The REAL State of the Union

At the request of Conservative President 2008 I prepared my own State of the Union address. Here it is:

America, through world-wide meddling by the US government, has made enemies all over the globe. The US government does not, or at least should not, represent America. America is the Constitution and the Bill of Rights; The Highest Law of the Land. The US government is a bureaucracy which serves only its own interests to the detriment of America.

More terrorists devoted to killing Americans are created every day in countries all over the world by the US government's policies of nation-building and "peace-keeping". Who can blame them? Imagine if the roles were reversed. Remember how America felt when nineteen Arab terrorists killed almost 3000 Americans (if the government line is true)? Now imagine that instead of that horrible, singular act, a foreign army had invaded our shores and began moving through all of our towns, killing, raping, and maiming along the way. You would vow to avenge the deaths of your neighbors and brothers, sisters, father and mother til the last breath of life were gone from your body. How do you think they feel with US troops parading through their hometowns? We must bring the troops home, safe, alive, now.

The economy is a mess. Government statistics hide the true cost of inflation, which is really simply the cost of not backing our money with precious metal. The Federal Reserve needs to be abolished to bring value back to your money, and the IRS must be banished to leave that money in the hands of its rightful owners.

America is a country suffering in a vast wasteland of "law pollution" where every little issue brings forth a new law. The Supreme Court, back when it still had a shred of honor, ruled that any law which was out of line of the Constitution and Bill of Rights was null and void and was not really a law, and that no one had any obligation to obey such a law. I call this a "counterfeit law". The law pollution needs to be cleaned up. Crimes such as murder, theft, rape, kidnapping, and fraud are real crimes. There is no debate here. Victimless "crimes" need to be done away with, and the political prisoners held for violating them need to be given back their lives.

Some Americans rail against "illegal" immigrants while studiously ignoring why the "problem individuals" come here. Welfare handouts are not only bringing in human parasites from abroad, but raising up a generation of the same here. Handouts are never the way to build a person. Stop offering them and the people who choose to come here will come for all the right reasons; the same reasons most of your ancestors and mine chose to make America their home.

Much is made of the shift to a Democratic-controlled Congress, but this is merely "smoke and mirrors" as there is no longer enough difference between Democrat and Republican to matter. Both sides believe they have the authority and wisdom to control the personal, private affairs of others. Both sides pursue the same policies only shifting emphasis from year to year. Both sides are complicit in the destruction of liberty under the pretense of saving "us" from one phantom or another.

I believe there is hope. More and more Americans are recognizing the harm that the US government is doing using American interests as an excuse. Even out-of-control police officers across the country are having the light of attention shined on their abuses. The murders they commit are being noticed more and more. Fewer people believe the official government story on .... anything. There is hope. Freedom will win.

News Flash: All "New" Laws Null and Void!

In the manner of the US federal government, I have unilaterally decided that all laws passed since the original Constitution and Bill of Rights are now null and void.

I hear the masses of oppressed productive Americans breathing a sigh of relief. "But wait" I hear you say. "What about laws which deal with things that didn't exist in the late 18th century?" Don't worry about them; I won't. There are plenty of hazards that existed in that quaint era for you to get your knickers in a knot over. Swords and muskets existed back then, so you will be required to obey every single sword or musket control law in the Constitution. Sorry, but that is just how it must be. You will also be responsible for obeying all the environmental regulations that the Constitution applies to your horses' exhaust-pipes. You must apply the definition of the words that were in common usage at the time they were written, and not "go soft" by using more modern "kinder, gentler" translations. And don't worry, the .0001% of the US government that will still exist under the new rules will be enforcing the Highest Law of the Land from now on, since they will be freed from enforcing the ridiculously silly edicts they have been wasting their time with for the past couple of centuries.

You may now return to your regularly scheduled hallucination.

Freedom on Trial

Here is an article from The Libertarian Enterprise about Ed Brown and his situation.

"Why I Support Ed Brown" by Kat Kanning

I haven't been commenting on this situation primarily because everyone should know by now that I think that all taxes are completely, inexcusably wrong and that drawing attention to yourself is suicide. I hope for a good outcome, but I don't expect it. The "Ed Brown Standoff" is no longer really about Ed Brown and whether or not he is a nice guy. It is now about whether or not you support the criminal-justice system as it is, or if you think it has become a travesty.

This and other recent high-profile trials where the defendants were not allowed to argue that the "laws" that had been violated were illegitimate demonstrate a severe shortcoming in our broken criminal-justice system. The parasitic government sets all the terms so the outcome is almost predetermined. As Darrell Anderson of Simple Liberty said recently, "What parasite in his or her right mind would allow the host to dictate the terms of existence?" Not the one which controls the US courts, obviously.

The only nice way to fight this is to become a fully informed juror. The next time Freedom is on trial, disregard the judge's infantile demands and find in favor of liberty, not tyranny.

L. Neil Smith on "Gun Rights"

He says it better than I could.

Emotional Inertia

In our quest for real, meaningful change, I think that a form of "emotional inertia" is what holds us back. I was originally going to call it "mental inertia" but I don't think it involves our rational minds. Stay with me and I will get around to the political implications here.

Imagine that you always thought that rhinoceros were the size of a donkey. On a safari you run into one and discover that it is much larger than you thought. Unless you have some emotional investment in your previous belief, you will easily adjust to your new information.

On the other hand, if you have always believed that the federal government is like a kindly grandfather; watching out for you and only wanting what is best for you, you are not likely to shift your view no matter how much evidence is presented to the contrary. You will always rationalize the evil that the government does. "Those people deserved it." or "There are a few bad apples, but most of them are only in it to help." You have too much of your emotional life bound up in your worldview to relinquish it easily. You may have friends and family who have a job that you would begin to see as immoral if you looked at it rationally.

Can emotional inertia be overcome? Yes, but it isn't easy. Mostly it will only come from within. I can't argue or debate you into changing your view. What I can do is live my life freely. Live by what I know is right. I will not initiate force or fraud against anyone. I will stick to my guns. I can't force you to be free. If you want to join me, I will welcome you.

Innocents Betrayed

I don't know how many of you are familiar with the film Innocents Betrayed put out by JPFO. This movie explores the links between victim disarmament (erroneously known as "gun control") and genocide. I highly recommend it. They now offer it as a download for $5.00. If you look quickly, you can see a photo of me in the film, and I am listed in the photo credits. I am the mountainman in the black & white photo that flashes past rather quickly during a montage illustrating modern American life.

Liberty for All

There have been some incredibly good articles in "Liberty For All" recently. Here is a selection of some that struck a nerve with me.

Child support.

Out of the Mouths of Wolves...

Responsibility.

So Easy to Believe the Lie.

Most of these were originally published a few years ago, but they are just as relevent now as when they were written, which is why Liberty For All republished them.

Last Call for "Time's Up" Flags

Tomorrow, Friday January 19, 2007 will be the last call for "Time's Up" flags on eBay for a while. Get them while you can!

The Elite and Their Enablers

Why isn't there more disenchantment with government? I think it is because too many people feel they would be nothing without the big guns of government backing them up. If you are "in" with the tyrant, you have privileges that the serfs don't have. You can get away with using guns that are forbidden to the rest of us. You get to engage in blatantly criminal behavior such as kicking in doors and shooting dads and grandmothers.

Even if you do not wield the iron fist there are reasons you might want to keep the status quo. If you have been granted a license that gives you a special status, you don't want everyone to realize that a "license" is only as meaningful as the body that grants it. If you are with the IRS you can take glee in stripping the flesh off of those who dare to point out your nakedness. If you are with the BATFE you can stalk, imprison, and murder those who simply own the same types of firearms that you feel should be yours alone. Small souls seek to punish.

Then there are also those who rely on a government handout. They studiously ignore the fact that the money is stolen from other people. Perhaps they justify it because they "paid in all those years".

If you fear freedom, real freedom, examine your reasons. Do you fear the loss of your privilege? Are you afraid of "the unwashed masses"? Does being forced to compete on the free market without the state threatening everyone into submission scare you? Stop belittling and ridiculing liberty. If you don't want freedom, get out of the way of those of us who intend to live free.

Rigging the "Game"

Did you sign the Constitution? I didn't. I am not that old. Were you asked when you reached the governmental "age of consent" if you wished to be subjected to rule by the US (or any) government? Me neither.

Isn't it ironic that "we" are told we must obey the governmental edicts imposed by "our" representatives (who, at best, are only representing a small majority of voters) while they are allowed to interpret the rules to mean whatever is convenient for them?

I have no problem with a government existing as long as it does not violate anyone's rights. Once it does, it becomes coercive. I do not consent to coercion.

Government is the only power allowed to define the rules of the game. They do not do so in favor of individual liberty. Is it any wonder that governments historically get bigger and more evil until they topple?

United (Police) States of America

Think about it. The government keeps clamping down with tighter and tighter controls on us ordinary people. We are numbered and tracked in almost everything we do. Anything remotely against the current governmental "view" of things has been labelled "terrorism". We live in Police State USA and are charged for the privilege, through taxation; being subjected to all the above abuses, and expected to thank the authoritards for "protecting" us.

