The Freedom to be Wrong

This is one of the hardest things for many people to accept: that freedom necessarily includes the freedom to be wrong. When you see someone making a mistake it is natural to want to rescue them. This is what makes humans humane. Parents usually learn that if they always save their kids from getting hurt by a mistake, the kids keep making the same mistake over and over. They do not learn from being warned. Many authoritarians believe that they are controlling us for our own good. They don't see the harm that comes from not dealing with the consequences of our own decisions and actions. Libertarians recognize that people only learn from their own mistakes. We can give advice, and even reach out to those who have fallen, but to forbid someone the freedom to live as they see fit and make their own mistakes in order to learn is to demand that people remain infantile. Be a true friend; not a coddler.

False Libertarians

Through the years I have met many people who claim that they are libertarians. Of these, a sizeable percentage turn out to be false libertarians. What they really mean is that they like to watch porn and use drugs. Yes, libertarians will support their right to do that. The problem is that these phonies also may live on welfare and think nothing of writing a hot check now and then. They call the cops at the drop of a hat when someone annoys them. They blame government for their own failures. This is not libertarian behaviour at all. Libertarianism is about self responsibility. It is summed up in the Zero Aggression Principle, which states: "No human being has the right, under ANY circumstances, to initiate force against another human being, nor to advocate or delegate its initiation." Fraud is economic initiation of force. False libertarians do not usually even know of the ZAP, much less live by it. If you think you can "do anything you want" but not pay the consequences, you are not a libertarian. You are a criminal or an authoritarian (but I repeat myself).

National Ammo Day/Week

Once again it is National Ammo Day/Week; the ammunition Buycott. Everyone should go out and buy at least 100 rounds of ammo before November 19, 2006. This is an annual event, so mark your calendars. Isn't this much more fun than boycotting something?

ATF: American Terrorist Front

The out of control, illegal gang known as the BATFE has arrested another innocent man and gone into smear campaign mode. Hollis "Wayne" Fincher was arrested for possessing "illegal guns". Read about this case on United States vs. Fincher.

The cowardly NRA has spoken out in support of this state terrorism, stating that it and its 4 million members support the "Project Safe Neighborhoods" program that led to the arrest. As a disgruntled NRA life member, I wrote to them:

"I do not in any way shape or form support "Project Safe Neighborhoods" as has been stated on my behalf as a member in relation to the Hollis Fincher arrest. It is an abomination against the Constitution as is "Project Exile". Please do not make blanket statements unless you are stating that all gun "laws" are counterfeit. Victim disarmament can not be tolerated."

I will wait and see if or how they respond.

Rights vs. Authority

People, individual humans, have "rights". Government has only "authority". Rights trump authority every time. It is like a game of "rock, paper, scissors" where "rights" will always win. Government can't even play. Government authority is a big, fancy ice sculpture trying to stand against the flamethrower of individual rights. Since rights are absolute, two or more people (such as government) have no more rights than one person. This may not be a popular view, but it is the correct one. People have been conditioned to think that government, through its authority, "gives" us rights, but this is backwards. We, as individuals, give government authority. Since the authority comes from the people, the people can take it away. Our rights do not come from government, so government cannot take them away. Once you realize the hierarchy of rights and authority, government becomes less scary, and begins to lose power over your life. Which is exactly what government doesn't want.

Wiretaps

I have been watching and participating in an online discussion of minarachy vs. anarchy. The minarchist is overly concerned (from my perspective) with what to do about cybercriminals who (he believes) will not be easily caught and punished in an anarchy.

Perhaps in a ZAP compliant anarchy (a ZAParchy?) wiretaps and similar shady "law enforcement" techniques would still be used. There would be no governmental "authority" for such nonsense, though. If the investigators are caught, they could be punished for overzealous persuit of the bad guy. I think I could even embrace this in today's US. Wiretap all you want, read my emails, or whatever, but if you get caught doing it, you will go to jail even if I am guilty of some crime that you uncover. It might cool some of the police state infringements we are subjected to everyday.

What Do You Love?

What do you love? Do you want the freedom to enjoy more of whatever it is? What if others don't approve of your love? For some it is guns. For others it is the high they get from mind altering substances; or it is music, books, pets, cars, gardens, photography, or...? As long as you do not violate anyone else's rights while you enjoy yourself, it is no one's business. Government gets in the way of almost all of those "loves" in one way or another. Either through regulation or outright prohibition. Remember the line from the Declaration of Independence about governments being established to secure "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness"? This is exactly what it was describing. Seeking our bliss without harming anyone else. When government gets in the way of our pursuit of happiness, it has gone rogue and overstepped its authority. When government gets in the way of "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" it is the right and responsibility of the people to bring government back in line or to wipe the governmental slate clean and start over. Read the Declaration of Independence if you don't believe me. Also read the list of complaints against King George and see how many the current George, along with his army of Tyrannocrats, has also committed.

