I would like some libertarian jokes for an upcoming CNJ column.
That means they have to be "family friendly". I would prefer nothing mean-spirited, either.
It would probably be best not to come up with original material, since it probably won't be credited. I can do a search for some- and I probably will- but have you read any that amused you particularly?
If you'd like to join in, leave a comment with the joke.
Thanks.
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Thursday, February 06, 2014
Wednesday, February 05, 2014
Stealth wisdom
I saw these quotes yesterday (from here), and they made me think.
“I have always observed that to succeed in the world one should appear like a fool but be wise.” — Montesquieu
“It is a profitable thing, if one is wise, to seem foolish.” — Aeschylus
“All wisdom is folly that does not accommodate itself to the common ignorance.” — Montaigne
I have never been good at that- having far too little patience with stupidity. I need to work on that.
I suppose what those quotes are talking about is being sneaky; not standing out to attract negative attention so that- just maybe- people will listen to what you have to say.
It is all about "fitting in", which I have never been any good at.
When I was a teenager I went through a couple of spells where I wanted to fit it. It never succeeded for long. I would make a comment and have people looking at me as it I were an alien whose human mask had just fallen off. Usually the masquerade would end when someone would say "You're weird."
Come to think of it, some people still tell me that.
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I suppose what those quotes are talking about is being sneaky; not standing out to attract negative attention so that- just maybe- people will listen to what you have to say.
It is all about "fitting in", which I have never been any good at.
When I was a teenager I went through a couple of spells where I wanted to fit it. It never succeeded for long. I would make a comment and have people looking at me as it I were an alien whose human mask had just fallen off. Usually the masquerade would end when someone would say "You're weird."
Come to think of it, some people still tell me that.
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Tuesday, February 04, 2014
Coercion a human-created problem
Coercion a human-created problem
(My Clovis News Journal column for January 3, 2014)
I have learned that most people don't want solutions. They want temporary stop-gaps that make them feel a little better because they are "doing something" without really examining the status quo. All they are really doing is allowing the problem to grow larger and more dire after having been kicked down the road for someone in the future to deal with. Is that future person you next year, or your kid twenty years from now? Neither situation is good.
This habit of avoiding the issues is very destructive, but doing the exact opposite of what should be done is even worse. If their boat is sinking because it has a big hole in the bottom, most would rather bail with a spoon, or look the other way, than switch boats. And a significant percentage of people insist on drilling more holes in the bottom to "let the water out".
Every week I see news story after news story where a government-created problem is the topic, and the "solution" proposed is invariably more government. Sorry, but reality just doesn't work that way.
Whenever there is a problem, and government proposes to fix it by passing "laws", you can be sure of two things: The problem will not be fixed, and there will be unintended consequences that create even more problems which will inspire new "laws". Unless you break the cycle it will keep spiraling out of control.
Just a few examples of this destructive cycle in action are the problems of prison overcrowding, drug abuse, violent crime, school shootings, and the economy. Every one of these problems is made worse, if not created entirely, through government action and "laws".
The existence of these problems causes statists (those who believe running other people's lives through legislation and enforcement is a legitimate activity) to call for more "laws" to fix the problems their meddling created in the first place.
At the root, coercion, no matter who uses it, is the one real human-created problem. Of all the problems in the world, the only ones that can really be stopped before they begin are coercion and theft committed by people. Anyone who commits these acts against others needs to be exposed and opposed.
Your part of the solution is to refuse to initiate force and reject theft as a way to get what you want, and remind everyone that self defense is always their right. The only real solution begins with you and me.
I have learned that most people don't want solutions. They want temporary stop-gaps that make them feel a little better because they are "doing something" without really examining the status quo. All they are really doing is allowing the problem to grow larger and more dire after having been kicked down the road for someone in the future to deal with. Is that future person you next year, or your kid twenty years from now? Neither situation is good.
This habit of avoiding the issues is very destructive, but doing the exact opposite of what should be done is even worse. If their boat is sinking because it has a big hole in the bottom, most would rather bail with a spoon, or look the other way, than switch boats. And a significant percentage of people insist on drilling more holes in the bottom to "let the water out".
Every week I see news story after news story where a government-created problem is the topic, and the "solution" proposed is invariably more government. Sorry, but reality just doesn't work that way.
Whenever there is a problem, and government proposes to fix it by passing "laws", you can be sure of two things: The problem will not be fixed, and there will be unintended consequences that create even more problems which will inspire new "laws". Unless you break the cycle it will keep spiraling out of control.
Just a few examples of this destructive cycle in action are the problems of prison overcrowding, drug abuse, violent crime, school shootings, and the economy. Every one of these problems is made worse, if not created entirely, through government action and "laws".
