Authoritarian government dooms society

(My Eastern New Mexico News column for December 17, 2025)

Many people have recently discovered that government is authoritarian. What a shock! Most only complain about it when it affects something they personally care about. When it crushes something they dislike, they either ignore it or call for even more authoritarianism.

The dictionary says "authoritarian" means demanding blind obedience to authority instead of respecting individual freedom, considering individual freedom subordinate to the power of the state, or exercising complete or almost complete control over the will of others. It’s a perfect description of ordinary, everyday government.

Here, “authority” doesn’t mean expertise or competence; it's referring to political power. Power which only exists as long as people imagine it does. Using the same word for both real expertise and political domination muddies thinking. Sometimes the confusion is deliberate. It’s straight out of Orwell.

Both the political Right and Left are authoritarian.

When concerned parents speak out at a government school-board meeting, and government labels them “domestic threats,” roughly half the country cries “authoritarianism!” while the other half cheers.

When government blows up a drug boat, the sides instantly reverse; now the other half is outraged, and this half applauds. Both actions are authoritarian. Both are wrong.

People act as though the only options are authoritarianism or decadence. This completely ignores the healthy balance between these extremes: responsibility. Meaning, both decadence and authoritarianism are equally irresponsible.

Trying to fix a problem with government is guaranteed to fail. You don't fix a problem by creating a bigger one. Pretending otherwise is just as irresponsible as doing nothing at all.

Crime will never be solved by allowing government to react with additional authoritarian rights violations. Regardless of who commits the crimes, government is the wrong tool. Everything government does creates new victims and new crimes.

The only chance at a real, lasting solution that respects all life, liberty, and property is to get government out of the way. How likely is government to go along? Not likely at all. Government exists to grab power and use it. This power is authoritarianism, even when you happen to like the outcome. Those who respect liberty will never respect those who work against it. If you believe this won't matter, you don't know history.

In the short run, authoritarianism works great for the authoritarians. In the long run, it always backfires. Authoritarians are gambling that this time will be different, but if not, society is doomed.

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Understanding the other side

I think I am able to see both (or more) sides of any topic. I could make a good, convincing argument for either side. Including the side I think is wrong.

I don't normally do it in public because I don't want to be taken out of context and have people think I'm arguing for something I'm not. Yes, it happens anyway, but there's no reason to make it easier.

I don't actually enjoy being able to see all sides so easily. It's uncomfortable and inconvenient.

Just because I can see all sides doesn't mean I haven't decided one side is more correct than the others- obviously, in the majority of cases, I have.

This doesn't stop me from considering any new arguments that are presented- it's just that new arguments I haven't already considered, mulled, pondered, (dozens of times) and then rejected because they didn't hold up, are nearly non-existent.

But, internally, I can sympathize with those on the opposite side from me because I understand where they are coming from. 

I can completely understand why the anti-immigrant people feel the way they do, while recognizing how and why they are wrong.

The same goes for the anti-gun people.

I don't avoid talking to them. That doesn't mean they'll listen to anything I say, because they are apparently incapable of seeing, much less considering, the opposite side. 

This is disappointing to me. I feel as though I made an effort they are unwilling to make- to understand the other side. Plus, there's truth in the saying "give them an inch, and they'll take a mile".

I expect more of them, even if it's an unreasonable expectation. That's why, if I engage with them at all, I come down harder than I might otherwise.

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Don't let stupid people discourage you

I was told that because America isn't a perfect libertarian paradise today, this means "libertarians do nothing to defend freedom here." (Liberty would be the better word, but whatever.)

I'm constantly amazed that people "think" this way, and yet don't forget to breathe.

"Because the human body keeps getting dirty, soap must be useless."

"Because cancer still kills people, no one is doing anything to heal people."

"Because crime still happens, self-defense is pointless."

I don't think there's anyone, advocating for anything, who could clear that guy's bar.

You can be doing all the right things, but because most people still believe in The Most Dangerous Superstition- and because politics makes people stupid- it won't have an immediate effect. It doesn't mean you're on the wrong path. Don't let stupid people discourage you.

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Statism- A total failure

I will never listen to statists, or take them even slightly seriously, until they can get their own collectivist house in order. All their criticisms fall flat and are total failures.

