Thank you, Mark Levin
Thank you so much, Mr. Levin. I think I’ve got my mind right now. While in the past there seemed to be a failya to communicate, I believe you have finally convince me on how wrong I have been about that nutcase, Ron Paul. Foolishly, I thought he believed in individual freedom, personal responsibility, and limited government. I somehow believed that an aggressive foreign policy was incompatible with a free society. I foolishly have been enslaved by the Constitution, believing it meant what it said, and said what it meant. How could have I been so wrong about the founding fathers admonitions against entangling alliances, or Republican Senator Robert Taft’s claim that “War by its very nature tended to concentrate power in the hands of the central state, and thus threatened the cherished American ideals of limited government and separation of powers."
When did that moment of revelation happen in mind, that you were right?. I am not sure if it was the tenth or fifteenth time you called Ron Paul a nut..Surely the aggregate quantity of times you called him a nut impressed me more and more, that you must surely be right. Saying it five times certainly wasn’t enough, but it certainly made more sense every time it was expressed.
Of course, it helped me a great deal that every time you called Ron Paul a nut, your decibel levels increased dramatically. Nothing is more convincing than that fifteenth time or so, when you called Ron Paul a nut, and the force of your voice pierced right into my brain. Maybe it was at that point that I got it. Verbal projection is a very important quality in life, especially in the arts. May I suggest that as a side job, you get into opera singing. Those sitting in double balcony, double Z seating will surely hear you clearly. Soprano?
And thank you for clarifying that you are not a neocon. You opposed those uprisings in Egypt and Lybia., after all. I am sure that your opposition had nothing to do with Obama’s support in those conflicts. Because your logic is impeccable, especially when it is repeated over and over at a high pitched decibel level that I haven’t experienced since my rock concert college days. Ah, those were the days, . . . Hey Mr. Levin, how about a few bars of “White Rabbit!”
And oh, that logic! You certainly convinced me that America needs to support Israel. Because why? Because “Israel’s our ally, for God’s sake!” Why waste our time thinking about the reasons Israel has such a special place in American hearts. It just is. I get it!
Israel’s our ally, because, because,
Because, because, because, because, because,
Because of the wonderful things she does,
ya ta ta ta ta ta ta,
We’re off to fight for Israel,
She’s right, whatever she does!
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Monday, August 8, 2011
The Fed, the Enabler
This speech was given at an “End the Fed” rally in Chicago, August 6, 2011
The most absurd idea to come out of political discourse is not Marxism. One can understand an emotional, albeit irrational tie to that philosophy.
Nor is it collectivism. One can understand the lure of collectivism in general, even though it runs against a logical perview.
Nor is it Keynesianism. One can understand the mistaken notions of Keynesianism during recessions and depressions to “jump start the economy” even though we all know the deleterious effects of such policy.
No, the most absurd idea to come out of political discourse has to come from the neoconservatives and their fellow travelers who extol the virtues of free market capitalism and in the same breath acknowledge—to them-- the necessary existence of the Federal Reserve and the perpetuation of endless war. Now. There is the ultimate chicken and egg question. Which must come first? The desire for war and the necessity to fund such war without directly laying taxes? Or the existence of a national bank such as the Federal Reserve that gives open season to big government—and make no mistake about it—the biggest government enterprise is war. “War is the health of the state” as Randolph Bourne has so aptly put it.
How can one possibly hold to an existence of limited government when having a military budget that is virtually more than all other military budgets combined in the world?
How does one have limited government when fifty to sixty percent of the national debt is militarily related? And don't buy the silly notion that the national debt is fourteen or sixteen trillion. If private business calculated their finances in such a manner, the officers of the business would be thrown in prison. The real debt is over 100 trillion—that is necessarily counting the unfunded liabilities that have accrued over time—Social Security, Medicare and pensions—and a big hunk of which is
military pensions.
How does one become delusional enough to pontificate about limited government when supporting or voting for the likes of the Patriot Act that has totally destroyed what Fourth Amendment guarantees were left after the implementation of other wars such as the war on the mafia and the war on drugs? Nothing can be more unlimiting than allowing big government to invade our homes without a search warrant and even without notice after the fact. Our phone conversations, our internet activities, our email, and even our garbage—are all under surveillance, without proper, Constitutional court order. All in the name of one war or another. But the real war—we all know-- is the war on our freedom. Our founding fathers fought a revolution for such outright, long train of abuses.
Swat teams are descending upon student loan defaulters, raw milk users, and unfortunate individuals caught in case after case of mistaken identities, gunned down by swat teams, --casualties of the war on drugs, casualties of government sponsored terrorism. Make no mistake about it. You are far more likely to become a victim of government terrorism than from some Islamic extremist driven with zeal because some American drone plane killed his children.
All this and more—yes, the strip searching of a 95 year old woman with a diaper comes to mind—and yet the neocon either ignores or fully supports these totalitarian invasions of our freedom and perpetual war around the globe, and in the same breath—talks about limited government. Absolutely the most absurd idea ever to come out of political discourse.
Here in Illinois, three fellow travelers with the neocons—call themselves tea party Congressman. Randy Hultgren, Joe Walsh and Robert Dold, all voted for the Patriot Act. They are all enemies of freedom and should be held to the level of respect they deserve. None of them call for the end of the Federal Reserve. Why? Because the Federal Reserve is the enabler to end all enablers. It is the enabler of big government. It is the enabler of perpetual war.
