Government crushes individuality

(My Eastern New Mexico News column for June 15, 2022)

Everyone has their own unique personal preferences. This is probably a good thing since it makes life interesting and keeps us from all fighting over the exact same stuff. Think how boring it would be if everyone preferred identical things. Variety is the spice of life.

As long as everyone remembers their preferences are only preferences, not a matter of one being right and the other being wrong, there's no problem. It's only when people try to impose their preferences on everyone that it becomes an issue.

It's the difference between preferring the color yellow and forbidding the color blue; making the demand that everyone else pretend to prefer yellow, too-- or else.

This is the difference between having your own individual preferences, without acting like a tyrant, or trying to control others. Guess which path politicians prefer.

I try not to mistake my personal preferences for an excuse to tell you what to do or not do.

It's why I can think abusing tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs is unhealthy, and prefer you not harm yourself with them, without believing it's ethical to allow government to have the illegitimate power to regulate any of it in any way.

Live how you want; be who you are. Give others the same respect and it's no one's business.

Forcing others to ignore their own preferences because they differ from yours is not right. It's the opposite of giving others the same respect you probably want from them. Stealing from others, attacking them, or forcing them to give you special treatment is the same. In such a case you need to meet a stone wall of resistance until you back down and become civil.

As long as you don't try to use violence-- neither individual nor the collective violence of government-- against those whose preferences simply disagree with yours, there's no reason to stand up to you. The moment you do, standing up against you is the right thing to do.

If you are encouraging tax-funded government schools to manipulate the preferences of a generation of impressionable little kids against the wishes of their parents, you are imposing your preferences coercively. You're on the wrong side even if you are certain your preferences are better. You are crushing their individuality and, in the long run, making the future less free and less colorful than it could be. You certainly aren't helping the kids.

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Not the same thing at all

I find it amazing how many people can't-- or won't-- see the difference between "Naturalization" (becoming a member of a club) and simply being physically present among members of the club. 

Yes, government ignores the differences too, when it suits government power (and this is what causes the problems), but there's still a difference. Especially for people who don't buy into the fable of government legitimacy.

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Gun safety

This is gun safety:

1. All guns are always loaded. Even if they are not, treat them as if they are.
2. Never let the muzzle cover anything you are not willing to destroy. (For those who insist that this particular gun is unloaded, see Rule 1.)
3. Keep your finger off the trigger 'til your sights are on the target. This is the Golden Rule. Its violation is directly responsible for about 60 percent of inadvertent discharges.
4. Identify your target, and what is behind it. Never shoot at anything that you have not positively identified. (link)

This is the polar opposite of gun safety: Any and all anti-gun legislation, promoted by political criminals and their minions.

None of their policies do anything for safety-- it's not even the real goal. In fact, those rules will make you less safe. Unless you are a political criminal, then you are probably safer if your victims are disarmed. But that's not a benefit to society.

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Keepin' it clean

There are members of my family I can't introduce to some of the best liberty advocates' ideas because of the language used by so many of them. George Carlin for example. He had some great points that need to be heard. But some people simply wouldn't listen past his first "$%&#".

I think it's a shame that they won't hear him out because the ideas expressed are valuable.

So many times I've wanted to share a post with someone in my family, but didn't because I knew the language would be all they focused on.

On the other hand, they still resist those I can share. For a variety of reasons. 

Still, that's why I try to "keep it clean", even though I'm not bothered by words. Of course, I'm not really a cusser (OK, not externally) so it's easy for me.

Of course, others are probably turned off by something I do, or the way I say things, and would prefer someone else's approach. That's fine. There are enough options that there's someone for (almost) anyone.

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Let go of what doesn't work

I accept when things I want to work, don't. 

Rechargeable batteries are great. I use them for lots of things, but I have stopped using them for certain things because they just don't work very well. In a SHTF situation, they'll get me through when the better options run out, but for now I'd rather stick with what works better.

My electric car was fun. It worked adequately for most things. It wouldn't work at all for other things. There wasn't any point in denying it. With recent gasoline prices, I have wished I still had that car for short trips, even with its shortcomings.

