New year good time for reflection

(My Eastern New Mexico News column for December 28, 2016)

Although the start of a new year is completely arbitrary, it's still a good time to reflect on the past year, and look toward the future.

Of course, any day is a perfect day for doing so.

Just remember: it's easy to look at the past and see only the good, or only the bad.

Every year holds both, just as does every era in history.

I understand people looking back at parts of their own life with nostalgia. I do it too. "If only I could go back and..." seems to be a universal human thought. Yet when I really think about it, I remember that, besides the parts I dream of reliving, there were things I am glad are over.

The same is true on a global scale.

Many people seem to long for a return to a mythical "Golden Era"-- a past where they imagine the things they miss now were commonplace. Those with nationalist sentiments want to go back to a time when America was great and was the undisputed Shining Light on a Hill. Those who focus more on the religious aspects may long for a time when everyone went to church several times each week, had similar morals, and at least claimed to value what is absent from modern society. Often, both are embodied in an idealized 1950s America.

Honestly, there was no "Golden Era" to return to. Some of the past was wonderful and worthy of emulating; some was horrible and needs to be condemned. You are better off copying the good things about the past, adding them to the good things about the present, and trying to come up with even better things in the future.

It's easy to forget the past was full of aggression, war, slavery, bigotry, and cruelty. So is today, but in most cases, even more of all those things existed in the past. You overlook the bad parts of those bygone times when you focus on what you don't like about the present.

In spite of the fear mongers, the world has-- in general-- never been less violent. It is getting better, in spite of the bad guys, and it will continue to do so. Don't let those who point out the exceptions cloud your perception of reality.

So, while it may be pointless to dream of returning to a golden past, let's all work on making the future a little more golden than today. Happy New Year!

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Demanding equal oxygen

I'm all for women's oxygen. Men have oxygen- why shouldn't women have it, too?

Of course, I suppose you could point out that the same oxygen surrounds us all, and if anyone deprives any other person of oxygen-- man, woman, child, "non-citizen", believers in bizarre and violent superstitions, whatever-- then the person withholding the oxygen is violating them.

Oxygen belongs to everyone equally. And, it's all the same. There aren't different varieties of oxygen for different people-- even the isotopes of oxygen don't get doled out differently.

By using oxygen you aren't depriving someone else of oxygen-- you would be depriving yourself of oxygen at the same time.

Yes, everyone's oxygen is equal and identical, and no one gets to decide who gets to use it and who doesn't. If someone tries to deprive you of oxygen, you have every right to defend yourself from them, even with deadly force if they refuse to go away.

Women, being humans, have the same oxygen as anyone else. It can't be otherwise. It's pointless to protest for oxygen-- just breathe and use it.

Oh, wait... I didn't mean oxygen, I meant rights.

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Walk the line

There's a fine line between being a bully and a wimp. And that line is libertarianism, as brought to life by the Zero Aggression Principle.

Walk that line and you'll be neither a bully nor a wimp.

Stray to either side of that line and you'll have problems because, either you won't stand up for yourself, or because you'll cause problems by violating others.

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The Wall

(Transcript available at Youtube)

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Rapists protecting virginity

Statist idiots believe the opinions and actions of thieves and aggressors can actually protect the innocent.

You can't reason with people like that.
All you can do is work around them, and defend yourself from them when they molest you.

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Not quite "quiet as a mouse"

If government-- the State-- could stay unnoticed, it might survive longer. But by becoming intrusive and meddlesome, it has sealed its fate. Sooner than otherwise would have been the case.

If you have some guy living secretly in your attic, but he can go unnoticed, you won't kick him out. Sure, you'd rather he not be there, but if you never notice him how will you know he's there? You won't think about searching for him to throw him out (or shoot him).

But as soon as he starts stealing enough food that you notice, or as soon as he leaves footprints on your clean kitchen floor, you'll be aware he is there, somewhere, and you'll start trying to get rid of him.

Government was once much less intrusive than it is now. Most people could live their entire lives without being molested by a government employee. Sure, they knew it was out there somewhere, but it just wasn't something that affected their daily lives.

That hasn't been true in a long time.

So, while hardly anyone long ago ever considered kicking the unobtrusive thieves out, it is a sentiment that is growing stronger, in more people, with every passing "law". I know I've been at the "toss the invader out or shoot him" phase for a long time now. And it's only going to get worse.