State-worshippers see nothing wrong with this system. They seem to think it is a good idea. After all, it is for our own good. No, wait; it is "for the children". We must not put American ideals above their false god of safety.

Paraphrasing Princess Leia: The more they tighten their grip, the more people will slip through their fingers. Yet, according to the reigning Emperors and Darths, it is our fault if things don't work out. We should willingly give up our lives as pawns of the Empire. Good luck, tyrants. This is still America!

Am I More Palatable Now?

For those of you who want a more "political" looking candidate McManigal, I offer this picture of me.

2008 Presidential Election blog

Another blog has mentioned me. The writer of the 2008 Presidential Election blog doesn't particularly seem to agree with me, but here is what he said:

Libertarian Party Leader

Kent McManigal (Is this guy serious? I hope NOT)

This one was tough. Kent did not lead in both polls, but when averaged between the too, he was the leader. I googled him and he is listed well. He makes a lot of crazy statements on his site that make it apparent he is not serious about being president. He has a blog and a website that describes him as anti-government with plans to have his massive inauguration party/meet up on the White House lawn where he will burn Social Security cards and put the White House up for bid to sell. He has listed Andrew Wiegand as his running mate. I listed Kent only because he was ahead in the polls.

I really don't see the big deal. I am not a threat to anyone. If you prefer to live a less-than-free life, I can't stop you, nor would I even try. You don't like parties or bonfires? Stay home then. You like your Social Security cards and IRS papers? Keep them for nostalgia. I think the White House would make a lovely museum to remind Americans what can happen if government is not kept in a pinch-collar on a very short leash.

Fincher Railroaded

Hollis Wayne Fincher has been railroaded. What else would you call it? I don't wish to get into another debate on the right to own weapons (if you wish to rehash it, look at my earlier blogs and comments), but I do want to comment on the Hollis Wayne Fincher guilty verdict. Of course he was convicted. How could he not be when the judge tampered with the jury to make certain they would convict him? He was not allowed to use the defense that he has the individual right, as guaranteed by the Bill of Rights, to "bear arms".

Suppose that next year congress passes a law outlawing certain books. You take a moral stand that the law is wrong, and publicly announce that you will continue to own and read, perhaps even publish, those "illegal" books. Being arrested for owning a Bible or an encyclopedia and not being allowed to argue that the "law" you are being charged with violating is illegitimate almost guarantees you will be found guilty. Unless the jury is made up of very strong people who resisted the judge's instructions to simply decide if you had indeed broken the law. Counterfeit "laws" should not be obeyed. Regardless of your stand on the right to bear arms, if you are not allowed to use the government's highest law in your defense, then what has become of America?

Free Wayne!

Communists

What is a "communist"? It is someone who ascribes to the system of communism, which Dictionary.com defines as "a theory or system of social organization based on the holding of all property in common, actual ownership being ascribed to the community as a whole or to the state."

I could never be a communist since I do not believe in a "common good". However, depending on your religious beliefs, you might not want to toss it out so quickly. The early Christians were communists. Acts 4:34-35 says:

"Neither was there any among them that lacked, for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold. And laid them down at the apostles' feet and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need."

Note that this was an entirely voluntary form of communism; not the state enforced Marxism that is generally meant by the word "communism" today. Still, I could not live this way, since I view the fruits of your labors as yours alone to do with as you wish. If, however, you choose to put it in a common account, to be used "for the greater good", that is your business and not mine.

Overwhelmed

Somedays it seems like the police state is overwhelming us. You read about cases like Cory Maye, Hollis Wayne Fincher, Kathryn Johnston, Sean Bell, Peyton Strickland, and Felipe Fernandez-Armesto, and it just feels that "they" have us outnumbered. There is hope, though. At least these stories are not being totally ignored. Even the average American is hearing about some of these people. Perhaps a few of them are beginning to see the United States for what it is: a grave threat to America. Don't forget any of these victims of US tyranny.

Remember your duty to use the power of the jury box to judge the legitimacy of the law that someone is being accused of violating; if the law is nonsense or if you believe it is unconstitutional, then find the defendant not-guilty. Regardless of what the judge tells you to do. It is your right and duty, and has been for around a thousand years. No corrupt puppet of the police state can order you to do otherwise. Support and practice jury nullification.

Political Teens Blog

A new blog, The Political Teens Campaign, has been started for all of you politically minded teens out there. It was started by Daniel Myers of the Politics One blog. I think it is a great idea and wish Daniel the best of luck.

No-Excuses

I like the little blurb about me on The Next Prez's Friday Top Five this week:

5. Kent McManigal (steady) -- Still holding down the fort for libertarians from the L. Neil Smith no-excuses corner of the party.

Polls

If you have the desire to do so, here are a few polls where you can vote for the candidate(s) of your choice.

Next Prez, third poll down, on the right.

Politics One, also the third poll down, and it is bright yellow!

Libertarian Poll

Thanks for your votes!

A Reason to Hope for the Future

A Missouri teen videos cops during one of their increasingly common illegal roadblocks. This kid has guts.

Excited by the Opportunities

As we watch the state grow larger and more tyrannical, we can take comfort in knowing that there will come a point where it will be impossible to keep such a gigantic, authoritarian government from collapsing under its own weight. It has happened countless times throughout history, and will happen again. Authoritarian control is counter to the needs of people. For a time, the lazy or covetous among us will keep trying to hand us over to the state for their benefit. Eventually even they will see that it is not in their best interest to support a government that has only its own power as a motivating factor. Then, even these state worshippers will begin withdrawing support from the institutions of tyranny.

When this happens, we will watch the state crumble under its own weight, and we can be excited by the opportunities for liberty that will be opened to us. If we don't try to trade liberty for the temptation of controlling someone else, even those we may not like, in order to impose our wishes on their lives, we can have a free America. The secret is, don't replace the collapsed system with another system. To do so is to start down the road to authoritarian terrorism once again. It is the road that all governments eventually travel too far down.

A Quote About Cops

Here is a good perspective on what is wrong with the police in America today, and it was written in 1964. I wonder what Mr. Vance would think of the badge-wearing predators we have infesting society in 2007...

Humanity many times has had sad experience of superpowerful police forces.... As soon as [the police] slip out from under the firm thumb of a suspicious local tribune, they become arbitrary, merciless, a law unto themselves. They think no more of justice, but only of establishing themselves as a privileged and envied elite. They mistake the attitude of natural caution and uncertainty of the civilian population as admiration and respect, and presently they start to swagger back and forth, jingling their weapons in megalomaniac euphoria. People thereupon become not masters, but servants. Such a police force becomes merely an aggregate of uniformed criminals, the more baneful in that their position is unchallenged and sanctioned by law. The police mentality cannot regard a human being in terms other than as an item or object to be processed as expeditionsly as possible. Public convenience or dignity means nothing; police prerogatives assume the status of divine law. Submissiveness is demanded. If a police officer kills a civilian, it is a regrettable circumstance: the officer was possibly overzealous. If a civilian kills a police officer all hell breaks loose. The police foam at the mouth. All other business comes to a standstill until the perpetrator of this most dastardly act is found out. Inevitably, when apprehended, he is beaten or otherwise tortured for his intolerable presumption. The police complain that they cannot function efficiently, that criminials escape them. Better a hundred unchecked criminals than the despotism of one unbridled police force.

- Jack Vance, The Star King, 1964 (later included in The Demon Princes)

Freedom of Speech

Do you have the right to falsely yell "FIRE!" in a crowded theater? Yes, you do. You have a responsibility to not do that, though, to be sure. Here again, I must state that rights are non-negotiable; not subject to restriction. Don't get yourself in a self-righteous knot, though. This is not quite the same as shooting people since the other people in the theater have some control over whether they panic and stampede or not. Still, if you cause a panic and people are injured or killed, you will be held accountable. If a theater owner wants to make certain that you do not cause a panic, would it be within her rights to cut out your tongue before allowing you into the theater? Not at all. She could tell everyone that false alarms will not be tolerated and if you cause one, you will be held financially responsible for any damages, and will face punishment for any harm that your actions cause anyone. If you have done this even once, I am quite sure you would not be welcome in any theater that knew of your actions. You should not be punished for "crimes" you have not yet committed, nor should you be denied your rights or property in order to prevent you from committing these potential "future crimes". Unfortunately, this is what the US police-state attempts to do. It is the entire foundation of victim disarmament "laws".

The First Amendment forbids government interference with speech. It also quite obviously protects your freedom to air your disagreements with the government or its indigenous vermin. I believe that freedom of speech is specifically about protecting unpopular speech. If just about everyone agrees with what you have to say, no one would be likely to try to stop you from saying it. If, however, your words are inflammatory, then dictators are likely to try to silence your dissent or to put you in a "free speech zone" where your words will have less of an impact if they are heard at all. Remember this when you hear authoritarians talking about "hate speech" or "religious extremist speech". Whether you agree with what is being said or not, do all you can to protect the speaker's right to be heard. You may be next on the list to be silenced.

