I hope the waiting is the worst part

As of yesterday morning, all the medical tests for my possible problem are done. Unless they find something troubling in the test results and order more tests. 

I hope they don't!

The doctor told me Monday that she suspects I have a benign genetic condition that shows up as a problem in blood tests. But one which doesn't require treatment because it doesn't cause actual trouble (beyond the trouble it has recently caused with the tests and such). Wouldn't be the first time I've been a medical oddity. Anyway, that was hopeful news to me.

Now I just have to wait for the results. I have a follow-up appointment early next month. I hope I don't have to wait that long to hear something. The waiting is the worst... unless you get bad news.

Thanks for hanging in there with me!

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The rotting corpse of America

In most people's minds, America-- as the original concept meant-- no longer exists. Liberty has been replaced by permission, which can be denied. Every area of life is now subject to government oversight and control. And background checks and licenses. Things intolerable in a free society.

This happened because the concept of America was replaced by a state-- a political government that destroyed the liberty that defined the idea of America. It happened with the adoption of the Constitution, if not earlier.

"The United States" replaced America; took its place. You could say The United States is the rotting corpse that is left for all to look upon. The dead remains of what was once America; still a physical thing, but not what it once was. Not what it could have been.

When you hear "The United States", think: "The rotting corpse". Saying "The United States of America" just refers to "the rotting corpse of America".

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My "new normal"

The "new normal"-- the only one which really matters-- is that all my patience for control freaks has been used up. Whether governmental/corporate or private/individual. You're done.

I'm guessing that's not what they hoped for or intended.

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Texas marijuana laws are failure

(My Eastern New Mexico News column for April 6, 2022)

An excellent measure of whether a "law" is good or bad is to see if it prohibits something that isn't prohibited elsewhere-- especially, right next door. If something is clearly bad enough for there to be unanimous agreement it should be prohibited, I might give the argument in favor of prohibition some thought. Otherwise, the law is trash, unworthy of a moment's consideration or my support.

By this measure, Texas' marijuana "laws" fail. Hard.

The Eastern New Mexico News reported last week that Texas DPS spokesman Sgt. Johnny Bures warned, “I would caution folks about what they bring back from New Mexico and all states in general...Just because something is legal in one state does not mean it is legal in Texas”.

Bures admitted he was talking about more than marijuana; things such as firearms, fireworks, and other items governments have no legitimate say in controlling-- or are constitutionally prohibited from controlling.

I would add, as a counterpoint to his assertion, that just because something is illegal doesn't mean possessing it is actually wrong.

He is openly admitting to being involved in a conspiracy to violate your natural human rights based on the opinions of a handful of politicians. Or maybe, based on the opinions of an uninformed majority of voters. Either way, it's not the right thing to do.

These backward "laws", and those willing to enforce them, are what keep Texas from being the beacon of liberty it could be.

Unfortunately, New Mexico is no better. All political governments are involved in similar rights violations, based on whatever the political criminals with power believe they can get away with.

Simple possession of anything can never be a real crime since crime requires actual damage-- harm-- to a specific individual victim's life, liberty, or property. Any legislation prohibiting something is a bad "law". Enforcing it is wrong, even if you can get away with it for now. Eventually, you're going to look just as bad as the federal agents enforcing prohibition in the 1920s, and those enforcing runaway slave acts before that, look now. To some of us, that's what you already look like.

Do I think it's always smart to use Cannabis? No. Abuse of anything is stupid. Prohibition is legislation abuse and is worse than any substance abuse. In fact, prohibition isn't just stupid, it's evil. I never side with those who hallucinate the political authority to prohibit anything.

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I'm sorry if I'm not as cheery as usual. Medical stuff is looming so I'm really miserable.

Ministry of what?

Calling Biden's new "Disinformation Governance Board" the "Ministry of Truth" works if enough people know the book 1984. Which I somewhat doubt is the case in the year 2022.

Otherwise, it may sound like a good thing to the masses. I mean, Ministry of TRUTH? Great, we need more truth. Right?

But of course, that's not what its real job will be. 

There are more accurate names for it. Such as the Disinformation Dissemination Board, the Disinformation Protection Board, or my personal favorite: The Department of Lies.

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We're number 6!

The newspaper reports that the local area-- on the other side of the state line-- ranks sixth in New Mexico for recreational Cannabis sales.

Considering the lack of local recreational opportunities-- at least those that don't charge a fee and can be pursued without paternalistic oversight-- it's surprising it only ranks sixth. 

First wouldn't have surprised me at all.

Much of the lack of recreation is no one's fault. We have no mountains, no forests, no canyons, no rivers, no beaches, no lakes, and no wilderness locally. Just endless farmland and feedlots and dairies-- which, obviously, you can't wander on.

Other things are the fault of those who made up legislation to make sure people weren't free to do things they didn't want people doing. Along with the cops who've worked hard to drive any local bars out of business.