The existence of these problems causes statists (those who believe running other people's lives through legislation and enforcement is a legitimate activity) to call for more "laws" to fix the problems their meddling created in the first place.
At the root, coercion, no matter who uses it, is the one real human-created problem. Of all the problems in the world, the only ones that can really be stopped before they begin are coercion and theft committed by people. Anyone who commits these acts against others needs to be exposed and opposed.
Your part of the solution is to refuse to initiate force and reject theft as a way to get what you want, and remind everyone that self defense is always their right. The only real solution begins with you and me.
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"Fanging myself"
Wow, I'm miserable today.
Nothing is going right. Every technological thing I touch is giving me trouble. The cats are wreaking havoc in the house. I did everything wrong this morning, according to my daughter. It's icy, misty, and cold and I'm going to have to ride my bike (or walk) to the post office anyway, because today I have to go before the window closes because of an obligation. And I don't really enjoy the journey in town even when the weather is nice.
And there are the same old problems that seem to never vary, unless they get worse.
But, I realize that most of my misery is coming from inside myself. My attitude probably makes things seem worse than they are. What do they say? "Looking at life through s#*t colored glasses"? It's just "one of those days".
I can almost laugh at myself over this. Almost.
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Nothing is going right. Every technological thing I touch is giving me trouble. The cats are wreaking havoc in the house. I did everything wrong this morning, according to my daughter. It's icy, misty, and cold and I'm going to have to ride my bike (or walk) to the post office anyway, because today I have to go before the window closes because of an obligation. And I don't really enjoy the journey in town even when the weather is nice.
And there are the same old problems that seem to never vary, unless they get worse.
But, I realize that most of my misery is coming from inside myself. My attitude probably makes things seem worse than they are. What do they say? "Looking at life through s#*t colored glasses"? It's just "one of those days".
I can almost laugh at myself over this. Almost.
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Misjudging your intended target
I have missed out on some things in the past couple of days. I have some weird thing going on where my computer will not display Facebook, Youtube, or Google and this means I have missed out on most of the firestorm over the Coke commercial.
Apparently, during some widely-televised game, Coke aired an advertisement where some State hymn (reports vary as to which one) was sung in some language(s) other than English (Spanish was mentioned with particular vehemence) and had verses added which were apparently "Islam-friendly". Or something... as I say, I haven't seen the ad and am only going by the garbled and semi-literate rants I have managed to read.
So people are bothered by the fact that a State hymn was sung in other languages, and may or may not have tried to include adherents of various religions in the worship- but not that the hymn was sung at all? Strange critters, these humans.
I don't watch sports of any kind. Never cared for them at all- even manage to hate them when they get rubbed in my face. Neither do I worship States of any sort. The enemy of all humans is coercion and theft- any coercion and theft- and since goons who work for States are the worst offenders (though not the only ones) I hold a particular dislike for those nasty and brutish organizations.
I drink Coke on occasion, although Dr Pepper is my vice of choice. I have found their advertisements to be amusing in the past- although not all were to my taste. I understand they were trying to reach out to the State worshipers with State hymns, but to do it in "other languages" when those State worshipers are going through a phase (which has outlasted its humorous life by several years) wherein they hate and despise anyone not a Red-Blooded "American" (by which they mean a USAcan who speaks only American English in the popular way, waves the federal flag, cheers the invasion of other places- and the murders of the defenders- around the globe by federal troops, and wants the borders to protect him from "those people") probably was a bad call- they didn't understand their target demographic at all.
It's like trying to speak to anarchists by telling us voting is our patriotic duty.
Or, maybe I'm missing the whole point by being somewhat out of touch due to my computer's whimsical behavior.
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Thanks for your support, and please consider helping if you can.
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Apparently, during some widely-televised game, Coke aired an advertisement where some State hymn (reports vary as to which one) was sung in some language(s) other than English (Spanish was mentioned with particular vehemence) and had verses added which were apparently "Islam-friendly". Or something... as I say, I haven't seen the ad and am only going by the garbled and semi-literate rants I have managed to read.
So people are bothered by the fact that a State hymn was sung in other languages, and may or may not have tried to include adherents of various religions in the worship- but not that the hymn was sung at all? Strange critters, these humans.
I don't watch sports of any kind. Never cared for them at all- even manage to hate them when they get rubbed in my face. Neither do I worship States of any sort. The enemy of all humans is coercion and theft- any coercion and theft- and since goons who work for States are the worst offenders (though not the only ones) I hold a particular dislike for those nasty and brutish organizations.