They are the ones who say they have the answers, and anyone who thinks differently is childish. They are the ones who believe a collective has a "right" to run your life, and is smart enough to do so. They are the ones making the claim that a government is necessary to protect your rights.

They've had thousands of years to prove it, but they haven't ever been able to.

Libertarians. Voluntaryists, abolitionists, and anarchists make no such claims. 

We don't claim the world will be perfect without government- because we know bad people will always exist. 

We just recognize that giving those bad people (and anyone who seeks to govern others is bad) power and imaginary "authority" doesn't ever work out well. The power attracts the worst people, the "authority" lets them get away with their crimes, and if a decent person gets pulled in, they turn bad by association and because of how the system is set up to function.

Statism and political governments are total failures. They always have been and always will be, and until statists can get it right at least once, they can keep their ignorant mouths shut.

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Making deals with devils

I can't believe there are still people who don't realize this, but...

You can not make a deal with a government. Well, not and expect that government to keep their end of the deal. Governments don't do that.

They aren't individuals.

They feel entitled to run your life and to lie to you to that end.

They care about their own interests only, and respecting your life, liberty, or property is not in any government's interests. They will break any deal if they find it convenient to do so.

Trying to make a deal with government is foolish. It doesn't matter who you are, or which government you are trying to negotiate with. It's not going to work out in your favor. There's only one way to deal with such gangs.

There's a reason buckskinners call this stuff "treaty paper":

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Government is...

Government is a security blanket for the incompetent, the lazy, the fear-filled, the incapable, the weak, and the delusional.

Government is an excuse- a jobs program- for those who like to commit evil.

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Self-defense

Is it self-defense or is it not?

If you are where you have a right to be...

And you are doing what you have a right to be doing...

Then you can ethically use self-defense against anyone who uses (or credibly threatens to use) force against you. They are initiating force. They are archating.

If you are not where you have a right to be, OR you are doing something you have no right to be doing, then anyone you are violating has the right to use self-defense against you. No matter what your excuse is or who you are. No matter how popular your actions may be.

If I go into my neighbor's house- their undisputed private property- and I threaten to beat them up for smoking Cannabis (even though the regional governments all say it's "illegal" for them to do so), they have the right to shoot me. That would be self-defense on their part.

I can't threaten them with harm, then shoot them and claim "self-defense" if they try to run. Not even if they shove me out of the way. Not even if they intentionally hit me with their car, or shoot me, in an attempt to get away from my aggression. I'm the one in the wrong here, whatever the outcome. 

Legislation doesn't confer rights. Legislation can't change wrong into right; it can't negate a human right. Government policies do not determine rights. Government "jobs" or badges don't grant "extra rights".They can't. Rights don't work that way.

I would hope this clears things up. I suspect that depends on how poisoned by politics the recipient's brain is.

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We need to quarantine rabid government

(My Eastern New Mexico News column for December 10, 2025)

It has always bothered me how much of the news is concerned with what government is doing. In a way, I understand. When there's a rabid dog at your door, you need to know about it. Unfortunately, talking about it doesn't solve the problem. The rabid dog is still there, threatening us.

F. William "Bill" Schmidt, a man of impressive accomplishments whom I only learned about after his recent death at the age of 92, wrote: "Why is Government always the principal subject of public discussion? Because the existence of Government violates the Natural Rights of everyone; and everyone is struggling to understand this malevolent institution which inevitably creates conflicts and chaos."

He was right.

I don't want to keep hearing about what the rabid dog called "Government" is doing, but as long as it continues to threaten everyone's life, liberty, and property, and as long as society isn't allowed to do anything useful to address it, I suppose I need to keep up with its actions. I need to stay alert to the conflicts and chaos it is creating in society so I can avoid them whenever possible and brace myself for those I can't avoid.

I still don't enjoy hearing what the political criminals are plotting.

I'll never understand why so many people feel loyalty to this rabid dog, or believe it is necessary for their well-being. I don't get why people are willing to spend their lives feeding their neighbors to this diseased beast, and pretending it's for our own good. Nothing is more antisocial than this.

