either download the free versions or buy the paper versions. And encourage others to do the same. I am not scholarly or anything, but I hope that is part of the reason my books, like this blog, can help spread the hunger for liberty.

Also, watch and share all my "Basics of Liberty" videos. It costs you nothing and maybe can help some person teetering on the fence decide to hop off on the liberty side instead of falling over the Cliffs of Statism hidden in the mist and shadows on the other side.

Spy on your kids and you create stealth kids

The question in the newspaper poll asked whether it is OK for parents to spy on their kids.

I am in the minority.

I voted "no".

If you spy on your kids, you are violating their trust. In that case expect them to hide things from you. I would if I suspected someone might be spying on me. It doesn't matter if I were doing something wrong or not. Wouldn't you? Why would anyone expect kids to act any differently?

Isn't this just the "PATRIOT [sic] Act" brought down to the level of a family? "If you aren't doing anything wrong, what do you have to hide?" It isn't about "hiding" anything, it is about preserving your privacy. Anyone who thinks it's OK to spy on others is not anyone trustworthy.

If you excuse this behavior, it isn't much of a stretch to excuse molesting your kids "for their own safety" like the TSA does.

Price of gas got you down?

Just one possible solution to the coming economic crisis. I hope the video shows up.

Driving well or obeying "laws": choose

I can either drive well, or I can obey "traffic laws". Can't do both, and I doubt anyone else can either. Sorry, LEOs and copsuckers.

Driving is a fluid, chaotic situation where a person must adapt to changing circumstances quickly. If you also must only do so in ways that are approved by moronic legislators to be enforced by moronic LEOs, you are at a disadvantage.

I have long observed how driving ability deteriorates when a cop car (mobile oppression unit) is visible. Yes, people slow down, but they also stop paying attention to other drivers and how they are driving. You can watch your speedometer, or you can pay attention to the traffic and road conditions- you can't do both.

Traffic cops/highway patrol/highwaymen are a public nuisance and a danger to society. As such they need to be eliminated as "career choices" for the mentally-challenged drones who are inclined to choose that path.

Jealousy

I've probably mentioned it before, but I absolutely despise revenge and jealousy. I have been guilty of both of those in years past, though very rarely. I have also been the target of both.

In the case of jealousy, I consider it halfway toward abuse. The force has been initiated in the mind- and without great care, it will be initiated for real very soon.

If you are jealous, you need to end the relationship that you are jealous about. Actually, you should just accept that the relationship is already over if you are jealous.

If there is no real reason for your jealousy, then you are being an idiot who is driving away that which you are jealously guarding. You are addicted and it is hurting you, and probably will hurt the other person too.

And if there is a reason to be jealous it's probably because the relationship is not a good one, it is not fulfilling needs, and you both need to just get out. Jealousy is the sign it is over. It is the final bell. Don't be a moron and keep pretending the game is still on.

Is America a police state?

Well, America is living under a police state in the form of the US government (and it's state and local collaborators).

I was thinking about this question again after reading this post on "who's your nanny?"

One thing I think people need to understand, and that I posted in the comments is that, YES, we are living under a police state. It just hasn't put its entire police state infrastructure into operation yet. But it will.

Because, as I said there, a cobra is still a cobra even if it isn't biting anyone right now.

I just don't want to live....

...in a country where a non-aggressive, non-thieving, person has a greater chance of being kidnapped or murdered by tax parasites than by freelance vermin.

Where those who demand our "papers" or claim the "authority" to scan our naked bodies and search, or steal, our private property don't run a 50/50 or higher chance of being killed in self defense each day they go do their "job".

Where few people even realize those things are obscene as long as it doesn't impact their own family.

Does this put me in the same category as grumpy old men who are embittered over the decline of (their preferred version of) the "traditional family" or "morality"? Or as prudish old women who get the vapors if they see a bit of skin or a piercing on younger women? I wonder...

Choices in an elevator: Oprah or Sheen?

So, if you were forced to make a choice, who would you rather be trapped in an elevator with for several hours: Oprah or Charlie Sheen?

Not pretending this is an earth-shattering subject or anything, but...

I'd choose Charlie Sheen. I'm assuming I'd be armed and that I'd be able to subdue him if he went crazy and got violent. I also bet it would be interesting to talk to him during a situation like that.

Oprah, on the other hand... I don't think I could forgive her for subjecting us to Oprabama. Not that the other choice was any better, but to really promote one of those morons for prez? And to brainwash your devoted minions into voting for him... Plus, I think I'd be really tempted to violate the ZAP if she started getting all "empathic" on me. It's best not to tempt fate.

Authoritarianism is the lazy man's path

Why do the vast majority of people settle into an authoritarian comfort zone, whether "right" or "left"? I have a theory: People are lazy. Including me- I readily admit it.

People prefer the path of least resistance. Unless there is a fairly powerful incentive to do more work, they won't. That makes sense.

It takes more work to resist settling into the low-energy valley of authoritarianism. Maintaining a libertarian outlook takes constant effort at first; it is standing on the peak while the winds buffet you, trying to get you to fall. The extra effort is not really a huge amount once you start being aware, but it's enough that it is hard for people to take those first few steps along that path. It's just easier to go along with the false "right/left" authoritarian crowd.

So why would anyone ever choose to be libertarian? Because people also have a tendency to complicate their lives in some way. It might be through destructive relationships, or substance abuse, or by choosing liberty when it might be easier to follow the herd off the cliffs of statism. It is almost as if they save their energy in most areas of their lives by choosing the easy path so they will have the energy available for the extra effort it takes to pursue the one or two highwires they choose to walk. It sounds crazy, I know.

Libertarianism just happens to be one of my chosen "difficult paths", and the only one that is really worth the effort.

Japanese earthquake and tsunami

It's a terrible disaster. Anytime innocent people are hurt by natural disasters or human actions I empathize. I wish I could help, but I am broke and live on the opposite side of the planet. Even a hundred years ago people living right where I do wouldn't have even heard of a similar disaster for months, if ever. I'm assuming they would have known of the existence of Japan, but that might not even be a realistic assumption.

I know what some would say I could "do", but they would be wrong. Just remember, even one person actually doing something helpful beats a million people praying for those who are hurting. Beats a billion, too.