Problems with the Freedom Movement

1.  “No, I don’t have a better idea; I just know that yours won’t work.”

2.  “Why? Because that’s just the way we’ve always done it [and not gotten anywhere].”

3.  “The anarchists are messing everything up!”

4.  “The Reformists are messing everything up!”

5.  “I’d love to help, but my daughter has piano lessons.”

6.  “Someone [else] needs to do something!”

7.  “You ought to do it this way. I would do it, myself, but I don’t have the time.”

8.  “You didn’t score high enough on the quiz; you’re not a real Libertarian.”

9.  “We met a lot of people wanting change and more freedom, so we had a meeting to get organized and plan some events.”

“That’s great! How many people attended?”

“Two.”

10.  “Hey, I do support the group; I go to the meetings to debate and vent my frustrations. It’s the officers who should take the lead and get things moving.”

11.  “He didn’t support my earlier proposal, so I’m going to vote against his–no matter how good it really is. Maybe next time he’ll see things my way.”

12.  “I don’t really know how to do stuff like that, so I’ll just leave it to someone else.”

13.  “I shouldn’t have to put a lot of work into this; people should naturally want freedom.”

14.  “I agree with 95% of what you just said, but I can’t support you because of this one little thing…”

15.  “If we make our message more agreeable with the mainstream voters [water it down], we’ll get more members [and exactly what kind of members will you be getting?]“

16.  “I don’t like his stance on [insert pet issue, here], so I’m going to send a blind-copy email out to the whole group/mailing list blasting his position and causing more division. That way, he won’t be able to respond to all the people I send it to and they’ll only see my side of the debate, so I’ll probably get my way.”

17.  “I’ll just sit at my computer and post one alert after another. Hopefully, someone will do something.”

I could go on, but I think you get the idea.

If any of this sounds like you, YOU ARE A PROBLEM. Fix it.

Glenn Beck on Ron Bloom

Glenn Beck keeps harping on Ron Bloom, Obama’s Manufacturing Czar, who said that the free market system is nonsense and who agreed with Mao that political power comes from the barrel of a gun. I hate to say it, but the guy is right. His perspective is probably much different than mine, concerning the reasons why he feels it’s nonsense and what he would do to change it, but he’s right.

Socialists/Communists constantly try to get (ignorant) people to believe that what we currently have in the US is a free market or Capitalist system (See Michael Moore’s new movie for proof), but it’s not true. What we have is a socialist government (the majority of the federal budget is for social programs) and Corporatism–and Corporatism is very different from Capitalism.

Government destroyed the free market with such things as the Constitution’s Interstate Commerce Clause, business licensing, permits, fines, feees, regulations, ordinances, Affirmative Action, taxation/duties, sales restrictions, product bans, etc. There hasn’t been a “free market” in the US, for a very long time.

As for political power coming from the barrel of a gun, how else is political power (law and dictatorial Executive Orders) enFORCEd? Are fancy titles, like “Senator” or “Congressman” enough? How about their wealth? Good looks? No! The power of government is backed by guns and the people who wield them!

Do I support such power and enFORCEment? Absolutely not, but the fact remains that political power (government) is always backed by firepower.

Does that make you feel uneasy? Do something to change it!

Freedom and the Constitution

I frequently hear people use “freedom” and “Constitution” in the same sentence, as if freedom is dependent upon the document. I hate to burst a few bubbles out there, but it just isn’t true.

Now, before anyone jumps to conclusions and gets their panties in a wad I want you all to take a deep breath, calm down, open your minds and try to think outside of your conditioning.

Here are a couple of things to keep in the back of your mind as you read further.

Webster’s Dictionary online says that “slavery” is “submission to a dominating influence.” It also says that definition of “free” is “not subject to the control or domination of another.”

So, to recap, if you are forced to submit to a dominating influence you are a slave.

By its very nature, government is a “dominating influence” to which you must submit or suffer loss.

Citizens are forced to get permission for everything under the Sun, including but not limited to building a house, getting married, starting a business, driving a car, selling certain types of merchandise, etc. In addition, your wealth is forcibly taken from you through taxation and fines.

“How does the Constitution fit into all this,” you ask? The Constitution is the foundation of the United States’ system of government which basically enables these types of things, either directly or indirectly.