Do you think for a minute that the American voters would allow the continuation of such wars if they had to pay for the real cost up front with taxes? Heck there might even be a revolution afoot if that happened. That is why a Federal Reserve is necessary. To keep the people from revolting from what is a totally corrupt, totalitarian system of perpetual war and domestic surveillance, high taxes, higher inflation and a total disregard to our natural rights.
So if you want a continuing plunge into abject serfdom, and totalitarian slavery, with death squad swat teams of real terror, support the Fed. Support the politicians who want to perpetuate the Fed.
If you want to be part of the most absurd political movement imaginable, than extol the virtues of free market capitalism, limited government and the Constitution at the same time you call for perpetual war and domestic surveillance and the existence of its enabler, the Federal Reserve.
But if you are a rational human being who believes in individual freedom, then the course is clear. To begin to travel the road to freedom and prosperity, one must first open the gateway to freedom. The key to that gateway is to end the Fed. End the Fed! . . .
The most absurd idea to come out of political discourse is not Marxism. One can understand an emotional, albeit irrational tie to that philosophy.
Nor is it collectivism. One can understand the lure of collectivism in general, even though it runs against a logical perview.
Nor is it Keynesianism. One can understand the mistaken notions of Keynesianism during recessions and depressions to “jump start the economy” even though we all know the deleterious effects of such policy.
No, the most absurd idea to come out of political discourse has to come from the neoconservatives and their fellow travelers who extol the virtues of free market capitalism and in the same breath acknowledge—to them-- the necessary existence of the Federal Reserve and the perpetuation of endless war. Now. There is the ultimate chicken and egg question. Which must come first? The desire for war and the necessity to fund such war without directly laying taxes? Or the existence of a national bank such as the Federal Reserve that gives open season to big government—and make no mistake about it—the biggest government enterprise is war. “War is the health of the state” as Randolph Bourne has so aptly put it.
How can one possibly hold to an existence of limited government when having a military budget that is virtually more than all other military budgets combined in the world?
How does one have limited government when fifty to sixty percent of the national debt is militarily related? And don't buy the silly notion that the national debt is fourteen or sixteen trillion. If private business calculated their finances in such a manner, the officers of the business would be thrown in prison. The real debt is over 100 trillion—that is necessarily counting the unfunded liabilities that have accrued over time—Social Security, Medicare and pensions—and a big hunk of which is
military pensions.
How does one become delusional enough to pontificate about limited government when supporting or voting for the likes of the Patriot Act that has totally destroyed what Fourth Amendment guarantees were left after the implementation of other wars such as the war on the mafia and the war on drugs? Nothing can be more unlimiting than allowing big government to invade our homes without a search warrant and even without notice after the fact. Our phone conversations, our internet activities, our email, and even our garbage—are all under surveillance, without proper, Constitutional court order. All in the name of one war or another. But the real war—we all know-- is the war on our freedom. Our founding fathers fought a revolution for such outright, long train of abuses.
Swat teams are descending upon student loan defaulters, raw milk users, and unfortunate individuals caught in case after case of mistaken identities, gunned down by swat teams, --casualties of the war on drugs, casualties of government sponsored terrorism. Make no mistake about it. You are far more likely to become a victim of government terrorism than from some Islamic extremist driven with zeal because some American drone plane killed his children.
All this and more—yes, the strip searching of a 95 year old woman with a diaper comes to mind—and yet the neocon either ignores or fully supports these totalitarian invasions of our freedom and perpetual war around the globe, and in the same breath—talks about limited government. Absolutely the most absurd idea ever to come out of political discourse.
Here in Illinois, three fellow travelers with the neocons—call themselves tea party Congressman. Randy Hultgren, Joe Walsh and Robert Dold, all voted for the Patriot Act. They are all enemies of freedom and should be held to the level of respect they deserve. None of them call for the end of the Federal Reserve. Why? Because the Federal Reserve is the enabler to end all enablers. It is the enabler of big government. It is the enabler of perpetual war.
Do you think for a minute that the American voters would allow the continuation of such wars if they had to pay for the real cost up front with taxes? Heck there might even be a revolution afoot if that happened. That is why a Federal Reserve is necessary. To keep the people from revolting from what is a totally corrupt, totalitarian system of perpetual war and domestic surveillance, high taxes, higher inflation and a total disregard to our natural rights.
So if you want a continuing plunge into abject serfdom, and totalitarian slavery, with death squad swat teams of real terror, support the Fed. Support the politicians who want to perpetuate the Fed.
If you want to be part of the most absurd political movement imaginable, than extol the virtues of free market capitalism, limited government and the Constitution at the same time you call for perpetual war and domestic surveillance and the existence of its enabler, the Federal Reserve.
But if you are a rational human being who believes in individual freedom, then the course is clear. To begin to travel the road to freedom and prosperity, one must first open the gateway to freedom. The key to that gateway is to end the Fed. End the Fed! . . .
Saturday, May 14, 2011
The Establishment Wins; Illinois Loses
by Kenneth Prazak
Two bills in the Illinois legislature that are central to the beginnings of a freedom renaissance in Illinois have just been defeated in the Illinois House, giving rise to the dreadful fact that Illinois is broke, broke in so many ways, not only financial broke, but even more pathetically, broke in the spirit of freedom.