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Petition to repeal the NFA

As disgusting as I find it to ask permission to exercise my rights, I still think it would be a good idea to get rid of the anti-liberty National Firearms Act of 1934. Thus, I signed this petition: Repeal the NFA

If nothing else, getting rid of this "law" would end the violation of some who choose to do what they have a natural right to do, in spite of the opinions of bullies. Therefore, I am in favor of repealing it (or ignoring it).

No, the NFA hasn't stopped anyone from doing what they were set on doing, and hasn't made anyone (but archators, perhaps) safer. Time for it to go away forever. Please consider signing the petition and sharing it with others. Thank you.

No, this isn't what the "law" was about.

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Believable crime solvers

My awareness of what's on TV is kind of low. I have Netflix, but nothing else, so I don't even get exposed to what's currently on the air. But, through other people, I notice a lot of shows revolving around the solving of crimes. It's an old theme, but still a popular one.

Unfortunately, they all seem to solve crimes as government employees, or in league with government employees. That's silly. Government is the biggest crime of all.

Even Sherlock, with his contempt for the stupidity of cops and his willingness to ignore "laws", still acts as though the government can be good guys, and he generally solves the case then hands the criminals over to the State.

What I would like to see is a good series based on a freelance crime solver, individual or group, who recognizes that government is just another facet of the criminal element. Who realizes that the only real crimes involve archation, thus have an individual victim.

Even if the bad guys who commit the particular crime of the week aren't government, the cops, "laws", and courts are portrayed honestly, as obstacles to justice; not on the same side as our heroes.

Obviously, I'd like to see the government employees shown to be the bad guys "even" when they are doing nothing but passing or enforcing average, every day "laws". Let's watch the heroes find out which cop was responsible for calling for a no-knock raid, and bring him to justice! Along with the rest of his gang who went along with him!

And, of course, justice on the show involves returning the victim to as near his or her "pre-violation" condition as possible- never revenge, "punishment", or a cage. Although, I could see some bad guys on the show being killed in self defense. That would still be satisfying.

Now, that's a crime show I could really enjoy!

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Government's two choices

Just as I wish for any nasty gang, I want government to fail. To get so bad that no one complies any more. To spend its way into oblivion, and try to "tax" itself out of the box. To go overboard with everything it does. And, as if it cares about my wishes, government is doing so as fast as it possibly can.

I would also be OK with it if government went so smoothly that I didn't notice it at all. Yeah, death to the State is still better, but as long as it's not molesting me, I'm not going to go out of my way to notice it. But this isn't the nature of the thing.

The more uncomfortable people become with government, the sooner they'll help it die. So, in spite of my own discomfort, I encourage government to be as evil and intrusive as it wants. Go all out. Governments always commit suicide, no matter who gets blamed by "history".

I'll try to prepare for the worst, while hoping to avoid it.

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Government meddling catching up

(My Eastern New Mexico News column for December 21, 2016)

Did the Russian government affect the recent US presidential election? Maybe, but remind me again why I should care.

You already know every election is rigged, because "abolish the office" isn't among the options you are allowed to choose from. Until every election has this outcome as a very real possibility, the status quo is in no serious danger.

It wasn't "our election" unless you've sold yourself into bondage to this strange cult called "government". Treasure your rightful liberty. Don't hitch your wagon to any president, no matter who it is, and you'll never need a president to call your own. It's healthier for you.

I don't need Trump, Clinton, or any other elected "official"-- they can't have any positive impact on my life whatsoever. The best thing government can ever do is to simply get out of the way, and yet this is the one thing government most fears doing. They won't risk people discovering how unnecessary their meddling is.

How can it matter if the Russian government interfered in something so dirty?

Those who complained loudest when Trump wouldn't pre-commit to accepting the results of the election are the same people now refusing to accept the results of the election. How is this not funny?

Besides, isn't getting upset over this conspiracy theory just a bit hypocritical? The US government has a long history, over several decades, of meddling in other governments' elections and political processes. Do they believe they should be exempt from the same treatment? If so, why? Because they are special? You get what you dish out, and complaining about it just makes you look weak.

