Quotes of the Week

From the Light:
“The state and its laws are the problem, to which corruption is an unsavory and unaesthetic – but necessary – solution. Laws create corruption, and corruption engenders laws.”
Doug Casey

“If the State wishes to keep its monopoly as originator of law, it cannot tolerate men of integrity who wish to bind the State's power. Moreover, such men also threaten the State's fundamental purpose which is crime. Thus, its agents will create a set of internal rules that ensure the promotion of the worst men to the top of State power. The degree of evil will increase over time in a democratic State because democracies corrupt the masses generation after generation, thus lowering the bar of morality. Moreover, this means that the people who enter into the State apparatus, especially those who enter into democratic politics and the armed Praetorian Guard, will eventually be worse than the people who are currently in charge.”
Brutus

“People (not all, but most) can be persuaded to leave us alone, or will do it in some respects without any persuasion, even if they are still statists. Maybe they don’t like us smoking pot, but their dislike does not rise to the level of violence. Maybe they just don’t care about it if we are in the next town rather than in their town. Maybe they are afraid to stop us smoking because we will physically attack them. There are all sorts of reasons for them not messing with us. Turning them into enemies only eliminates any possibility of reasoning with them or dealing peacefully with them, leaving us only avoidance, submission or war.”
Paul Bonneau

“It is vital – indeed, it is literally a life-and-death matter – that Americans be able to look as coolly and clear-sightedly, as free from myth, at their government's record in foreign affairs as they increasingly are able to do in domestic politics. For war and a phony "external threat" have long been the chief means by which the state wins back the loyalty of its subjects. War and militarism were the gravediggers of classical liberalism; we must not allow the state to get away with this ruse ever again.”
Murray Rothbard

“Anarchy refers to a society without a central political authority. But it is also used to refer to disorder or chaos. This constitutes a textbook example of Orwellian newspeak in which assigning the same name to two different concepts effectively narrows the range of thought. For if lack of government is identified with the lack of order, no one will ask whether lack of government actually results in a lack of order. And this uninquisitive mental attitude is absolutely essential to the case for the state. For if people were ever to seriously question whether government actions are really productive of order, popular support for government would almost instantly collapse.”
John Hasnas

"Is it possible that democracy is just the flavor of the month...an evolutionary development, like all the forms of government that came before it? Is it possible that it succeeded in the 20th century because it was much better adapted to leeching out the wealth and complicity of the average man? It gave him a stake in the system – like getting some prisoners to guard each other, or bribing taxpayers to rat out their neighbors to the IRS? Isn't it possible that by giving the masses a 'voice,' the elites who really control government are better able to take his money...and, if necessary, his life?”
Bill Bonner

“If the people can find and proclaims the truth, they can become free again. If they live in craven fear of the murderous secret police armies and refuse to find and cry out the truth about all of that, they will become permanent slaves.”
Jack Douglas

“Born in sin, the bastard offspring of declining autocracy and bureaucracy run amok, the state is a giant wielded by pygmies. Considered as individuals, bureaucrats, even the highest-positioned among them, may be mild, harmless, and somewhat self-effacing people, but collectively they have created a monster whose power far outstrips that of the mightiest empires of old.”
Martin Van Creveld

“The tax-devouring thugs who have converged on the state capitol in Madison are trying to wrap themselves in the mantle of the hungry, desperate people who defied Mubarak's torturers, and the imponderably courageous people in Bahrain who walked, unarmed and unflinching, into gunfire. Ditching work and pitching a tantrum to demand the preservation of ‘collective bargaining rights’ for over-paid, tax-subsidized functionaries simply isn't the same thing as facing down the pitiless cadres of a quasi-totalitarian police state.”
Will Girgg