I drink Coke on occasion, although Dr Pepper is my vice of choice. I have found their advertisements to be amusing in the past- although not all were to my taste. I understand they were trying to reach out to the State worshipers with State hymns, but to do it in "other languages" when those State worshipers are going through a phase (which has outlasted its humorous life by several years) wherein they hate and despise anyone not a Red-Blooded "American" (by which they mean a USAcan who speaks only American English in the popular way, waves the federal flag, cheers the invasion of other places- and the murders of the defenders- around the globe by federal troops, and wants the borders to protect him from "those people") probably was a bad call- they didn't understand their target demographic at all.
It's like trying to speak to anarchists by telling us voting is our patriotic duty.
Or, maybe I'm missing the whole point by being somewhat out of touch due to my computer's whimsical behavior.
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Thanks for your support, and please consider helping if you can.
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Monday, February 03, 2014
Changing rules
Playing games with my daughter is an educational experience. She likes to win (as do I). So she makes up rules arbitrarily as we play. The rules keep changing to give her the advantage. And I violate those rules as fast as she makes them.
I hope she learns something.
Not that I "cheat", but that rules which are arbitrary and changed on a whim have no validity.
If we both agree on the rules of the game, or a rule change, I go along willingly. The other rule changes I ignore while she declares herself the "winner" because I violated her "rule". I would expect her to do the same if our roles were reversed, and some day I may try to introduce my own arbitrarily changing rules in the hopes she does the same to them.
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Thanks for the support, and please consider it if you can.
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I hope she learns something.
Not that I "cheat", but that rules which are arbitrary and changed on a whim have no validity.
If we both agree on the rules of the game, or a rule change, I go along willingly. The other rule changes I ignore while she declares herself the "winner" because I violated her "rule". I would expect her to do the same if our roles were reversed, and some day I may try to introduce my own arbitrarily changing rules in the hopes she does the same to them.
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Thanks for the support, and please consider it if you can.
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Sunday, February 02, 2014
"Stop hitting yourself!"
As a kid did you ever see a bully- possibly an older sibling- beating a smaller kid with the victim's own hands while chanting "Stop hitting yourself!"?
Well, apparently cops are those stupid bullies grown large.
So often in the case of people they brutally beat to death, the murderous cops can be heard screaming "Stop resisting!" as they beat their non-resisting victim to a bloody pulp- or beyond. What's the difference? Besides the fact that childhood bullies rarely continued until they were murderers.
I understand that the murderous cowards are trying to alter any witness's perceptions of reality- maybe if they chant the magic words loudly enough, and often enough, they will make them true. Maybe any witness won't really watch too closely, and will assume from the girlish screams of the attacking pigs that the victim really is "resisting". Unfortunately for the murderous cowards, videos aren't so easily fooled. Unfortunately for civilization, the truth doesn't matter when the murderer wears a badge.
"Resisting arrest" isn't wrong- especially when you are being kidnapped under a counterfeit "law".
Never stop resisting. If you find yourself under attack, kill your attacker if you have to, whoever it may be. There needs to be a high price for being a thug, and sometimes it may be up to you to charge that price.
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Thanks, and please consider it.
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Well, apparently cops are those stupid bullies grown large.
So often in the case of people they brutally beat to death, the murderous cops can be heard screaming "Stop resisting!" as they beat their non-resisting victim to a bloody pulp- or beyond. What's the difference? Besides the fact that childhood bullies rarely continued until they were murderers.
I understand that the murderous cowards are trying to alter any witness's perceptions of reality- maybe if they chant the magic words loudly enough, and often enough, they will make them true. Maybe any witness won't really watch too closely, and will assume from the girlish screams of the attacking pigs that the victim really is "resisting". Unfortunately for the murderous cowards, videos aren't so easily fooled. Unfortunately for civilization, the truth doesn't matter when the murderer wears a badge.
"Resisting arrest" isn't wrong- especially when you are being kidnapped under a counterfeit "law".
Never stop resisting. If you find yourself under attack, kill your attacker if you have to, whoever it may be. There needs to be a high price for being a thug, and sometimes it may be up to you to charge that price.
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Thanks, and please consider it.
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Saturday, February 01, 2014
Today's newspapers are missing their point
In a discussion on Facebook, where someone complained about the local paper, I posted this:
I think newspapers have a very fine line to walk in today's market. Yes, they should be hard-hitting and generally expose and oppose the local politicians/"authorities"/sacred cows as a matter of duty... however, those local politicians/"authorities"/sacred cows control access to information and also can influence advertisers (and may have businesses which are advertisers themselves)- and they have families and friends who will stand by them no matter how corrupt they may be, and will set off a domino effect of cancelled advertisers and subscribers. So, even though a no-punches-pulled news source would be nice, I doubt it would survive today without some truly independent financing that didn't depend on keeping the local power-mongers happy. It's a conundrum.