As long as you pretend it's OK to set up a system where someone gets the power to control the lives of others, bad people will continue to look for ways to exploit it to their advantage. It's inevitable. Giving anyone the power to take property from those who produce it, to limit the liberty people are allowed to enjoy, and to otherwise strangle the blessings of life, then worrying someone may influence this system, seems a strange concern indeed.

Govern yourself and the Russian government can't affect your life. It's only when you foolishly hand this sacred responsibility to others-- through elections or other political processes-- that you expose yourself to the risk of someone in some political center, in Moscow, Washington DC, or Santa Fe, smothering your life. Why do that to yourself?

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"La la la... I can't hear you!"

When people are doing something incorrectly, they aren't generally interested in being shown the right way. This baffles me beyond words, but it's true.

It holds true whether it is my daughter trying to bowl, holding the ball completely wrong and getting a gutter ball every time, or people believing freedom comes from government, cops, and "laws".

When I can clearly see what someone is doing wrong, I want to point it out to them. It pains me to see someone fail over and over again, out of ignorance. It's even worse to see them stay the course to failure due to stubbornness.

But, I am learning that instruction is never welcomed. Or, at least rarely enough as to be "never" for all intents and purposes (or should I say "for all intensive purposes" as I've heard people say, who then refuse to say it correctly even when their error has been pointed out- never by me- and they are aware they sound dumb?)

Do people enjoy being wrong?

I know better ways to live among other people. I know how to improve individual safety, and thus "public safety". I know how to end inflation. I know how to protect property rights and end the "immigration" conniptions. These things are NOT rocket science, and it has taken hundreds of years of ignorance on top of stubbornness on top of stupidity to make them seem hard. In other words, it has taken statism.

And most people apparently enjoy the misery they bring upon themselves. Otherwise, why not just drop it and start taking the correct path?

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Some blogskeeping

Just to keep you up to date. Never fear, I'm not going to turn into a statist. I'm not a Trump supporter any more than I was an Obama supporter, nor am I a supporter of any politician. Ever.

So, when I speak of "direction", it doesn't mean anything like that.

The direction in which I would like to keep this blog moving:

• Continue posting once per day, at least. Have something ready to go in case the newspaper neglects to post my column online, as happened this week.
• Limit the "wall of text" posts; if I can't say it briefly, I should reconsider saying it until I can.
• Don't worry that I might offend statists with something I say. They aren't reading this blog anyway. And if they happen upon it, they need to be offended.

I would like more supporters and subscribers, but I have stopped looking at the stats as a measure of how I'm doing. People will either read, or they won't.

Beyond that, I need to get back into making the videos. They never get many views, but they are good practice for me.

And, that's where I stand with the blog. Yes, I may keep evolving- always in the direction of more Rightful Liberty, as has been the direction I've moved my entire life.

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What "taxes" provide

My 9 year-old daughter already understands that "taxation" is theft.

But today she asked a question about how "taxes" work, and here's the illustration I gave her.

I told her that if she wants an ice cream sundae, she can choose the kind of ice cream and toppings she wants. If the price is what she (or I, as the case may be) is what she is willing to pay, she can buy it.

But, when "tax" money pays for something, you might get a similarly good sundae- or not.

Maybe the ice cream is obviously contaminated with rat droppings. Maybe the toppings are things you don't want to eat, or don't want on a sundae. Chicken nuggets and mushrooms with mud, perhaps. But I force you to buy it anyway, and in the price I include the fee you must pay me for deciding what will go into making this government sundae. If you want an edible sundae, you are still forced to pay for the nasty government sundae on top of the one you can actually eat and enjoy, so basically you have to pay twice to get something decent.

Exactly as in the case of government kinderprisons and actual educational choice. Or anything else "provided" by "taxation" and coercion. Pay twice- once for worthless crap you don't want, then again for the product or service which actually fills your need. Strange "system".

Maybe she understands better now.

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"If a cop tells you to do something, just do it!"

No matter what a cop tells you to do, just do it. If his demand was unlawful you can survive the encounter, with only a little damage to your ego, to face him in court at a later date.

Or, so sayeth the copsuckers.

Unfortunately, this belief of theirs ignores reality.

The main problem isn't even that the courts are controlled by the same gang, and will give the cop every benefit of the doubt, while viewing you as an enemy.

