| "Rightful
liberty is unobstructed action, according to our will, within limits
drawn around us by the equal rights of others." ~ Thomas Jefferson |
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Speechless
I guess the fact that you're reading this doesn't mean that I'm completely speechless, but for this entire month I have been unable to muster my usual enthusiasm for my work, and for my nonpaying passion, which is writing about freedom. I've felt it building for some time, yet was unable to identify its source. June 21 provided an unambiguous jolt that I'm still trying to overcome. No, I've nothing against the start of summer (although that happens on June 20 now). June 21, 2004 is the date the U.S. Supreme Court put the nail in the coffin of the Bill of Rights. For all practical purposes, we can declare them dead -- and, similarly to what happened to Tom Paine, the death seems to have been largely unnoticed. (Read the rest here)
Political
Matters This past week, I traveled back home for a family event. As most of you know, I decline to fly (and will continue to do so as long as needlessly invasive security measures remain in place). That means I spent two very long days behind the wheel of a rental car with little to do but endure traffic jams on my way through several large cities and listen to the radio. On my first day on the road, virtually every talk show featured discussions of former President Bill Clinton's autobiography. Callers chimed in to say that they thought he was a good guy with some bad habits, or that he was perhaps the "lyingest" politician ever to hold office (which, given the typical politician, is really saying something). Snippets of Clinton's appearances on the media circuit were aired and dissected at length. It was, without question, the story of the week. (Read the rest here)
Declaration
of Interdependence One thing I've learned over forty plus years of life is that no matter how independently I wish to live, to think, and to pursue my own happiness, my independence itself depends on conscientious awareness of my interdependent relationship with the world and other people in it. Like it or not, I necessarily depend upon other people - and they also depend upon me - whether I like it or not. Alas, have I gone "socialist," or am I talking about the free market as I understand it? I depend upon other people to respect my property. My independence depends on my ability to provide for myself - and not engage in stealing from others, nor allow others to deprive me of property. My welfare depends on my labor and my willingness to perform a useful function in society, as long as I'm capable of doing so - and leaving others be to do the same without my interference. My well being depends on my realizing that every member of the human species goes through stages of dependence on others, in infancy, childhood, infirmity, and old age, including myself - my state of independence cannot secede from humanity without harmful consequences to my state of interdependence. (Read the rest here)
Libertarian
Commentary on Freedom News Daily The following comments are those of the author, not necessarily those of anyone else, and he has no official standing with FMN or FND. Fortunately, TPoL is willing to put up with him, and he thinks that's pretty neat! For lots of news and commentary, go sign up for FND at http://free-market.net/news/ 1-
TSA busybodies
tweak federal code to give their snooping privacy 2-
Army study
confirms high mental toll on Iraq troops
TSA
busybodies tweak federal code to give their snooping privacy
Just as was intended by the way the Congress-critturs wrote the Privacy Act - privacy for them, not for us (except from family and small business, of course). But this is a good example of how intolerable our system has become, and a brief refresher/primer for those not familiar with with what the CFR and other things are, and how the system works (or fails to). The mess is complicated. I'll quote freely from the Government Printing Office, but won't worry about showing everything in quotes. When Congress passes a bill and the President fails to veto it, the journey into our pocketbooks and lives has just begun. There are two type of laws: public and private, but we shall look just at "public laws." What is the difference between a public and private law? (Read the rest here)
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American Revolution and Iraq As Americans mark the 228th anniversary of the signing of the American Declaration of Independence this Fourth of July, two parallels between our Revolution and today’s insurgency in Iraq come to mind. One, based in myth, would lead its advocates to folly, while the other deserves serious consideration. The mythical parallel, drawn by intellectuals as diverse as Pentagon Papers whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg and Iraq war-hawk, neo-conservative godfather Irving Kristol is what might be called “The Minority Myth.” Cited in numerous books about the Revolution is a letter written by founding father John Adams which seems to indicate that only one third of the American colonists were for the Revolution, another third were against it, and a final third were neutral or indifferent to the whole affair. The letter has been brought into favor by certain parties hoping Iraq turns to democracy, for, if true, this claim would suggest that the current lack of consensus on democracy in Iraq does not foretell defeat of the efforts to impose it there. (Read the rest here)
New Discussion 06.03.04- Take a look and get involved. Several New Members! Take a look!
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