My editor then responded:
Not so much a conundrum, Kent. We're not afraid to annoy advertisers or public officials. We do that all the time. Every newspaper is challenged by lack of resources, in multiple forms -- time, experience, money, etc. But fairness also comes into play. It's not ethical to publish rumors; we need facts. Multi-layered discussion, best addressed one specific issue at a time.
I don't want to "get into it" with him, but I disagree. Actually, his answer was even more disturbing than my original suspicions.
It's not about fairness (which as Scott "Dilbert" Adams points out, isn't a feature of reality, anyway).
While it might not be ethical to publish rumors (which I actually agree with, by the way), it is a newspaper reporter's job to pursue those rumors relentlessly to see if there's any validity to them. Yes, you need facts. So find them. Or discover that the fact show the rumor seems to be without merit. For now. All "public officials" should feel so much pressure that they are afraid to do anything even marginally questionable for fear of being caught. Never let off the pursuit. I'm not even talking about when they're sneaking off to see their mistress or "pool boy", or to smoke crack or other private matter, but those times they might be tempted to make a backroom deal, or ally with a known crook in any way, or pocket that kickback or bribe- anything in the public realm, where they are "officially" advocating, passing, or enforcing rules against you and me and violating liberty. In fact, the scrutiny should be so intense and unending that no one wants the job at all. If it results in less "governing", so much the better.
No one forced anyone in a "public office" [sic] to take that "job". They made the deliberate choice to live at my expense, without my consent, and place themselves in a position where they feel empowered to order me around and violate my life, liberty, property, and pursuit of happiness. So, if they want to whine about being subjected to intense scrutiny, they should resign and get an honest job instead. I have no sympathy.
No one forced anyone in a "public office" [sic] to take that "job". They made the deliberate choice to live at my expense, without my consent, and place themselves in a position where they feel empowered to order me around and violate my life, liberty, property, and pursuit of happiness. So, if they want to whine about being subjected to intense scrutiny, they should resign and get an honest job instead. I have no sympathy.
And that is what a newspaper should do. And what they don't do anymore, if they ever really did. And that is very tragic.
That being said, I'm glad I'm not a reporter. And all local cops, bureaucrats, puppeticians, and authoriturds should be, too. Because I would enjoy exposing them way too much.
That being said, I'm glad I'm not a reporter. And all local cops, bureaucrats, puppeticians, and authoriturds should be, too. Because I would enjoy exposing them way too much.
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Thursday, January 30, 2014
Fun with "COPS"- the flipside
Now that you've had a few days to have "fun with COPS", pointing out what they have become, let's shame them by playing the same "backronym" game with what they should be, instead.
I'll admit this is much harder for me, since the only thing I think cops should be is something other than cops, or unemployed.
Still, I'll start this so you can see what I mean.
"Civilized Old Protector"
"Consistent On Principles"
"Caring Over Policing"
Can you do the same awesome job with this, more difficult, idea as you did with the original?
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I'll admit this is much harder for me, since the only thing I think cops should be is something other than cops, or unemployed.
Still, I'll start this so you can see what I mean.
"Civilized Old Protector"
"Consistent On Principles"
"Caring Over Policing"
Can you do the same awesome job with this, more difficult, idea as you did with the original?
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Wednesday, January 29, 2014
Add hate for even more misery
A couple of days ago I had to take a trip to The City because my daughter had a doctor appointment. After the doctor visit my daughter wanted to go to the mall to ride the escalator, the mini-carousel, and play at their play area. That was fine with me- she doesn't get the chance very often.
Nemesis bitched, complained, and whined endlessly about it- at the risk of ruining Daughter's fun. Daughter offered to let her wait in the car, which didn't go over well- as you might expect.
And in the midst of this Nemesis added that "of course" I don't mind going, because I just "like everyone"- even "those kind of people". Whoever they might be- but whom I suspect might include young, attractive, happy, friendly females. They are Nemesis's kryptonite. Although, when you pretty much hate everyone it is hard to pin it down.
Funny thing is, I didn't always like people. It was only after I fully embraced liberty and anarchy that I was able to let people be themselves without being "offended" in some way. Yet, libertarians are claimed to be the "angry" ones? Not from what I've experienced in my own life. Nemesis enjoys hating too much to ever let go of that, even if it kills her.
Too bad- it sure is more fun to like people and get along.
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Nemesis bitched, complained, and whined endlessly about it- at the risk of ruining Daughter's fun. Daughter offered to let her wait in the car, which didn't go over well- as you might expect.
And in the midst of this Nemesis added that "of course" I don't mind going, because I just "like everyone"- even "those kind of people". Whoever they might be- but whom I suspect might include young, attractive, happy, friendly females. They are Nemesis's kryptonite. Although, when you pretty much hate everyone it is hard to pin it down.