Sometimes, cops are delusional and irrational, and dangerous to decent beings. OK, not just "sometimes".

Once, years ago, I was picking up lunch from Taco Bell for myself and co-workers. Right at the entrance there had been a minor fender bender, and a cop was directing traffic.

I stopped and waited for my turn. The cop looked directly at me, pointed at me, and then waved me through. I turned into the lot and parked.

As I got out of my car, here came the cop (leaving his apparently non-essential duties). He was red-faced and screaming at me.

He said something along the lines of "Next time a police officer gives you directions, you had better follow them!"

I didn't even know what he was talking about, and admitted my confusion.

He claimed to have clearly indicated for me to wait. That's NOT what I saw, and (perhaps unwisely) I said so. I've rarely seen such an angry individual, and the truth didn't calm him down one bit. Strange beast.

But, to the best of my ability, I had done exactly what he told me to do. He was either daydreaming and not paying attention to what he was doing, or he changed his mind. Or he was lying.

I survived. Not everyone is as lucky.

Yes, cops are scum, and you can't always expect to survive just because you obey their insane demands. Sometimes you may have to defend yourself from these gangsters. When that day comes, good luck to you.

Angry Blue Line Gang scum

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Yet another worse-than-worthless constitution

My 9 year-old daughter tells me that because some kids irritated the "teacher", her third grade class was coerced into writing a "class constitution". Laying out, of course, how the kids are to behave, rather than how the "teacher" should.

Kind of the opposite of the whole idea of a constitution, but exactly how they are applied these days.

But, me being me, I told her she isn't bound by any contract she didn't agree to, no matter what anyone says.

Yeah, I'm trouble like that.

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Be more antifragile

Antifragile, by Nassim Nicholas Taleb . Read this book.

If you don't plan on doing so, or want to know why I recommend it, I'll tell you. (You can also read this long-ish take on the book and concept.)

I like the book, and the idea, because it feeds my confirmation bias- but I think it is right, anyway. I'll admit, I am still reading it, but I don't see it going astray.

One of the major points of the book is that by designing all the danger out of things, trying to make the randomness and volatility go away and keep things smooth and "safe", you make the danger worse. It's inevitable and natural. Completely unavoidable.

Just like how anti-gun "laws" actually increase the risks they claim to want to solve. The people who embrace these ideas may have good intentions, but they are idiots.

The author seems to be right on point, just as he was in his book The Black Swan (which so many reference, but apparently didn't read very carefully). Taleb has more erroneous faith in the potential goodness, usefulness, and necessity of governments (and some residual anti-gun bigotry) than I ever will, but I can overlook his error in this case.

One point I took from the book, which statists won't like, is that those who squawk loudest about loving the USA are dooming that which they love to a violent death.

All centralized states are in a constant condition of collapse. It is simply the nature of the thing. You might as well complain about gravity if you don't like this fact. Every centralized state is balanced on a razor's edge. Those trying to hold it together, and not let bits of it fall off one side or the other naturally, are dooming the whole enchilada to be sliced in half by the razor. Let the centralized state fall apart naturally, gently, with as few casualties as possible, rather than this suicidal course statists (nationalists, "Patriots", Constitutionalists, and others) are choosing with this doomed "The Union MUST be preserved" nonsense. Their path is insane. Secession is the only possible way to save America- and it needs to be an ongoing process, continuing to break into smaller and smaller pieces. I suggest taking secession all the way to the level of the individual.

All large, meticulously planned, controlled "things" are fragile. They have the illusion of stability at the cost of actual stability maintained by a bit of natural (and necessary) volatility. One tiny stressor can shatter the whole thing most spectacularly when you least expect it. Expect it and make sure you'll benefit when it happens. It's the smart thing to do, since the morons insist on continuing along their foolish path.

And, following the smart path, read Antifragile.

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Fake news was best in the old days

(My Eastern New Mexico News column for December 14, 2016)

Why the sudden uproar over "fake news"? Apparently, because many on the political Left blame so-called fake news for Trump's election.

There has always been fake news. Nineteenth century newspapers were peppered with delicious tales of sea monsters, mysterious airships, and ape men presented as news. Today, press releases from government agencies are routinely presented without disclaimers. Both are likely to be outlandish fiction.

