Explore some alternatives to banks

(My Eastern New Mexico News column for March 19, 2023)

How concerned are you when it looks like the banking system is teetering on the verge of collapse? Do looming nationwide economic disasters worry you?

Banks are encouraged, perhaps even required, to follow government's poor financial policies. Sometimes this is going to come back to bite them and hurt their customers. It's smart to have alternatives.

It's fine to keep using government's money-- the equivalent of Monopoly "money", if you know what money is-- as long as it still generally works. Always be ready to abandon it and have other options when it stops working. Every government money in history-- if it wasn't gold or silver-- has stopped working eventually.

Back when former president Trump started handing out money-from-nothing and calling it a "stimulus" I warmed family and friends that this was going to cause inflation, and to get ready. No one cared or listened. All they saw was "free money", and the future wasn't something to worry about.

When inflation started getting worse than it had been in decades, they acted surprised.

Other economic disasters happen when you have a banking system which is regulated by counterproductive government rules. There are going to be consequences whether you want to admit it or not. If you're surprised when consequences happen it's only because you weren't paying attention to the right people. Government officials are never the right people to listen to.

A "central bank digital currency"-- a "CBDC"-- isn't going to be any better, but watch for government officials to start pushing the idea harder if the financial system keeps crumbling. Such money would have all the drawbacks of traditional government fiat money, plus several others.

If I were you, I would get real, physical silver and gold, some cryptocurrency which isn't tied to or controlled by any government, and other things of real-world value. Things you can use or trade for other things you need. Things like food, water, medicine, and fuel.

Even if the banking system avoids collapse this time, you're not worse off if you've protected yourself by being prepared. You can always trade those things for more Federal Reserve Notes-- mistakenly called "dollars" by most people-- anytime you want.

Keeping all your eggs in one basket, including all your wealth in one form of money, is never the smart move. So don't. Explore alternatives while you have time, and hope you still have time.

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Help

And a HUGE thanks to all those who already have.

I'm relieved

I went to The Big City today for a follow-up with the surgeon, and he released me. He was very pleased with his work and said my scars look great. He was satisfied with my healing process.

I'm relieved.

I still have to see the urologist one more time, on May 4th, and he's already told me he wants to send me to a urology specialist in one of the Mega-Cities in the state. I have no intention of going through with that at this time. They aren't touching that region of my anatomy again unless I'm under general anesthesia, and I already know they aren't going to take that line in the sand seriously. I'm not budging on that.

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Reminder: Help me cover the expense of the surgery, however you can. 

Sharing is caring, too. Thank you!

Wait'll they get a load of me...

After years of being laughed at for their backward view of supporters of gun-owner rights, characterized by the clueless comment "If 'people of color' start buying guns, the Second Amendment would be repealed tomorrow", now it seems at least one anti-gun bigot is trying a different tactic:

"Since when did you Republicans care about blacks and minorities? Oh yeah when it comes to arming them you do."

Besides the misguided politicized assumption that anyone who supports the right to own and to carry weapons is a "Republican", he's letting his bigoted ignorance show in other ways as well.

Although, since this wasn't directed at me, maybe the person he was addressing was a Republican. In which case, wait until he actually meets someone like me!

They really don't get it. 

I want no one to be violated. Government has no right or imaginary "authority" to disarm anyone. Ever.

I don't care what someone's skin color is, what language they speak, what religion or political cult they follow, where they were born, what their sex is, or what they imagine themselves to be. Everyone has the fundamental human right to own and to carry whatever type of weapon they want. And, everyone has the right to defend themselves from anyone who makes a credible threat of archation. That's equality. That's liberty. If the anti-gun bigots hate liberty, that's their problem.

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Help me cover the expense of the surgery, however you can. Thank you!

Don't believe the absurdity

Voltaire pointed out that "Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities". 

There is no belief more absurd than the belief that political government is legitimate or that it has any place in society.

Look at the thousands of years of atrocities directly caused by believing that particular absurdity.

Trying to govern others doesn’t just make a person become evil; it is evil in and of itself.

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Help me cover the expense of the surgery. Help however you can. Thank you!

Appreciation post

I just thought I'd take a minute to say how wonderful all the nursing staff at the hospital was. I've had OK nurses-- and even apathetic nurses-- in the past. This crew blew them away.

A hospital stay is never something I'd choose, but I couldn't have asked for a better crew of caring, dedicated professionals. I was really impressed.

I thanked each and every one of them (that I got the chance to thank) because I wanted them to know how much I appreciated their help. And I meant it. There was Taylor, Sarah, Jessica, Ryan, Alex, Connie, Justin, and others whose names I've either forgotten or didn't know. Not a single one of them was lacking in any way that I could see. 

Great job, guys! Thank you!