A few years ago I decided to try shampooing with baking soda and apple cider vinegar. It sounded like a good idea. I gave it a year, then went back to commercial shampoo because the baking soda and vinegar didn't actually work very well, even though I really wanted them to work. Maybe if you had nothing else, it would be an alternative.

I've given up on certain CC guns and holsters, I have given up on particular gardening strategies, I have given up on specific relationships, I have given up on so many projects that couldn't get any traction, and I have given up on many dreams. I'll give it my best try, but if something just isn't going to work, I can face the reality of the situation and move on.

I'm not so attached to things I want to work, that I can't face it when they don't. If liberty didn't work, I would ditch it and try something else. 

Statists don't seem capable of giving up on something that doesn't deliver what was promised. Maybe what they promise is not what they really want, and it delivers what they want. Maybe, it "works" for them even though it doesn't do what they claim it will do because that's not even their desire or goal. In that case, they could just be honest about it. But they won't because statism is based on lies.

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I'm in favor of the whole public swarming all parts of the Capitol (and every other government building) all day every day. There should be no doors to close, and no security, at any government facility.
Your objections are duly noted and dismissed.

Health mystery update

(part 1, part 2, part 3)

I had my follow-up appointment Monday, which is why I don't have anything else written for today. 

Still no definitive diagnosis. Can someone please bring in Dr. House?

I passed every test, yet I still have a "condition" (which I can neither see nor feel, but which could kill me if it gets worse).

However, the doctor does suspect it may have roots in the Rat Bite Fever I had nearly 30 years ago. She says its known effects could have caused my current issue, but there's apparently not a lot of information on the long-term effects. (Can we call this "Long Haul Rat Bite Fever" and chalk it up to confirmation bias?)

So, for the foreseeable future, I will get blood tests every 6 months, and a scan every year to make sure things aren't getting worse, where more serious measures would be necessary.

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Infestation

I have a small mesquite bush in my yard. Every summer for the past few years, it gets covered-- literally covered-- with Giant Mesquite Bugs. I like the mesquite; I hate the bugs.

I've vacuumed them off with a shop vac. I've sprayed them with nicotine, bug killer, and soapy water. I've netted them, covered the bush in black trash bags, and probably several other things I can't think of at the moment. 

I got the best result from the bug killer (no surprise), but that only resulted in a few hours of fewer bugs, and a thick layer of dead bugs under the bush that has been there 2 years so far. Only a few hours later, there were just as many bugs as before.

So this year, I gave up. I ignore them-- or at most, kick the bush from time to time to set them all abuzz. Just because it is satisfying. Yes, I get covered with the bugs and I always end up transporting a few into the house with me. 

These bugs are like politicians and their legislation. Right now, I'll just have to deal with the infestation. If they get thinned out, they (or more like them) come back again. But, for the most part, I could ignore them if I choose to. I don't have to fight them or try to get rid of them. Not really. They don't actually impact my life much. They are only a problem because (or if) I let them annoy me. If I could choose, though, I'd choose the bugs over the political pests.

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People's rights are not negotiable

(My Eastern New Mexico News column for June 8, 2022)

Politicians speak most passionately about things they understand the least, like guns. This is especially dangerous when they talk about what they believe your rights are.

President Biden has recently shown he doesn't understand rights-- he confuses them with privileges and he's plotting to violate our rights because he doesn't like them.

This is criminal behavior from him and should be treated as such.

Recent events caused emotions to run high, which leads to foolish threats from authoritarian politicians. It doesn't change what our rights are, nor does it excuse the threat to violate them.

The rights of good people can't depend on what bad people do. Especially when our rights are all that stand between us and letting the bad people do anything to anyone at any time without opposition. Such as happens in schools, hospitals, or any place where your right to defend yourself (and others) with effective tools is routinely violated.

You've now seen the bumper sticker come to life: When seconds count, the police are only minutes away. Or an hour or more. Assuming they are inclined to help.