If you were in a personal relationship with someone who made you live under the same rules government imposes on you, you'd be a victim of domestic abuse. If a romantic partner spied on you, tracked all your movements, made you ask for permission to leave the house, controlled what you left with and brought back, didn't allow people to visit you without permission, made you show every nickel you have and where you got it before stealing a percentage of it from you, you'd be justified in fighting back. Even if the abuser said fighting back was against the rules. Such a partner would be no better than the rabid dog.

Yet, government does this and worse, and people casually chat about it as though it's okay and normal. Watching what government does is pointless unless you're prepared to quarantine and neutralize this rabid dog.

(Here's the link to Bill Schmidt's essay quoted above.)

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SixNeedler holster

 

Here’s the holster I made for my SixNeedler.

Here's the back of it, if that's of any interest:

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Yeah, it's apparently too much to ask

I just want everyone to leave everyone else alone, and for everyone to be free to defend themselves from those who won’t.

By "leave everyone else alone", I don't mean to abandon them; I mean to not rob, kidnap, attack, coerce, or otherwise molest them. I mean, don't archate!
I would add, "Is this too much to ask?", but actions speak louder than words.

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The Police State you cheer today...

I am shocked, although I know I shouldn't be, to see how many people love government and hate other people more than they value liberty.

For the first time in over 19 years, it's making me seriously reconsider the whole blogging thing.
I am just too disgusted and disappointed. Especially at people who ought to know better coming out as fans of the Police State- as long as it is aimed at people they hate.

I had often wondered how it happened that regular Germans were fine with SS troops operating openly around Germany. I don't wonder anymore. Again, some people hate others more than they love liberty.

The Police State you cheer today will be aimed at you the next time the political winds shift direction. And then you'll act surprised and mad at the situation you helped enable. In which case, I'll still take your side because I don't abandon principles. Don't say you weren't warned. 

But, wow...

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It feels lonely

This is how it feels to be standing against the cheerleading for ICE… to not be excusing them for their crimes. Lonely, but good.

It's lonely, but it's worth it to be on the ethical side. 

I can barely wrap my head around the people making excuses, blaming the victim, and pretending that "the law" [sic] and ethics are the same thing. And lying that any of this is Constitutional (if that matters to anyone).

I know I'm not really alone.

I'm seeing others being attacked for not cheering the jackboots, so I'm less alone than I feel I am. I step up to defend them when I can. But it's overwhelmingly one-sided against us, and defending them brings the wrath of the mob down upon me. Which is tiresome.

Even those who know all anti-gun rules are illegal pretend that "immigration" rules are valid. It makes no sense if you expect humans to be consistent and rational- which I don't, but still...

I hate standing with those who, in other situations, want armed government thugs to steal my guns and murder me if I resist, but sometimes you've got to anyway.

(It was much more fun discussing the SixNeedler than this nonsense!)

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Murdered by badgescum

Sickening.

For the most part, I don't like the kind of people who go to protest, especially if they only protest one side and ignore the abuses of "their own" side. Which seems to be the case for 95% of the regular protesters.

If you think it's time to protest, it's probably time for something more direct. I get it, though, even though I know it won't make any useful difference. Not in today's police state.

On the other hand, cops are scum. No matter which agency they work for, or what their badge says on it. If they "fear for their life", they need to find a different job. Their primary- and possibly only- duty is to die to protect your life, liberty, and property, not to murder to enforce counterfeit "laws".

Enforcing unethical (and unconstitutional, if you care about such things) "immigration" rules puts you on the wrong side. Murdering someone who is trying to escape from your authority-addled display of aggression just stacks more wrongdoing on top of wrongdoing. 

It doesn't matter whether or not I would have liked the dead woman, or even if she was only inspired to protest because she hated the current president (as I suspect was the case). Politics makes people stupid, after all.

You have the right to drive over anyone who is blocking your way, be they a protester or an enforcer. Don't block cars if you don't want to be run over. And if you do, your claims of "self-defense" will be ridiculed by smarter people.

The comments I see people copsuckers making about the situation make me sad for the future of liberty in America... and the world.

If you hate other people more than you love liberty, there's no hope for you. And this seems to be the case with so many people these days. They love Big Brother and his rules more than they value liberty. That's not good!

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SixNeedler review- I like it!