Funny thing is, I didn't always like people. It was only after I fully embraced liberty and anarchy that I was able to let people be themselves without being "offended" in some way. Yet, libertarians are claimed to be the "angry" ones? Not from what I've experienced in my own life. Nemesis enjoys hating too much to ever let go of that, even if it kills her.
Too bad- it sure is more fun to like people and get along.
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Tuesday, January 28, 2014
Life is better without coercion
Life is better without coercion
(My Clovis News Journal column for December 27, 2013)
I love people. If you had known me fifteen years ago, that would sound like a shocking statement coming from me. But that was before a few things changed in my life to bring out the best in me.
Within a period of a few months I discovered there is a name for how I had always pretty much believed anyway: "libertarianism"; I discovered I wasn't the only one in the world with this philosophy, and I started going out and being sociable.
Before those things happened I had thought I was a disgruntled conservative- tired of being stabbed in the back by politicians I assumed were on my side, and disgusted because of seeing so many people refusing do what I thought was right.
I also considered myself a hermit.
I wouldn't go back to either of those ways for anything.
I still don't like the choices a lot of people make, and I'll criticize those choices. Sometimes it sounds like I am criticizing the individuals who make those choices, but all they'd have to do is stop initiating force or stop violating property rights and the criticisms would no longer apply to them. It's simple, really.
Sure, some people are so invested in their life of theft and coercion that it is hard to distinguish between the act and the person, but it's still nothing more than a bad choice they are making. They are not what they do.
If I say I hate green shirts, I am not talking about the people wearing those shirts. There's no reason to get angry over something that is separate from you and could be taken off and tossed aside if you wanted to. If you wear green shirts and my lack of approval offends you, either don't let me see you wearing a green shirt, or just shrug off my comments.
But, my criticisms are not quite so trivial, are they? After all, you would probably criticize the same behavior I do if the person committing the act didn't have a government job that supposedly justified the behavior.
I know how much better life can be when you stop advocating sending armed people to coerce others on your behalf "for their own good". All I want is for you to discover the same truth for yourself. Because I love you as a person, even if I don't always like what you advocate or do.
Try it for yourself and have a Happy New Year, and a happier new you!
I love people. If you had known me fifteen years ago, that would sound like a shocking statement coming from me. But that was before a few things changed in my life to bring out the best in me.
Within a period of a few months I discovered there is a name for how I had always pretty much believed anyway: "libertarianism"; I discovered I wasn't the only one in the world with this philosophy, and I started going out and being sociable.
Before those things happened I had thought I was a disgruntled conservative- tired of being stabbed in the back by politicians I assumed were on my side, and disgusted because of seeing so many people refusing do what I thought was right.
I also considered myself a hermit.
I wouldn't go back to either of those ways for anything.
I still don't like the choices a lot of people make, and I'll criticize those choices. Sometimes it sounds like I am criticizing the individuals who make those choices, but all they'd have to do is stop initiating force or stop violating property rights and the criticisms would no longer apply to them. It's simple, really.
Sure, some people are so invested in their life of theft and coercion that it is hard to distinguish between the act and the person, but it's still nothing more than a bad choice they are making. They are not what they do.
If I say I hate green shirts, I am not talking about the people wearing those shirts. There's no reason to get angry over something that is separate from you and could be taken off and tossed aside if you wanted to. If you wear green shirts and my lack of approval offends you, either don't let me see you wearing a green shirt, or just shrug off my comments.
But, my criticisms are not quite so trivial, are they? After all, you would probably criticize the same behavior I do if the person committing the act didn't have a government job that supposedly justified the behavior.
I know how much better life can be when you stop advocating sending armed people to coerce others on your behalf "for their own good". All I want is for you to discover the same truth for yourself. Because I love you as a person, even if I don't always like what you advocate or do.
Try it for yourself and have a Happy New Year, and a happier new you!
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Jefferson's "Rightful Liberty"
Thomas Jefferson said:
"Rightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our will within limits drawn around us by the equal rights of others. I do not add 'within the limits of the law' because law is often but the tyrant's will, and always so when it violates the rights of the individual."
This is just another way of stating the Zero Archation Principle.
Would "laws" against burning "The Flag" get a pass? Would anti-drug rules, or anti-gun rules, or minimum drinking/driving/whatever age rules? Are anti-property rights rules, such as "border control", "property codes", or "zoning laws" existing within the confines of "rightful liberty"? Would compulsory school attendance rules, traffic "laws", or any form of "taxation" pass the test?
No. All those reflect only the tyrant's will. If you support or advocate any of those things (which I doubt many of my regular readers do) you have declared yourself to be an enemy of rightful liberty. Jefferson would have hated what you stand for and would count you with the rest of the collectivists.
