Hope floats, or maybe it dog paddles

In my family I have racists, people on welfare, lots of government employees (mostly in kinderprison jobs), borderists, and generally people who are happy to use the force of the State against those they don't like.

Liberals, neocons, or any other flavor of statist you can imagine. People who despise the force of the state being used against them, but who have no problem siccing the state on others. It drives me nuts.

I have expressed my views to them, but I can't force them to do what I think is right. That would be acting like they act.

Mostly, I simply refuse to be a part of their statist games, and roll my eyes at them a lot. And some of them are actually beginning to move ever-so-slightly in my general direction. It gives me hope.

-

If you get any value from my labors, consider rewarding me with your financial support. This blog is in its 10th year now. If you believe I have contributed anything to the conversation regarding liberty during these ten years, and believe I have more to contribute, help me stay online.

Apologies

I admit I have probably not been the most pleasant person to be around recently. Family, dental/medical, personal, and financial problems just keep coming at me. And the people in my life seem to do their best to make it worse in any way possible. So, lots of stress lately.

I try not to take any of it out on those around me, nor let it color my blog posts, but it probably happens. I apologize for when it does. And I'll try to do better.

Things like this are why when I was a kid I wished I could get rid of emotions. Or at least control them like Mr. Spock or Sherlock Holmes.

To get rid of the bad emotions (or at least the ones that hurt), you'd be giving up the good ones, too. Maybe that's not a good enough trade.

Today I have the first of the dental work I need. Dentists are the closest thing I have to a phobia. I know it isn't sensible, but my brain doesn't always listen to what I know to be true.

Which means I should probably have more pity for statists whose brains don't want to listen to things they should know to be true.

-

If you get any value from my labors, consider rewarding me with your financial support. This blog is in its 10th year now. If you believe I have contributed anything to the conversation regarding liberty during these ten years, and believe I have more to contribute, help me stay online.

Long past time to reject government

(My Clovis News Journal column for April 28 (?), 2016 )

George Washington may have once said something along the lines of "Government is not reason, it is not eloquence — it is force. Like fire it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master."

Actually, he probably didn't say it. With quotes, though, it doesn't matter who said it as long as it's true.

So, is it true?

No. It most definitely is not true.

When anyone claims government is a servant, they are lying in order to get you to accept the unacceptable. Government-- or more accurately, The State-- is never a servant. If it were, you could fire it and hire a replacement, or choose to do away with the position altogether. If a fire becomes a threat to your life, liberty, and property, you douse it. If you, individually, can't fire government and eliminate it from your life, it's not a servant.

Which leaves us with something admittedly dangerous, and not a servant. A dangerous, fearful master.

Once you learn what goes into making certain foods, you can't unlearn it. Maybe you don't care, or maybe you can get past it, but you'll always know.

It's the same with government. Once you learn what makes a group a "government" you can either ignore it or not let it bother you, but you can't forget.

Cooperation, such as pooling money and labor, mutual defense, and protection of the weak, is good. The moment you add theft and aggression-- the defining characteristics of government-- all the good is gone.

Force and taxation changes governance into government. It poisons everything it touches. It turns restrooms into battlegrounds of "must" and "must not", where everything not prohibited is mandatory. It eliminates private property and self ownership. It turns personal choices into crimes.

Government leaves no room for morality or ethics.

Statists are those who believe governing others is a legitimate activity. To this end they try to confuse you. They know you recognize governance can be good and necessary, so they substitute the degraded form, government, and hope you don't notice their sleight of hand.

Governance includes self control, but self control is never externally imposed. It doesn't enslave. Government, in the form of The State, is always evil. Always harmful. Always a net negative to society.

It's long past time to stop tolerating the dangerous, fearful master others want to impose on your life. Reject government in favor of liberty. Once you use the blunt instrument of government to have your way, you have failed. Why not win instead?

.

My struggle with Rightful Liberty

(Previously posted to Patreon. See what you've been missing? Subscribe today!)

No, it isn't always easy. Sometimes it is a bit of a struggle.

Sometimes I want to punish people. Sometimes I get mad and want to strike out. Sometimes I want to give up. Sometimes I feel the pull of my personal opinions and morals trying to convince me that violating someone else would be OK "just this one time".

When people around me do things I disagree with, things I think might reflect poorly on me, I feel the desire to force them to do what I think is right- but I realize that would be just as wrong as what they are doing. Perhaps even more wrong. Because I know better and they, apparently, don't.