Democrat vs. Republican - Yawn

Government is all a game; there is no difference but in name. Yet, coming from a republicanoid background as I do (did?), the sight of Democrat congresscritters celebrating their coup sends chills down my spine. I must continually remind myself that, once again, these are all still the same old authoritarians who believe they have a divine or social mandate to run my life as they see fit. I am just an unknown pawn in their game called "The United States". I am worse than anonymous to them; they don't care nor do they want to care. How is this any different from last year when the Republicans "ran things"? I used to care more deeply about the issues that the Republicans pretended to care about, but I have come to see that there is only one true issue: self ownership. Government is still all about increasing governmental "oversight" (read "control") over daily life. It is still all about "protecting" us from.... something. I forget who or what they are protecting me from today. Terrorists? Environmental doom? Guns? "Trans fats" or tobacco smoke? Sex? Fortunately I can protect myself from most of the things I need to be protected from (none of which are on the Tyrannocratic radar), and the ones I am powerless against I will take my chances with. So, thanks for the offer, government, but you can keep your "safety", and if you don't know where to put it, I could suggest a good place.

Being True to Myself

I have had a lot of well-meaning people suggest that the only way to make a name for myself in this campaign is to abandon the very things that set me apart from the other candidates. If I were comfortable with that tactic, why would I even continue to run?

I am here to remind others what "libertarian" means. If you are uncomfortable with some of the implications, then I am doing my job. I do not know everything. There are some issues and some situations I have not thought out fully, and some I have not even made myself aware of, I am sure. Anything that comes up can be solved in a true, uncompromising, libertarian, Zero Aggression Principle, sort of way. These types of solutions are permanent, not expedient, and sometimes are more difficult to embrace. Especially when we have lived in a culture of expediency and authoritarianism for so long.

I am still getting suggestions that I must change the way I dress in order to be taken seriously. George Phillies might look good in a suit; I do not. If you had never seen any pictures of me, would it change your opinion of me in any way? What if I had used a nice studio photo of a handsome model in a professional looking suit instead of a photo of myself? Would the ideas springing from my mind take on more legitimacy? I am my mind. Part of my mind makes it difficult for me to dress as others would wish I would dress. Just ask my parents. I don't do it to be difficult or to shock people, although that seems to be the general concensus. It is part of what makes me Kent McManigal. Perhaps I will take a self portrait that looks more "normal" soon. If I do, see if it changes your perception of me. If it does, then America is probably doomed.

Free Market

I'm on my way out the door to the modern American version of the street market: the flea market. A place where you can engage in free trade and find good products; many that were made before manufacturers discovered flimsy, plastic substitutes for wood, glass, and metal. There is a bit of an outlaw feel to the whole thing. You can haggle over a price instead of simply accepting the price that the barcode scanner demands. You can suggest a trade, or pay with your silver or gold coins. You can stumble upon treasures never imagined to exist if you dig through the boxes that no one else wants to take the time to explore. You can meet vendors who can't fit into the mainstream job market (for whatever reason) and who are more interesting for their differences.

If there is a flea market in your area (and I am sure there is) give it a try, if you haven't already. In its own way, it is a little bit of anarchy in the best sense.

An Apology (Re-Posted From My Comments)

JK Pratt - I owe you an apology. You were simply asking a valid question and I responded sarcastically. I am truly sorry.

I have been thinking about this issue and I will say I do not believe that people get killed very often for refusal to pay taxes, since I am sure most people are intimidated into compliance sometime during the process long before it reaches the fatal confrontation. If they did not ever give up, then, and only then, would they be killed.

Thank you for making me think more about this.

Rights Redux

I suppose that in light of recent discussions I should make clear that I do not think that "rights" come from government, nor do I think that government has any authority to restrict rights. I have written this all before, I realize, but it bears repeating, I suppose. Rights existed before government and rights will outlast government. The problem we have is that government does not want you to recognize this fact. Government wants you to think that they grant you a right, perhaps by passing a "Bill of Rights", and that therefore, government can take away or restrict that right. This is not a description of a "right, but of a "privilege". Privileges can be restricted or outright revoked. Rights can not.

People do not always use their rights in a good way. This is illustrated by the ubiquitous example of "shouting 'Fire!' in a crowded theater". This would be a stupid and evil thing to do, but this also doesn't mean that everyone who goes into a theater must have their tongue cut out in advance to keep them from shouting "fire". If guns offend you, you have a right to not own one, but you do not have a right to forbid your neighbor from owning one. I have a right to carry an AK-47 down the streets in New York City if I choose to do so, though the city would undoubtedly choose to immorally arrest me if I did, but I do not have a right to point that gun at innocent people. The citizens of New York City do not have a right to not be offended or frightened by the sight of a gun. No one has rights that are more important than anyone else's rights. "Your right to swing your fist ends at the tip of my nose."

Rights are absolute, but not everything is a right. You have a right to live, and to defend your life. You have a right to live as you see fit, as long as you do not infringe on the rights of others. You have a right to do what you enjoy as long as you do not violate the rights of others. You have a right to avoid involuntary servitude: the fruits of your time and labor belongs to you alone, unless you choose to share or give it away. On the other hand, you do not have a right to "universal government paid health care", or a right to walk through a crowd swinging a sword, a right to not breathe second-hand smoke, or a right to not be offended. Stop and think a moment and it is easy to see the difference between a right and something that is not a right.

Are some people so devoid of personal responsibility that they fear that if they own and carry defensive weapons they will suddenly lose control of themselves and become murderous maniacs? Or is this what they fear that you and I will do?

I believe that by looking at the Constitution and the Bill of Rights we can see how far America has fallen from what it was established to be: a beacon of liberty. If we could somehow get America back in line with the Constitution, I could live with that. I really want a truly free country where no one would ever need to fear the government as long as they are not initiating force or fraud on another person. No constitution can ever guarantee that. Personal responsibility can.

Firefly

I highly recommend that you watch the cancelled FOX network TV show Firefly. It is a science fiction/space-western. The principles are not strictly libertarian, but it is pretty good entertainment without the state-worship so prevalent today. Plus, it is just very fun to watch. There is also a feature movie, Serenity, which is a sequel to the series.

I am not associated in any way with anyone who gets money from a purchase or rental of Firefly, but plug it here strictly for your anti-state enjoyment.

As a point of interest (or, perhaps, not): Many of us "Freedom Outlaws" now refer to ourselves as "Fireflies", in part because of this show, and a suggestion from Claire Wolfe, the demi-goddess of freedom.

More on the Second Amendment

I suppose the whole issue of "interpreting" the Second Amendment is very upsetting to some people. Funny. Since that is what courts have been doing for years. The Second Amendment is not difficult to understand. The opening statement, by mentioning a "militia", seems to be a big part of the contention, even though that only explained why the founders thought it was necessary, but didn't limit its scope in any way. It would be like me saying "Gold coins being necessary for the purchase of a good meal, the right of the people to own and to spend gold coins shall not be infringed". It does not limit the owning of gold coins to only people who wish to eat "a good meal".

Another problem I have is that it seems very few people understand what "infringed" means. Let's go back to my gold coin analogy. Suppose your "right" is a gold coin. If someone shaves a little bit off the edge, they have infringed that coin. It may not even show up without a microscopic examination, but the damage is done. Those shavings can never be returned to their proper place, and each one steals a bit of value from the coin.

People who have an issue with my interpretation of the Second Amendment should read the writings of the founders from the time of the adoption of The Bill of Rights if they don't believe me. You will find that they did mean for it to be understood just as I understand it. You might find that I am a radical; yet I am not wrong.

I Am a Radical

I am a radical. There is no sense denying it. Like most of you, though, I am not a violent radical, unless I get attacked. I think radical actions need to be taken in order to save America from government extremism.

First of all, Americans need to be educated about what freedom really is. Then they will see that government is the opposite of liberty. This is what I attempt to do every day.

Second, they need to be shown that there is always an alternative to government intervention and control. We do not need to roll over and cooperate every time some pin-head with a badge or a zombie with a title gives us an order. Think before you comply.

For years I tried to fit into the mainstream of "average Joe-American" political thought. It didn't work for me. I could see the "man behind the curtain" too clearly, and could see that he was totally without merit. So I sit here sharing my awakening with you, hoping that it will make you think; even if you don't agree with me. This is what makes me a radical.

As has been often quoted and paraphrased: "I would remind you that extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice! And let me remind you also that moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue!"
Karl Hess for Sen. Barry Goldwater; attributed to Cicero.

Visit My Website

I keep running into people asking questions about things that I have previously explained on my website. It is there so that you can read my views on issues that remain fairly constant. This blog is for things that just strike my thoughts in passing, or breaking news items. If you are interested in what I have to say, my website is a good place to start. Then, if you wonder what I think about the news of the day, my blog should address that. If it doesn't; ask me.

The Second Amendment (for the Learning Impared)

"Because a Very Effective, Armed, Population is Essential in order for America to stay Free and safe, the Absolute Right of Everyone to Own and to Carry any type of Weapon they choose, in any way they wish, anywhere they see fit, cannot be regulated, licensed, or even questioned in the smallest way!"

Potential Allies or Tinfoil Hatters?