Both sides of the political power parties, the Democrats and Republicans contributed to this dreadful demise of freedom, given rise to the notion that only a third party, specifically the Libertarian Party, can give hope to any Illinois citizen whose value system supports liberty at the apex.
HB148, the tepid Conceal Carry Law introduced by downstate Democrat Brandon Phelps, won a majority vote a week ago, but failed to get the super-majority 71 votes needed for passage, which was also needed to override Governor Quinn’s certain veto. Evidently the Chicago Machine is still potent in its ability to twist arms as at least one representative from Chicago changed her support of Conceal Carry and voted, no.
The other nail into the coffin of Illinois liberty came a week ago in the name of the Medical Marijuana Bill, HB 30, this time the House Republicans becoming the main culprits despite the fact that Republican House minority leader, Tom Cross, for the first time came out in support of the bill. Evidently he has little sway with his Republican colleagues. The bill sponsor, Democrat Lou Lang, of Skokie, vows to try again this session, being only two votes short of passage. Hope reigns eternal.
So it is that Illinois politicians collectively care little about life or health of its fellow citizens caring more about the industries that have been built up surrounding gun restriction and drug war machinations.
Countless victims succumb to gun crime on the street. The criminals care less about the laws; law abiding citizens are sittin’ ducks. The ironic tragedy is that those who care most about abiding the law are the most obvious victims.
Others die of lack of nutrition as a result of appetite loss from cancer chemotherapy, or go blind from glaucoma, ailments that, among others, only marijuana can help.
The great experiment that was America, although far from perfect, was an experiment in individual freedom and personal responsibility, the likes of which the world had never seen. With the obvious exceptions of historically discriminated groups, she became the freest and most prosperous nation on earth. Not because of great natural resources, great human stock, but because of a philosophy of freedom that has brought out the best in man.
And now we are reduced to being denied “permission” from power-hungry politicians to protect ourselves, to bear arms as citizens of 48 other states can do; and languish with disease that nature can relieve by ingesting an herb from a plant that has more beneficial uses than any other plant on earth. Or one can take action and violate the unconstitutional laws that take away our rights to defend ourselves or heal ourselves. These restrictive laws are policies of which good-conscience freedom lovers should be ashamed.
The Libertarian Party of Illinois stands firm in its support of these natural rights of man. We will fight to get these mild laws passed and then fight again to fully restore the rights of free Americans. The only hope for restoring (and fully realizing for everyone) true freedom to our land is the libertarian philosophy. And here in Illinois, the only viable political vehicle in which to do so is the Libertarian Party of Illinois.
Both sides of the political power parties, the Democrats and Republicans contributed to this dreadful demise of freedom, given rise to the notion that only a third party, specifically the Libertarian Party, can give hope to any Illinois citizen whose value system supports liberty at the apex.
HB148, the tepid Conceal Carry Law introduced by downstate Democrat Brandon Phelps, won a majority vote a week ago, but failed to get the super-majority 71 votes needed for passage, which was also needed to override Governor Quinn’s certain veto. Evidently the Chicago Machine is still potent in its ability to twist arms as at least one representative from Chicago changed her support of Conceal Carry and voted, no.
The other nail into the coffin of Illinois liberty came a week ago in the name of the Medical Marijuana Bill, HB 30, this time the House Republicans becoming the main culprits despite the fact that Republican House minority leader, Tom Cross, for the first time came out in support of the bill. Evidently he has little sway with his Republican colleagues. The bill sponsor, Democrat Lou Lang, of Skokie, vows to try again this session, being only two votes short of passage. Hope reigns eternal.
So it is that Illinois politicians collectively care little about life or health of its fellow citizens caring more about the industries that have been built up surrounding gun restriction and drug war machinations.
Countless victims succumb to gun crime on the street. The criminals care less about the laws; law abiding citizens are sittin’ ducks. The ironic tragedy is that those who care most about abiding the law are the most obvious victims.
Others die of lack of nutrition as a result of appetite loss from cancer chemotherapy, or go blind from glaucoma, ailments that, among others, only marijuana can help.
The great experiment that was America, although far from perfect, was an experiment in individual freedom and personal responsibility, the likes of which the world had never seen. With the obvious exceptions of historically discriminated groups, she became the freest and most prosperous nation on earth. Not because of great natural resources, great human stock, but because of a philosophy of freedom that has brought out the best in man.
And now we are reduced to being denied “permission” from power-hungry politicians to protect ourselves, to bear arms as citizens of 48 other states can do; and languish with disease that nature can relieve by ingesting an herb from a plant that has more beneficial uses than any other plant on earth. Or one can take action and violate the unconstitutional laws that take away our rights to defend ourselves or heal ourselves. These restrictive laws are policies of which good-conscience freedom lovers should be ashamed.
The Libertarian Party of Illinois stands firm in its support of these natural rights of man. We will fight to get these mild laws passed and then fight again to fully restore the rights of free Americans. The only hope for restoring (and fully realizing for everyone) true freedom to our land is the libertarian philosophy. And here in Illinois, the only viable political vehicle in which to do so is the Libertarian Party of Illinois.