In some ways liberty is so easy. The rules are simple and few: don't initiate force and don't violate the private property of anyone. A child can do it- and most already know the rules.

It takes years of indoctrination to make people forget the rules or believe they don't apply in certain cases. Overcoming that indoctrination, once it has taken hold, it not easy. That may be where all the difficulty lies.

Peer pressure is a powerful force. "Everyone else does it" (justifies aggression and property violation). It would be so simple to fall in line and do the same. No one would blink an eye or judge.

But I know it wouldn't be right. Not for me. For me it is harder to live with myself if I'm doing what I know isn't right than it is living without the approval of statists around me.

However, the Zero Aggression Principle isn't like a law. It doesn't give me excuses to beat you; it is a promise I make to you, telling you what to expect of me. Telling you that if I choose to violate my promise, I know you are justified defending yourself from me.

If you want "easy", maybe life isn't for you after all.

...........................

(If you know someone who might like [or hate with a white-hot seething passion] these posts, please share with them and encourage them to subscribe one way or another.)

.

Reply to a candidate

A candidate for a local office, whom I have met and supported in his brushes with anti-gun "laws", took offense when I said of all the candidates: "...they all believe government should force peaceful people, at gunpoint if necessary, to live the way they think they should."

He responded: "I have no special interests i work for and want goverment [sic] to really start taking care of all the people that have to pay taxes not just a select group. I think the people should be letting the goverment know what they want and need so your represenitives [sic] we elect can work on those problems."

Challenge accepted.

OK. Here is what I want and need from government:

I don't want government to "work for me" or to "take care of" me. I don't need it and certainly don't want it. This is like pretending that the mafia (or the Crips or any other cowardly gang of parasites) will work for me and take care of me, while ignoring that it is based upon theft and aggression- exactly like government is. Nothing good can come of that.

I want there to be no "taxation" committed against anyone. If anyone wants to donate money to government because they think government can spend it better than they can, I have no problem with that. Just don't force your neighbors to fund something that is morally or ethically reprehensible to them.

I want government to leave me (and anyone else who hasn't fallen for the superstitious belief in "authority") alone. I choose to opt out of government's protection racket. I would choose to opt out of its "services" as well- if government didn't enforce its monopoly with the threat of violence.

Don't enforce any "laws" on my behalf and certainly never impose a new one. There are only two kinds of "laws": the unnecessary and the harmful.

I don't need to be represented. And even if I did, it isn't possible for one person to honestly represent multiple others. A politician never represents those who didn't specifically v*te for him- those who v*ted for the other candidate or chose to abstain from v*ting. And most of the time he does things that those who did v*te for him don't want him to do. Representation is fiction.

Government can't solve problems. It can make them worse, shuffle them around, or it can get out of the way. I've never seen politicians choose to get out of the way.

And those things are never on the ballot. No matter who you v*te for (or against) you are propping up the myth that governing others is a legitimate activity.

I have no doubt that you and some others have the best of intentions when they seek to become part of government- I've been there myself. However, a good person changing government from the inside is about as likely as a good person changing the KKK from the inside. Which is more likely to be changed, the good person or the evil organization? I wouldn't ever v*te for someone I thought was a good person because I wouldn't condemn him or her to that fate.

It took me years to figure this out, so I don't expect anyone to read this and suddenly "get it". But really consider these things I've said.

-

If you get any value from my labors, consider rewarding me with your financial support. This blog is in its 10th year now. If you believe I have contributed anything to the conversation regarding liberty during these ten years, and believe I have more to contribute, help me stay online.

Teeth and dentists

If anyone can help, and wants to help, with my medical bills and especially with the dental work I am needing now, please either donate or share this with people who might. It's my GoFundMe page.

Added: I get more of any contributions if they come through Paypal (PayPal.Me/Dullhawk).

.

When we disagree, somebody is wrong (it might be me)

If I don't agree with you, I'm going to think you are wrong. That's pretty much what not agreeing with you means.

If I thought I was wrong, I wouldn't disagree with you- not for long. I'd change my mind and then I'd agree with you.

So, yeah, obviously if we disagree I pretty much have to believe you are the one who is wrong. That's just the only way that can work.

If it matters that I think you are wrong, use reason to change my mind and get me to agree with you, or use reason to see that you were wrong and change your mind. (Here's a hint, though: not all opinions are equally valid, even if we really want to believe them).

Don't appeal to your feelings or emotion, because that may make me feel bad, but it will do nothing to make me think you are right.