A couple of years ago I had a friend who would talk with me about his displeasure with the governmental status quo just about anytime we got to talk. I trusted him and thought he sounded pretty reasonable. He had told me he had been diagnosed as "paranoid/schizophrenic", but that he really wasn't. My only early warning was when he mentioned that he had an "alien implant". I thought he was joking, and didn't think more of it. Until "the incident".

He had loaned me, without prompting, some money to use to help a family that we both knew. I used it to buy food for them. The next day he asked what I had spent the money on and I told him. He seemed a little agitated. I still had the receipt and I offered it to him. We talked and he started claiming I had tricked him into loaning me the money. I was a little shocked as it had been his idea. Then the real fireworks began. He started saying that I was controlling his mind through his "implant" and that I was a "Martian". I told him that I was pretty certain I was human. He said "Why would you say that? Are you not positive?" I said I was, and he said "That is just what a Martian would say". He became more and more upset. He was talking about being in Army Intelligence back in the early '70s, and that he was still "in", but it was a secret. The more he spoke, the more unreal his claims became. He claimed to be killing people "in high government positions" with mental feedback through his implant. He asked me to kidnap him and a girl he wanted, and take them somewhere they couldn't be tracked. He spoke of the significance of his name and his initials. He said he couldn't "claim to be God". He was getting extremely angry, too. He began pounding his fist on the table and his face was very red. I was trying to just get him calmed down at this point, but everything I did he saw as me trying to use my "Martian thought-control powers" to manipulate him. He did eventually calm down and I got out without harm. I immediately called and warned the girl he wanted me to kidnap with him. He mentioned blowing my head off to mutual friends a few times, but no one else ever saw his bizarre behavior, and downplayed it.

I learned a valuable lesson from this: Not everyone who seems to be in agreement with you, is really on your side. Don't divulge too much too soon. Sometimes you can get a shock even after knowing someone for a few years. Also, beware my awesome "mind control powers".

Capital Punishment

Capital punishment is nothing but revenge institutionalized. It is dead wrong; no pun intended. Now, before I get accused of being a bleeding heart, I will tell you; if you are being attacked, you have the absolute right to fight back in any way you need to in order to end the attack. I would even support your decision to use deadly force to stop vandalism or theft in almost all cases, since property crimes are stealing your life and security. Death at the hands of the victim or a rescuing hero at the scene of the crime is a fair outcome for someone who has decided to initiate force. However, once the criminal leaves the scene, there will always be some doubt, somewhere, as to guilt.

No government anywhere is so pure that it should be trusted with the authority to decide to kill someone as punishment. Once a person is caught and charged with a crime, all the government cares about is conviction. The fact that many defendants are found "not guilty", despite the best efforts of the jury-tampering judges, shows that the system can still work. However, no jury is above being influenced by a judge or prosecutor who is looking to advance his career by being seen as "tough on crime". If a defendant is found guilty of a "capital" crime, send him to prison for life and let those who believe in his innocence, or his family, pay for his upkeep.

Governments lie. They manufacture evidence, intimidate witnesses, play on some people's "authority worship", and set-up innocent people who dare to stand against their edicts. Show me a perfect, just government that I would trust with the power of life and death, and I will show you a government that has no desire for revenge.

Environmentalism

When I was younger, I was an enthusiastic environmentalist. I drove an electric car. I tried to convince my family that pesticides were worse than the "pests" they were used against. I almost fought with people whom I saw littering. I may have even thought more environmental regulations would be a good thing, but my mind can't force itself to even accept that possibility anymore, and I honestly can't remember if I ever thought that way.

I still hate to see the destruction and pollution of the natural world, but I have come to understand that laws are not the best way to "save the planet". I don't litter, and if you want to see me freak out, throw some trash out the car window while I am riding with you. In most cases, I will absolutely refuse to use pesticides of any kind, unless I am sure that the pests are a much greater health risk than the chemicals are (which is true in some cases). When I have owned a piece of property, I have spent a lot of time cleaning up trash that others have left behind, and repairing other kinds of damage that I find. This is not to say that I do not alter the land to suit my purposes, because I do. I just try to do it in a way that I find more appealing; which usually means in a way that appears more natural.

I don't know if humans are causing, or if they are even capable of causing, global climate change. The global climate is much more complicated than media-heads can grasp. I do know that I dislike waste and destruction. Handing over control of our environment to the most wasteful, destructive force the planet has ever endured (government) is not the way to save anything. Most environmental laws have zero to do with helping the environment and everything to do with controlling your life, stealing your property rights, and making you dependent on government.

The environmental mindset of government was witnessed years ago when some "ivory smugglers" were caught. In order to "save the elephants", ivory had been tightly controlled. Some government now had "confiscated" tons of a precious material. How could they have destroyed the market for ivory and put the poachers out of business? (Not that I believe they should, just as a thought experiment) They could have released all that ivory into the market and caused a glut, sending the prices down and making it less profitable to kill elephants. What did the governments actually do? They burned the ivory*. There, in a nutshell, is how governments think they will save the planet.

I believe that people will take care of the environment when it is in their best interest to do so; financially, aesthetically, and whatever else may motivate them. Lead by example and show people how it helps them to keep a clean, healthy planet and they will find real solutions.

*Update: It's now 2013, and it's STILL happening!  Idiots!

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Is America Ready to Be Free?

Are YOU ready to be free? What about your family? How about your friends, neighbors, or co-workers? Is America, in general, ready for freedom? I don't think so. I wish it were. Freedom is expensive. It costs a lot in terms of responsibility. Slavery costs even more, but the cost is hidden because you can blame all your problems on the "master" when you are a slave. This makes it easier if you would rather complain than DO something. If being free became important to even a tenth of Americans, we would free America from the clutches of the United States in short order. There would be massive rejections and refusals of permits, licenses, and taxes. Cops and the military would walk out in defiance of their "superiors" and of the counterfeit edicts they are expected to kill Americans to uphold. Politicians and bureaucrats could spend all day screaming about this "law" or that "phantom-of-the-week" and we would ignore them or laugh in their puffy, red faces. If America were ready to be free, we would be free today. Our task is to make people realize that they deserve to be free. This is the way to get there from here. Once enough of us want to live in liberty, we will.

Working "Within the System"

I frequently hear people discussing options for getting America back on track to being the free country that it was supposed to be. They speak of "working within the system" to accomplish this. They talk of voting for pro-liberty candidates (but then usually vote for Democrats or Republicans instead). They advocate using the jury box, but it is difficult for a free-thinker to sneak onto a jury. They blog, write letters to editors, and agitate for liberty in a thousand ways. I am all for that. We have been doing this for years as the authoritarians throw freedoms away like yesterday's dead goldfish. The dirty secret is that, if you read the Declaration of Independence you will see that the founders of America recognized that revolution, underground or open, is also within the system. It is enshrined in the writings of the minds that gave us our system. This is the reason they forbid government the authority to pass gun laws. This is not a pleasant option, but only a last resort. It is not possible for government to legitimately "outlaw" this option, either, however they might wish to do so. The only thing they can do is to punish those who choose to exercise this part of the system. It is simple desperation on their part, and exposes their refusal to stay within the bounds established for government.

Article on Personal Freedom (and Happiness)

Here is a great article about taking responsibility for your own freedom and happiness.

Personal Freedom by Retta Fontana

Not Going Away Yet

News of my departure from the presidential race is premature. My point was mainly that I feel I need to do something stupenously ridiculous in order to draw attention to my campaign since reasonable measures do not seem to be working.

The main reson I decided to run (back in November 2004) was my frustration over the electoral loss of Micheal Badnarik. Never before had I been so excited over a candidate for any office as I was by him. He is actually intelligent, reasonable, kind, humerous, and shared my views so well that I had no reservations whatsoever endorsing him for president. I even called Colorado LP delgates for him to see if they would vote for him. (Not a single one of them would state anything one way or another, even if I did get ahold of them. It was like trying to talk to Congresscritters and get a straight answer) Back when I started my campaign, I had in mind that if Badnarik decided to run again, I would drop out and endorse him again. I would also step aside for an L. Neil Smith candidacy. Other than that, I would probably not endorse anyone, but would support any candidate who was truly working for liberty as I envision it.

Don't get too excited yet, though. I am still here, and am really no threat to anyone. I don't mind giving ideas to other campaigns, either, if you wish to adopt my views as your own.

Merry Christmas

I wish all my readers and all the other candidates a very merry Christmas, a wonderful winter solstice, a joyous Yule, a happy Hanukkah, a kickin' Kwanzaa, a grievance-lite Festivus, and a cozy "get-ready-to-hunker-down-for-winter"! Let's light some bonfires of Liberty in the coming year!

So, How Do We Fix It?