Friday, February 11, 2011
Sleep
The silent shrug of myopic minds,
deters the wake of caring sighs.
It steers away from heartfelt ache,
the pain of knowing the real mistake,
of clinging to comfortable diatribes,
from politicians to media lies.
The tunneled vain of vanquished care,
for plights of those we’re not aware,
shall bring a path of forgetful bliss.
The moral dilemma won’t seem amiss,
as drone like brain-waves usurp a hint,
of gross injustice in our midst.
Super bowls and reality shows,
jackpot troves, and numbing loaves,
of bread and circus pablum fare,
it keeps our minds from real despair.
Shell games crossed with Ponzi malice,
invade the state with viral madness.
Revenues stolen to fund the scheme,
from you and me to bring the dream,
of rule by force to the looter class,
and deified power within the grasp.
Super bowls and reality shows,
jackpot troves, and numbing loaves,
of bread and circus pablum fare,
it keeps our minds from real despair.
Jackboot thugs claim innocent lives,
with drug war raids-- no law provides.
Yet swat teams crash and shred the law,
matters not the purported cause.
Alphabet agencies storm with guns,
for views or vitamins-- unsanctioned ones.
Super bowls and reality shows,
jackpot troves, and numbing loaves,
of bread and circus pablum fare,
it keeps our minds from real despair.
Collateral damage rules the day,
as innocent people are bombed away.
The hydra snake in Islamic dress,
multiplies fast, and so, to stress,
the self-fulfilled prophesy now is real.
Let’s go after Goldstein, now, with zeal!
Super bowls and reality shows,
jackpot troves, and numbing loaves,
of bread and circus pablum fare,
it keeps our minds from real despair.
Hush, little ’mericans, don’t say a word,
Uncle Sam provides a life secured.
Though that type of life is shallow,
making your brain a tower of jello.
Uncle Sam does the thinking for you,
just obey the call of the red, white and blue.
Hush, little ’mericans, don’t say a word,
Uncle Sam provides a life secured.
Hush, little ’mericans, don’t say a word,
Uncle Sam provides a life secured.
Sleep . . . Sleep . . . sleep . . . sleep . . .
deters the wake of caring sighs.
It steers away from heartfelt ache,
the pain of knowing the real mistake,
of clinging to comfortable diatribes,
from politicians to media lies.
The tunneled vain of vanquished care,
for plights of those we’re not aware,
shall bring a path of forgetful bliss.
The moral dilemma won’t seem amiss,
as drone like brain-waves usurp a hint,
of gross injustice in our midst.
Super bowls and reality shows,
jackpot troves, and numbing loaves,
of bread and circus pablum fare,
it keeps our minds from real despair.
Shell games crossed with Ponzi malice,
invade the state with viral madness.
Revenues stolen to fund the scheme,
from you and me to bring the dream,
of rule by force to the looter class,
and deified power within the grasp.
Super bowls and reality shows,
jackpot troves, and numbing loaves,
of bread and circus pablum fare,
it keeps our minds from real despair.
Jackboot thugs claim innocent lives,
with drug war raids-- no law provides.
Yet swat teams crash and shred the law,
matters not the purported cause.
Alphabet agencies storm with guns,
for views or vitamins-- unsanctioned ones.
Super bowls and reality shows,
jackpot troves, and numbing loaves,
of bread and circus pablum fare,
it keeps our minds from real despair.
Collateral damage rules the day,
as innocent people are bombed away.
The hydra snake in Islamic dress,
multiplies fast, and so, to stress,
the self-fulfilled prophesy now is real.
Let’s go after Goldstein, now, with zeal!
Super bowls and reality shows,
jackpot troves, and numbing loaves,
of bread and circus pablum fare,
it keeps our minds from real despair.
Hush, little ’mericans, don’t say a word,
Uncle Sam provides a life secured.
Though that type of life is shallow,
making your brain a tower of jello.
Uncle Sam does the thinking for you,
just obey the call of the red, white and blue.
Hush, little ’mericans, don’t say a word,
Uncle Sam provides a life secured.
Hush, little ’mericans, don’t say a word,
Uncle Sam provides a life secured.
Sleep . . . Sleep . . . sleep . . . sleep . . .
Saturday, January 22, 2011
The Cult of Force
Well, its been over a week since the heinous, outrageous, horrible, terrifying, sad, heart-wrenching, and tragic crimes took place in . . . Massachusetts, Utah and Pakistan. Gotcha, didn’t I. Thought I’d say Tuscon. And of course, all of those adjectives apply to that crime, too. But there are other crimes that have happened, that objectively, must be viewed as even more tragic and terrifying because it took place by our would-be protectors-- the police in swat teams where innocent people have been killed by trigger happy, fear-filled swat team members operating with the war-on-drugs mentality that has brought so many tragic deaths to our country, and for no good reason. Also, innocent people are being killed in Pakistan killed by US drones in violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty with no war declared by the United States. The politicians and talking heads weep not for these tragedies.
Eurie Stamps, 68 year old retired grandfather of 12, was gunned down in a swat team drug raid in Farmingham, MA on January 6 of this year. The police were not looking for him but for the son of his live-in mate. The official story doesn’t mention any resistance but the authorities are keeping the details from the public.