I used some of my Christmas money to buy a CO2 air gun called a SixNeedler. I had wanted one ever since Jörg Sprave started talking about designing it, and eventually offering it for sale, on his YouTube channel.

I'm always thinking ahead, considering possible future situations where conventional ammo (or its components) might become unavailable or prohibited, and alternatives become important. Plus, I like having options. Especially options you can buy online and have shipped directly to your house without "Imperial entanglements". That's always useful. 

This is one air gun I would actually consider carrying for defense under certain conditions. I don't say that lightly, as I have firearms I wouldn't consider carrying for defense, even if I like them.

This gun feels real. It has a metal frame (aluminum?) and a solid polymer cylinder and grip. It even has a metal trigger and trigger guard! The whole thing is solid and has heft. It seems to be well-made. Also, it's black, not blue like the photo may suggest.

Unlike the other airguns I have, the SixNeedler is a serious tool. It shoots blowgun darts or "needles" rather than BBs or pellets. While they don't have the stopping power or foot-pounds of .44 Magnum, you do not want to get hit with one. They will not simply bounce off.

It's a "top break" much like a Schofield, but without an extractor popping anything out, because there's nothing to extract. 

I've shot several cylinders-full already. It is double-action/single-action. Pretty easy to shoot. The grip angle is something to get accustomed to, but not a problem. The grip shape, I'll discuss below. 

My target is a cardboard box filled with layers of cardboard, fortified with stacks of newspaper every several layers. The needles are penetrating an average of 2.5 to 3.5 inches, and they are stuck in the newspaper layers hard; they must be removed with pliers (don't damage them, since they are reusable!) I've watched videos where they are going through clothing, skin, ballistic gel, and cow leg bone.

It's fairly accurate- although I'm shooting at short, indoor ranges (across my library room/office- about 4 yards is all). If I brace the gun in place, removing the randomness of hand movement, most shots hit in about a 1.5" group, but there are some flyers that will hit a few inches from the point of aim. It's definitely accurate enough for defensive distance shooting.

The only negative I've found is the grip shape and size. It's got a squarish cross-section and is a bit large for my hands. If I hold it with the (oversized, in my opinion) grip cover (which encloses the CO2 cartridge in the grip) removed, it feels less awkward and almost more comfortable. Of course, there's no recoil, so the grip is not going to hurt your hand while you shoot, regardless of the grip design.
I did write the company and suggest they offer differently sized/shaped grip covers, and they said they will take it under advisement for any updates. I hope they do it, and I hope they offer additional grips for sale separately.

All in all, I really like it. It's sci-fi enough to appeal to that side of me. It's dangerous enough that it could be used defensively, and that appeals to my prepper side. It's different, cool-looking, and it works as advertised. It's also not terribly expensive. I think you should consider adding one to your collection. Then tell me what you think.

I'm even thinking about making a leather holster for my SixNeedler, if that means anything.

This isn't a paid review or anything. Like my review of the Barra Schofield, it's just me sharing my thoughts, experiences, and opinions. There are no affiliate links, and I get nothing if you buy one, click on anything, or whatever else people do to pay reviewers for reviewing products.

Here are a couple of videos of me shooting it, single action and double action, in my library/office:

Excuse my clutter and decorating choices.

UPDATE: Here's the holster I made for it: link

Hints:

I would save some pristine darts as your "carry darts" if you plan to use this in any defensive capacity. I've been using and reusing the same 6 darts, and they are beginning to get a little loose in the chambers. I had one slip down through the muzzle end of its chamber and bind the cylinder while I was shooting. I've also shot a couple of darts with other darts- one shot actually went straight down alongside the first dart, piercing both of its plastic cones. That's going to mess up the gas seal, but they did still work afterward.

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Protecting the statist house of cards

I wasn’t always libertarian. I had many statist ideas, assumptions, and misunderstandings. But I was always susceptible to liberty.

I believe this is why I can understand the arguments of statists better than they can understand liberty.

Also, I will discuss things with them, and don't say "I'm not going to read that!" when presented with information. I'll at least try to read it, because I want to understand them. 

Judging by their nearly universal behavior, they don't want to understand liberty. Most of them avoid any exposure whatsoever to ideas that might challenge their beliefs or rattle their house of cards. They are desperate to avoid the breeze of liberty's breath of fresh air.