“Possession of a ‘right’ has never protected men from the aggression of others, particularly the aggression of those who style themselves ‘governments.’ What has actually done the job but never received the credit is the moral choice of civilized people not to initiate the use of force against one another, and to defend themselves (and each other) from the human predators among us. When the idea of individual responsibility for the defense of life, liberty and property falls into disfavor, your society will not be free much longer. The men who step forward to ‘protect your rights’ for you will soon become your masters. And so it has come to pass, time and again.
‘Rights’ do not exist. The power of choice does. Men are free to act with respect for the individual liberties of others, or to act without respect. There is no such force as a natural right that will reward virtuous action, or punish evil. There is only one force in human affairs. That is the force of individual will. Freedom is a choice, not a right.”
Dabooda

“I would like to see Ron Paul elected President, but not because I see him as a political messiah. I would like to see him elected because, in order to get elected, he would have to represent a majority of Americans. He does not represent a majority of Americans. He will not be elected. The voters want more of the same. They will get it.”
Gary North

*****************************************************************

From the Darkness:

“Look what they have done in Egypt, those highly-placed managers of Google, what manipulations of the energy of the people took place there.”

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Igor Sechin, blaming Google Inc for stirring up trouble in the revolution that ousted Egyptian leader Hosni Mubarak

“Seventy-five percent of the kids who are recruit-age for the military cannot pass the physical, because they’re obese by Army standards. We better hope we don’t have a war with anybody because we’re not going to have anybody who can pass the physical to wear the uniform.”
Mike Huckabee

“The United States stands firmly and proudly on the side of liberty. And we will use all means of our national power — including foreign aid and military assistance — to ensure the survival and success of liberty worldwide.”
John Guardiano

“This week, upon learning that Julian Assange had recently been invited to address the same summit [YPO Global Leadership Summit in Denver], President [GW] Bush decided to cancel his appearance. The former president has no desire to share a forum with a man who has willfully and repeatedly done great harm to the interests of the United States.”
Bush spokesman David Sherzer [See: War Criminal Afraid of Truth Teller]

“The international community may be forced to make a choice: does it sit back and prevaricate while people are massacred, as it has so often in the past. Or does it refuse to be scarred by the foolishness of the Iraq invasion and show that it can act when there is unacceptable barbarism.”
Ian Birrell, The Guardian, pushing for international intervention in Libya’s civil war

"We cannot afford to leave our intelligence officials without … the tools they need to keep America safe."
Rep. Lamar Smith, R-Texas, after Congress gave final approval to a temporary extension of parts of the Patriot Act [Just who is “we?”]

"We will stand steadfastly with the Libyan people in their demand for universal rights, and a government that is responsive to their aspirations. Their human dignity cannot be denied."
B. Obama [It’s curious that The Emperor doesn’t share the same concern for “responsive” government and “human dignity” among those who don’t stand upon a shit load of oil.]

“I must concur with all the concerns and apprehensions expressed to me that the presence of concealed weapons, on balance, will make campus a less safe environment.”
Francisco Cigarroa, University of Texas System Chancellor, warning Gov. Rick Perry against a measure to allow guns on college campuses [Apparently, this highly educated individual never learned that being able to defend yourself is what makes you safe.]

"We are the United States of America. This talk of nullifying is pretty toxic talk. That led to the Civil War."
Brian Schweitzer, Montana Governor and history ignoramus

"I say to you: 'This is America: Love it or leave it.'"
Rep. William McChesney, during the sovereignty declaration debate in the Montana legislature

War Criminal Afraid of Truth Teller

George W. Bush, former Exalted Emperor of the US Empire has announced, “he will not visit Denver this weekend as planned because WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange was invited to attend one of the same events as the former president.” Bush had planned on making an appearance at the Young Presidents' Organization "Global Leadership Summit."

Mr. Bush is recognized in the realm of “global leadership” in that he once claimed to rule the world while killing and oppressing at will those he considered a threat or those deemed worthy of conquering and converting to his skewed Demo-Christo-fascist ideology .