Getting angry about any of this is pointless. Don't get angry, get convincing.

-

If you get any value from my labors, consider rewarding me with your financial support. This blog is in its 10th year now. If you believe I have contributed anything to the conversation regarding liberty during these ten years, and believe I have more to contribute, help me stay online.

.

At times like this...

... I suspect I took the wrong path.

I should have dedicated myself to making money above all else. Because at times like this, money seems to be all that matters. I screwed up.

I need to fix it.

I could stop giving away any of my writing for free, and put it all on Patreon or by subscription only, but I suspect that those who would pay to read what I write, already do. I may try it though, because I've got to do something.

Household income dropped to almost nothing for about four months, and due to Unfortunate Truth #3, even that amount was cut substantially.

I have two critical things that I need vast amounts of money for in the immediate future, one dental and one house-related, and GoFundMe just isn't working (apparently you need to be an injured "hero" like a veteran or cop, or a dying child, for GoFundMe to work- I'm none of those, nor would I want to be). I have past medical bills that have been sent to collection agencies, and I have more expenses (such as car repairs) that I know are coming. The money just isn't there.

I see how "easy" the money comes for all my family who work in government, and I understand why they refuse to see that working for The State in any capacity is unethical. When you have a choice between being in my financial position and being in theirs, I can see how ethics can be an inconvenient annoyance to be ignored at all cost, and how morals can be plastic and molded to fit the situation. I sometimes wish it were that easy for me. I realize that not everyone who is doing well financially has a government, or otherwise unethical, job. Just the majority of the ones I know personally.

Asking readers to pay for writing doesn't seem to work. The same people keep being the ones who pony up, and even mentioning money in a blog post- as I often end up doing- makes me feel sick. And from comments I have received, I know I'm not the only one who feels that way.

I know I am not the only one having this trouble. I see so many friends on the edge of financial disaster, and more fall over that edge every day. That only makes me wish I had even more money, because I desperately want to help them- and I know they would do the same for me if only their situation were better. But here we are.

I have obligations that prevent me from taking most "normal" jobs. I need to be able to continue taking care of my daughter, after all. I won't relegate her to "latchkey kid" status. But "taking care" of her also requires money, not just my physical presence and support. Finding some way to bring in more money, while being able to do what I have to do, seems hopeless. I won't do "MLM", and I lose money as a salesman every time I get myself into that sort of thing. I certainly can't afford that again.

If I try anything in the Black Market (or even the Gray Market), I will not have support of anyone in my house. It could easily result in me not even having a house.

I'm about at the end of my rope, though.

A few years ago I had a friend who made money with everything he touched. He never could understand why some people (such as myself) had trouble making money. He said it was so easy... but he could never explain it. He said the way to make money is "you just make money". I did notice that he started out every new venture with a lot of money, put it to work, and then made lots more, and I wonder how he would have done starting from nothing, without the connections he had. But, being nice, I never questioned him about that, nor would I have wanted to see him in that position if it would have meant him failing. I am not one of those people who wants to see others fail just because I do.

I apologize for the negative tone of this post. I couldn't sleep with all this weighing on me and got up to write this. It was probably yet another mistake. But now you know.

.

An upsetting truth

It happened again. And therein lies a lesson: If you say something someone doesn't want to hear, they will get upset.

It doesn't matter if it's the truth, an opinion, or a lie. All that matters is that they don't want to hear it.

Of course, often the truth will make them strike out the worst, because a flawed opinion or a lie can easily be countered with truth, but the only thing a person upset by the truth can do is... well, something crazy.

If the truth is that your heroes are individuals committing deeply evil acts, you need to let go of your heroes, not get upset at the truth. And that truth is upsetting to many people.

-

If you get any value from my labors, consider rewarding me with your financial support. This blog is in its 10th year now. If you believe I have contributed anything to the conversation regarding liberty during these ten years, and believe I have more to contribute, help me stay online.

Choosing your designated mugger

(A Patreon/subscriber-only post)

If you were to think of "the town drunk", you probably have someone in mind. If that person died, would you want to help choose the next one? Or might you think the position is expendable?

What about those who do real harm? There are all sorts of violators in your town- you probably know some of their names. Does the individual violator's identity matter, or is their aggression or property violation the critical part? What if you were asked to help choose the town mugger, or rapist, or murderer, or child molester? (Subscribe to read the rest)

-

If you get any value from my labors, consider rewarding me with your financial support. This blog is in its 10th year now. If you believe I have contributed anything to the conversation regarding liberty during these ten years, and believe I have more to contribute, help me stay online.