What would I do to "fix" America? I would force the government to stay within the bounds of the Constitution and The Bill of Rights. I would eliminate every agency, bureaucracy, program, "entitlement", cabinet position, or post in the government that is not in absolute, complete and strict compliance with those documents, as written, not as "interpreted". The Supreme Court's "authority" to judge "Constitutionality" must be challenged and eliminated. No more weasel-words will be permitted when judging whether something is Constitutional or not. If the average, government-educated person on the street can see that a given government law or agency does not specifically have a Constitutional mandate to exist, then it is gone. A president will not have that kind of authority, so it is up to Americans to demand this action, and not be appeased in any lesser way. People need to be shown that it is really in their best interest to rein in government instead of continuing to allow it to overreach its authority. This is something that a president can do. I would blog and speak at every opportunity reminding Americans that they run America; the US government does not. I would remind them of their duty to refuse to convict, through jury nullification, defendants who have been arrested for violating counterfeit laws. I, as president, would encourage every American to own and to carry, any type of weapon they see fit, in any way they choose, anywhere they desire, in any way they wish, without seeking anyone's approval. And I would give immediate presidential pardons to anyone in the criminal "justice system" whose only "crime" is violating one of these abhorrent victim disarmament "laws". I would also hand out pardons for drug offenses, tax abstainers, and anyone else who I feel is a victim of "law pollution" in America.

Small "Time's Up" Flags

In addition to my regular 3 by 5 foot "Time's Up" flags, I now have small stick flags that measure 4 by 6 inches. The quality is lower, but so is the price. You can check them out here.

Publicity Stunt!

I have recently been having doubts as to whether there is any point in continuing my campaign. I hand out lots of cards and have conversations with people who seem to be genuinely interested in what I have to say. Yet this translates into almost no visits to my blog. The apathy is deafening. Perhaps I should pull a giant publicity stunt. Picture this scenario: Me, Kent McManigal, wearing only a breechcloth while standing atop the torch of the Statue of Liberty and waving a bright yellow "Time's Up" flag while shouting "Freedom!" at the top of my lungs. OK, so it will never happen even if I managed to overcome my fear of (man-made) heights. Still, it would get attention. When I got out of the hospital's psychiatric ward, I could see if it generated blog hits. Short of this, I am depending on you; my readers, supporters, detractors or whatever to get the word out about my campaign. If you think there is any value in continuing this effort, help me out.

America: Freedom to Fascism

Last night I watched America: Freedom to Fascism. It is a very powerful film. I highly recommend that you see it as soon as possible if you haven't yet. I got it through Netflix. I feel it is a good movie for several reasons: it shows the contempt that the IRS (and by extension, the entire US government) feels towards Americans in general, the folly of turning away from real money in favor of fiat IOUs, and it explains the dangers facing us in the very near future if we do not take steps to derail the national ID card and ID chips. I doubt it will change your mind about much since I assume that most readers of my blog are already aware of these issues, but it will give you the intellectual ammunition to fight against the authoritarians more effectively. Don't be fooled, though. Government will never admit to being the criminal force. Stand up to them and they will do whatever they feel it will take to bring you to your knees. It is a good thing there are so many of us.

Don't Take the Law Into Your Own Hands?

Why not? Probably because it is filthy and might make you sick. If the law is just, why should we depend on enforcers to use it? They are not special. Well, not in a good way. One country which is suffering high crime rates is South Africa. South Africans have had enough. The enforcers there don't wish to see their special status threatened, so they try to dissuade people from taking control. South African enforcers don't like to be seen as a dangerous anachronism. Neither do the ones in America. The problem is that since we have long ignored our duty to live free of aggression, the professional enforcers have taken it upon themselves to force us to live under their rule, and they are making a royal mess out of America. We do not need them, and never did. Take back your power and duty to keep the peace. Wrest it from the desperate clutches of the counterfeit enforcers who wield their counterfeit laws against the real rulers of America: you and me.

We are the Abolitionists

For those of you who have balked at embracing the term "anarchist" for myself and other rational government doubters, here is an article for you: "Call Me an Abolitionist, Please" by Glen Allport. I could get onboard with this term.

The Ruling Class

If you choose to accept a job with the government, whether it is as a politician, an "enforcer", or as a bureaucrat, you are choosing a life of subservience. Every cop on the street or President in the White House is at a lower social position than any burned out addict in a cheap motel room. Politicians, "enforcers", and bureaucrats have chosen a life of servanthood. "Public servants" is not something we hear as much today because government wishes we would forget that they are accountable to us. Most Americans seem to have forgotten quite nicely. Government is not the "overlords" or the ruling class that they pretend to be. They work for the people. The problems happen when they begin to act as though they are the rulers and we do not quickly put out that flame of tyranny. If you choose a life of servanthood, do not get uppity with your superiors in "the private sector", but recognize that you are vastly outranked by the very people you show contempt for with every edict you inflict or tasering you commit.

Politically Irrelevant Stuff

There are a lot of times that I begin to write a blog only to realize that what I am writing about is completely irrelevant to my campaign. I have a lot of opinions. Some of them matter in the political world, but a lot of them do not. Some things are just a distraction from the real issues facing America. My realization that victim disarmament is a murderous policy that only a corrupt government would implement, or that taxation is debasing our society by financing it through theft are critical points to know about me and my views. My opinions about TV shows, religion, or even to a large extent, other candidates, do not matter. I will attempt to keep such opinions to myself, and if I happen to "slip", I will not mind if you remind me.

Helping Others

Charity, not welfare. It is a simple concept. Welfare costs the recipient more than they get in return in the form of dependency, loss of privacy and dignity, and unfortunate government entanglements. In case you haven't noticed, the government believes it has authority to know every tiny detail of your personal, private life. When you accept government "help", it believes it really owns you. In a way, perhaps it does. The power to feed is the power to starve. Private charity, on the other hand, asks nothing in return for its help. You should be willing to give your time or money to spread the assistance at a later date, when you are able. That is a very fair trade. If it were me, I would also stay away from "private" charities that receive anything from government. Some allow government oversight, report to government agencies, or require government papers to prove you are "legal". Stay away from these false angels.

The Next Prez

There is a small mention of me over at The Next Prez. Look down at the Friday Top Five, Mid-December Edition. under Libertarians. Thanks for the votes I have gotten in their poll. I really do appreciate it.

"HONK IF YOU HAVE FREEDOM"

I was driving around yesterday and saw, standing on a street corner, a guy with a large cardboard sign. The sign read: "HONK IF YOU HAVE FREEDOM". (The irony of the situation is that he was probably risking cop harrassment or even arrest by peaceably standing there with his sign. This is what is left of our freedom.) I stopped and gave him one of my cards, and told him that I am running for president, and freedom is all I am about. Unfortunately, I was in a hurry and did not have time to stop and talk, plus he was talking to a girl and I didn't wish to interrupt him. If he reads this blog, I hope he gets in touch with me. I don't know which side of the freedom fence he is on. Does he think we are free and want to see how many people agree with him? Does he recognize that we have sat by and watched government outlaw freedom and promote wars to kill off liberty? A few people who were passing did honk their car horns. I felt they must have misread the sign at first. Perhaps they thought it said "love freedom". Then I thought again. Most Americans do still think they are free. It is a sad fact, but they have been told that they are free for so long, even as freedom dies before their eyes, that they actually believe it. Freedom means being able to do absolutely anything you want as long as it does not harm or defraud anyone else. Anything less is not freedom, but a ghost of freedoms lost.

Bill of Rights Day: December 15th is Today!!

Today, December 15th is Bill of Rights Day. Read the Bill of Rights and See a vision of what living in a "Bill of Rights Culture" would mean for us all..

After the Constitution was written it had to be accepted by the states. They wouldn't adopt it without a guarantee that the federal government would be strictly limited in its authority. This is what the Bill of Rights was written to do. It is a package deal. No Bill of Rights; no Constitution. No Constitution; no authority for a federal government. As you read over the ten amendments consider whether the US government has left any of them unbroken. Perhaps the Third Amendment hasn't been commonly violated, but every single one of the other nine has been (and is daily being) violated by a government which is out of control. The Bill of Rights was written in common (for that era) language so that the common person on the street would know and understand what was being guaranteed. Do not let government sympathizers fool you into believing that lawyers or judges must tell you what the Bill of Rights means. They lie to you to protect their power.

Go out today and exercise some or all of your rights that are guaranteed. And hope you don't get arrested!

Nigerian Scams and Taxation

I have recently gotten one of those "Nigerian Scam Letters" in my email. You know the ones. These scammers have a lot in common with government. The scammers offer you something (a lot of money) if you will trust them with your bank account information. A tempting offer to many people. If you give your information to them, you get your account cleaned out. If they trick you into actually traveling to Africa to meet them, you may just vanish along with your money. These people have no illusions. They know what they are doing is stealing. On the other hand, governments pretend that they are our benefactors when they steal our money through taxes. They promise to give it back through "benefits", programs, or "entitlements" that only drain our life-blood in the long run. The main difference that I see is that the scammers depend on our greed or gullibility to rob or kill their victims, while government orders our compliance through threats and much bigger guns. Go along with their scam or die. So even though we recognize taxiation for the scam it is, most Americans comply through fear of imprisonment or death.

Gene Chapman's Audioblog

Gene Chapman has invited me to be on his audioblog again. While I appreciate the invitation, I think I am going to decline this time. I can't really see how it will help advance my campaign. Plus, I think I sound like Bullwinkle.