In Ogden, Utah, in late December of last year, a police officer shot 45 year-old Todd Blair in a no-knock drug raid where Blair was holding a golf club in the air at least 8 feet from the officers. Ogden police officer Troy Burnett shot Blair three times killing him stating “I saw something shiny like a sword or something.” Burnett admits that Blair didn’t charge him. The State's Attorney in charge has called the shooting justified. One can view the actual murder at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/18/utah-video-police-kill-man-drug-raid_n_810420.htm
And as recent as January 6, US drone planes have fired missiles killing 12 Pakistanis. Over 100 attacks have occurred last year, many of these attacks killing innocent civilians or what our government officials call “collateral damage.” Are these Pakistanis any less human than the victims of the Tuscon shooting?
There is much chatter among politicians and talking heads about setting examples of civility, and toning down the rhetoric in political discourse in response to the Tuscon shooting. First, one thing should remain clear. One man alone is responsible for the tragedy in Tuscon. Politicians aren’t responsible; neither are pundits or talk show hosts or guns.
However, if we really want to take a look at root causes of the violence that permeates American society, we should first look at the top, the entity that sets the standard for violence, the government. With the US government, war, is, too often, the battle cry to address problems. The war on drugs, the war on terror, the war on poverty, in total, the war on freedom permeates the lives of Americans.
With war comes the associated devaluing modus operandi: irrationality, avoidance of logic, emotionally charged actions, and led by despots with titles of “Czar.” Compassion, reason, tolerance, deliberation, empathy, objective weighing of evidence, dissent; these are values voided by the execution of war. Liberty is the ultimate casualty in these never ceasing wars. Yes, war is the health of the state, force its raison d’etre, and “You’re either with us or against us” its battle cry. Freedom, prosperity, limited government, personal rights, dissent, adherence to the Constitution, and the lives of innocent people are all “collateral damage” from the execution of these wars.
Most of the alphabet agencies of the federal government have swat teams and use them, even in raiding health food stores for the horrible crime of selling raw milk.
Is it any wonder why American society is ridden with so much violence?
Don’t pay your taxes? They come with guns.
Self medicate? They come with guns.
Teach your children at home? In some states, they come with guns.
Sell “unapproved” alternative health remedies? They come with guns.
Sell a shotgun with the barrel a quarter inch too short? They come with guns.
Use a gun in self defense? They come with guns.
Form a religious commune? They come with guns.
Fill in lowlands on your property? They come with guns.
Run your own numbers game in competition with the government’s game? They come with guns.
Pick up an eagle feather? They may come with guns.
Build a better automobile? Preston Tucker found out they’ll come with guns. Yes, DeLorean, too.
Organize war protests? They come with guns.
Grow unapproved vegetables or herbs on your own property? They come with guns.
Government is the organized monopoly use of force. Natural law dictates that force should be only used as a defense measure against the initiation of force. Yet virtually every aspect of our lives has been criminalized by government.
Force begets force. And when Americans are treated like children using force to enforce the myriad of regulations that criminalize peaceful non-coercive action that should be legal in any rational, free society, they will do what children do. They’ll tend to mimic their parents actions, the parent in this case being government.
There must be a better way . . . And there is.
Short of the use of defensive force to mitigate and punish murder, rape, and theft, the mind-set of America must turn to peace-nurturing cooperation, toleration, free exchange of ideas, products and services; and an allowance for lifestyles that don’t infringe on the rights of others if the cult of force is to be reversed.
It’s time we enacted some meaningful gun control and its associated uses of force on the government.
Thomas Paine said, “Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state, an intolerable one."
Swat teams with guns enforcing laws that shouldn’t even exist has made government an intolerable evil with its predictable ramifications in American society. This cult of force must be stopped.
A tolerable evil in the name of truly limited government would be a step in the right direction.
Eurie Stamps, 68 year old retired grandfather of 12, was gunned down in a swat team drug raid in Farmingham, MA on January 6 of this year. The police were not looking for him but for the son of his live-in mate. The official story doesn’t mention any resistance but the authorities are keeping the details from the public.
In Ogden, Utah, in late December of last year, a police officer shot 45 year-old Todd Blair in a no-knock drug raid where Blair was holding a golf club in the air at least 8 feet from the officers. Ogden police officer Troy Burnett shot Blair three times killing him stating “I saw something shiny like a sword or something.” Burnett admits that Blair didn’t charge him. The State's Attorney in charge has called the shooting justified. One can view the actual murder at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/18/utah-video-police-kill-man-drug-raid_n_810420.htm
And as recent as January 6, US drone planes have fired missiles killing 12 Pakistanis. Over 100 attacks have occurred last year, many of these attacks killing innocent civilians or what our government officials call “collateral damage.” Are these Pakistanis any less human than the victims of the Tuscon shooting?
There is much chatter among politicians and talking heads about setting examples of civility, and toning down the rhetoric in political discourse in response to the Tuscon shooting. First, one thing should remain clear. One man alone is responsible for the tragedy in Tuscon. Politicians aren’t responsible; neither are pundits or talk show hosts or guns.
However, if we really want to take a look at root causes of the violence that permeates American society, we should first look at the top, the entity that sets the standard for violence, the government. With the US government, war, is, too often, the battle cry to address problems. The war on drugs, the war on terror, the war on poverty, in total, the war on freedom permeates the lives of Americans.