Arbitrary rules

Arbitrary rules are OK for games, but destructive for life.

I mean, really, there is no rational reason to "Pass Go- collect $200". It makes the game work in a consistent way, but the rule, at its foundation, is arbitrary. And no one will force you to play if you don't like the rules.

"Speed limit- 60 MPH" is also an arbitrary rule. A rule you might be murdered for ignoring. Traveling at 59 MPH is in no way more ethical than traveling at 61 MPH. It isn't wrong to simply "speed". The rule is arbitrary in every way. However, you really have no ability to opt out, since the bullies who claim the roads are going to steal from you to pay for the roads and to hire their highwaymen to patrol and rob travelers whether you consent or not.

Saying alcohol is "legal" (sort of, under certain circumstances) and Cannabis is "illegal" is completely arbitrary. You can also be murdered for breaking that counterfeit rule.

I don't mind arbitrary rules that I can opt out of. But I despise ridiculous arbitrary rules it's possible to be murdered over. And, of course, all "laws" are enforced by death. The State's arbitrary rules are evil. Enforcing them is always wrong.

-

If you get any value from my labors, consider rewarding me with your financial support. This blog is in its 10th year now. If you believe I have contributed anything to the conversation regarding liberty during these ten years, and believe I have more to contribute, help me stay online.

Making laws much like littering

(My Clovis News Journal column for April 22, 2016)

I always try to leave my surroundings a little better than I find them. If I see a problem needing to be fixed, I do my best to fix it.

Sometimes leaving the world better means picking up litter, or hooking a loose seat back on a swing for the kids.

Other times there's not much I can personally do and I have to be content pointing out the mess so others can help. Such as when encouraging people to stop littering the world with "laws".

I see laws the same way I see other litter: as clear evidence irresponsible people have been here and left their mark. They toss their trash on everyone else without the slightest hint of awareness of what they have done. Or, in the case of laws, even suffering the delusion they are doing something useful.

While it's easy to walk around and pick up paper and plastic litter, it is harder to put "laws" in their place. Too many people want to leave them where they lie, and get offended if you suggest there's a problem with an obvious solution.

Since I can't physically pick up a law and toss it in the burn barrel, what can I do? I can point out the mess to others so they won't step in it; I don't comfort those who pollute the world with laws, and I don't support those who insist on enforcing them. This helpfulness comes with risk.

Of course, I have cut myself on other forms of litter too. Anything worth doing carries risk.

One thing I haven't experienced yet is having someone see me picking up litter, then running up to knock the trash out of my hand and attack me for what I am doing. This is very different than the reaction when you become aware and concerned about law pollution. Stockholm Syndrome is deeply rooted where laws are concerned.

If you make up a law which must be enforced, you can be sure it isn't a real law. No law is necessary to give you the right to defend yourself or others from attackers or thieves, nor to demand restitution. But, without a law backing them, few would get away with stopping travelers for going a little faster than some arbitrary rule allows, and taking money from them. There are only two kinds of laws; the harmful and the unnecessary. Which of those do you pollute our world with?

-

If you get any value from my labors, consider rewarding me with your financial support. This blog is in its 10th year now. If you believe I have contributed anything to the conversation regarding liberty during these ten years, and believe I have more to contribute, help me stay online. .

No time like the present (PINNED- new posts below this one)

If you have never supported this blog financially, this would be a great time to start. Or to make a one-time offering.

There have been lots of unfortunate financial things going on in recent months- I'll spare you the details.

Please check out the options for support over to the right, and if you feel this blog has been of any value to you, please consider trading value for value.
.

Get the message? This is what they are saying

This IS what they are telling you.

This is all I see,  just about everywhere I go. Except that often there is no image, just an poster-sized page of small print citing the Texas law that justifies and legalizes their anti-social behavior.

And it is like a slap in my face.

I am almost tempted to have a bunch of stickers like this printed up and stick them over every anti-liberty bigot's "no guns" sign I see. No, I won't because of property rights, but I am so sick of not being welcome anywhere in this region, it is seriously disgusting.

There is now one exception, which I have been rewarding with my business since they quietly removed their "no liberty allowed" signage a while back. Too bad they are so expensive and don't stock everything I need.

Apparently, from what others have told me, other stores owned by the same companies in other places welcome guns... but not around here. Nope. Almost every door you approach has a anti-rights sign posted.