Examples include:

“Legislative power” (control): Article 1, Section 1

“Taxes” (theft): Article 1, Sections 2, 7, 8, 9 & 10

“Regulate Commerce” (interfere in the marketplace): Article 1, Section 8

“Bankruptcy” (using government power to get out of repaying all or part of a person’s debt): Article 1, Section 8

Manipulate the value of currency: Article 1, Section 8

Hold you against your will when they determine emergency conditions exist in the country: Article 1, Section 9

Inspecting your imported or exported goods, and taxing you to fund it all: Article I, Section 10

“Executive Power” (control): Article 2, Section 1

President’s salary (funded through theft): Article 2, Section 1

Presidential Oath (he must swear to uphold this document and all of its slavery-enabling clauses!): Article 2, Section 1

President’s job to make sure all laws are “faithfully executed” (control): Article 2, Section 2

“Judicial Power” (control): Article 3, Section 1

Drag you into court and deliver punishment for crimes: Article 4, Section 2 (and some examples of “crime” around the US include walking down the street with an ice cream cone in your pocket (KY), putting a couch in your garage (FL), or conducting a puppet show from your balcony (NY).)

Guarantee a Republican form of government (promise of the manner in which they will rule you): Article 3, Section 4

Constitution will be the “supreme Law of the Land” (control): Article 6

Soldiers can be quartered in your home if “prescribed by law”: Amendment 3

Government can break in and search your belongings if it feels the need: Amendment 4

Government can kidnap you and force you to stand trial: Amendment 5

Government can take your property for a public use, if they give you what they feel is “just compensation”: Amendment 5

If government kidnaps you and forces you to stand trial, they will make every effort to give you a speedy trial and allow to bring witnesses to testify on your behalf: Amendment 6

No slavery or involuntary servitude, unless you violate one of their laws: Amendment 13

Government can deprive you of “life, liberty or property” with due process of law: Amendment 14, Section 1

“Public debt” (they spend, you pay): Amendment 14, Section 4

Stealing your money (income tax): Amendment 16

Prohibited alcoholic beverages: Amendment 18 (eventually repealed)

And let’s not forget that owning slaves was recognized and permitted under this Constitution.

As I was saying, “Freedom” and “Constitution” should never be used together, because they are incompatible–and (police) actions always speak louder than words (on paper).

Favorite Freedom Quotes

“A patriot must always be ready to defend his country against his government.” – Edward Abbey

“In the beginning of a change, the Patriot is a scarce man, brave, hated and scorned. When his cause succeeds, however, the timid join him, for then it costs nothing to be a Patriot.” – Mark Twain

“Men in authority will always think that criticism of their policies is dangerous. They will always equate their policies with patriotism, and find criticism subversive.” – Henry Steele Commager

“A politician will do anything to keep his job — even become a patriot.” – William Randolph Hearst

“Love your country, but never trust its government.” – Robert Heinlein

“People who say they want freedom restoration, but do nothing to help get us there, are basically socialists; they want everyone else to do the work while they sit back and reap the benefits.” – Doug Kendall

“The ‘race card’ is being phased out of all playing card decks. It is being replaced with the “Is that all you’ve got?” card, to improve game play and functionality.” – Doug Kendall

“The principle that the majority have a right to rule the minority, practically resolves all government into a mere contest between two bodies of men, as to which of them shall be masters, and which of them slaves; a contest, that — however bloody — can, in the nature of things, never be finally closed, so long as man refuses to be a slave.” – Lysander Spooner

“If the individual has a right to govern himself, all external government is tyranny. Hence the necessity of abolishing the State.” – Benjamin Tucker

“You can only protect your liberties in this world by protecting the other man’s freedom.” – Clarence Darrow

“The state calls its own violence law, but that of the individual crime.” – Max Stirner

“Civilization is the progress toward a society of privacy. The savage’s whole existence is public, ruled by the laws of his tribe. Civilization is the process of setting man free from men.” – Ayn Rand

“I must tell you, first of all, what anarchism is not. It is not bombs, disorder, or chaos. It is not robbery or murder. It is not a war of each against all. It is not a return to barbarianism or to the wild state of man. Anarchism is the very opposite of all that.” – Alexander Berkman

“Democracy, too, is a religion. It is the worship of jackals by jackasses.” – H.L. Mencken

“Every decent man is ashamed of the government he lives under.” – H.L. Mencken

“Every election is a sort of advance auction sale of stolen goods.” – H.L. Mencken

“For the majority of people, liberty means only the system and the administrators they are used to.” – Albert Jay Nock

“Government: Causing more violence than it prevents since 10,000 B.C.” – unknown

“A free people ought not only to be armed and disciplined but they should have sufficient arms and ammunition to maintain a status of independence from any who might attempt to abuse them, which would include their own government.”  – George Washington

“I believe that all government is evil, in that all government must necessarily make war upon liberty.” – H.L. Mencken

Constitutional Rights

When I engage in a political discussion, if someone says something about “Constitutional rights” he/she is instantly dismissed, in my mind. Sorry, but I can’t take anyone seriously who actually believes that “rights” come from some words written on a piece of parchment, by some deceased dudes who wore fake, powdered hair pieces.