At least be honest about it.
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Monday, January 27, 2014
Smug Prohibitionists
I happen to live in a "dry" county. Yes, those relics of a barbaric past still exist in some places. And smug nannies (or should that be "ninnies"?), who apparently hate and distrust everyone else, believe that's the way it should be.
I just read a letter to the editor in the State Line Tribune (no website) where the person was saying that keeping the county "dry" is the right thing because of the "neglect, and destruction of families" and "drunk driving" that comes with alcohol abuse. Oh, and because of the "fact" that moderation "often fails".
Never mind that these things still happen, and are still blamed on alcohol, in this county which has been "dry" since it was established over 100 years ago.
He (they? the letter was signed as a couple) was also upset that Hollywood is destroying the morality of the country.
I can only speak for myself, but Hollywood doesn't dictate my morals- if it did I might be a murderous flag-sniffer, since there has always been a lot of that coming out of that industry. It's sad that some people think that "good" requires them to advocate violating the rights of others, and are so incredibly weak-willed that they can't keep their own houses in order if their neighbor lives differently.
And I'm not even a drinker. But in this era of fairly easy transportation (other than running the LEO gauntlet), if I want alcohol, I can drive 5 minutes (or less) and be in another county (another state, in fact) and buy alcohol there, so the belief that a "dry" county keeps alcohol out of the system of its residents is a delusion. Or would be if they actually believed it. But they know it's a lie. It just makes them happy to be "moral" by telling others what they are allowed to do- I suspect it makes them feel superior in some way. The truth is, they just want to dictate to others. They are bad people, regardless of whether or not they are "nice".
Yeah, it makes me mad that people like that don't get shouted down, shamed and exposed, for what they advocate.
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I just read a letter to the editor in the State Line Tribune (no website) where the person was saying that keeping the county "dry" is the right thing because of the "neglect, and destruction of families" and "drunk driving" that comes with alcohol abuse. Oh, and because of the "fact" that moderation "often fails".
Never mind that these things still happen, and are still blamed on alcohol, in this county which has been "dry" since it was established over 100 years ago.
He (they? the letter was signed as a couple) was also upset that Hollywood is destroying the morality of the country.
I can only speak for myself, but Hollywood doesn't dictate my morals- if it did I might be a murderous flag-sniffer, since there has always been a lot of that coming out of that industry. It's sad that some people think that "good" requires them to advocate violating the rights of others, and are so incredibly weak-willed that they can't keep their own houses in order if their neighbor lives differently.
And I'm not even a drinker. But in this era of fairly easy transportation (other than running the LEO gauntlet), if I want alcohol, I can drive 5 minutes (or less) and be in another county (another state, in fact) and buy alcohol there, so the belief that a "dry" county keeps alcohol out of the system of its residents is a delusion. Or would be if they actually believed it. But they know it's a lie. It just makes them happy to be "moral" by telling others what they are allowed to do- I suspect it makes them feel superior in some way. The truth is, they just want to dictate to others. They are bad people, regardless of whether or not they are "nice".
Yeah, it makes me mad that people like that don't get shouted down, shamed and exposed, for what they advocate.
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Sunday, January 26, 2014
Fun with "COPS"
A friend sent me his acronym (or, more accurately, a "backronym") for the word "cop". Finding fun and painfully truthful "backronyms" is a game I sometimes like to play, so how about we see what we can come up with.
His suggestion was "Consistently Oppressing People".
The one that immediately came to my mind was "Cowardly Overweight Perverts".
"Count On Penetration" might be a good one for the rapists of the Deming, NM police department.
So, what can you think of?
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His suggestion was "Consistently Oppressing People".
The one that immediately came to my mind was "Cowardly Overweight Perverts".
"Count On Penetration" might be a good one for the rapists of the Deming, NM police department.
So, what can you think of?
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Saturday, January 25, 2014
"The Terrorists Won..."
Bill Buppert has a good one: "The Terrorists Won (Not Those Terrorists)".
The US is a Terrorism State- although that's probably a redundant term. All states, nations, etc. are based upon terrorism.
But he's talking specifically about the terrorists called "police officers" and the recent rash of murders and attacks by those armed thugs. He points out that:
Yep. And it's a war in which only one side is "allowed" to do the shooting and killing. A good person on the other side is told to just sit tight and take it. They are told that their killers are the good guys and fighting back automatically makes one "bad" and deserving of death. I wonder how long such a narrative can last.
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The US is a Terrorism State- although that's probably a redundant term. All states, nations, etc. are based upon terrorism.