Apparently, The Shrub just couldn’t bear sharing the stage with someone well versed in truth, reason, and the ability to speak in complete sentences. The man is scared to death (and with good reason) of an articulate individual like Mr. Assange. Of course, Mr. Assange has been kidnapped and held against his will in Britain while he awaits eventual extradition and crucifixion in one of the Bush/Obama torture chambers. He did, however, make an appearance through a video link, which Shrub Boy didn’t even make the effort to do.

Bush spokesman David Sherzer claims Assange has, "willfully and repeatedly done great harm to the interests of the United States." Of course, Sherzer is referring to the United States Government, which is the actual entity that suffered any “harm.” The United States, meaning the people, have benefited greatly, gaining insight on just how deceiving, corrupt and murderous their rulers (and others) are. Obviously, no “global leadership” (be it state or corporate) can be successful without willful, uncontested murder, deception and theft. Hence the conflict that arises with GW’s appearance.

Mr. Mission Accomplished is finding fewer and fewer places to park his carcass. The net is gradually tightening and closing in. The man who once worked toward full spectrum dominance of the world is finding his world ever smaller. He can’t risk traveling overseas and now he finds himself threatened within the relative safety of his home town.

Let’s hope this beast eventually meets the justice his fate prescribes.

Glamorizing Thugs

WFAA.com has run a report about how “Mexican narco culture glamorizes drug lifestyle.”

I had to laugh at the reporter’s statement that, “narco culture spreads a seductive view of a violent lifestyle that blurs the lines between entertainment, religion and crime.” This attempt to “win hearts and minds” seems to mirror those methods the state uses to glorify itself while insisting on allegiance and obedience, while glamorizing life as citizen-serfs to the ruling elites. This is accomplished through various propaganda channels, including the same “entertainment, religion, and (state sponsored) crime.” The state even goes to the extreme of promoting and honoring those who kill and “sacrifice” themselves for the glorification, defense, and expansion of state rule.

"If organized crime is in control, that means everyone in that region has to play by their rules."

The state, being an organized criminal syndicate, insists on exactly the same obedience to its rules. Maybe some folks would rather be governed by drug gangs than state gangs.

“Beyond the criminal lifestyle, there's also a spiritual aspect.”

This mirrors the same reverence and respect statists give to specified heroes worshipped within their civic religion- presidents, martyred politicians and statist evangelists, and war “heroes.” This also mirrors statist reverence towards symbols such as flags, chants, pledges, and even the state institution itself.

“The Catholic priest sees youngsters in ultra-violent Juarez who now aspire to be drug traffickers or hit men because of the money and power.”

How is this any different than those who aspire to become politicians, members of the ruling class, and members of police forces and militaries? They are attracted by the money and power that comes with such lofty positions of power and influence. Any entity or organization that offers such rewards for participation, be they legitimate or not, will attract prospects- particularly those who are desperate for opportunity.

This “narco-culture” originates in response to the state’s prohibition and warring against (some) drugs. Otherwise, this business would be like others where individuals make mutually satisfactory transactions. These transactions would also be peaceful, as the threat of violent state interference (as a competing gang) would not exist. This “culture” the report mentions helps unite and protect those who choose to participate in such transactions. The fact they are violent is not necessarily a choice, but a necessity to defend their business. This is also the same response chosen by one state gang when threatened by another.

Gangs are gangs, thugs are thugs- whether they're drug dealers or governments- they both seek to influence, control, and ultimately subjugate the individual without his consent.

The State Exposed

I
I recently overheard a school librarian discussing the merits of non-violence promoted by the likes of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Mahatma Gandhi. His audience was government school students. These are certainly sentiments that I can agree with. But then I realized the inherent hypocrisy of the message giver. The person praising this philosophy was employed by an organization (the state) whose entire existence and survival is maintained through violence. Government schools are financed through compulsive taxation enforced, ultimately, by violence. Don’t pay the mandatory tribute required by your state rulers and you will lose your property, and/or your freedom, and/or your life. One hundred percent of this gentlemen’s personal paycheck is comprised of funds obtained through coercion and violence. Does this gentlemen ever wake up in the middle of the night and realize this obvious hypocrisy?