Government Between a Rock and a Hard Place

Here is the official US government position on your rights: Rights of the People. Notice Chapter 5. The US government can't afford to state a position on the Right to Keep and Bear Arms. If they flat-out state that there is no Right to Keep and Bear Arms, they know they face an armed revolution. If they admit that the Second Amendment means what it plainly says, they will be admitting that every victim disarmament scheme that has ever been perpetrated on America is illegal, and therefore null and void. So, they are probably trying to find the right weasel-words to keep the essay from saying anything at all. It does not matter. You and I do not need the US government (or any employees thereof) to tell us what the Bill of Rights means. It was written for anyone to understand. The lie is that you need it "interpreted" by legal scholars. You do not. The authors wrote it for everyone. That includes YOU.

Election Results: America Loses, Again

Having seen some of this year's crop of political advertisements and the clowns who were asking for our votes, I don't know what to think. Can voters be this mindless? These ads are such an obvious diversion from the true issues that I find it hard to believe they are not seen as buffoonery. "Candidate A" is against this and that. "Candidate 1" is against that and this. They ignore the clear fact that they are both against liberty. Smoke, mirrors, slight-of-hand, holograms, "Hey, look over there", and other tactics hide the true agenda that these treasonous monsters are pushing on us. They promise to steal from someone else to finance giving YOU something, but you too are a "someone else" to somebody. We, the productive humans of Earth, need to put these political parasites on notice that we are watching them, and we do not find their abuses amusing. We are not fooled by their lies and distractions. Any "laws" limiting, regulating, licensing, rationing, or downplaying rights are disgustingly wrong. Politicians, enforcers, and bureaucrats need to be held personally accountable for the evil they do to us. For the rest of their pathetic little lives. Voting against them is not enough.

Vote if You Must

But please, vote for NO INCUMBENTS. Vote for the Libertarian if there is one, even a LINO Libertarian; one of the honorable "third parties" if not. If there is no Libertarian on the ticket, remember that "None of the Above" is better than a Tyrannocrat (R) or (D). Or, just write "Kent McManigal" in for everything. Maybe you would rather participate in This Campaign instead. Don't fall for the "If you don't vote, you can't complain" lie.

Personal Responsibility (Again)

The worst feedback I get is when I mention "personal responsibility". Do people fear it, or do they believe they will be held responsible, yet others will not? Do most people feel that they themselves are honorable, but no one else is? Universally, people reach out to those who promise to control others through victim disarmament, drug prohibition, cruel moral codes, and other forms of slavery. They reject those of us who tell them to take responsibility for their own lives, and stop worrying about what other people choose to do with their lives. The busy-bodies cry out "But what about X or Z?" Who will stop that from happening? Who will punish the guilty?". In many cases "X" and "Z" are not a violation of the Zero Aggression Principle and should not be forbidden in the first place. In other cases, without statism tying your hands, you would be able to stop it on your own. Morally and without violating anyone's rights. I would prefer to live in a society which is founded on personal responsibility, and teaches that actions have consequences, rather than a "punishment state" where the only thing holding back the flood of chaos and mayhem is the threat of armed assault by the bad(ge) guys.

Remember, Today

Remember, remember, the fifth of November.... And watch V for Vendetta today.

We Can't All be Right, But.......

It's amazing to me that all the political ads I see are saying things that are completely contradictory, yet both sides of the national Tyrannocrat Party (Republicans and Democrats) think they are right, and obviously believe that viewers/voters will agree with them. In my heart and mind I know I am right. Unfortunately, I suppose they feel they are right, too. Why is it this way? We can't all be right, but they can both be wrong. Each arm of the Tyrannocrat party advocates theft, and promises victimizing some segments of the population slightly more than other segments. The ads are nothing but promises of kickbacks. They promise you that they will steal from me to pay you, and they promise me that they will steal from you to pay me. I do not want your money. Don't promise to give me kickbacks for my vote. It doesn't work that way. If you vote for a candidate according to his promise of "entitlements", "government programs" or "benefits" you are merely choosing a warlord to do your stealing for you. If this is your motivation, do us all a favor and stay home on election day.

Devoured by Government

Have you ever watched a snake eat?

As it swallows its prey whole, the jaw stretches wide open. The bottom jaw separates at the chin so that each half can work somewhat independently. Then one side will slide forward a ways, then pull backwards while the other half slides forward. The snake's teeth are backwards curving so that the prey will only move in one direction; down the snake's throat.

This is similar to our situation.

The Democrats are the left jaw and the Republicans are the right. Bureaucracy and counterfeit "laws" are the top jaw, pressing down on us. Any evidence that they are not all part of the same snake's mouth is an illusion. First one party gets into office and slides forward, then waits when the other party gains control.

It is a dance of death for us, the prey. Slowly, inexorably leading straight down into the belly of the beast.