Some politically minded people like to claim there are no such things as rights; it is only about power and who has the power to do what to whom. If that's true, then no one has any reason to complain about anything anyone with power does. Putin had the power to invade Ukraine, the Ukrainian people had no right to not be displaced or killed, so all is fine.

The same could be said about every other dictator who caused holocausts. If rights aren't a real thing, people should just shut up and take it, whatever "it" happens to be.

I don't believe this is reality. Society can only exist if we each respect the rights of those around us and stand up against-- with effective tools of defense--  those who refuse to do so, whether it is the grimy mugger from the alley or the mentally compromised occupant of the Oval Office.

Rights are non-negotiable and must be defended, regardless of the opinions of those with power. When those with power try to make it so you are unable to effectively resist them, then it is doubly important you do so before it is too late. Do you want to sentence your grandchildren to a life of slavery, or is liberty worth the risk? I know where I stand.

PS: Also in the same issue is this item about a planned anti-gun march. Notice the lack of awareness the organizer of the march demonstrates. Is he really that clueless or is he a liar? I don't know.

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Why you can't debate a "gun con-troll"

"Gun control"? No. We're done. We're taking it all back-- all our natural human rights.

Those who advocate for anti-gun legislation always lie. They have to. They have nothing else to fall back on. Not history, logic, rights, or ethics. Only lies. Lies based in government supremacy. 

"Gun control" is a lie; those who call for it are liars. Or worse.
At best they are nothing but trolls trying to con you with lies about guns: gun con trolls.

They are completely unreasonable trolls, too.

Trying to be reasonable with unreasonable trolls is setting yourself up to fail. Expecting them to be able to be reasonable will bring nothing but disappointment and betrayal.

There's no possible compromise. There's no actual discussion even possible. They are what they are. If we gun owners were what they claim, they'd all be dead by now. But, gun con-trolls are liars.

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How to identify a good cop

People tell me about "good cops" and scold me for not believing in them. I've never seen any evidence of their existence, but I know what one would look like if I saw it.

A good cop is one who never gives tickets (traffic tickets, seatbelt tickets, etc.) to anyone who didn't cause actual harm to an individual or their property. Even those who do cause harm don't owe anyone but the person harmed (they never owe government). I'd support the giving of tickets only if all the money was given to the victim.

A good cop would never hassle anyone about a weapon of any sort, unless it was currently being used to violate an innocent person. Then, it's not about the weapon but about the act. No "weapons charges" at all, ever. If they can't be legitimately charged with a real crime, let them walk.

A good cop would never arrest anyone on drug charges, and never take anyone's drugs. Yes, this means addicts would die. Some innocent people would also die (which prohibition hasn't prevented anyway). That's a price of liberty.

A good cop would never confiscate property that wasn't stolen and being immediately returned to its owner-- would certainly never participate in the staged photo-op table covered with drugs, guns, and money after a "bust".

A good cop isn't going to care where a person was born or what government paperwork/permissions he possesses.

A good cop will not enforce any "tax" or help punish anyone who didn't pay one. Would never help steal anyone's property over a "property tax" issue.

A good cop will never help enforce "eminent domain".

A good cop would not patrol looking for trouble, but would wait at the station until explicitly called for.

A good cop would abide by "no victim, no crime", no matter what "the law" said.

A good cop would obey the Constitution to the letter where it enhances individual liberty and utterly ignore it any time it doesn't. No "law" which violates individual liberty can ever be legitimate, no matter who wrote it.

You find me this person and I'll concede that you've found a good cop. Otherwise, you're a government supremacist living in a statist delusion I want no part of.

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Preventing evil loserism

Is it my imagination or do the recent evil losers look unusually effeminate and/or weak? (As do many of their cheerleaders.) With the parade shooter being practically a parody of the "type".

Or, is that just the current condition of the species (in America) and any random sample of young males would look the same?

But then, there are also the "masculine" bullies (another type of evil loser)-- who are probably a large piece of the puzzle triggering the shooters. Does everyone have to be only one or the other? And how does it make the problem worse that so many girls have rejected boys (or being girls) altogether? It was already hard enough for anyone who wasn't a star athlete to find a happy relationship, but now?