II
There’s some controversy in the Dallas Police Department (so what else is new) about an officer’s “troubling” post on her Facebook page. These posts include derogatory pictures and comments about the homeless and bragging about getting into a fight with a nurse at a medical clinic. Police supporters may be upset that some officers don’t represent the clean, noble image they have of their “protectors.” The department also claims concern. "Anything that would tend to reduce or impair the public's trust and confidence in the police department won't be tolerated," says Deputy Chief Mike Genovesi.

But again, free-living, sovereign individuals, who see the police as an illegitimate protection monopoly, celebrate such displays. Such incidents certainly aren't isolated They all expose how those who become police officers tend to be uncouth bullies who enjoy dominating and abusing others. These personal characteristics are necessary to satisfactorily enforce victimless crimes and extract state revenue by kidnapping, caging, and even physically harming innocent individuals.
 
Let’s hope police continue to be open and honest in their social networking.

III
Let’s move on to this enlightening video.

This is from a recent meeting of the Dallas County Commissioners Court. Here we have, in all its brutal glory, a clear illustration of the essence of the state. Politics is essentially war among competing gangs. These gangs (commonly referred to as “constituencies”) war against each other over turf and control. These gangs all seek to control the property of others to be used to further their gang’s agendas, as well as get their “fair share” of the booty the state plunders. They also seek to control the state’s enforcement mechanisms (police and military) that assure compliance among their subjects (commonly called the “electorate”).

Most times these political gang summits remain relatively civil and respectful despite the underlying violence of state coercion. Sometimes their discussions can degrade into shouting matches or even mild physical violence. It’s times like these when free living, sovereign individuals should rejoice and even celebrate such displays. This rowdiness and lack of decorum helps expose the state’s true nature- individuals squabbling over power rather than debating how to peacefully serve others through commerce and voluntary association.

Commissar Price has a history of such antics. It’s encouraging to see his power rivals also getting into the act.

Quotes of the Week

From the Light:
"The great, fundamental difficulty for anarchists is, and always has been, answering the question of how to literally reform society into a just, free and peaceful one without appealing to the 'proper channels' of statism. Whatever the answer is, we have all of history to show that it isn’t the counterfeit reform of the political process."
David D'Amato

"Why do people think only of maintaining the State in one form or another? Why is it that after such a poor experience with their State, they don’t assign it to the trash heap of history? What is holding back the concept that people can live without the State and live better without it?"
Michael S. Rozeff

“The State will do its best to stay in power, but its days are numbered. My hope is that when the masses realize this, that they not lay hands upon the tyrants who are ruining their lives. Violence will only ensure that the State-mindset will remain. If the the current crop of criminals are ousted, then another crop of criminals will appear to take their place. As long as the masses still have the mindset that a State is necessary, there will always be a void that can be filled by criminals willing to act as the State.”
Brutus

“This revolution [in Egypt] will have to do until the real thing comes along.”
Sheldon Richman

“'Government Charity' is a root of scandalous evil, depriving the taxpayer of the means by which he can exercise voluntary charity while demeaning the recipient and preventing him from being able to thank the donor, even to pray for him by name. The taxpayer with an IRS gun at his head is tempted to hate, not love; the recipient is tempted to scorn and fraud, rather than love."
Christopher Manion

“America is an empire in decline, getting old and tired. What makes this particularly dangerous is that it's not only becoming corrupt, like Eastern Europe, Latin America, Africa, the Orient, the Mideast – almost all of the world – but, worse, it's got this huge and fairly efficient enforcement mechanism few of the other countries have. The Nazis would have loved the situation in the U.S. It's become the worst of both worlds: Nordic efficiency and American neo-puritanism. A deadly combination. Only an increasing measure of corruption can keep things going until the whole mess collapses on top of itself.”
Doug Casey