There are no such things as “Constitutional rights.” Men, and their pieces of ink-stained paper, do not grant any “rights.”

Let’s be honest about the meaning of a “right.” Simply speaking, “rights” are entitlements.

I hear many people regularly state that there’s a “right” to education, healthcare and housing–and, now, I’m even hearing commercials for debt consolidation companies stating that you have a “right” to settle your credit card debt “for less than you owe.” What these people don’t seem to understand is that the use of force to get these things is completely unacceptable and has nothing to do with any kind of inherent “right.”

For example, no one should impede you in your desire to learn new things, schedule a medical procedure, or build/pay for a place in which to live (though government often gets in the way and screws things up). You cross the line when you feel someone else should be forced to pay for your books, tuition, school buildings, house/apartment, or chemotherapy–basically, socialism. You have no “right” to anything that someone else must be forced to provide.

Let’s look specifically at healthcare, for a moment.

Of course, you should be able to secure the help of a physician when you have healthcare needs, but a physician should not be forced to give you use of his time, talents, tools, hands, or knowledge that he spent years acquiring–and paying for. You do not own the doctor, so you have no “right” to his labor.

In my opinion, there are only what are sometimes referred to as “negative rights.” In other words, no one has a right to tell me how I can live, what I can say, where I can work, where I can travel, how I can use my time or talents, etc. To do so, is enslaving–and for a country that claims to love freedom so much, you would think all the talk of rights and using force would be a non-issue. Sadly, that’s not the case.

The next time someone talks of “rights” coming from an old piece of paper, written by deceased men, set them straight and remember: Free people don’t need “rights.”

Glenn Beck Still Disappoints

A few years ago, when I was an officer in the Libertarian Party, I wrote an article about Glenn Beck’s call screener (Sarah) hanging up on me when I called his radio show to discuss his mischaracterizations of libertarians. Mr. Beck found out about my article and screamed on the air, “I want to talk to this guy!”

Hearing that, I called the show and got a very few seconds, on-air, before a top-of-the-hour break, as he attempted to make libertarians out to be heroin addicts. I remained calm and polite, so he didn’t get the satisfaction of inciting me to lose my cool and come off sounding like a crazy person.

In typical talk show host fashion, he hung up on me and threw in another mischaracterization before going to break. (Many hosts need to use the mute button or hang up on callers to win debates.)

Fast forward about four years.

Now, Mr. Beck is calling himself a libertarian. The things I warned about, on my radio show years ago, are now coming to pass and Glenn is beginning to wake up a bit and give them some coverage, but he still has a long way to go.

Today, throughout his show, he ridiculed the “birthers” (those who are still demanding to see Obama’s birth certificate) and other conspiracy theory people and suggested that they self-censor to avoid being labeled nut-jobs. He also touched on Ron Paul supporters and those who talk about “Bilderburger” meetings, making fun of them in a fake caller skit.

Marx would be proud of the character assassinations and peer pressure.

When I heard that, I immediately thought of a quote from Mark Twain:

“In the beginning of a change the patriot is a scarce man, and brave, and hated and scorned. When his cause succeeds, the timid join him, for then it costs nothing to be a patriot.”

If you are stopped by the police at a highway checkpoint, for no reason other than you happened to be traveling down the road upon which the checkpoint was located, you are required to show proof of insurance and proof that you have jumped through all the hoops government requires in order for you to drive on the streets (driver’s license).

In order to get that license in the first place, you are required to produce your birth certificate and other forms of identification, to prove you are a citizen and who you say you are.

At border-area checkpoints, you are required to prove that you are a citizen in order to continue traveling through the area.

If having to prove we are who we common folk say we are, that we are citizens and are properly credentialed, is so very important to law enforcement and homeland security why are you a nut-job if you simply ask the President to abide by the same kind of standard?