With war comes the associated devaluing modus operandi: irrationality, avoidance of logic, emotionally charged actions, and led by despots with titles of “Czar.” Compassion, reason, tolerance, deliberation, empathy, objective weighing of evidence, dissent; these are values voided by the execution of war. Liberty is the ultimate casualty in these never ceasing wars. Yes, war is the health of the state, force its raison d’etre, and “You’re either with us or against us” its battle cry. Freedom, prosperity, limited government, personal rights, dissent, adherence to the Constitution, and the lives of innocent people are all “collateral damage” from the execution of these wars.
Most of the alphabet agencies of the federal government have swat teams and use them, even in raiding health food stores for the horrible crime of selling raw milk.
Is it any wonder why American society is ridden with so much violence?
Don’t pay your taxes? They come with guns.
Self medicate? They come with guns.
Teach your children at home? In some states, they come with guns.
Sell “unapproved” alternative health remedies? They come with guns.
Sell a shotgun with the barrel a quarter inch too short? They come with guns.
Use a gun in self defense? They come with guns.
Form a religious commune? They come with guns.
Fill in lowlands on your property? They come with guns.
Run your own numbers game in competition with the government’s game? They come with guns.
Pick up an eagle feather? They may come with guns.
Build a better automobile? Preston Tucker found out they’ll come with guns. Yes, DeLorean, too.
Organize war protests? They come with guns.
Grow unapproved vegetables or herbs on your own property? They come with guns.
Government is the organized monopoly use of force. Natural law dictates that force should be only used as a defense measure against the initiation of force. Yet virtually every aspect of our lives has been criminalized by government.
Force begets force. And when Americans are treated like children using force to enforce the myriad of regulations that criminalize peaceful non-coercive action that should be legal in any rational, free society, they will do what children do. They’ll tend to mimic their parents actions, the parent in this case being government.
There must be a better way . . . And there is.
Short of the use of defensive force to mitigate and punish murder, rape, and theft, the mind-set of America must turn to peace-nurturing cooperation, toleration, free exchange of ideas, products and services; and an allowance for lifestyles that don’t infringe on the rights of others if the cult of force is to be reversed.
It’s time we enacted some meaningful gun control and its associated uses of force on the government.
Thomas Paine said, “Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state, an intolerable one."
Swat teams with guns enforcing laws that shouldn’t even exist has made government an intolerable evil with its predictable ramifications in American society. This cult of force must be stopped.
A tolerable evil in the name of truly limited government would be a step in the right direction.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
The Real Wasted Vote
The Republican and Democratic Charlie Browns are at it again. Election cycle after election cycle, the Republican and Democratic Lucy politicians of America promise to hold the football for Charlie Brown-- for sure, this time, instead of pulling the ball away at the last second so to make Charlie Brown fall on his butt as he tries to kick his field goal.
“Cut spending, lower taxes,” the Republican politicians say. And the Charlie Brown voters fall on their butts once again.
Restore our rights, get out of foreign wars,” the Democratic politicians say. And the Charlie Brown voters fall on their butts once again.
What makes anyone think that this year will be any different? If you keep on doing what you have always done, you'll keep on getting what you always got. And if you keep on voting for Republicrats who try to sound like Libertarians at election time, you'll keep on getting higher spending, higher taxes, more big brother, and more costly foreign wars affecting the lives of our nation's young and the nation's pocket book. Lots of sore butts out there.
Many people fall for the Lucy trap because of what is known as the “wasted vote” syndrome. It is thought that voting for the lessor of two evils is better than allowing the opposition party to take power.
But voting for the lessor of two evils is still evil and if evil takes power does it really matter if the evil manifests itself on the margin for more taxes, spending and regulation with a loss of our rights and the continuation of a destructive foreign policy, rather than on the margin for a loss of our rights, the continuation of a destructive foreign policy, and slightly less of “more taxes, more spending and regulation?”
Not a dollars worth of difference (in these inflationary times).
What many people don't realize is that politics is not a horse race. It is a protracted conflict in the battle of ideas and trends matter. One does not have to win to effect change.
If a person believes that the libertarian philosophy is the wave of the future then one should register that belief now by voting for Libertarian candidates in the coming election. The more votes Libertarians get, the sooner will a libertarian future be achieved.
And here in Illinois it is even more critical to do so, for to achieve “major party” status, the Libertarian Party needs to get 5% of the vote or more. If Lex Green, Libertarian candidate for Governor, gets over 5%, then the onerous ballot access requirements that have prevented the Libertarian Party in the past from becoming viable will no longer be operative, and Libertarians in subsequent elections can concentrate their efforts on the election rather than managing the multiple hurdles the major parties have placed to make it so difficult to get on the ballot.
So in this election, make the smart choice. Vote for who or what you truly believe in. And if the belief is freedom, don't waste your vote, vote Libertarian.
“Cut spending, lower taxes,” the Republican politicians say. And the Charlie Brown voters fall on their butts once again.
Restore our rights, get out of foreign wars,” the Democratic politicians say. And the Charlie Brown voters fall on their butts once again.
What makes anyone think that this year will be any different? If you keep on doing what you have always done, you'll keep on getting what you always got. And if you keep on voting for Republicrats who try to sound like Libertarians at election time, you'll keep on getting higher spending, higher taxes, more big brother, and more costly foreign wars affecting the lives of our nation's young and the nation's pocket book. Lots of sore butts out there.