“Governments are like organized crime families, operating as 'executive committees' of their domestic ruling classes, and enforcing the privileges and artificial property rights by which their members extract rents from the domestic population. These crime families deal with each other, establishing constantly shifting alliances of convenience and redividing the world between themselves, as their relative strength shifts.”
Kevin Carson

“Anyone who has experience with public-sector bureaucracies knows that they cannot do anything as well as markets, and however imperfect free markets are, they are vastly more efficient and humane than the public sector in the long run. That is because free markets trust the idea of freedom generally, whereas other systems imagine that the men in charge are as omniscient as gods.”
Cristian Gherasim

“….Government is always against freedom, and does everything in its power to squelch the voice of the individual, and to squash the natural rights of man. Government literally lives and thrives on the blood and sweat of others, a literal vampire in disguise living off its gullible host. That host of course, is the very people who put the government in power in the first place. This is an irony that is almost impossible to bear."
Gary Barnett

"It's unsurprising that political leaders would want to convince people that the true criminals are those who expose acts of high-level political corruption and criminality, (WikiLeaks) rather than those who perpetrate them. Every political leader would love for that self-serving piety to take hold. But what's startling is how many citizens and, especially, 'journalists' now vehemently believe that as well."
Glenn Greenwald

“By forming an economy where neither price nor levels of production are tied to real, market needs, the state has created a needless struggle just to subsist. The way out is repudiation of the state’s arbitrary power to allow monopolists to divvy up our sustenance. Freed markets return that power to communities of individuals dealing with each other within voluntary agreements, the only legitimate way to allocate scarce resources.”
David D'Amato

“The dangers that admittedly loom in Egypt stem from the moderate nature of the Egyptian people’s aims. They seek merely to change the structure and personnel of the government. The essence of the State – the apparatus of organized violence – would remain intact. As long as the State exists, there is a danger it will be seized by a military strongman, by theocrats, or by some other brand of oppressor.
In other words, the only true revolution is one aimed at abolishing the State – an anarchist revolution. That’s the best hope for avoiding a revolution gone wrong.”
Sheldon Richman

“Boobus Americanus happily hugs his chains so long as his masters feign that he’s in charge.”
Becky Akers

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From the Darkness:

"The threat of terrorism isn't going away so we must provide our agents with the tools they need to get the job done. Given that terrorist threats, including those from self-radicalized individuals, continue to evolve, we must ensure that our law enforcement agents are not burdened with new restrictions on existing authorities."

Sen. Charles Grassley on a Senate measure that would permanently extend three key measures of the Patriot Act.

"There is a reason why a lot of diplomacy is conducted in secret. There are good reasons for there to be confidentiality in some of those communications. And I think President Mubarak needs to be treated as he deserved over the years, because he has been a good friend."
Dick Cheney

“He's [Mubarak] a man who has led his country for 30 years, and he's done a great many things, terrific things for the country and for us. We don't want to just see him discredited and all of his past accomplishments thrown down the drain such as sustaining the peace of Israel. So he needs to go out with honor. And if we can help him with that, that's what we should be doing."
Edward Walker, former U.S. ambassador to Egypt

"My own personal opinion is the Mubarak era is over. And the question is how to have a process that really works properly, that allows these various voices to come together and not disagree on some of the tactical aspects."
Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright [The “process” and "tactical aspects” are always important for the state to control its livestock.]

