Keep an eye out for the unexpected

(My Eastern New Mexico News column for January 11, 2017)

Life comes at you unexpectedly.

Risks are always near-- from aggressive people, the weather, or simply from Murphy's Law. No matter where you are or what you are doing, expect the unexpected, but don't let it consume your life.

You could worry yourself to death over dangers, or you can let awareness and preparedness become a game. Yes, it can be fun. Plus, it will make your life richer because you'll notice more.

Pay attention to your surroundings. Notice people acting strangely or things out of place. Listen to your gut.

I'm sure those in the Fort Lauderdale airport expected nothing out of the ordinary to happen. I would bet not a single person there was expecting any type of attack. After all, there were "no guns" signs posted.

The reality is those signs have never prevented a murderous attack. Not even one.

The honest translation of "no guns" is "We don't care if you die". No matter where the signs are posted, or whatever justifications are used, it is what they mean. Avoid those who place so little value on your life that they forbid you the proper self defense tools.

It doesn't end there. Bad people, and those who empower them, aren't the only thing which can ruin your day.

Exciting weather and car trouble are a bad combination. Keep some high-energy, non-perishable food-- peanut butter, for example-- in your car, along with a blanket. Keep water handy year-round, in case of emergency. Pay attention to the weather and expect the unexpected.

At home, store water and extra food, in case of trouble. If there's a medication you need regularly, get some extra into your rotation. Imagine different events, and plan ways you and your family would cope. Include your kids and see what ideas they come up with. Plan escape routes in case of fire, and where to meet to make sure everyone got out safely. Remind your children that windows aren't sacred, and should be smashed if it's the best way out. Don't forget to tell them to lay a blanket over the sill to protect them from broken glass as they escape.

Ultimately your safety is always your responsibility. It can't be anyone else's.

Even if you never experience a crisis, being prepared can prevent inconveniences and smooth over all sorts of bumps in the road. And it might just keep you breathing one more day. I hope you never need any of your emergency preparations, but if you do, you'll be glad you were ready.

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When civility isn't enough

Some years ago I had a retail store. One thing I hated about having a business was having to deal with agents of the State. Sometimes, I just said "No" to them and refused further cooperation or communication.

One guy would stand on the front steps and call his supervisor to see what to do when I refused to comply. Nothing ever came of that. I tried to make sure it wasn't something they were willing to shut me down over, though.

Sometimes, in the case of things they would have shut me down over, I gave them what appeared to be what they were demanding. Especially in the case of helping my customers rat themselves out.

There was one particular issue I couldn't find a good monkeywrench for: I despised being forced to be a "tax" collector against my customers. Yes, I minimized the theft where I could.

But, I collected the money and sent it to government because otherwise I would have been murdered.

However, me being me, I did make my point.

But, I was still civil.

On the memo line of every check I sent to the various "revenue" gangs, I wrote "extortion payment" beside my account number. The State of Colorado never seemed to notice, but the woman in the city "revenue" office noticed, and it really bothered her. She repeatedly called me to complain or get an explanation. A time or two she even came into my store to confront me face to face. I was nice. I was polite. I was civil. But I stood my ground.

"Taxation" IS theft.

She would object "But that's how we pay the police!" I said "I don't need or want police. I want to opt out."
"You can't do that!"

She would say "But don't you want good streets?" I would say "Not if I have to steal from my customers to pay for them."
"But, but, but...!"

Her response was always one of complete exasperation. She would sigh loudly and hang up. And then call again in a few months.

I don't know why it bothered her so much. I was paying what she demanded. If there was nothing wrong with what she was doing, why not just let it go? Why make an issue?

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Civility all around

I'm civil to cops, politicians, and other bad guys in public-- as long as they aren't currently archating. I don't pretend they are anything other than what they are, though.

I have zero respect for thugs and bullies, no matter how they justify their evil actions. There can be no real justification for it. However, respect isn't necessary to just be civil. Never mistake my civility for approval of what you do, and don't think I won't turn if you start causing trouble.

I can be civil to those who are doing the same with me, and most bad guys are civil most of the time, to most people. Otherwise, they wouldn't survive. But they are what they are, based on what they do.

People who respect or honor these bad guys are also enemies of liberty-- but I apply the same civility to them, too.

Perhaps it would be more "principled" to always treat bad guys like dirt, in every situation and in every encounter. That doesn't seem like a pleasant way to live. I am willing to overlook certain things in certain circumstances in order to make my own life a little easier.

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Hacking at foamy branches

Those who object to some consequences of government, while never questioning whether or not government's existence might be the root problem, remind me of a person whose only objection to rabies is the drooling.

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When you're not that serious about a solution

If you claim to be aware of a problem, and say you want to solve it, but you won't do the minimum necessary, then you must not really believe the problem is very important after all.