Which probably explains how they can remain statists in spite of overwhelming evidence that it's not a smart thing to do.

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Government wants to keep you poor

(My Eastern New Mexico News column for December 3, 2025)

The quickest way to destroy innovation and cripple the economy is to "address" a new idea, or an old idea reborn, with government control.

Short-term rentals, like Airbnb and Vrbo, are in the crosshairs of local politicians, and this isn't a positive development. Letting strangers stay in your home for a few nights, for a fee, is an ancient use of personal property; the internet simply gave it a boost. There's no need for new ordinances, or the use of existing ordinances, to regulate it.

If a short-term rental next door creates a violation of your life, liberty, or property, there are already ethical ways to handle it without government getting preemptively involved. Zoning laws themselves are a violation of property rights.

Politicians have no right to decide which peaceful, voluntary businesses you're allowed to run. In a free country, this meddling wouldn't be tolerated. Such government overreach hurts us all in the long run.

Legitimacy doesn't come from official recognition. Government attention is poison to innovation. Look at Bitcoin: the moment government began paying attention, regulators attacked it with taxes, rules, and other interference. This destroyed much of the freedom and utility of cryptocurrency. Keep your filthy government off my life!

Government doesn't need a process to smother every human activity. Life doesn't need to be micromanaged by politicians. Liberty- freedom tempered with responsibility- is enough. The market regulates itself when freed from government meddling. Dishonest companies go broke without government protecting them from competition or from cheated customers. Anyone seeking government protection from competition or consequences is in the wrong. Monopolies can only persist with government help. Irresponsible individuals never learn to be better when protected from consequences, or from their victims, by government rules.

Those who believe "there oughta be a law" are the people who see any remaining liberty as a loophole that must be closed. Liberty's enemies are on both sides of the law- freelance crooks and suit-wearing officials- and it's your responsibility to defend it from them all.

A chilling realization is that government would rather keep you poor with arbitrary rules, and then toss you crumbs financed with money they stole from your neighbors, than to get out of your way and allow you to build your own future with your mind and muscles. A future of responsible self-sufficiency and abundance moves government from being a crutch to being recognized as the broken leg. This terrifies them.

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Game theory for winners

The smartest, most rational game theory strategy appears to be this:

• Start with cooperation.
• If cooperation is returned, keep cooperating.
• If betrayed, push back an equal amount immediately- once.
• If cooperation resets, return to cooperation without a grudge. If it doesn't, disengage (stop playing).

Isn't it interesting how thoroughly libertarian this is? 

It's how I've always tried to live, even before I ever heard it spelled out like this.

Of course, bad guys have set up "games" where they don't "allow" you to push back or walk away from their betrayal. That's when self-defense comes into play- it's up to you to decide when it's necessary, and I won't second-guess you.

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“Broccoli choking”

Using the propaganda phrase “gun violence” is exactly as dishonest (or ignorant) as singling out choking on broccoli and decrying “broccoli choking”. 

They ignore all the deaths and injuries caused by choking on other foods, not because they care about choking victims, but because they hate broccoli.

In the exact same way, the people who lecture about "gun violence" don't really care about violence (or archation); they just hate guns and don't want you to have them... unless you're a government thug who can use your guns to take the guns away from people who aren't in your gang.

If they weren't this despicable, they would care about the innocent people stabbed, stoned to death, beaten with clubs, strangled by hands, or intentionally killed in any other way, no matter what weapon was used. They would be happy when someone uses a gun to fend off an attack. They don't care, and they aren't happy, and that's how you know they are nothing but filthy anti-gun bigots. 

Keep this in mind every time you see or hear the propaganda phrase "gun violence" come from one of these nasty bigots.

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The long scam

Government is fraud. The very idea of governing others is fraudulent. It's the biggest, longest-running scam in history.

To pick out one aspect of it to get mad about is ridiculous. But that's what is happening.

I suppose it's still better than everyone being complacent about it.

But, it's only a good thing if enough people start doing something about the problem.

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Billion$ in fraud is discovered...

And then, like magic, suddenly everyone is mad about taxes.

Welcome to the party, Pal.

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