"I want to be clear: even as we make America the best place on earth to do business, businesses also have a responsibility to America. As we work with you to make America a better place to do business, ask yourselves what you can do for America. Ask yourselves what you can do to hire American workers, to support the American economy, and to invest in this nation."
B. Obama, sounding more and more like Mussolini every day

“According to AFMC’s legal office, Air Force members — military or civilian — may not legally access WikiLeaks at home on their personal, non-governmental computers, either. To do so would not only violate the SECAF [Secretary of the Air Force] guidance on this issue,… it would also subject the violator to prosecution for violation of espionage under the Espionage Act.”
From a statement issued from the Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC) at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base

“It’s a sad day in American history when a one-time conservative/libertarian stalwart has fallen more out of touch with America’s needs for national security then our current socialist presidential regime. Rep. [Ron] Paul is clearly off his meds and must be purged from public office. YAF is starting the process by removing him from our national advisory board. Good riddance and he won’t be missed.”
Jordan Marks, national director, Young Americans for Freedom

“And nobody yet has, nobody yet has explained to the American public what they know, and surely they know more than the rest of us know who it is who will be taking the place of Mubarak and no, not, not real enthused about what it is that that’s being done on a national level and from DC in regards to understanding all the situation there in Egypt. And, in these areas that are so volatile right now, because obviously it’s not just Egypt but the other countries too where we are seeing uprisings, we know that now more than ever, we need strength and sound mind there in the White House. We need to know what it is that America stands for so we know who it is that America will stand with. And, we do not have all that information yet.”
Sarah Palin, confused babbler

“The bottom line here is that the God of the Bible clearly honors those who show valor and gallantry in waging aggressive war in a just cause against the enemies of freedom, even while inflicting massive casualties in the process. What I’m saying is that it’s time we started imitating God’s example again."
Bryan Fischer, the American Family Association

"It’s government’s job to redistribute [income]. The question is how much are we going to redistribute.”
Howard Dean

DVD Reviews

The Last Station:

An excellent acted drama (thanks primarily to Christopher Plummer, Helen Mirren, and Paul Giamatti) about the last few years of the life of Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy. It centers around the passionate but explosive relationship with his wife and the cult following that grew from his personal philosophy.
Recommended

Deadland:
Not a bad effort for an independent, low budget, apocalyptic film, but I prefer a bit more substantial plot for such an genre than a man trying to locate his long lost wife.
Not recommended

The Miracle Worker:
This 1962 classic has a very young Patty Duke admirably playing blind, deaf, and mute Helen Keller. Even more impressive is the work of Anne Bancroft who portrays Anne Sullivan, the gritty, heroic, persistent teacher who successfully transforms her student.
Recommended

Knight and Day:
This entertaining, fast action flick featuring Tom Cruise and Carmen Diaz contains just enough twists to stay interesting and thankfully never degenerates into a gooey, relationship-chick flick. Cruise seems best suited for these type of “secret agent” roles and makes these fantasies almost believable.
Recommended

Heartworn Highways:
This 1975 loosely edited documentary takes a mostly informal look at some of the fine, young American songwriters who were starting to make waves at this period of time. Guy Clark, Rodney Crowell, Steve Young, Steve Earle, Townes Van Zandt, John Hiatt, Gamble Rogers and others perform on stage and for each other. The highlight of the film occurs at a Christmas Eve gathering of song at Guy Clark’s house with guests taking turn singing their songs.
Recommended

Robert Klein- Unfair and Unbalanced:
Mr. Klein’s 2010 HBO comedy special is definitely worth the one hour in front of your screen. He takes comical stabs at politicians and middle age, as well as other subjects.
Recommended

Inception:
Leonardo DiCaprio and his skilled crew steal corporate secrets by infiltrating the dreams of his victims. He is then challenged to not take but plant an idea in the mind of a rival’s heir. His character also has some past, personal baggage to deal with where dreams and reality tragically collided. A very intelligent plot that requires close attention.
Recommended

The American:
George Clooney plays a professional assassin who tires of his lonely life and being constantly hunted. He takes on one final assignment that includes some surprising twists.
Recommended

Inside Iraq- The Untold Story:
A young film maker manages to get into Iraq in 2003 to film life after the US invasion and even manages to be briefly embedded in a US tank unit. The highlights are a troop “rant” session when the enlisted display all of their Whiskey Tango glory and a US stooge lecturing Iraqi police recruits that “torture is always wrong.”
Recommended