It's the number one complaint I've heard from those who have lived here for years and those who get stationed here at the air base. Nothing to do.

If you're interested in team sports (in season), government, or church, you can find things to do. I'm not, and it seems many others aren't either. Some of those have found a new pastime.

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Shirking responsibility

If you think something is wrong, YOU deal with it. Personally.

Don't send government to deal with it on your behalf. Government that those who disagree with you are forced-- at gunpoint-- to fund, against their own interests. 

Using government violence to impose your wishes on others is twisted.

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Embryo Wars

I've always hated the topic of abortion. I see it as mainly a way to divide people and make them fight (and act as though they hate each other... assuming they don't), even when they agree on just about everything else. 

On Twitter, over the past couple of days, I watched as a religious war raged between those who treat abortion as their religion and those who treat embryos as gods. I'm not impressed; it makes me question the future of the species.

The issue is perfectly crafted to enhance statism's power.

Both sides are political about it.
Both sides say it's The Most Important Issue EVER!
Both sides seem to be trying to drive me to support the opposite side as hard as they can, with each argument they make.
Both sides seem dishonest to me.
Then both sides blame me for not siding with them.

I can't. Both make me sick.

Someone who kept making bad arguments to convince me his side is correct asked if this meant I'm contrarian or just a fence sitter. I could be both. But I can't come down on his side of the fence based on that interaction.

It's why I'm totally pro-liberty.

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When I say I dislike both sides of the abortion fight, I'm not talking about individuals with opinions. I'm speaking of the activists and the advocacy groups, and the arguments they use. Both sides.

I dislike both sides in the abortion fight very VERY much. My dislike grows stronger every year.

(part 2 here)

Keep your power

Donald Trump is an authoritarian who shouldn't have any power over your life. Surely that's not news to anyone, even those who liked him as president. Obviously the same goes for Joe Biden.

But...

None of the politicians who say things you like should have any power over your life, either. They are also all authoritarians. That includes libertarian (and Libertarian) politicians. 

No libertarian should have power over your life,
No anarchist should have power over your life.
No one should have power over your life...

With one notable exception: YOU should have power over your life, no matter whether you're an authoritarian, a libertarian, an anarchist, or anything else. You're the only one who should. You're the most qualified for the job, even if you're an idiot. You're still a better choice for the job than any politician.

If you force someone to defend themselves or their property from you, you're giving someone else power over your life. Don't be dumb-- don't do that.

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Don't cheat yourself out of liberty

Liberty is freedom tempered with responsibility. This means irresponsible people never experience liberty. Freedom, maybe, but not liberty.

They can't.

It's not that anyone violates their liberty more than anyone else's liberty is violated, but that the irresponsible people prevent themselves from experiencing liberty. 

By doing things they have no right to do-- things which violate the equal and identical rights of others-- which is a big part of irresponsible behavior, they are cheating themselves out of the best thing about being human. They are cheating themselves out of living in liberty for a little temporary freedom.

That's pitiable.

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Govern yourself so you violate no one else

(My Eastern New Mexico News column for March 30, 2022)

Life is too short to waste it trying to govern other people. If you're honest you'll admit you have enough to keep you busy just controlling-- governing-- yourself. Even if you have it all worked out and you are perfect, your perfection collapses the moment you try to govern someone besides yourself.

It's your responsibility to govern yourself. It's not your responsibility to govern anyone else. In fact, governing others is something no one has the right to do. Nor can you delegate to someone else a right you don't have. Being in the majority doesn't change this. A mob by any other name is the same.

Sure, you have the right to defend yourself and others from all violators. Governing others isn't the same thing.

We all know how others should live. They also know how we should live. Those visions don't often agree.

I'll give my opinion, obviously, but anyone is free to take it or ignore it. My only non-negotiable stand is that they keep their hands off my life, liberty, and property-- and off of everyone else, as well. Otherwise, they are setting themselves up to be the focus of defensive force. I'm not so self-centered as to imagine only my rights matter.

Long ago, when I was young and foolish, I thought it was a great idea to use government violence to impose my opinions on others. I supported legislation to punish-- and police officers (and a military) to fight-- whatever I thought was wrong.

I knew drug abuse was stupid, so I approved of having legislation to authorize government aggression against those who abused drugs. I thought it was a good idea to fight their stupidity with evil.

There were so many similar issues where I didn't like something, so I thought it was justifiable to force others to go along. I came to my senses eventually. It's called growing up.

My own life got so much better once I got over the idea that I should try to make others live as I knew they should. It's just another form of bullying, including when it is accomplished by voting for certain legislation or politicians.

Govern yourself so that you violate no one else, stand up for those being violated, and leave others to peacefully live as they see fit. Government and freelance crooks can't abide by this. I never expected they would. It doesn't excuse their behavior.