But he's talking specifically about the terrorists called "police officers" and the recent rash of murders and attacks by those armed thugs. He points out that:
"This is quite simply a declaration of war on ordinary Americans by every police department in America, all 19,000 departments."
Yep. And it's a war in which only one side is "allowed" to do the shooting and killing. A good person on the other side is told to just sit tight and take it. They are told that their killers are the good guys and fighting back automatically makes one "bad" and deserving of death. I wonder how long such a narrative can last.
"Cops remain the largest threat to human liberty in history and continue to carry on that proud thuggish tradition in America."Yep. That's why I keep pointing to this truth. Cops have decided that YOU are their enemy. When will you return the favor?
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Thursday, January 23, 2014
Another book?
I have had several people ask if I plan on writing another book. The answer is: I don't know.
My previous books haven't sold well enough to justify all the work that would go into a new book. It's not simply about the money- although that is part of it- it's about having a limited amount of time, and I am already spending time on my other paying projects, and really don't see a way to dedicate more time on another book without cutting the time spent elsewhere, thus cutting into the money I am currently making.
However, all the other five books are still available, and I have recently updated (and improved) the Kindle versions of all my books. You can find all the information on the books by going here: My books. If the other books ever really take off sales-wise, I would definitely consider a new book worth the effort.
And I have an idea of what I might do for a new book. If it becomes worth my time. If you'd like to see it happen, buy my books and suggest them to others.
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My previous books haven't sold well enough to justify all the work that would go into a new book. It's not simply about the money- although that is part of it- it's about having a limited amount of time, and I am already spending time on my other paying projects, and really don't see a way to dedicate more time on another book without cutting the time spent elsewhere, thus cutting into the money I am currently making.
However, all the other five books are still available, and I have recently updated (and improved) the Kindle versions of all my books. You can find all the information on the books by going here: My books. If the other books ever really take off sales-wise, I would definitely consider a new book worth the effort.
And I have an idea of what I might do for a new book. If it becomes worth my time. If you'd like to see it happen, buy my books and suggest them to others.
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Wednesday, January 22, 2014
Cops/Terrorists
There's a fair amount of attention being paid to the claim that cops have killed more Americans since 9/11 than the terrorists killed that day. Not surprising, but why not include cops with their brethren, the other terrorists? It's a false distinction.
Anyway, I wish someone would make a distinction between murder-by-cop and a cop killing someone who needs to be killed. If you or I would face punishment for acting as the cop did in any incident, it's most likely a case of murder.
I accept that some people, in the midst of some actions, need to be killed to protect the innocent- and I can even accept that in some cases the only people present and in danger might be cops, and in that case I wouldn't fault them for killing in self defense.
But further, I would like to see how many of those cases of self defense were made necessary by cops escalating a situation. If you are enforcing some BS rule such as prohibition (guns or drugs) or trying to help someone violate the private property of an individual through "taxation" or "code enforcement", then you started it, and your actions can't be self defensive at their foundation. You deserve to die "in the line of 'duty'". I would be willing to bet the cops wouldn't fare well under such scrutiny, so I doubt the facts will ever be released where they could be analyzed.
I would take an encounter with an honest terrorist whom I could shoot without too much danger of being punished for defending myself over an encounter with a cop, whom I would undoubtedly be punished for defending myself from.
How about you?
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Anyway, I wish someone would make a distinction between murder-by-cop and a cop killing someone who needs to be killed. If you or I would face punishment for acting as the cop did in any incident, it's most likely a case of murder.
I accept that some people, in the midst of some actions, need to be killed to protect the innocent- and I can even accept that in some cases the only people present and in danger might be cops, and in that case I wouldn't fault them for killing in self defense.
But further, I would like to see how many of those cases of self defense were made necessary by cops escalating a situation. If you are enforcing some BS rule such as prohibition (guns or drugs) or trying to help someone violate the private property of an individual through "taxation" or "code enforcement", then you started it, and your actions can't be self defensive at their foundation. You deserve to die "in the line of 'duty'". I would be willing to bet the cops wouldn't fare well under such scrutiny, so I doubt the facts will ever be released where they could be analyzed.
I would take an encounter with an honest terrorist whom I could shoot without too much danger of being punished for defending myself over an encounter with a cop, whom I would undoubtedly be punished for defending myself from.
How about you?
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Tuesday, January 21, 2014
Wishing you joy in simple things
Wishing you joy in simple things
(My Clovis News Journal column for December 20, 2013.)
It's that time of the year again, when all but the most cynical grumps among us feel a bit sentimental and more forgiving toward their fellow humans. It's a time when gifts are given and received, bringing joy to everyone involved. Unless the gift involves terra cotta and chia seeds.
I wish I were rich enough to give everyone around me something tangible which would adequately demonstrate their worth. Since that's not possible, I'll tell you what my wish for each of you would be.