The Prisoner- The Complete Series:
This is the original British series from the late 1960’s starring Patrick McGoohan. McGoohan plays a secret agent type who suddenly resigns but will not divulge his reasons. He is then captured and held in a strange village where everyone has a number instead of a name. All sorts of psychological ploys are used to force McGoohan to divulge information. An inspiring series for those who treasure their individual liberty and resist collectivism and compliance to self-appointed masters.
Recommended

Wall Street- Money Never Sleeps:
Michael Douglas is back as Gordon Gecko, who is released after eight years in prison. He seeks to stealthily rebuild his empire as well as wreak revenge against those turned on him in the past- all while manipulating his estranged daughter. Douglas does his usual good work but I was most impressed by Josh Brolin who plays his rival. Brolin has come a long way from the raw, young actor in “Young Guns.” Shia LeBouef seems improperly cast as the young, ambitious (though righteous) Wall Street trader.
Recommended

Sons of Anarchy- Season One:
This well made series revolves around a motorcycle club in a small California town involved in “outlaw” activities including gun running. Club brotherhood, integrity, loyalty, and close family ties are a dominant trait among the members. The characters are diverse, entertaining and mostly likable. The hypocrisy of the state is admirably displayed. Anarchic principles are followed for the most part, except for the proclivity toward violence. This issue is addressed in the soft, but intensifying rivalry between old and new, upcoming, club leadership.
Recommended

Salt:
Angelina Jolie is a CIA agent accused by a Russian defector of being a Russian spy. She then spends the rest of the film on the run doing all sorts of entertaining action hero stuff. Not a heady plot but just enough uncertainty to avoid a predictable ending.
Recommended

Robin Hood:
Director Ridley Scott always makes entertaining action movies and this one does not disappoint. Let’s hope viewers of the this film also pick up on the message within- that the state, even 900 years later, is still the lying, conniving, murderous, anti-individual institution that Mr. Longstride dealt with.
Recommended

Turning Green:
Two young brothers, forcibly relocated to Ireland to live with family, turn to selling illegal pornographic magazines to finance a return trip to the US. With a feature film, I expect to be entertained, and/or enlightened, and/or inspired. This film failed on all counts.
Not recommended

Quotes of the Week

From the Light:
“This notion of liberty [free elections with constitutional constraints] is as sadly deficient and defective as it is false. What difference does it make to be told one must buy health insurance or be searched at an airport or pay taxes to support invasions in Iraq and Afghanistan or pay taxes to support the production of ethanol if the power behind these commands is a dictator, an elected premier, a parliament, or a legislature? Coercion is coercion, whatever its source. If one person or a majority of your neighbors or their representatives coerce you, does the source of this coercion determine whether or not you have your liberty? Do elections and your capacity to cast a vote eliminate the coercion?”
Michael S. Rozeff

“Through its complex of regulations, subsidies and other crimes against free and voluntary exchange, the state oversees the ultimate crime racket; it makes the Mob look like a bunch of softies, like kindergarten crooks rehearsing for the big time.”
David D'Amato

“We [the US] are spending resources we don’t have, to support whatever warlords that will pretend to be in our 'Empire'… till the day we go broke.”
Bill Walker

“Each reactive policy measure [in response to terrorist attacks] only serves to solidify the attackers' convictions, erode the freedoms of the innocents, and divide the nation into two distinct sides-- those who would rather have their freedom and take a chance on safety, and those who are willing to relinquish their freedom in exchange for the illusion of security.
Politicians will always side with the latter, expanding their domain and redefining 'security' so that it encompasses the widest possible range of human activities.”
Simon Black

“….The US government has a mission. Its mission is survival. And as the years go by, more and more people want the government to survive. Because more and more people have a stake in it.”
Bill Bonner

“The entire concept of today's 'career politician' is based on the idea that constituents exist to support them, not the other way around. People who seek these positions don't do it for the glory of country or the greater prosperity of their constituents... but for their obsession with power.”
Simon Black