Many people fall for the Lucy trap because of what is known as the “wasted vote” syndrome. It is thought that voting for the lessor of two evils is better than allowing the opposition party to take power.
But voting for the lessor of two evils is still evil and if evil takes power does it really matter if the evil manifests itself on the margin for more taxes, spending and regulation with a loss of our rights and the continuation of a destructive foreign policy, rather than on the margin for a loss of our rights, the continuation of a destructive foreign policy, and slightly less of “more taxes, more spending and regulation?”
Not a dollars worth of difference (in these inflationary times).
What many people don't realize is that politics is not a horse race. It is a protracted conflict in the battle of ideas and trends matter. One does not have to win to effect change.
If a person believes that the libertarian philosophy is the wave of the future then one should register that belief now by voting for Libertarian candidates in the coming election. The more votes Libertarians get, the sooner will a libertarian future be achieved.
And here in Illinois it is even more critical to do so, for to achieve “major party” status, the Libertarian Party needs to get 5% of the vote or more. If Lex Green, Libertarian candidate for Governor, gets over 5%, then the onerous ballot access requirements that have prevented the Libertarian Party in the past from becoming viable will no longer be operative, and Libertarians in subsequent elections can concentrate their efforts on the election rather than managing the multiple hurdles the major parties have placed to make it so difficult to get on the ballot.
So in this election, make the smart choice. Vote for who or what you truly believe in. And if the belief is freedom, don't waste your vote, vote Libertarian.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Collateral Damage and Revolution
Neoconservatives and the war establishment are fond of using the term “collateral damage” when referring to the killing of innocent people as a result of the perpetual war in the Middle East. After the latest “event” in Afghanistan, General McChrystal’s profusely apologized for the deaths. That’s the extent of “accountability” for the war establishment.
On the domestic front, there is an ongoing war against the established power of the federal government. The fronts of this war have taken on many facets. Most are peaceful, without “collateral damage.”
There are the actions as exemplified by the tea party patriots, including protests and the petitioning for redress of grievances at various town hall meetings. All this has all been very peaceful, yet very vocal and the establishment is taking notice. Also occurring is the significant Petition for Redress from the We the People Foundation.
With the recent elections in Virginia, New Jersey and Massachusetts, the voters have chosen a path, at least at the margin, of less government and have rejected government-meddling, corporate- protecting, budget-busting healthcare.
The ascendency of Congressman Ron Paul and his Campaign for Liberty exemplifies another aspect of the battle against tyrannical government. Dr. Paul has continuously, for the past 25 years or so, fought against expansive war in international affairs, the theft of natural rights guaranteed by the US Constitution through the war on drugs and the war on terror, and the assault on the taxpayers through profligate government spending with a piling of bankrupting debt, via its enabler, the Federal Reserve. Now Dr. Paul is a regular on most of the cable news/talk shows.
And much to the chagrin of the big-government Right, Ron Paul continues to make inroads especially influencing the young to remake the Republican Party into a party of liberty. His recent overwhelming win in the CPAC (Conservative Political Action Conference) presidential preference poll, taking a full 31% of the vote versus 22% for Romney and 7% for Palin, indicates that the efforts of Ron Paul are paying off in this fight for freedom.
There have also been some important wins in federal court (possibly jury nullification decisions) concerning the laws for filing income tax returns and the aiding of the act of nonfiling including the victory of former IRS criminal investigator, turned freedom fighter, Joseph Banister.
Many states are passing nullification resolutions that proclaim the right to refuse to enforce laws passed by the federal government that they regard as unconstitutional.
On all these fronts, freedom fighters have used the libertarian constant, a peaceful means in achieving the end of big government tyranny, which is consistent with the Libertarian Party certification, “I oppose the initiation of force to achieve social or political goals.”
Of course the million dollar question is, at what point does the use of government power that is inconsistent with the US Constitution and contrary to natural law, attacking the objective right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, become the use of force, and how individually directed should that defense against government force be.
Thomas Jefferson in the Declaration of Independence stated, “But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.
So the right to rebel tyrannical government is firmly enshrined in the American tradition. But how should this action proceed? And who decides?
It occurs to me that every man must look into the mirror and decide this ultimately personal decision. To be consistent with libertarian principles, a collective should never force a decision about rebellion on an individual.
War is the ultimate collectivist act. And so in a defensive rebellion for liberty, it must be individually determined to be consistent with the concept of liberty. And to reduce the possibility of collateral damage, notice must be given to parties associated with the enemy.
And so to the case of Joseph Stack, who recently flew his plane into an IRS building in Austin, Texas, who stated in a heartfelt letter explaining his actions, “Well, Mr. Big Brother IRS man, let's try something different; take my pound of flesh and sleep well." Anyone who has had the misfortune of dealing with any federal bureaucrats or bureaucracies can sure empathize with the anguish Joseph Stack felt. An IRS ruling that changed Mr. Stack’s classification from an independent contractor to an employee eventually set events into motion that brought him to believe that the only act left in his being was a final act of desperation and revenge.
In Mr. Stack’s understandably anguished mind, he had no choice left. Tragically, in my opinion, the deep emotions he felt clouded what objective observers should conclude are hopeful signs that the American people are waking up and a new renaissance of freedom may be developing. Possibly those signs were coming too late as he felt that big government had already destroyed his life.