My wish is for you to find joy in the simple things you'll end up spending most of your time doing anyway, and still enjoy the surprises which come along to turn your world on its head.
My wish is for all your relationships to be strictly voluntary and non-coercive. Not only at this time, but throughout the entire year.
My wish is that you realize the ability to have or to do the things you want the very most, and come to understand the only way to have that is to extend the same courtesy to everyone else.
My wish is for you to have just the exact amount of government you are happy to have controlling your life; no more, no less. I wish the same for each and every one of your neighbors. As long as you keep this gift to yourself everyone will be happy. Sort of like those Rudolph underwear you got a few Christmases ago.
My wish is for you to find the joy in discovering that you can get everything done which should be done, voluntarily. My wish is for you to accept that if you have to force people to participate, it's probably not quite as wonderful as you claim. I wish you the peace of letting go of those things you believe everyone else should want, but they don't, even under threat of jail.
My wish is for you to have the ability to make an honest profit by doing what you actually enjoy, so that you'll never "work" a day in your life, and that you'll always have people clamoring at your door to spend their money with you of their own free will. I wish for you the ability to keep everything you earn, safe from thieving hands of any kind.
My wish is for you to be able to worship in any way you like, free from fear of oppression or coercion, but that you never gain the ability to impose your religious ideas on others through law.
Merry Christmas- or the winter solstice holiday of your choice.
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(My Clovis News Journal column for December 20, 2013.)
It's that time of the year again, when all but the most cynical grumps among us feel a bit sentimental and more forgiving toward their fellow humans. It's a time when gifts are given and received, bringing joy to everyone involved. Unless the gift involves terra cotta and chia seeds.
I wish I were rich enough to give everyone around me something tangible which would adequately demonstrate their worth. Since that's not possible, I'll tell you what my wish for each of you would be.
My wish is for you to find joy in the simple things you'll end up spending most of your time doing anyway, and still enjoy the surprises which come along to turn your world on its head.
My wish is for all your relationships to be strictly voluntary and non-coercive. Not only at this time, but throughout the entire year.
My wish is that you realize the ability to have or to do the things you want the very most, and come to understand the only way to have that is to extend the same courtesy to everyone else.
My wish is for you to have just the exact amount of government you are happy to have controlling your life; no more, no less. I wish the same for each and every one of your neighbors. As long as you keep this gift to yourself everyone will be happy. Sort of like those Rudolph underwear you got a few Christmases ago.
My wish is for you to find the joy in discovering that you can get everything done which should be done, voluntarily. My wish is for you to accept that if you have to force people to participate, it's probably not quite as wonderful as you claim. I wish you the peace of letting go of those things you believe everyone else should want, but they don't, even under threat of jail.
My wish is for you to have the ability to make an honest profit by doing what you actually enjoy, so that you'll never "work" a day in your life, and that you'll always have people clamoring at your door to spend their money with you of their own free will. I wish for you the ability to keep everything you earn, safe from thieving hands of any kind.
My wish is for you to be able to worship in any way you like, free from fear of oppression or coercion, but that you never gain the ability to impose your religious ideas on others through law.
Merry Christmas- or the winter solstice holiday of your choice.
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Nationalism- ewww!
Nationalism is messed up. It's still messed up even if your country really were "the best" because of how it becomes automatic and blinds you to negative changes.
Suppose you had a "country" that was founded upon rightful liberty, and which only had rules that reflected that. Sure, those rules would still be unnecessary, but very little harm would come from them.
I could understand some sort of nationalism in your mind toward this "country".
However, if over time, your "country" changed to where rightful liberty was thrown under the train by more and more harmful rules, and you were in such a habit of "loving your country" that you didn't notice the change, then your nationalism becomes a caricature of itself. You are now cheering a corpse. A rotting, festering corpse which is spreading disease and killing all those who insist on kissing it on the mouth. Or wherever. You now stink just like the corpse. You appear insane to anyone looking on who is even slightly removed from your beliefs.
That's how nationalism appears to me.
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Suppose you had a "country" that was founded upon rightful liberty, and which only had rules that reflected that. Sure, those rules would still be unnecessary, but very little harm would come from them.
I could understand some sort of nationalism in your mind toward this "country".
However, if over time, your "country" changed to where rightful liberty was thrown under the train by more and more harmful rules, and you were in such a habit of "loving your country" that you didn't notice the change, then your nationalism becomes a caricature of itself. You are now cheering a corpse. A rotting, festering corpse which is spreading disease and killing all those who insist on kissing it on the mouth. Or wherever. You now stink just like the corpse. You appear insane to anyone looking on who is even slightly removed from your beliefs.
That's how nationalism appears to me.
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