If Wishes Were Facts

Do you ever hear something that you just really want to be true, whether it is or not? I know I do. Things like the US government causing 9/11. It would justify my suspicions and my dislike for the feddies so neatly if it could be proved that they either did it or knew it was planned and did nothing to stop it, knowing that it would give them an excuse for outlawing liberty in America. I know all the arguments about "it had to be a controlled demolition" and all that; and that all the air defenses were shut down in the eastern US that morning. Sometimes, though, my tinfoil beanie doesn't fit too well. Do I think the US government would do something like that? Yes; if they thought it would "help" them, and that they could be sure they wouldn't be caught. I honestly don't know whether the government had any complicity in 9/11 (other than angering most of the rest of the world with their meddling).

I wanted the Y2K thing to put a serious kink into modern, computer-reliant society, too. It isn't that I wish for bad things to happen. I want people to wake up and realize that unquestioning loyalty to governments, and dependence on machines, and other things like that can be a real danger if it is allowed to continue without critical thought. If you live under a government that is 100% good, then worship it however you see fit. If you depend on a computer for you income, entertainment, companionship, and very existance, and you are 100% sure it will never fail you, then don't worry about learning more primitive life-skills.

Humans like a good conspiracy. Most of us also like scary movies. We enjoy the things that go bump in the night. We love magic and miracles. We all want to have that Special Knowledge or Secret. But the truth is the truth. You and I must accept it just as it is whether we like it or not, and whether it fits in with your particular mythology or not.

Justice? Maybe Not.

Well, the murder charges against the cop got dropped. Read about the "reason".

Chance for Justice for Peyton's Murderers?

Maybe there is a chance for justice in the murder of Peyton Strickland. Or at least a little justice. All of the cops involved should be facing murder charges. I would dearly love to see JackBoot Cpl. Christopher Long held accountable for his heinous crime, though I am afraid there will only be a slap on the wrist. We, as Americans and as reasonable humans, should never let government thugs escape responsibility for destructive behavior. Cops and guns are a deadly combination.

On Lying to Government

I was raised to always tell the truth, though I have often fallen short of that goal. I don't even like lying to save someone's feelings from being hurt. So what I am about to tell you may come as a shock. I think it is more moral to lie to government agents and bureaucrats than it is to be truthful with them. If you had lived in Nazi Germany, would you have lied to protect hiding jews? It was illegal and dangerous to do so. Would you feel guilty if you got mugged and hid the fact that you have $20 in your shoe? Are you obligated to reveal it to the mugger so he can take it? Only a fool would say "yes". If you consent to a relationship you have an obligation to be totally open with the other party. We are not obligated to be truthful in a coercive "relationship" such as between you and government or a freelance mugger. It is only a matter of degree to distinguish protecting hidden jews from lying to an IRS agent about your neighbor's off-the-books garage business. It may be a matter of survival to him.

Who Protects Our Rights? We Do.

Here is a link to a very good article by John Silveira.

Price of Gas

I was asking someone Saturday what the most important political issue for them was. He answered "the high price of gasoline!". That came as a surprise for me, since this person is a rather interesting outlaw/criminal (no offense meant). OK then, here is my take on gasoline prices. Adjusted for inflation (see my blog on ecomonics), gas prices have not gone up too much. If you were to eliminate the road taxes on it, the price would go down dramatically. Then get rid of the taxes on its production and transportation, and the price drops again. Then get the government out of the way of innovation in vehicle design and new fuels, and competition would likely reduce the price even more. Here is an article that explains the issue much better than I could. "One Dollar Gas" Read it and remember it when buying fuel.

L. Neil's Roadmap to Freedom Part Three

Here is the third part of the article from The Libertarian Enterprise that I linked to last week. L. Neil Smith's Back to Basics: Part Three Notice especially the idea of your real wealth quadrupling out from under authoritarianism.

Economics

All of the following is just my take on it and, since I am not an economist, it may be utter nonsense. All "economics" is simply a trade. Each side trades in such a way that they feel like they came out slightly ahead or at least even. Relative values fluctuate. One conch shell will vary in relative value compared to one rabbit. In years or places where rabbits are scarce, it may take many conch shells to trade for a rabbit and make the rabbit owner feel OK about the trade. If, on the other hand, you are far from the sea shore and you really want a conch shell to make a musical instrument or some jewelry from, you might be willing to trade several rabbits for one shell. In most areas dirt or rocks will not be worth much in trade value because it is easy to simply bend over and pick some up. Gold and silver retain good trade value because they are not abundant anywhere, they are pretty and shiny, they are useful for making jewelry and electronics, and they are just about universally recognized as having value. US dollars, also known as Federal Reserve Notes (FRNs) are getting more and more common as the "money supply" gets increased. A dollar is no longer tied to a set amount of silver or gold to establish a true value. The Federal Reserve can print as many of the paper notes as they want, without having anything of value to back them up. This makes the relative value of FRNs go down. So you must trade more FRNs for what you want to have. Many people blame the stores for this and the government calls it "inflation". All it really is is the principle of fair trades that has always been around. You must trade more and more FRNs to get a fair trade for the person with the actual product. No, an ounce of gold or silver will not always buy the exact same number of rabbits or conch shells. Relative values will still fluctuate, depending on the supply or need for each. But you are not at the mercy of someone, somewhere, deciding to mix up a huge batch of gold in the kitchen to trade for your rare conch shell. If that were the case, gold would soon be as worthless as slips of paper with green printing.

"Compliance Is Not Freedom" by Stefan Molyneux

"If you fail to file a tax return, you are not immediately dragged before a kangaroo court, and shot after a speedy and Stalin-esque trial. That takes time.) Rather, you will get a letter – often a rather polite one – asking if there may be some kind of problem. If you do not respond to this letter, very little will happen.

For a while, anyway."

Read the rest here.

Driver's License = National ID

Do you have a driver's license? Why do you believe the government has the authority to number and track you and control your travels? The licenses have very little to do with your abilities to handle a vehicle anymore. They are simply your national ID. They have become the "papers" in the Nazi demand of "Your papers, please!" Now with the new requirements implemented by the feds, it really is your national ID in all but name. There are now national standards that the states must follow or lose a bit of their place at the federal teat. The government thinks it has the authority to tell you what you must do in order to "legally" travel in America. Just try to live without one of these citizen permits today, even if you never "drive". It can be done, but you will be regarded as a trouble-maker. I have known a few people who refused to be "permitted" to drive. They were in no way a danger to anyone but the authority of the government. Still want to have a driver's license? You might as well have a number tattooed on your head.

If safety were the real issue, there are better ways to administer licensing. Insurance companies have the biggest stake in driver safety. Let each of them have their own testing requirements in order to get their coverage. Good drivers would get a discount (off an already lower price because of the government-mandated insurance scam being ended). This would be much more fair, cheaper, and without the privacy and rights violations inherent in the current system.

Banning Unhealthy Behaviors

Smoking bans and bans on "trans fats" keep making the news. Call the proponents "nannies" or "health nazis" or your epithet of choice. What makes the joy-vampires think they have the authority to control your life? These bans are ridiculous. Smoking is bad for your health. Too much fat is also bad. Nobody denies that. Counterfeit laws, however, are even worse for your health and for the health of America. If you wish to prohibit unhealthy behaviors, then why not ban a person's choice to not own or know how to use a gun? That is a very unhealthy decision. Ban anything that shortens life. Pet owners live longer, heathier lives. Should we ban the choice to not own a pet? Married people live longer. Ban bachelorhood? Stress shortens life, so should everyone be drugged into bliss?

I do not smoke. I do not have a "right" to never breathe smoke. If I don't like to eat at a restaurant where the owner allows smoking, I have the right to go elsewhere. I do not have the authority (and neither does any government, anywhere) to tell the restaurant owner what he can or cannot allow in his business. (Yes, I realize that opens other issues as well. And it should) A much wiser man than me has suggested that non-smokers carry a pipe with them to display at any state-mandated smoke-free venue where a smoker is being harrassed to show support. You don't have to smoke it or even have tobacco, just let the anti-liberty trolls see it. I suppose that you could also carry a donut into the no-fat zones.

Help Me Get the Word Out

I need your help promoting my candidacy. Since I do not accept donations I need my supporters to do a lot more work than the average candidate. This doesn't necessarily involve spending any money. One big way to help is to engage in "guerilla marketing" techniques. Write the address for my campaign website ( KentForLiberty.com ) on public property (on paper money, in chalk on sidewalks, on scraps of paper that you "accidentally" leave in public places, in the dirt on the backs of your cars, whatever.) Please respect private property, though. Make up business cards that you can give out or leave lying around. Send your friends who might be interested links to this blog or my campaign page. If you have a blog of your own, mention my campaign and link to me. Contact me to let me know what you are doing. I am trying to keep abreast of things. You can also visit my CafePress Shop where I am selling "Kent for President in 2008" bumper stickers and other items. If you have a "Time's Up" flag or other item, tell people what it represents and direct them to my blog.

"Time's Up" Flags Still Available

Don't forget your "Time's Up" flags. The new ebay listing is here.

See the pics at my earlier blog announcements.