On the other hand, this is something I'd like to see, but have about given up on, in this extremely anti-gun area of Texas/New Mexico:

Wouldn't it be nice to matter?

-

If you get any value from my labors, consider rewarding me with your financial support. This blog is in its 10th year now. If you believe I have contributed anything to the conversation regarding liberty during these ten years, and believe I have more to contribute, help me stay online.

Restroom dramatists

This is how I see the "issue".

Yes, your opinion may differ. That's your business. Make a video laying out your position and link to it in the comments if you feel strongly about it.

-

If you get any value from my labors, consider rewarding me with your financial support. This blog is in its 10th year now. If you believe I have contributed anything to the conversation regarding liberty during these ten years, and believe I have more to contribute, help me stay online.

The Endorsement

I am proud to make my official endorsement for 2016.

Drum roll, please...

I endorse....

You.

Who were you expecting?

Only YOU can run your own life. Even if you are an incompetent idiot, you will still do a better job running your own life than some government employee. Only YOU really have your own best interests at heart (even if you screw up), and only YOU know the circumstances of your life and the situation you find yourself in.

I whole-heartedly, without reservation, endorse you.

And there you have it.

So, make it count.

-

If you get any value from my labors, consider rewarding me with your financial support. This blog is in its 10th year now. If you believe I have contributed anything to the conversation regarding liberty during these ten years, and believe I have more to contribute, help me stay online.

Clash of the Lowly things

Believe it or not, sometimes a cop shoots a person who deserves to be shot. That isn't the majority of the cases, but it does happen.

Am I supposed to get worked up about it, one way or another?

When a cop shoots a freelance bad guy- a thief caught in the act or an aggressor during an attack- I don't necessarily feel the good guys "won". I feel the same way I feel when a freelance bad guy shoots a cop. It's just a clash of vermin. Bad guy vs. bad guy. Not my circus, not my monkeys.

For all I care they can wipe each other off the face of the planet; the rest of us would be better off. I just always hope no innocent people get hurt in the crossfire between the warring vermin. There are some people you are simply better off staying far away from. Cops are among them.

#CopsAreScum

 - 

 And don't forget to check back tomorrow to see who I am endorsing in 2016.

-

If you get any value from my labors, consider rewarding me with your financial support. This blog is in its 10th year now. If you believe I have contributed anything to the conversation regarding liberty during these ten years, and believe I have more to contribute, help me stay online.

My endorsement coming soon

I know you've been holding your breath!

Watch for a major announcement on this blog Monday, as I make my official 2016 endorsement.

-

Please consider: If you get any value from my labors, consider rewarding me with your financial support. This blog is in its 10th year now. If you believe I have contributed anything to the conversation regarding liberty during these ten years, and believe I have more to contribute, help me stay online. .

Feel the freedom?

Had to take a non-elective trip to the Big City for medical stuff today, and I don't think I have ever seen so many ScumCars on the highway in my life.

There was a state trooper every few miles- half of them stopped and committing acts of enforcement against people. In one case a couple of them had ganged up on one traveler and were on the phone, probably seeking more molesters to come for back up.

Boy, I feel so protected I need to scrape the freedom off my skin with a cheese grater.

 #CopsAreScum

-

Please: If you get any value from my labors, consider rewarding me with your financial support. This blog is in its 10th year now. If you believe I have contributed anything to the conversation regarding liberty during these ten years, and believe I have more to contribute, help me stay online.

Acquire skills!

If you have the right skills you can survive naked in the wilderness, at least until you can make your own clothes and tools to make things easier.

I do not yet have enough skills. I'm not even sure how to define "enough" when it comes to skills.

But every skill you learn will make it easier. Every skill will also make some "thing" unnecessary.

I love looking through "sportsman's" catalogs, especially at their camping gear. But so often I look at things and think "why would anyone buy that when it's so unnecessary".

It's usually because they are missing skills that would make it unnecessary.

It doesn't mean you have to then stop using tools you can buy. Nothing makes you value modern firemaking tools more than learning the skills to do without them. And the same goes for the value of a good knife, and shoes.

Learn skills to make as much unnecessary as possible. Then you can still get the stuff you want, but you won't need it.

-

If you get any value from my labors, consider rewarding me with your financial support. This blog is in its 10th year now. If you believe I have contributed anything to the conversation regarding liberty during these ten years, and believe I have more to contribute, help me stay online.