Bullying is a prime example.

"Public schools", those socialist indoctrination prisons, are a primary cause of bullying. Ignorant prohibitions on self defense provide the rest of the cause.

So, if you aren't willing to abolish kinderprisons and to stop allowing self defense to be penalized, you obviously don't believe bullying is much of a problem, no matter how many words you expend on the subject. Any protests to the contrary fall on deaf ears-- what you do means more than what you say.

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Here's an idea...

If anyone filed "taxes", is getting a "refund", and would like to rub it in the IRS's face, buy guns and ammo.

Or make a donation to me.

Either way. 😉

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Don't play cops and robbers

The Nazis and Soviets were enemies. Which side were the good guys?

Both were evil. Yes, evil.

Cops and robbers are enemies. Which side are the good guys?

Both are evil. Yes, evil.

And that's ignoring the fact that the majority of what cops do involves robbing people in one way or another. And it's also ignoring the fact that many cops actually go freelance and steal beyond what their disgusting "job" allows them to steal.

The same goes for cops against any other evildoer. Cops and murderers. Cops and rapists. Cops and kidnappers. Cops and anyone else who initiates force and/or violates property rights.

You can always have two bad guys who hate each other, and try to tell you to choose between them; that if you don't choose one side, you automatically support the other. It's a lie. Don't fall for the trick of believing you must consider one or the other to be the good guys; better than the other.

There is always a third, non-evil, option when you have bad guys pitted against bad guys. You are not being being reasonable to choose between cops and other bad guys, throwing your support behind one side or the other. It's a false choice. That path leads nowhere good.

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Led by their nose; excited by cruelty

Humans have this tendency to want to stick their nose where it doesn't belong. And, then when their nose discovers something, as it always will, they want to meddle.

That's what spawns government, but it's not the worst of it.

Humans are also capable of thinking up all sorts of creative cruelties and evil. One defining characteristic of the State is that those cruel and evil practices are almost always incorporated into it. This is how they choose to meddle, if they can get away with it.

Of course, then, as long as those things are done by people acting on behalf of the State, the cruel and evil nature of the acts are ignored. The pretense can be that those things-- in that context-- are righteous.

They aren't.

And it doesn't matter if it is something that was done hundreds of years ago, but which is no longer accepted, or something the evil bullies at the Pentagon thought up last year. Evil is evil, torture is torture. It can't be sanctified even if it "works". It turn you into a bad guy, even if your victim is also a bad guy. I want bad guys to always lose.

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Protectionism- For those who believe the world is too easy

The same kind of economic thinking errors that make people support corporate "taxes" (believing the corporations could pay them without figuring the expense into the costs of doing business) and make them believe renters pay no property "taxes" (because landlords just kind-heartedly eat that expense, I suppose) are probably happening in those who believe protectionism will help America's economy.

Now, I'll admit it will probably boost the free market economy (The Black Market), but it is always disastrous to the above-ground economy and those who depend on it. Yet, many of the people who will be hurt the most blindly support it every time some economically illiterate (or crooked and pandering) puppetician proposes it.

It's a major derpity-do moment. "Hey, I know- let's all drink bleach! That will really teach those people who sell us Kool-Aid a lesson!"

Again, I doubt the protectionism enthusiasts will learn anything when it comes back to bite them. They'll find someone else to blame and never notice their own stupidity.

Probably even dumber than this.

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It's your choice to live in liberty

(My Eastern New Mexico News column for January 4, 2017)

I want your life to be better. I want you to be happier. I don't know your individual situation so I can't tell you what to do to make yourself better and happier. Nor do I have the authority to impose my ideas of what might help in your life, anyway. No one does, although some seem to believe they do.

I believe liberty is always better than slavery, voluntary is always better than coerced, and trade is always better than theft. If you believe something different, I have the right to defend myself from your actions, but I probably can't make you change your mind.

I can offer my opinions; I can point to evidence. If your mind is made up, those will not change it. In fact, studies have shown you are most likely to dig in your heels and refuse to even consider anything which goes against what you have already decided to believe.

There is a big danger attached to ideas of making things better. It's a short distance between believing something is better and feeling justified in forcing everyone to follow it "or else".

That's the flaw with most "laws". Someone got a bright idea they decided would be better, and instead of trying to convince people it would be a good idea, they cheated and made it mandatory. By creating a "law" based on their idea, they imposed it with guns.

If something is a good idea, you don't need to force people to follow it, and if you do have to force people, it's a clear sign your idea isn't as good as you believe. In fact, it's probably worthless, if not outright harmful.

This is why I wouldn't force you to live free even if I could. Such a thing as "forced freedom" is contradictory, but even worse, you can't be free without understanding freedom. Even if freed of government enslavement, without an understanding of what freedom and liberty mean, a person would fall right back into the cage. And probably be grateful to do so.