Peyton Strickland: Death by Cop

Peyton Strickland, a college student who was 18 years old, was murdered by cops Friday, December 1st. He may have committed an armed robbery. Or perhaps he didn't. He will never get to face his accusers in a trial and have a jury decide his fate, because the cops, with a warrant (so they claim) went to his house, kicked in the door as he was opening it, and shot him to death. He may have been armed with a video game controller. They killed his dog as well. This is becoming standard operating procedure in America. Cops are now enforcers, judges, jurors, and executioners. And apparently, most of the citizens see nothing wrong with this as long as it is not their own door getting kicked in; their own dog being shot; their own kitten being stomped; and their own life being brought to a violent conclusion by "Law-Enforcement-Only Ammunition".

I have no clue whether this kid robbed someone. I did not know him personally. What I do know is this is not the way America is supposed to be. Remember "innocent until proved guilty"? The United States is stomping America into the ground as fast as it can. Remember the Vicky Weavers, Kathryn Johnstons, and Peyton Stricklands that are piling up in our burgeoning police state.

Bill of Rights Day: December 15th

December 15th is Bill of Rights Day. Read the Bill of Rights.

After the Constitution was written it had to be accepted by the states. They wouldn't adopt it without a guarantee that the federal government would be strictly limited in its authority. This is what the Bill of Rights was written to do. It is a package deal. No Bill of Rights; no Constitution. No Constitution; no authority for a federal government. As you read over the ten amendments consider whether the US government has left any of them unbroken. Perhaps the Third Amendment hasn't been commonly violated, but every single one of the other nine has been (and is daily being) violated by a government which is out of control. The Bill of Rights was written in common (for that era) language so that the common person on the street would know and understand what was being guaranteed. Do not let government sympathizers fool you into believing that lawyers or judges must tell you what the Bill of Rights means. They lie to you to protect their power.

You have ten days to prepare. Find a way to celebrate the day in your local area. Write a letter to the editor. Make copies of the Bill of Rights and hand them out. Exercise some or all of your rights that are guaranteed (and see how quickly "our" criminal government labels you a "terrorist"). I had a friend who would talk about the Bill of Rights very often. His "thanks" was having the local sheriff slam him against a wall and threaten him to stop talking about "that Constitution and Bill of Rights garbage". Perhaps you will get a different response, or maybe you will discover which side of the Law your local bad(ge) guys are on.

My Christmas Wish List

I wish the government would release Wayne Fincher, apologize to him and make the government agents (who have so seriously molested him) pay him back for his lost time and property directly from their own pockets.

I wish that the cops who murdered Kathryn Johnston would be fired and spend the rest of their lives educating the public about the stupidity of the drug war, and the foolishness of allowing cops to be armed and militarized, from their jail cells.

I wish that all of America would wake up Christmas morning and realize that we don't really need government, because we are perfectly capable of living up to our potential and running our own lives without robbing and murdering each other, and of dealing with the few who can't control themselves.

I wish I could afford to send a "Time's Up" flag to every person who wants one, free of charge, so that authoritarians would see a sea of those flags flying from poles all across the country.

I wish that no peaceful, honest person would need to fear government on any level ever again. There would no longer be "paperwork violations", or any bully agancies tying to make lives difficult and confusing.

I wish I had a huge expanse of land all around me where I could explore (and shoot) without any danger of trespassing. Oh, and if it had a cave where I could live sometimes that would be wonderful!

And, finally, whatever you call the winter holiday you choose to celebrate, I wish you and your loved ones the best times ever.

L. Neil's Roadmap to Freedom

L. Neil Smith is writing a series of articles in The Libertarian Enterprise detailing what he sees as the way for America to get to the freedom that we need so badly. Please read "Back to Basics, part 1" and "Part Two".

Worth Dying For?

Someone known to me only as "Mr. Dare" recently had something profound to say in response to the question "Is anything worth dying for?"

"The only things worth dying for are the things you couldn't live without if you lost them. Liberty, Loved Ones, Principals of Self Respect. These can not be replaced or substituted with lesser values and still suffer a man to continue living."

I couldn't agree more. This is a question that has crossed my mind. I think that one day it may be more than just a mental exercise. I feel that there are more things worth living for than dying for, fortunately. I hope it stays that way.

The "Time's Up" flag

We have all seen the wonderful old Gadsden Flag with the coiled rattlesnake proclaiming "DONT TREAD ON ME". For hundreds of years it has warned enemies of freedom that we should not be provoked. For those same "hundreds of years" we have tolerated crimes by government without striking back, with a few notable exceptions. After all these years of being poked with the stick of government and stomped with jackboots, the snake has had enough. That is why I designed the "Time's Up" flag. I came up with the design while relaxing near Albuquerque, New Mexico this summer. It is the new flag of the resistance. I have "Time's Up" flags and merchandise available from eBay and CafePress. Show your support of liberty. These are not just for supporters of my campaign, but for everyone who knows that "Time's Up!"

Welcome to December

I want to thank everyone for their votes on The Next Prez poll. I came in second behind Steve Kubby (congrats Steve!). Feel free to continue to vote for me in future months, although I don't think I will be sending out reminders. I was curious how well I could do if I really pushed the issue, and I was pleasantly surprised. I appreciate the good response.

Also: Thanks for the good response I am getting on the "Time's Up" flags. I am grateful for the kind words and the enthusiasm that has been expressed over the design. I will re-post my earlier blog about it later. I apologize for the expense of the flags, but I was not able to have them made in a large enough quantity to really get the price down (and still keep the quality up). Remember that "Time's Up" flags are not just for supporters of my campaign, but for everyone who wants to tell government that we warned them "DONT TREAD ON ME" for over two-hundred years to no avail. Time's up!

Last Poll Reminder

Here is the last reminder about the online poll at The Next Prez. About halfway down the page on the right side is the Libertarian Poll. You can vote for me or the candidate of your choice there. After November ends, I will leave you alone about this. Thanks.

Social Security

Imagine a little scenario with me. A mugger whom you cannot avoid nor fight back against takes your money for years, then one day says "I have preyed on you long enough. I gave all that money to the needy. Now in your old age I will give you a few dollars every month. Ignore the fact that the money I give you will be stolen from new victims." Do you accept the money from him? This is what the governmental ponzi scheme known as "Social Security" does. It also conditions people to believe that they are entitled to government handouts, just as every other form of welfare does. For generations now, America has been devouring its young. All on the false claim of "taking care of the elderly". The harsh reality is that Social Security is theft. It is an unsustainable scheme that will collapse on the retired Americans who have been tricked into depending on its handouts. Redistribution of wealth is a socialist contrivance. There is no Social Security bank account where all of your "contributions" are deposited, earning interest until the government begins refunding your money to you. No, your stolen money was given to other people long ago. Just because it has been stolen from you for years, does not make it OK for you to accept the laundered money. I do not ever wish to be a thief's "kept man". Social Security, along with its associated tracking number, must be eliminated. It will be painful for some, just as cancer surgery is, but in order to save America's life, it is necessary. Glossing over the truth does no one any good.

"Time's Up" Flags Now Available

I now have a supply of my "Time's Up" Flags available for purchase. They are high quality flags made by Annin & Co. They measure 3' by 5' and have headers and grommets for hanging. They are digitally printed and made for indoor or outdoor use. They are better than I had hoped. The cost is $60.00 each delivered. Email me at dullhawk@hotmail.com if you are interested in one.

The Danger of Militarized Cops Goes Mainstream

Here is a very interesting article from Popular Mechanics: SWAT Overkill: The Danger of a Paramilitary Police Force

Perhaps America is becoming aware of the dangers. We can only hope.

Kent McManigal: The Silly Candidate

I will admit that sometimes I feel a bit silly running for president. I have no war-chest of funds for campaigning. I don't even accept donations. I am not a famous activist or celebrity. I haven't staged theatrical protests (although I really enjoyed reading about the "V in DC" events). I do not play politics the way I have been told is necessary in order to be elected. By which, I mean I have not toned down my libertarian views. Not even most of my own family would vote for me, since they are textbook examples of the religious-right. Will I win? No. But if I abandoned my principles in order to win, even I would not vote for myself, and would be disgusted at anyone who did vote for me. We do not need more politicians. We have a vast overabundance of that breed now. That is why I stay in the race. I still believe that of all the choices out there, I am the one who could straighten out the mess the best. I would not spare government programs that I may like if they fall outside Constitutional authority. There are no sacred governmental cows to me. I may be called a "utopian dreamer" for this. I don't believe in Utopia. I do believe in (and live in) a growing Distopia. I aim to stop it. What will you do?

The DOJ is Watching

I have noticed that the Department of Justice (a laughable name) is checking on blogs that mention "Wayne Fincher". My blog has gotten "hits" from computers at the DOJ twice that I know of since his kidnapping by the feds. It makes me wonder why. Are they testing the waters to see if anyone notices that they are railroading an innocent man? Are they compiling lists for their next kidnappings? Are they simply curious as to what is being said about the case? Or perhaps an automated program visits websites that mention their latest victim in order to intimidate vocal critics into silence. I can't say for certain that it will not work. I have not been tested, so I do not know how I will measure up. If I am taken down, more will rise up in my place. If I am silenced, others will begin to speak. I think it shows that the government is uncomfortable with its actions being watched. I know I have done nothing wrong, but the thugs of the BATFE can't say the same. They have been shown time and again rigging tests in order to get a conviction. Remember, according to them, a shoestring is a machine gun. In this time of government surveilance, we need to be especially thorough in watching the watchers. We still outnumber them, and we are the good guys.