Would you be doing the world a favor if you tried to reach out and befriend anyone who looked this way-- especially if they also seemed angry? Or would you just be putting yourself at unnecessary risk?

I don't know an answer that will be widely respected, since all the loudest voices prefer to blame the tool and punish those of us who didn't become evil losers-- and they refuse to hear or consider anything else, no matter how many innocent lives are lost on their altar.

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Not the way I wanted to start the day

 

R.I.P. Tobbles.

Happy Secession Day!

I approve of every act of secession, from the one that created America, to the individual today seceding from the state completely. Even if I disagree with their motivation for doing so. Break it up.

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New laws won't solve problems

(My Eastern New Mexico News column for June 1, 2022)

Senseless aggression toward innocent victims enrages me. No matter who is harmed or who commits the act. But to intentionally target children? Rage doesn't begin to describe what I feel.

Are you ready for some hard truth? Some of you are; those who aren't should probably read the comics instead.

You'll never stop crime with new legislation and harsher enforcement. You'll never even reduce crime that way.

In fact, even if you imagine this tactic would prevent some crimes, you'll have to ignore all the crimes it unintentionally causes. Directly. Which it will do. No legislation only affects the bad guys. It affects those who generally try to obey the rules much more... which has a negative effect.

What good is making up some legislation which prevents one crime if it causes five other crimes which wouldn't have happened otherwise? "If it saves one life" is the mantra of activists who wear blinders.

Knee jerk legislation giving government added power, created under the stress of tragedy, is never a good idea. It always works out badly, having devastating unintended consequences down the line. We are seeing the unintended consequences of that kind of legislation happen now, while politicians and activists are theatrically trying to place the blame where it doesn't belong.

People can't be forced to be good or responsible. You can't improve society through authoritarian tyranny. Turning society into a prison is never the right thing to do, even if you imagine safety will be the result.

All that will happen is you'll contribute to making things worse for everyone, not better.

Yet, it's what politicians want to do and it's what the loudest activists demand from them. It's not "common sense" in any sense of the phrase, but anti-liberty politicians hope you won't realize it.

What you can do is to decide to be responsible. Decide to be part of the solution, regardless of what rules are imposed on you.

Don't comply. Don't let anyone make you feel bad about refusing to go along with your own enslavement. Understanding, respecting, and exercising liberty doesn't make you a bad person. What they want to do to you-- what they intend to do to you-- makes them the bad guys. Their political acts will guarantee crimes like this will continue to happen again and again. You know it. Don't let them forget it and show them you aren't fooled by their easy and popular lies.

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Is "binary thinking" even thinking?

So many people are trapped in binary thinking. I'm not going to assume I'm immune.

I got into an ill-advised argument over abortion. But, because I didn't exactly agree with the mob that descended on me, they could only believe I was 100% on board with the opposite side's opinion. I gave evidence that this wasn't true, but they seemed literally unable to physically see it. All they could do was continue responding to the hallucination that they had formed and that the rest of the mob was helping to prop up.

It was educational.

If I think something is a bad idea, or even wrong, it doesn't mean I believe government should make up legislation prohibiting it. 

I don't even think government should make murder illegal-- but I know murder is unethical. Most people can't reconcile those two opinions. If I'm against murder, I must be for laws prohibiting it. If I'm against those laws, obviously I must think anyone should be allowed to kill whoever they want without consequence. Neither is even remotely true,

I even said things unambiguously supporting the mob's side against others who chimed in with the other view. Those comments were ignored completely. They didn't fit in the round hole.

Pointing out this trap-- the binary "thinking"-- just triggers this kind of person even more. No, the problem must be with me, not with them. Some of them resorted to mocking my "centrist" position.

Will I ever learn?

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Secession Day approaches

The family is planning a little Secession Day cookout this weekend.

I get a little uncomfortable celebrating Secession Day with people who don't get what the day is about. They fly Holy Pole Quilt and honor "The USA" (America's biggest threat), and don't realize they are missing the whole point.

The day is supposed to be about "independence" and without secession there would never be any independence. It's the foundation.