Why hasn’t the man produced the real certificate – not the worthless “live birth” stuff – to silence critics and set the record straight? Talk about elitism – and all this coming from someone who constantly preaches equality and respect!

The President should practice what he preaches – and if it will stop him from further leading us into Communism, all the better. And Mr. Beck should get with the program.

Don’t let anyone pressure you into silencing your voices! Say what needs to be said and do what needs to be done to preserve your freedom, regardless of what Glenn Beck or anyone else has to say about it.

Adulthood and the Law

I have a serious problem with the so-called US Justice System’s handling of adults and juveniles.

According to libraryindex.com, “By the year 2000 all 50 states and the District of Columbia had one or more laws permitting the transfer of youths to criminal courts to be tried as adults. Many states have also expanded these laws in order to make it easier to prosecute juveniles as adults. For example, a 1995 Missouri law removed the minimum age limit, which had been 14, for trying children as adults in cases involving drug dealing, murder, rape, robbery, and first-degree assault. The law also permits children 12 years old to be prosecuted as adults for other crimes. A Texas law allows children as young as 10 to be sentenced to up to 40 years’ incarceration.”

A 12-year-old child can be tried as an adult, and sentenced to years of imprisonment for committing certain crimes, but NOT ONE SINGLE PERSON in the “Land of the Free” United States under 21 years of age is enough of an adult to consume an alcoholic beverage, according to government. (The age limit of 21 is the highest of any country in the world, by the way, and the US has the highest prison population of any country on earth.)

A person can join the Army, and put his life on the line in war, at 17–and operate heavy artillery, assault weapons and vehicles–but is prohibited from going into a bar and having a cold beer at the end of the day.

The double standard is completely illogical and unacceptable. It is used by prosecutors to increase their number of “successfully prosecuted cases,” so they are perceived to be “tough on crime,” and used to increase the overall power of the State.

I don’t care for alcoholic beverages, or court systems, but to make a small improvement in all of this I propose a new, logical standard for determining whether or not someone is an “adult”: If the person in question is not adult enough to enjoy a few shots from a bottle of whiskey, they cannot be tried as an adult in court.

This ridiculous court practice has got to end.

Internet Speedway Warning

I have been hearing a lot of radio commercials for Internet Speedway, and their “free” CD that will cost you nearly $10 to have shipped to your address, so I decided to do some background checking on the company.

The following alert was posted to the “Consumer Alerts for March 2009″ section of the Better Business Bureau’s Eastern NC site:

“The Internet Speedway offers a business opportunity via television commercials.  They promote selling products on the Internet.  Products include health and beauty items, ladies and men’s apparel, jewelry, designer sunglasses, cookware, customer luggage equipment and sports apparel.  One consumer paid the initial $9.95 fee for the software and was then charged additional “hidden fees.”  Other complainants have alleged unauthorized withdrawals up to $347.75.  Over 340 complaints have been filed against this Arizona business, and they have the BBB’s lowest rating.”

I have also seen numerous posts on work-at-home forum pages telling others to avoid this business, calling it a “scam,” so I thought I’d share this information with all of you.

In tough economic times, it can be tempting to try something like Internet Speedway to make some extra money, but with “over 340 complaints” and “the BBB’s lowest rating,” I think I’ll stay far away from this one.

Celebrate Your So-Called Independence

This July 4th, “Independence Day,” celebrate your freedom and independence!

When you wake, make sure the property tax (annual lease payment to government) on your home has been paid, so you can continue to live in it and claim it.

When you call your friends and neighbors, to tell them about your BBQ cookout, be happy about the government taxing you and jacking up your phone bill in order to provide phone service to those who won’t get out and work to get it (Universal Service fee).

Also, be glad that government has banned certain foods – foods that you used to enjoy – that are considered to be “unhealthy.”

Make sure you get the required permit (government permission and a pay-off) to hold a large gathering at your home or place of business.

If friends fly in from out of town for your party, don’t get angry if some of them are delayed or detained, due to Homeland Security. After all, it’s for your safety – and you wouldn’t want them to get lax and make a mistake that would allow some terrorist to come in and blow everyone up, right?

Be sure the property tax on your car(s) has been paid (see above), so you can get a driver’s license (more permission and pay-offs), tags and vehicle registration (ditto) and drive to the store to get supplies – and remember that the price you paid for that car would have been about half, without all the embedded and hidden taxes on nearly every stage of an automobile’s production.

As you get into your car, be sure you have filled out all the required paperwork and received government’s permission to own and carry your gun – even though government’s own official, founding documents say that government shall not infringe on the keeping and bearing of arms.