Drug Warriors & Gun Confiscators: Stand Down

As horrible as these murder-by-cop incidents are, keep in mind that this is an inevitable result of the drug war, the gun war, and whatever other culture/morality wars the government declares on America. These murders will continue unless the murderers are told to "stand down". America, it is time to tell them to "stand down!" permanently.

More "Murder By Cop"

If I see a gang of armed, agressive people coming at me; guns drawn, I will not automatically assume that they are cops upholding "justice and liberty for all", or "securing life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness". I will assume that they are freelance criminals out to cause mayhem and death. Would you make a different assumption? I don't know a lot about the case of Sean Bell yet, but with this and similar cases I see the same scenario played out repeatedly in the news. Cops high on "authority", not in uniform, begin an attack on a regular person. When the person sees himself or herself being attacked by armed people of unknown intent, they try to fight back. The victim dies in the resultant one-sided shootout. Then the official cover-up begins, with the eager tail-wagging media spreading the official story far and wide. A badge carries with it a higher standard of behavior and a higher cost for misusing that authority. Guns and badges are a deadly combination.

The Virtual Campaign

In this presidential campaign, I have somewhat insulated myself from the madness. I haven't yet gone out on big "meet the voters" type events. Mainly because there hasn't been a big demand for me to do so. Also funds are severely limited, so I will save my traveling for when it is necessary. So for now my campaign remains mainly virtual. This doesn't mean I do not interact with the public. If you have questions or comments, let me know.

To once again state my reasons for running for president: I want to be president because I don't like the direction America is headed. I see that Republicans and Democrats actually don't work against one another, but both head toward a police state as fast as they can without alerting most Americans to what they are doing. I want to stop this trend. I want to return the Costitution and Bill of Rights to their legitimate place as the highest law in the land; implemented as written, not as "interpreted". I want to reduce the impact of government in our lives. If you do not commit a real crime, government would be completely out of your life. People should not fear their government; governments should fear their people. If government employees overstep their authority, they would be held accountable in accordance with the principle that more authority carries more responsibility. FBI snipers who murder would not be able to slide off into anonymity. ATF agents who burn churches would face juries of fully informed jurors. Ninja-suited cops who kick in doors in the middle of the night, warrant or not, would face the same consequenses as any other armed intruder. These acts would not be tolerated during my administration, but they happen every day in this and former US administrations. There is no statute of limitation on murder. State sponsored murderers should always remember that fact. Current corrupt administrations may continue to protect them. A possible future Constitutional administration will hunt their kind down to hand out cold justice.

Avoiding Mistakes When "Ruling"

Here is a lighter entry than normal. If I were running for "Evil Overlord" instead of president, here is a handy reference that I could use to avoid some common mistakes. Enjoy.

Peter's Evil Overlord List

Government Still Out of Control

The recent murder-by-cop of Kathryn Johnston and the arrest (kidnapping) of Hollis Wayne Fincher are just two examples of government out of control. Make no mistake, government should be controlled. Tightly controlled. If you don't think the government agents plant whatever evidence they require to "justify" their murders and kidnappings, then you just are not paying attention. Then, when they get caught, the government wants to use the money stolen from the productive Americans to pay for their defense. Either that, or the "authorities" keep repeating the magic words "We found the shooting to be justified" or "we were following up on a tip" or some other nonsense and the people quickily forget about the victims. I do not believe in capital punishment except at the scene of the crime, at the hands of the intended victim or a rescuer, but the murderers of Kathryn Johnston should never again be free in society to hurt anyone else. "If it saves only one life...." I would rather she had become another Cory Maye than a martyr, but the reality is that anyone defending their home is a hero. The insanely evil "War on Drugs" and "War on Guns" keep piling up the bodies. When will it stop? When we make it stop. It is time to end the madness.

"American Indians"

We all remember the Pilgrims and Indians from the Thanksgiving stories of our childhood. I always identified much more with the natives than I did with the pilgrims. I have never been very pilgrim-like. And before anyone gets upset at my use of the name "indian" when I refer to the aboriginal North American people, I do realize that is a poor name. Such are the perils of common usage. Regardless of what I call them, I have great respect for all of their cultures, even if I disagree with some specifics. No one can justify what the US government did to them in the name of progress. On a forum I am a member of, someone posting as FreedomMonkey made this remark about the power of government to destroy a culture: "it took less than two generations to take some of the fiercest individualists on this continent (the Lakota, Cheyenne, etc.) and break them down and domesticate them. Kill the leaders, destroy any oustanding individuals, take their children away, destroy their traditions and make them utterly dependent upon socialist handouts and gov't bureaucrats." I agree. It always saddens me to see the old photographs of the indian children with their "white man" haircuts and clothes being taught to be "civilized" at some "indian school". I don't want any do-gooders interfering with my culture,and I do not want any do-gooders interfering with anyone else's culture either. Live (by the ZAP) and let live. Happy Thanksgiving Day.

Ninety-Two Year-Old Woman Murdered

A ninety-two year-old woman has been murdered in Atlanta. She lived in a high-crime area and when a gang started trying to break into her home of 17 years, she began shooting at them. She hit 3 of them, but not fatally, before they kicked in the door and murdered her in cold blood. These murderers usually wear badges while they commit their atrocities. This is just business as usual for "our noble drug-warriors". Murdering Americans to keep Americans safe. Is this what we want America to be? It is time to take the power away from the armed murderers of the DEA and local militarized narcotics agencies. The report on CNN Headline News made a big deal about the fact that the murderers were "alert" at the hospital. Who cares? They killed a woman. The "authorities" call the shooting "justified" because she shot at them first. If they had been obeying America's highest laws (the Constitution and the Bill of Rights) in the first place, she would not have needed to shoot at them. I only wish she had been a better shot with a more effective weapon.

Prejudices; Old and New

Back when I erroneously thought of myself as a conservative I held racist views and beliefs. I never really thought about it other than feeling it was required. After all, it is obvious that the races are different, and that means one must be better, right? Wrong, wrong, wrong.
Then there was the conservative requirement to dislike or even hate homosexuals, although some claimed to only hate the homosexuality, but to love the "sinner". It didn't look that way to me. I have seen the destruction of this deviant mindset within my own family.
After waking up to my own "libertarianism" I realized that my only enemies are those who actively try to enslave me or those who sit aside and pretend that all is well while governments the world over try to crush individual liberty. People are not defined by their skin color, their religion, or their sexuality. They are defined by their actions. Behave as a friend and I will treat you as a friend. Not everyone is a friend, however. Those who work to implement the US police state have declared war on me, my friends, and my family. This has led to a new prejudice in me. Anyone who wears the badge of government in any form is assumed to be an enemy until or unless he or she proves otherwise. I suppose it is unfortunate and possibly wrong for me to feel this way, but look who is forcing the fight. I do not ask for this. All I ask for myself and others is freedom from coercion. Government refuses to play nice.

Freedom is a Threat to the US

Attorney Criminal - or is it General? - Alberto Gonzales says that those of us who are aware that he is destroying freedom are a grave threat to US security. Isn't that funny. The security interests of the US are counter to the interests of American freedom. Which one is more important? Which one should win out? Once again this demonstrates that the United States is the greatest danger America has ever faced. When a federal judge actually has the courage to declare a federal program unconstitutional we should all pay attention. Federal judges are not known for their ability to understand the Constitution where it puts limits on governmental power. It seems to confuse them in those instances. Sleezy Gonzales sees "liberty" as only applicable if it fits his view of "civic responsibility" and federal government security. Who among us is a "civic"? There is only personal responsibility. Where interests of the state and the individual clash, the individual must prevail. Everything is based on the individual; the building block of society.

Answer to Gene Chapman

Recently presidential candidate Gene Chapman commented on this blog that I was only stating libertarian ideology and not proposing any laws. He believes this will hurt me in any debates I participate in. I answered that the reason is what I have stated on my campaign page: I will not be advocating any new laws; only the repeal of existing counterfeit "laws". I wrote this as a campaign pledge over two years ago and I stand by it. If you are looking for someone who will advance a law for you, find another candidate. America is drowning in laws. A law never solved any problem, but laws have definately made many problems immeasureably worse. I am not calling for the abolition of all laws; only the ones which do not prohibit actual force or fraud. Laws against such things as murder, rape, theft, and kidnapping would obviously remain while victimless "crimes" would no longer be crimes. Only after all the legal pollution is cleaned up would I even consider any new law. Even then, the only law I can think of that I would like to see would be one putting teeth in the Bill of Rights and calling for specific penalties for any government employee at any level who infringes on Rights. Rights as written in the Bill of Rights, not as misinterpreted by the courts.