I respect your right to make mistakes and do the wrong thing. I hope you learn from your experiences. I hope you venture from the cage just enough to discover it's nice out here, and the things you have been trained to fear are mostly shadows and illusions. I want you to live in liberty because I'm certain it would be better for you. It's still your choice.

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"Libertarian" and "anarchist" Trump supporters?

I see a lot of people very upset over the libertarians and anarchists who have become enthusiastic Trump supporters.

These upset people are focusing on the fishy-smelling foam and the transient waves that lap across the sandy beach rather than focusing on the ocean.

Some people will come and go-- chasing every "new thing" that comes along: Ron Paul, Trump, or whatever.

But there's a core that stays consistent. Those are the ones to watch. Let the shifty ones do their thing-- they were never really on your side, anyway. They may stink up the beach, and tear down sand castles, and get a lot of attention, but they don't really affect the ocean depths too much.

There's a difference between enjoying the anguish Trump is causing to certain factions of the statist "left" and actually supporting his assaults on Rightful Liberty. I love the former and despise the latter, myself.

Don't focus on what people call themselves- look at what they do.

"Libertarian" and "anarchist" Trump lovers

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A reality primer for Mr. Trump

Trump seems to need some understanding concerning "immigration": so, one, two, and three.

"Trade deficits": this phantom again?

Pipelines: If your pipeline depends on theft of private property ("eminent domain"), then you are a thief; a socialist. You are committing evil. You can't do good through evil means.

Rightful Liberty and rights: They aren't dependent on where you were born or where you live. Even the Declaration of Independence didn't make that error. Human? Then you have the exact same rights as every other human, whether gangs of bullies respect those rights or not. Period.

His support for cops and the War on Politically Incorrect Drugs: Decent people can't support cops, and prohibition is stupid and evil.

Now, I like the fact that Trump has thrown the status quo "establishment" into minor chaos by refusing to go along with some of its sacred traditions. And, I hate that he is violating Rightful Liberty, believing this can somehow make a dying nation-state (there is no other kind) "great again". At least he's not boring.

But his fans and haters? They are boring in the extreme.

Trump, his fans, and his haters, all need this book: Problem? Solved!

You're welcome.

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Looking at "the Other"

Ever noticed how nationalists always think of "others" as dirty, disease-ridden, stupid, criminals?

It sure looks like projection to me.

What are they seeing?

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Religious archators

I am not "for Islam". In fact, I hate Islam. Not just "radical Islam", but all Islam. That's just how it is. For that matter, I'm not too fond of any religion. I know this may not be rational, and I would never support any "law" restricting religion (or anything else) in any way. That's the difference between me and most other people. I know my feelings are just feelings.

So, while I'm not "for Islam", I am for Liberty. And Liberty necessarily includes the right to blow the brains out of any idiot who violates anyone for any reason. Most of the "laws" and policies aimed at Muslims are going to hurt Liberty much worse than it will hurt them.

If someone is violating you or your property in the name of their religion, be it Christianity, Islam, or "The Law", I support your acts of self defense.

I simply don't like people who archate for any reason. I like it when archators die in the act of archating- I don't care what their justification might have been. Justice is served by their death-- or, perhaps in that case justice is not even necessary.

I don't like when people move here from other territories and commit archation. Not as a part of a gang; not because they believe their religion is served by it; and not just because they are a jerk. But, I see zero difference between an archator born in this town and one born in Mexico or Syria. The act is what makes it wrong, not their birthplace.

I also don't like it when people archate to build a wall to "seal the borders" and thus violate the property rights of everyone on both sides, and especially those whose property lies along the path of that wall. They are doing just what they accuse those they are trying to keep out of doing.

The wall-lusters are just like those they hate. They are acting exactly like "radical Muslims", "illegal aliens", and criminals. They are violating the life, liberty, and property of others. They don't see it, because they desperately don't want to see it, but it's the truth. They hide the superstitious nature of their desire-- their own twisted religion-- from themselves, because otherwise they might have to see themselves as the bad guys. They hide their true nature behind nice-sounding lies.

I see through their lies. Don't you?

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The most popular disease-bearing parasites

It won't win you any popularity contests to be honest about cops.

By being honest about cops, it's like I am hating on someone's big brother.

I'm criticizing the guy "they" feel protected by. And they feel protected because he'll beat up those who scare or threaten them. At least, that's what he claims to do, and he sometimes actually delivers.

They ignore the fact he's also a murderous rapist and a thief, because he makes them feel safe.

They forget that he's just as likely to beat them up as protect them-- they have amnesia about those incidents. And, in their denial, they'll bend over backward to defend every evil he commits-- at least in all but the most blatant instances.