Also, I greatly appreciate the surgeon and urologist who took care of me. Their skill is appreciated... a lot! Imagine what they had to do to me, without killing me in the process! Most of the time under their direct care I was unconscious, but it seems they did their jobs well. I survived and am healing. Thank you!

And, last but not least, I appreciate all the support-- financial and emotional-- I've received from the readers of my blog. You're my friends, even if I've never met you in person. You probably can't know how much that means to me! Thank you!

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Help me cover the expense of the surgery. Help however you can. Thank you!

Does this mean I'm old?

My Spirit Animal?

I was wondering recently why I'm feeling a bit angry at the world. Then I realized I'm not feeling angry. Not at all. I'm just sick of certain things-- politics, mostly.

Politics makes people stupid. 

A nationally influential Libertarian got snippy with me when I was supportive of throwing those oath-breaking anti-gun politicians in Tennessee (if I remember correctly) out of office. He had some "democracy" reason that he thought it was an awful, unlibertarian thing. He was wrong.

If you violate the terms of the agreement that allows you to hold an office, he believes you should be allowed to stay in power? I guess so. 

When I responded that I want every politician kicked out of office when they violate liberty (which would get rid of all of them), he was paternalistically dismissive. I wasn't playing his political con game, so I was irrelevant. Politics made that Libertarian stupid. I've seen more cringe-worthy tweets from him since then-- mixed in with some reasonable things, too, so he's not always wrong. Only when he mixes politics into his attempt at thinking.

Then there are all these people who see a problem, either real or imagined, and start calling for government to fix it with legislation. Or stricter enforcement of existing legislation.

So many issues, called out by so many political people. Ban this, mandate that, punish them. Wow, it's stupid.

This is political thinking and it always leads you astray. Legislation is never the right (or ethical) way to solve a problem. Be smarter.

No one has the right to use the political means against anyone. This imaginary "right" can't exist. And I'm sick of pretending doing so is legitimate, or even just holding my tongue in the face of such nonsense.

I get it: some people love politics. But it's not much different than loving to mix powerful unknown chemicals in a basement under a room full of children. Even if you say you're doing it in self-defense because someone else is doing the same to use against you. It's at least irresponsible, maybe worse. My patience for it all has worn very thin.

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Help me cover the expense of the surgery. Help however you can. Thank you!

The Bud Light silliness

The Bud Light manufactured controversy is something I can't seem to care much about. Mostly, it seems slightly amusing.

I don't drink beer and I find Dylan rather silly. Dylan's more like a clown than a serious threat. Although I can understand why some might disagree, I think they are giving him more credit than he is due. I don't feel threatened in the least.

He's an adult, and I doubt many people look at him and say to themselves "Oh! I want to be just like him!", and those who do would probably find inspiration somewhere no matter what. At least he's not as evil-clown-scary as those government libraries seek out to read to little kids.

Kids and teens are particularly gullible to manipulation and brainwashing, but I worry more about their "idols" who take themselves seriously and engage in bullying. Or worse.

I don't really believe anyone thinks of Dylan as a girl or woman. I doubt he even thinks of himself this way in his innermost thoughts, although there's no way I could know. Not that it matters one way or the other.

Fame is fleeting. He's found a niche and he's using it to his advantage while he can. Whatever works. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg.

I just see him as a comedy act. Comedy is subjective. His style of comedy isn't really my thing, but if someone enjoys it, it's not my problem.

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Help me cover the expense of the surgery. Help however you can. Thank you!

A freer world worth a little pain

(My Eastern New Mexico News column for March 12, 2023)

Almost no one enjoys pain. Humans spend a lot of time, effort, and money avoiding it or trying to avoid it. Often, pain is unavoidable and sometimes it's necessary. Occasionally, pain leads to something better in the future.

When it works out, it's always worth it.

It might hurt to achieve a freer world. Getting rid of the obstacles to "liberty for all" will be unpopular with a lot of people. There are probably even some anti-liberty things you want to hold on to. They need to go. And it is going to hurt-- temporarily.

A freer world is worth it in the long run.

If you won't suffer a little pain now in order to improve your future situation, why would you ever go to a dentist? Why would you dig a splinter out of your finger? If you say it's because those things are causing pain now, but you don't realize all the pain violations of liberty are causing, you might be in denial.

Some of the things standing in the way of liberty can be replaced with better, voluntary alternatives. Others don't need to be replaced with anything. If you have a cancerous tumor removed you don't worry about what you'll put in its place. At least, not if you're smart.

If you could suffer a little today, knowing that because of this pain, you would be free tomorrow, would you? Or are you more like a slave who is afraid of what freedom might mean-- responsibility and uncertainty-- so you'll keep your chains? Not only your chains-- worse, you'll help forge the chains your children and grandchildren will be shackled with. All because you weren't willing to go through the pain of gaining unfettered liberty.