If a story confirms what you want to believe, be suspicious. If it sounds too juicy to be true, it's probably not true.

Keep this in mind when following any news story.

One problem is those with an agenda who present stories which support their side; ignoring stories which are just as credible, but support another side. Or no side at all. Sometimes stories are technically true, but slanted.

Everyone is biased, even when they don't mean to be. The honest ones admit it and tell you their bias. I don't report news, but if I did it would be with a libertarian bias. I will always prefer liberty over slavery. Every time. "Taxation" is theft and I'll never pretend politics is a "noble profession". Those with the opposite bias present taxation as the price of civilization, and government employment as a public service. Which bias is more honest?

Sometimes what is called "fake news" is actually satire. Many satirical websites pose as serious news sources and anyone can get fooled occasionally. To save face, some get angry over being fooled.

No one is obligated to hold your hand and explain to you that critical thinking is... well, critical. When reading something online, follow the source and see if it also warns of the impending takeover of civilization by Sea Monkeys. If so, the story you were reading may not be completely credible. It's your responsibility to figure it out; not the government's job to tell you who is "real" and who isn't. There should never be any such thing as an authorized "licensed journalist".

Then too, what is called "fake news" is often simply news the opposition doesn't want generally known. Too bad for them.

There obviously were fake or slanted news stories which favored Trump, just as there were those which favored Clinton. It's inevitable.

Personally, I'd like to see a few more stories of fantastic airships with their alien crews leaning out the window, waving and dropping Ambrosia to picnicking families down below. The old days had the best fake news!

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Cops and shootings

When am I OK with a cop shooting someone?
When I'd be OK with anyone shooting someone in that situation.

When am I OK with someone shooting a cop?
When I'd be OK with anyone being shot in that situation.

 A person's employer doesn't matter in that regard.

If a cop doesn't like it, he can quit being a parasite and go find an HONEST job.

Just before one of those NOT OK shootings

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Lethal threats from trespassers

OK, so I'm confused.

If I go into someone's yard, and they tell me to leave, and I don't, so they chase me out, they are somehow the bad guy?

Or maybe I'm just pacing the road in front of their house, periodically aiming a rifle through their window. If they tell me to stop it, or aim their rifle at me, they are threatening me?

What if I break down their door, rape their daughters, smash up the place a bit, and they fight back. They are the bad guy for fighting me, and I'm a hero?

So, why do people worship the US military doing the same things I just described the fictional me doing, but doing them on a massive scale?

If you are flying war planes in a threatening manner around someone's home territory, YOU are the bad guy. You deserve to have those planes shot down. The pilots are being bad guys and deserve to die. If you call any objection or resistance to your planes "aggression" you are lying.

If you are a military employee breaking stuff and threatening people in someone else's home territory, and you get shot, YOU were the bad guy. It's no different from a homeowner shooting a burglar or rapist he catches in his house.

If you are sailing your war ship off the coast of someone's territory, as some sort of "show of force", YOU are the one provoking. It's not "aggression" for the locals to object or take action against you.

I've heard lots of absurdities along these lines over the past several days. US military supporters complaining that US weaponry is being "attacked" and "threatened" while trespassing and threatening. The choice of words they are using to describe these events is dishonest in the extreme. A whole new level of lying to shape the thinking of those who don't think.

The lies are wearing thin. The liars look like fools to anyone other than the brainwashed military lovers, because they are fools. And aggressors- archators. The US military are bad guys, even if their enemies are ALSO bad guys. You can't do right by doing wrong, then lying about what is going on.

Trespassers looking for victims

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Support Law Enforcement

I am totally in favor of supporting law enforcement.

With a trap door.

Temporarily.

Just until the rope can be placed around its steroid-thickened neck.

Then I quickly withdraw that support.

No, I'm not calling for the death of any particular individual who lowers himself to do that "job", but of the entire idea that "laws" are a legitimate thing which should be enforced.

Cops are scum because the "job" is scummy. "Police" is an act of aggression and theft, not the vermin committing the act.

You can never make doing a bad thing into something noble or good. No matter how you try.

Yes, archators can ethically be killed in self defense, and a badge doesn't give them immunity from consequences of being a thug. I want every participant in every "no knock raid" to die in the attempt, every single time, without exception. Good guys would never behave that way. Good people would never support those who do.

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