The same goes for the State in any form. They'll criticize it around the edges, being unhappy when its archation isn't aimed where they want it aimed. But toward anyone who ever goes to the root, they'll flip out and defend the evil bully with their lives.

Statists are bizarre and hypocritical critters. That's why they are statists.

Oh, and the disease borne by cops is statism.

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How about some help on Steemit...

I've had a live one on the line over on Steemit.
If anyone would like to help, I'm tired of him-- but he hasn't responded in a bit, so he may be done. You might just want to check out how some statists "think".

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Separation of Trump and State

A lot of people are desperate for a separation of Trump and State. That won't solve anything.

The problem isn't Trump and State, or Obama and State, Reagan and State, Stalin, Pol Pot, Lincoln, or even (to expose the hilarity of those who excitedly misinterpret Godwin's Law) Hitler and State. The problem in all the above is the same. The root problem is the State.

Until that is addressed you'll never fix the problem. You'll just keep re-arranging deck chairs while the iceberg laughs at you-- until it kills you.

Are you ready to face it?

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If you promote v*ting...

V*ting is a horrible way to have your life controlled by those neighbors and strangers who want to control it.

There is almost nothing-- NOTHING-- which should ever be subject to a v*te. Certainly not anything concerning anyone's life, liberty, or property. In other words, nothing that is currently affected by elections.

However, as long as you're going to do this, there shouldn't be anyone excluded for any reason. Not when the results can affect their life.

That means, if you are going to have v*tes determine anything, you must at least give everyone who lives on your plantation the opportunity to have a say.

Yes, that means "felons", children, resident foreigners, the terminally stupid... everyone. If there's a chance that "laws" or policies will result that could affect them, then you have no justification to not give them a say. In fact, if the results of an election might result in bombs being dropped on people on the other side of the planet, those people should also have a say in the outcome.

No, it isn't more dangerous to let these people v*te than it is to let those who believe archation through government is OK do the same. I mean, these are the people who currently v*te, and look where that has gotten us.

I say again, v*ting is a horrible idea, and this just shows part of the reason why.

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New year good time for reflection

(My Eastern New Mexico News column for December 28, 2016)

Although the start of a new year is completely arbitrary, it's still a good time to reflect on the past year, and look toward the future.

Of course, any day is a perfect day for doing so.

Just remember: it's easy to look at the past and see only the good, or only the bad.

Every year holds both, just as does every era in history.

I understand people looking back at parts of their own life with nostalgia. I do it too. "If only I could go back and..." seems to be a universal human thought. Yet when I really think about it, I remember that, besides the parts I dream of reliving, there were things I am glad are over.

The same is true on a global scale.

Many people seem to long for a return to a mythical "Golden Era"-- a past where they imagine the things they miss now were commonplace. Those with nationalist sentiments want to go back to a time when America was great and was the undisputed Shining Light on a Hill. Those who focus more on the religious aspects may long for a time when everyone went to church several times each week, had similar morals, and at least claimed to value what is absent from modern society. Often, both are embodied in an idealized 1950s America.

Honestly, there was no "Golden Era" to return to. Some of the past was wonderful and worthy of emulating; some was horrible and needs to be condemned. You are better off copying the good things about the past, adding them to the good things about the present, and trying to come up with even better things in the future.

It's easy to forget the past was full of aggression, war, slavery, bigotry, and cruelty. So is today, but in most cases, even more of all those things existed in the past. You overlook the bad parts of those bygone times when you focus on what you don't like about the present.

In spite of the fear mongers, the world has-- in general-- never been less violent. It is getting better, in spite of the bad guys, and it will continue to do so. Don't let those who point out the exceptions cloud your perception of reality.

So, while it may be pointless to dream of returning to a golden past, let's all work on making the future a little more golden than today. Happy New Year!

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Demanding equal oxygen

I'm all for women's oxygen. Men have oxygen- why shouldn't women have it, too?

Of course, I suppose you could point out that the same oxygen surrounds us all, and if anyone deprives any other person of oxygen-- man, woman, child, "non-citizen", believers in bizarre and violent superstitions, whatever-- then the person withholding the oxygen is violating them.

Oxygen belongs to everyone equally. And, it's all the same. There aren't different varieties of oxygen for different people-- even the isotopes of oxygen don't get doled out differently.

By using oxygen you aren't depriving someone else of oxygen-- you would be depriving yourself of oxygen at the same time.

Yes, everyone's oxygen is equal and identical, and no one gets to decide who gets to use it and who doesn't. If someone tries to deprive you of oxygen, you have every right to defend yourself from them, even with deadly force if they refuse to go away.

Women, being humans, have the same oxygen as anyone else. It can't be otherwise. It's pointless to protest for oxygen-- just breathe and use it.

Oh, wait... I didn't mean oxygen, I meant rights.

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