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Frontiers Beyond the Reach of Tyrants

I think that a lot of government sympathizers feel the way they do because they believe there are some projects too large for individuals (or non-governmental groups of individuals) to undertake. The space programs come to mind. To my way of thinking, government has bungled space programs terribly, trapping us on earth for the foreseeable future. I think if government had stayed out of it, and also not regulated the exploration of space to death, we would probably have large numbers of humans living off-world now. Government representatives went to the moon almost 40 years ago .... and then dropped the ball. Would private space companies have done this? Not unless it proved to be a waste of effort. I don't think space exploration is a waste of effort. Humans need a frontier. This is the first time in human history that we don't have a frontier that ordinary people can escape to. No place remains out of the reach of government. Make no mistake, that is what frontiers are all about, even if the foolish settlers usually rush to set up a new government to molest them. Today, even if the average person sells everything they own, they will not have enough money for an orbital trip; no one to fly them other than government; and no destination is available. This is a condition that cannot continue. There are places on earth that could be frontiers, if government were banished. That isn't likely. Space is the only option that is left for those of us who don't buy into the lie that we "need government".

Are You "Anti-anti" or "Pro-pro"?

Does everyone need to be "anti-" something? I notice that so many people seem to get their identity by what they oppose. Why not embrace a positive instead of only condemning a negative? I am not "anti-government"; I am promoting individual liberty and responsibility. That covers about all of it. Murder, kidnapping, theft, rape, assault, and fraud, are all violations of individual liberty, and rejections of individual responsibility, whether committed by free-lance or governmental villians.

Next Prez Poll

There is an online poll at The Next Prez that you can vote in. 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. Thanks.

Small World?

It is amazing and frustrating to me that just as technology has gotten our planet more connected, the xenophobes in government are doing all they can to alienate us from the rest of the world. I think it is good to trade with other countries. It is good for people to travel and experience other cultures. That is often the best way to appreciate your own culture. Free exchange of ideas and ideals is good for humanity. What is good for people is not too good for government, though. Each government must convince its subjects that their country is the best there is, otherwise the people might decide to make some changes. Change rarely bodes well for rulers. Blind fools often say idiotic things like "Love it or Leave it!" Wiser voices say "Love it and Keep Improving it!" It is often said by government sympathizers that "America is the best, most free, country on Earth." Perhaps, but there is always room for improvement. Imagine you are standing in a bed of fire ants. While looking east you see a crater filled with lava. You should be very grateful that you are not in the lava. If you only look toward the east, you might truly believe that your situation is the best that there can be. All the while, west of you, is a green meadow filled with Twinkies and butterflies (or your pleasures of choice). If you are surrounded by a chorus of voices telling you that your fire ant bed is the best place there is, and that you are utopian or stupid for thinking that there might be a better life, you may believe it. But if you travel, or talk to other people, you will be less likely to buy into the propoganda. At times, even reading fiction can open your eyes to better possibilities. It is in government's best interest to demonize other cultures to create phantom enemies, or to magnify real ones. Ignorance is government's tool. Therefore government tries to keep the world big and scary, and builds walls and fences to keep you in your place.

A Sighting: Tales From the Dark Side of My Mind

"I stepped outside and noticed a bright light in the sky. Suddenly in the underbrush, I saw tiny bipedal creatures kicking aside the leaf litter as if looking for something. They did not seem concerned that I was there, watching them. I observed them for a minute or more, before a passing car caught my attention. When I looked back, the creatures had vanished. Similar events have happened in my presence frequently."

Sounds like a UFO sighting with live "ETs" observed, doesn't it? Well, maybe. Depending on whether the story teller is trying to be totally honest, or is trying to deceive without exactly lying. The above story can be completely true, while still being misleading. If the observer stepped outside during the day (bright light = sun) saw a couple of robins looking for worms (bipedal creatures = robins) which flew away after being startled by a passing car, then the tale would technically be true.

This is what government does when it tells us how great the economy is; how gun "laws" saved lives; why this new law or order will not destroy liberty. Politicians can be technically telling the "truth" while still being as deceitful as is humanly possible. Then, too, government often just lies.

"I'm From the Government! BOO! You're Dead!"

Want to be really scary this Halloween? Dress up as Government. Drinking the life-blood of the productive people of the world. Clothed in the blood of the 200 million or so victims of 20th century government. This is the very real horror we face. This isn't "government gone wrong" but a logical progression of the very principle of government. Government doing what government is designed to do. Government, and state worshippers, believe that force is the way to get things done. When someone disagrees with government edicts, the force escalates until someone is killed. Sometimes government ghouls, I mean "agents", are killed "in the line of duty", but the individuals who only wish to live free of coercion almost always fall. Now, with the laws which government has seen fit to inflict upon us in the past few weeks, we have lost the "privilige" of facing our accusers and knowing what "law" we are accused of breaking, if the government decides we disagree with them (because then we can be declared "enemy combatants"); the President, as Decision-ator, can take over the national guard if the citizens of a state protest his administration's policies. (As President, I solemnly swear I would never do this, and would overturn this provision.) The rule of law (the Constitution and Bill of Rights) has been driven from the US with pitchforks and torches. The zombies of government are after your brain. Defy them. Think.