The result of Joseph Stack’s actions was one dead IRS agent. No notice was given. It is highly unlikely that the dead agent was the agent working on Stack’s case. And in this point of time, the reeducating of the populace to the tenets of individual freedom have not reached the point where it is an obvious fact to many government workers that they are working for an evil organization hellbent on absolute despotism.
So in all likelihood, Mr. Stack’s suicide assault brought on some collateral damage.
My hope is that all peaceful means to achieve the goal of liberty in our time be used up before violent defensive force is employed. And then, if necessary, the focus should be laser-beamed not to foot soldiers of tyranny, but to the architects.
Neoconservatives believe that the end justifies the means and that “collateral damage” killing is justified. Libertarians hold themselves to a far stricter moral construct. The means must be as moral as the end. And collateral damage is unacceptable.
On the domestic front, there is an ongoing war against the established power of the federal government. The fronts of this war have taken on many facets. Most are peaceful, without “collateral damage.”
There are the actions as exemplified by the tea party patriots, including protests and the petitioning for redress of grievances at various town hall meetings. All this has all been very peaceful, yet very vocal and the establishment is taking notice. Also occurring is the significant Petition for Redress from the We the People Foundation.
With the recent elections in Virginia, New Jersey and Massachusetts, the voters have chosen a path, at least at the margin, of less government and have rejected government-meddling, corporate- protecting, budget-busting healthcare.
The ascendency of Congressman Ron Paul and his Campaign for Liberty exemplifies another aspect of the battle against tyrannical government. Dr. Paul has continuously, for the past 25 years or so, fought against expansive war in international affairs, the theft of natural rights guaranteed by the US Constitution through the war on drugs and the war on terror, and the assault on the taxpayers through profligate government spending with a piling of bankrupting debt, via its enabler, the Federal Reserve. Now Dr. Paul is a regular on most of the cable news/talk shows.
And much to the chagrin of the big-government Right, Ron Paul continues to make inroads especially influencing the young to remake the Republican Party into a party of liberty. His recent overwhelming win in the CPAC (Conservative Political Action Conference) presidential preference poll, taking a full 31% of the vote versus 22% for Romney and 7% for Palin, indicates that the efforts of Ron Paul are paying off in this fight for freedom.
There have also been some important wins in federal court (possibly jury nullification decisions) concerning the laws for filing income tax returns and the aiding of the act of nonfiling including the victory of former IRS criminal investigator, turned freedom fighter, Joseph Banister.
Many states are passing nullification resolutions that proclaim the right to refuse to enforce laws passed by the federal government that they regard as unconstitutional.
On all these fronts, freedom fighters have used the libertarian constant, a peaceful means in achieving the end of big government tyranny, which is consistent with the Libertarian Party certification, “I oppose the initiation of force to achieve social or political goals.”
Of course the million dollar question is, at what point does the use of government power that is inconsistent with the US Constitution and contrary to natural law, attacking the objective right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, become the use of force, and how individually directed should that defense against government force be.
Thomas Jefferson in the Declaration of Independence stated, “But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.
So the right to rebel tyrannical government is firmly enshrined in the American tradition. But how should this action proceed? And who decides?
It occurs to me that every man must look into the mirror and decide this ultimately personal decision. To be consistent with libertarian principles, a collective should never force a decision about rebellion on an individual.
War is the ultimate collectivist act. And so in a defensive rebellion for liberty, it must be individually determined to be consistent with the concept of liberty. And to reduce the possibility of collateral damage, notice must be given to parties associated with the enemy.
And so to the case of Joseph Stack, who recently flew his plane into an IRS building in Austin, Texas, who stated in a heartfelt letter explaining his actions, “Well, Mr. Big Brother IRS man, let's try something different; take my pound of flesh and sleep well." Anyone who has had the misfortune of dealing with any federal bureaucrats or bureaucracies can sure empathize with the anguish Joseph Stack felt. An IRS ruling that changed Mr. Stack’s classification from an independent contractor to an employee eventually set events into motion that brought him to believe that the only act left in his being was a final act of desperation and revenge.
In Mr. Stack’s understandably anguished mind, he had no choice left. Tragically, in my opinion, the deep emotions he felt clouded what objective observers should conclude are hopeful signs that the American people are waking up and a new renaissance of freedom may be developing. Possibly those signs were coming too late as he felt that big government had already destroyed his life.
The result of Joseph Stack’s actions was one dead IRS agent. No notice was given. It is highly unlikely that the dead agent was the agent working on Stack’s case. And in this point of time, the reeducating of the populace to the tenets of individual freedom have not reached the point where it is an obvious fact to many government workers that they are working for an evil organization hellbent on absolute despotism.
So in all likelihood, Mr. Stack’s suicide assault brought on some collateral damage.
My hope is that all peaceful means to achieve the goal of liberty in our time be used up before violent defensive force is employed. And then, if necessary, the focus should be laser-beamed not to foot soldiers of tyranny, but to the architects.
Neoconservatives believe that the end justifies the means and that “collateral damage” killing is justified. Libertarians hold themselves to a far stricter moral construct. The means must be as moral as the end. And collateral damage is unacceptable.
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