While at the store, note the sale tax that has been applied to you final bill, because government feels it should get a cut of nearly every monetary transaction you make.

When you drive your car to the fireworks stand – if fireworks are even permitted in your area – be sure to follow all of the driving rules and regulations, including limits on how fast you may travel.  And be sure to stop firing them off at a certain time or risk a fine or imprisonment (kidnapping).

If you still have a job and can actually afford to buy fireworks, be thankful that government’s destructive regulation of the marketplace, nationalising industries (communism) and manipulating the fiat currency hasn’t affected you enough to keep you from enjoying some firecrackers.

If you are stopped on the way by a police compliance checkpoint, be sure to keep your hands on the wheel (so they won’t feel compelled to draw their guns on you) and make sure to quickly produce the documents they require (*in Nazi soldier fashion* “Your papers, please!”) in order for you to be permitted to travel.

If you are ticketed, pay the fine and rejoice in the fact that it’s all done for your own good and safety.

If you decide to attend the local fireworks event, follow instructions from police officers on where you will be permitted to park. We certainly don’t want you to get another ticket!

On the way home, again follow the rules of the road and be ready to have everything ready, this time, in case you meet with another Naz…I mean police checkpoint.

After all the festivities have died down, settle into your favorite easy chair and turn on the TV (propaganda box) – and take comfort in the knowledge that your government has censored certain television programming which may go against official FCC, decency or “community” standards.

As you watch the news about government and IBM working together to control traffic through congestion pricing (a daily fee, just to travel into town) and developing ways of tracking your vehicle and controlling your thermostat so you don’t use too much energy, don’t get angry. This is all done for the good of the country – and you don’t want to be viewed as behind the times or hindering progress, do you?

As you listen to Obama’s health care plan – a plan to basically ration health services to those who government officials feel really need them – don’t let thoughts of population control creep into your head. That kind of thing could never happen, here, in the good ol’ US of A.

If you had to make a trip to the hospital, instead – due to a fireworks accident, for example – don’t complain about the long wait and ridiculously high cost of treatment that are mainly due to government rules, regulations and compliance costs.

When you are able to return to work, smile knowing that nearly half of your annual income is taken by government in some form or fashion (taxes, fees, fines, permits, licenses, etc.), so that it can be given to other countries (foreign aid bribes), large corporations who are supposedly “too big to fail” (bailouts), or fellow citizens who would rather sit on their butts than provide for themselves (welfare).

If this angers you, call your Congressman – and get his Administrative Assistant or an intern, who may or may not take a message. Wait for a form letter thanking you for contacting his office. He’ll be sure to keep your views in mind (not), in the future.

If your Congressman disappoints you, you can always run for office – if you can afford the prohibitive filing fees.

If you register to run as any other Party than Republican or Democrat, you may be required to get tens of thousands of signatures from residents before you will be allowed to have your name on the ballot – if your state even allows candidates who aren’t R or D (ballot access laws).

If you protest or spout off about freedom, the IRS or the Constitution, don’t get angry if you are placed on a domestic terrorist watch list. According to some law enforcement trainers, even the Founding Fathers were terrorists, because they rebelled against their government.

Yes, sheeple of the United States, celebrate your freedom and independence from a tyrannical government – and try not to think about how your forefathers defeated one, only to leave us with another.

Government-granted liberties are NOT the same as freedom!

Fair is the new F-word

For the last few months, the Fair Housing Alliance and the Ad Council have been running a commercial on talk radio networks praising diversity and celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Fair Housing Act–and I’m angered and disgusted, every time I hear it.

The Fair Housing Act is anything but “fair”; it forces those who own rental property to rent to people with whom they may have no desire to do business. Force is never fair.

Basically, the Fair Housing Act is an entitlement program that is helping to force “diversity” on the citizens of this country, whether they like it or not. Personally, I think it’s great to have friends and business associates from different walks of life, but I don’t want them forced down my throat.

Also, there is widespread speculation that the “diversity” movement is working to blend different types of people, in order to eventually end borders and destroy national identities. See “Security and Prosperity Partnership” (spp.gov) for a government-backed plan to turn North America into another European Union.

“Fair” is the new f-word, and it has become a favorite of socialists who craftily take advantage of an ignorant, emotional citizenry to secure more entitlements and distribute more wealth.

There’s nothing “fair” about the Fair Housing Act, and certainly nothing to celebrate.