Yes, celebrate that historic secession, but don't discount the necessity of future (near future) secession. If you want any independence to celebrate, it's going to have to happen. Otherwise, a future of slavery to the state is what you can look forward to.

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Violating a little less isn't an expansion

Several times over the past week I've seen anti-liberty pundits proclaiming that the Supreme Courtjesters' recent Bruen opinion "expanded gun rights" or "expands the Second Amendment".

No, it doesn't.

It just tells the feds to stop violating the right to own and to carry weapons quite as badly as before. That's not an expansion.

If you "generously" give your starving child a second weekly potato, you aren't encouraging their gluttony. You aren't being a wonderful person for doubling their food rations, you just aren't being quite as evil as before... maybe. You are still evil for starving them, just as the Supreme Court is still evil for not explicitly explaining why any and all anti-gun legislation is null and void-- as they have to know it is if they've read the document.

Now, it seems they've also kicked some other anti-gun cases back to the "lower" courts, with instructions to do them over, taking into account the Bruen opinion. Expect sneakiness to ensue.

The bigger news may be-- depending on how it is used-- the opinion against the EPA's extra-legislative rulemaking (Algore is very disappointed with this turn of events). The EPA is obviously guilty of this crime, but BATFEces is the prime violator in this regard-- they make everyone else look like amateurs by comparison. Maybe someone will use this opportunity to slap them around a bit and knock them down a few notches. But anything that allows the BATFEces gang (or its function) to continue to exist-- as anything other than a ridiculous Nazi fan club with no power over anyone-- is a failure.

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Something that has always bothered me

Relating to yesterday's badly headlined column, and a good counterpoint by Thomas Knapp, I finally put in the effort today to articulate to myself something that has always annoyed me about the Roe v. Wade "opinion". It's something that has been in the back of my mind for ages, but I'd never spent the time or effort to put it into words. Until now.

And it's not even about abortion.

The Supreme Courtjesters sat down and diligently picked the Constitution apart with tweezers and an electron microscope to "discover" a right to an abortion-- which isn't spelled out explicitly, regardless of whether or not such a right exists-- and yet they can't just READ the bloody document to see it clearly says-- no magnifying glass needed-- that government is not allowed to have any oversight over the weapons (guns, ammunition, swords, cannons, etc.) owned by the people. None. It's right there in writing. In English. No "interpretation" necessary. No need to pick anything apart to find it. Just read it and obey it. Or tell the rest of the government to immediately stop committing the crime of violating it.

But it seems beyond their ability to do this simple job. Because they don't want to. It would be inconvenient to the rest of their gang.

They've put as much effort into burying or overlooking the right spelled out as off-limits to government interference in the Second Amendment as they put into finding a right to abortion fifty years ago. And they are still being dishonest weasels* about it to this day, even when they supposedly reaffirm the right mentioned therein. 

*Apologies to actual cute little weasels.

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Face, meet dirt

Looking down at the site of the adventure

A few days ago I took a tumble or a nosedive off the back steps and into the ground. My heel slipped off the top step as I was carrying out the trash and things went downhill (literally) from there in a cascade of awkwardness.

I got some scrapes and bruises, and twisted my ankle, and mildly sprained my wrist. Those pains have gone away (mainly my wrist pain) and allowed me to feel other minor pains they had been masking. Pretty much my whole left side took some damage. My hat protected my head and face-- as it has many times over the years.

I now feel slightly motivated to improve the back step situation. A small deck to transition from the door to the steps might be a good idea as this is far from the first time I've had trouble with the narrowness of the top step when going out the door. Yet, for some reason, the idea never occurred to me until this happened. (I try to not think of construction projects!)

Isn't it odd how many times an obvious idea or solution goes unnoticed until something-- some pain-- brings it to mind? Often it's not even a particularly difficult thing to do; it was just never thought of. I've put up with minor annoyances or inconveniences for years before I noticed them enough to fix them. Sometimes it was just a matter of realizing how annoying and unnecessary something I considered "normal" (*cough cough* government) was. Slapping the ground with my face may have been the inspiration I needed to fix the back steps. If so, it was a useful event.

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