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Past time for an improvement

I feel uneasy about the future. About my future.

Maybe it's my upcoming medical tests-- I've been dreading May. Maybe it's the possibility of escalating problems with Russia and the supply chain. Maybe it's the lack of rain in this area. Maybe it's because everything I've tried to accomplish recently has ended in disaster. Maybe it's other things. Maybe it's a combination of multiple things.

Whatever it is, it's getting to me.

I'm about as prepped as I can be with the funds I have available. I still haven't gotten my garden going-- we had some late freezes that delayed me past the time I was gung-ho to get going. My fault, I know.

I'm stocked up on food and other necessities and conveniences. I'm somewhat stocked up on pet foods-- I could do better on that. The supply chain (and Russia-- short of nuking me) won't have an immediate effect on my quality of life. They could make things interesting in a non-optimal sort of way.

The medical stuff, I don't really know how to be prepared for that. If civilization collapses in the next couple of weeks, at least that will be off the table. A bright silver lining...

The lack of rain here is an ongoing problem. This is always a dry area, but it does seem worse than I've seen it. My parents had small sand dunes developing on their front porch last week. I haven't looked for them on my property, but they are probably starting to grow here, too. Most days the weather around here is either "Partly smoky" or "Mostly dirt". This evening we supposedly have a chance at "severe storms"-- with more strong winds, of course. The last time the weather forecast called for thunderstorms, we didn't get a drop-- they all developed east of here. That's typical.

Anyway, I hope I start feeling better about things soon. This isn't fun. 

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When you don't appreciate your "betters"

That sounds exactly like the justification that was used for not abolishing slavery sooner.
But go on; strut that wise superiority, John.

Also, this doesn't match my experience with cats at all. 

But then I respect cats and I respect their independence, I don't abuse or molest them, I don't try to control them arbitrarily. If I were abusive to them, I wouldn't expect them to thank me for it.

Maybe his opinion says more about him than he intended.

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I'm happy to see you happy

Some people only seem to find happiness-- or something they mistake for happiness-- by making others miserable or at least by seeing others in misery. They enjoy seeing others suffer, but can't share in the joy or successes of others. That's sad.

I've never understood those people, and I've known too many over the years.

Now, I don't want to see someone find happiness through harming others, but otherwise... be happy with whatever you can.

I like for people to have nice things happen to them-- as long as it doesn't come at the expense of others.

And if it does come at the expense of others...
Since I'm not a fan of punishment/revenge I'm not really interested in seeing those who enjoy hurting others suffer. Unless that's what it takes to make them stop. If their actions lead to their suffering-- they spun the wheel and won the prize. That's why I don't care when a cop shoots and kills an actual bad guy in the act, nor when a cop is shot and killed while enforcing unethical legislation. They both knew what they were getting into. It was a choice.

Not caring isn't the same as making me happy, though. I'd be happier if people didn't choose to be thugs or scum. If they'd choose a voluntary life, I'd love to see it work out and make them happy. I want more happy people in the world. There's no way that wouldn't be better for everyone.

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I'm not really a supporter of the Second Amendment. Government has ignored it to the point where it is mostly irrelevant, and it didn't "give" anyone any rights; it forbade government to touch the people's guns (and defense rights), but they do it anyway. However, if it can be used as a tool against political criminals, I'll happily use it.

Burn 'em both

No, really, it's Florida's outline with cartoon mouse ears. I swear!

Some topics cause me to want to see all those involved burn. Disney vs the Florida government is one such topic. 

I used to love Disney entertainment, but as their w0keness increased, my interest declined. 

I've never had any love for any government.

So I can't side with either one, but side against them both. I want them both to lose in a painful way.

There should be no such thing as government-employed "teachers". If there is anyway, those "teachers" shouldn't be discussing their sexuality-- or sexuality in general-- with the kids, especially not with little kids (pre-pubescent children). Anyone who feels different about this is someone I wouldn't want anywhere near my kids or anyone else's kids. That's creepy.

There's no such thing as legitimate legislation, even legislation that is supposed to do things I agree with, such as preventing government employees from discussing sexuality with little kids.

When someone lies about something, such as dishonestly portraying such legislation as "Don't Say Gay", for example, they automatically put themselves on the other side from me. Those who are on the ethical side don't have to lie.

Corporations equal government equals corporations. Rights are individual, not collective, so neither corporations nor governments have any rights. 

I don't want any corporation to "pay" any taxes, not because I love the corporation, but because I don't want government to be funded. So I would rather Disney not be taxed by government-- they should keep their own money to fund their own expenses. 

I also don't want government to have the power to give or deny permission to corporations' business decisions, nor to shield corporations from paying restitution when they harm someone's life, liberty, or property.

This fight is just between nasty collectives that want to violate you in some way. I hope there's some way for both of them to lose.

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The Censorship Clan is apparently having a bad day. Poor little fascist-socialists.