I respect the slaves who took the risk and fled from those who pretended to own them much more than those who accepted their condition. Even those who killed their supposed masters in order to escape were right to do so. Liberty is built on the pain of those willing to pay the price. And it is worth any price because liberty is more valuable than life. A life without liberty is worse than death.

If you've been brainwashed into accepting less liberty than is your human birthright, it's time to embrace the pain it will take to change the situation.

Are you willing? If not, why not? What are you so afraid of?

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Also, I was otherwise engaged last week and didn't repost that column in full like I was supposed to, so here it is.

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Help

Liberty is not up for discussion

Evil losers have been busy. I don't care "why" they did it-- evil losers will do evil things.

Of course, half of the political types are screaming that it's because of the guns and the other half is blaming the evil losers' obvious mental illness. Yes, anyone who chooses to be an evil loser qualifies as mentally ill, no matter what else is happening between their ears.

But, really, these mass shootings happen because the evil losers are given the opportunity. They don't face enough armed targets in the places they choose to attack. Nothing...NOTHING... will make things better until this changes. New "laws" aren't needed; bad anti-liberty "laws" need to go away.

I can't take anti-gun bigots seriously. They are dangerous clowns. They'll do and say anything to avoid embracing the only thing that can help.

The other side is just as bad, in its own way. Mentally ill people have the same rights as anyone. You have no right to stop them from exercising their rights, but you have the right to defend yourself if they choose to attack. The same goes for anyone else.

I don't care who you're talking about or what justifications you use. Government has no right or imaginary "authority" to decide they aren't allowed to own the proper tools for self-defense. And that's what it all comes down to: Government has no rights or "authority" to do anything. Even if you wish it did and think this is dangerous. You'll need to find a different approach.

Liberty is simply not up for discussion.

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Help me cover the expense of the surgery. Share wherever you can.

Back in the sa... soft, cushy chair

I am untethered! And sore! But freedom from the catheter is worth the increased soreness I got from the car trip. I'm actually now the most sore I've been since the day after the surgery. It'll get better.

I'm SO GLAD this isn't a week ago!

So, where was I?

I didn't pay much attention to things going on in the world over the past week, unless I saw it on Twitter-- and I doubt most of that. But, if half of what I saw is even partly true, the world got lots closer to utter insanity while I was mentally away. I guess that's the case in any random week, it's just more obvious to me, having been checked out for a bit.

What is there to say about any of it? I don't know. I'm sure I'll have something to say, though.

It's good to be back.

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Help me recover from the expense of the surgery. Share wherever you can.

I’m home

I’m home resting, but also trying to walk to get rid of the laparoscopic gases that are causing most of my pain. In my shoulders.

The surgical area is sore but not so bad. 

The catheter is a major pain and annoyance, but I have prior experience- which is why it freaked me out so bad when I was told I would have to have one for a few days. 

Anyway, here I am. I may or may not post for a few days, other than the newspaper column on Sunday.

Thank you all for your support and concern. It makes a difference.

Update 2

 I should be discharged today. Here’s hoping. I’ll have to come back Monday to see the urologist and get the catheter out, which is annoying. If I lived closer it would be much less inconvenient, but I don’t like big cities.

I’m doing really well. I did get some pain meds today (so excuse me if I sound stoned), but it’s for my back which started hurting early this morning. The surgery site doesn’t hurt much. The pain in my shoulders from the laparoscopic gases is pretty intense. But only if I use my arms. 

The nursing staff here has been awesome. It’s been like a vacation where someone sticks you with a needle every couple of hours.

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Left versus right rivalry political lie

(My Eastern New Mexico News column for March 5, 2023)

The whole "conservative" versus "liberal", "Left" versus "Right", rivalry is a lie.

In the ridiculous political world where most people view each idea as either "conservative" or "liberal" (or whichever word the political left prefers at the moment), those who love liberty confuse everyone.

In the real world, though, there is only liberty versus authoritarianism. The rest is a diversion.

Often one part of the political divide supports me on one topic while disagreeing with me on another. As a consequence, I continually get slandered as both a "far-right extremist" and a "bleeding heart liberal". Often on the same day. Yes, it's a crazy world.

The reaction depends entirely on the views of the person who is trying to discredit me. When you see everything through the distorting lens of politics, you aren't seeing clearly and will misjudge what you think you are seeing.

I value liberty, so I oppose anything which chips away at it. Some of those things are endorsed by conservatives while others are favored by liberals. 

The supporters and detractors may switch sides from one topic to the next, but I won't participate in silent acceptance of any sort of authoritarianism. This confuses people.

I don't believe government has any political authority to ban or regulate anything-- not guns, drugs, speech, or anything else. I consider corporations to be inseparable from government-- not "private companies" as some characterize them. So censorship, from a corporation or government, is something I will always oppose.

Yet, those on the Left have accused me of thinking corporations should run the world since I deny the authority of government to do anything. It's a delusional misrepresentation.

In a similar way, the Right accuses me of neglecting private property rights and the right to lock the doors on your own home when I point out that government has no ethical or constitutional authority to control the movement of people across imaginary government borders-- called "immigration" by politically brainwashed people. Again, this characterization isn't even close to true.

People who have been trained to only see things in the dim light of Left or Right are missing most of reality. Instead of reflexively siding with their team, they would benefit from thinking for themselves. If you treasure liberty and respect the right of everyone to do whatever doesn't violate the equal and identical rights of anyone else, you'll free yourself of the political blinders.

This is what liberty looks like.

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Update 1

Things went pretty well and I’m not even in much pain. They say the only pain meds I’ve gotten were those they gave me during the surgery. I feel loopy, but that might be due to lack of sleep. Had the leave the house at 3:45 this morning to make the appointment so I got about 2 hours of sleep after two months of not sleeping well at all.

I’m going back to sleep now.

(Posted poorly from my phone)

Today's the day

I'll do my best to let you know how it went as soon as I can.

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Help

It's the day of the surgery.

Not really fine

Tomorrow is the day.

I feel like the "This is fine" dog... if he was in a state of panic.
Hopefully, the flames are an illusion and this really is fine, or will be if I stop panicking.

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Help

Tomorrow's the surgery.

Panic and pain

Today's visit to the urologist who is assisting in the surgery (complications due to a childhood injury) was one of the worst, most painful experiences of my life. It brought the childhood injury back to mind and triggered my phobia etc.

I just don't know how I'm going to get through this.

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Stopping ALL mass shootings

Assume "they" got rid of every semi-automatic weapon and every firearm that was owned by someone who isn't a government employee who is armed as a condition of his "job". (Impossible, but let's pretend.)

Even all cops are only armed with revolvers or pump-action shotguns.

Would that stop mass shootings?

Nope.

One cop who snapped could kill dozens of unarmed people with his revolver, because who could do anything about it? You think that wouldn't happen? How cute.

There is no way to completely end mass shootings. The best approach is to make certain any potential mass shooter faces armed resistance. And, again, anyone who can't be trusted with a gun can't be trusted around children.

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Help

I'm in the last week before the surgery.

Acts of an evil loser... Same song, different verse

The response to the evil loser in Nashville has been predictable in just about every way.

Including the observation that the only way to stop these things in their tracks is armed people among the things you want to protect. Children and employees, in this case.

And the outcry from the anti-gun bigots is the same as always. "A gun did this and you want more guns? You want to arm teachers instead of taking the guns away from everyone?"

I'll just say what I've said in response: If you don't trust someone with a gun, you shouldn't trust them with your children.

If I don't trust someone with a gun, I don't trust them. Period.

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Help

I'm in the last week before the surgery.

Prohibition fails every time it's tried

(My Eastern New Mexico News column for February 26, 2023)

Drug abuse is stupid, but prohibition is evil.

The surest way to guarantee a market will become dominated by criminals who are willing to steal, kidnap, and murder to protect their market share is to criminalize a product.

You saw what happened with toilet paper and eggs when they became harder to buy. Why would you imagine the same economic factors don't apply to substances you don't want people to have access to?

Yet, toilet paper and eggs were temporary shortages, not permanent government-imposed shortages. No one believed toilet paper and eggs were going to have to become black market items. What do you think would have happened if everyone did believe this, or if government had actually banned those products? Soon the market for those items would have looked exactly like the market for politically incorrect chemicals-- it would have been violent and dangerous to the customers and innocent bystanders.

I understand-- you don't think people should be "allowed" to abuse drugs. Maybe you don't believe people should even have access to them at all, regardless of whether they will use them responsibly or abuse them. You might even be under the illusion that it's not possible to responsibly use the drugs you want banned. You'd be demonstrably wrong, but it doesn't matter.

Plus, in the case of drugs, prohibition guarantees the product gets smaller and easier to hide over time-- this means it is stronger. It's easier to transport a soda can-sized package containing thousands of doses of fentanyl than to hide the same number of doses of cocaine. So guess which one is safer to ship into enemy territory where your customers live. Guess which one it is then easier to fatally overdose on.

Drug prohibition has been the excuse used for most of the worst violations of our liberty since the end of the most violent parts of alcohol prohibition. Liberty isn't a decorative trinket to be ripped off and thrown away just because it tolerates some things you don't like. It is the foundation of any worthwhile civilization, to be protected from all who would chip away at it, no matter what you think it costs.

Do I want people to abuse drugs? No. I lost a daughter to someone who did. My personal pain doesn't change reality. Prohibition not only fails every time it is tried, it makes things worse. Prohibition is evil.

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