“Seriously, the government is not ‘us.’ Brutalizing people and barking orders at them like they’re dirt, telling them what they’re allowed to talk about, who they’re allowed to express sympathy for, and forbidding them to expose your actions to public scrutiny are not the actions of someone who’s serving others. They’re the actions of a master, the actions of an owner.”
Kevin Carson

“Everyone by now has had the experience of arguing some point that is in the Constitution. Has it not struck you, how two different people, each apparently intelligent individuals, can come up with completely different meanings for words (allegedly) written with the intention that they should not be misinterpreted? This is a major problem for constitutionalists, and for the whole idea of a written constitution whose job it is to limit government.”
Paul Bonneau

“….We are herd animals with a formidable tendency to attach ourselves to groups – it doesn’t much matter what groups – and fight other groups. Thus football teams, bowling clubs, political parties, and wars. Patriotism is exactly the instinct that makes people cheer frantically for the Steelers against the Packers, and armies are just Crips and Bloods with more elaborate switch-blades.”
Fred Reed

“At this point, the U.S. budget is like Wile E. Coyote after he's run off the edge of a cliff. His legs are still windmilling in the air, but he doesn't realize it yet.”
Doug Casey

“Instead of private law or contracts or generally accepted, time-honored societal agreements, the state corrupts reason and destroys language, replacing common sense with legislative fiat, all while making us more depending on the state to determine what reality is and how we deal with others.
The power to classify is the power to destroy.”
Manuel Lora

“The Declaration of Independence contains the phrase 'all men are created equal.' The only logical interpretation of this is individual sovereignty. If governments are sovereign, then individuals are not. Of course individuals control governments, and so some individuals are more equal than others as they control the entire planet and everyone else needs their permission in order to exist. Therefore it seems that not all men are created equal after all.
And if men truly are created equal, then this must merely be an error of nature which government officials, in their infinite wisdom, quickly remedy here on Earth.”
Tzo

“We’re all poorer and less free when the government insinuates itself in the marketplace. Interventionism represents an assault on property rights. It takes elements of business competition out of the picture. Producers, employees and consumers have less latitude in forging mutually satisfactory arrangements. Consumer choice narrows.”
Tony Pivetta

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From the Darkness:

"I think it's a hundred times more likely today that an officer will be assaulted compared to twenty, thirty years ago. It has become one of the most hazardous jobs in the United States, undoubtedly – in the top five."

J.B. Smith, Sheriff of Smith, County, Texas [Sorry, Sheriff, you clowns aren’t even in the top ten.]

"This is going to be up to the Egyptian people. But let's look at what we have. We have a calendar that already has elections for the next president scheduled, so there is an action-enforcing event that is already on the calendar."
Queen Hillary, hyping an upcoming election to find a new Egyptian dictator

"We have sent a very clear message that we want to see restraint, we do not want to see violence by any [Egyptian] security forces, and we continue to convey that message. There is no discussion as of this time about cutting off any aid. We always are looking and reviewing our aid."
Queen Hillary, stating her commitment to continued support of other murderous governments.

"We can come to a reasonable agreement that curbs spending. ... But to just stay in your corner and say, 'It's my way or I'm shutting down the government,' that could lead to terrible, terrible problems. And I would plead with my new Republican colleagues in the House who seem to want to do this, that that is playing with fire. Please don't do it."
Lil’ Chucky Schumer, New York senator and fear monger

"The president has said he's open to changes to this. He is not open to refighting the entire fight of health care. People have suggestions on how to make it better. But he's not in favor of refighting this fight."
White House chief of staff Bill Daley, on changing the health care legislation

"We don't want to send any message about backing forward or backing away. We want to see an orderly transition [in Egypt] so that no one fills a void -- that there not be a void"
Queen Hillary, reasserting her trust in “stability.” [ I believe “void” may be the new statist word for “individual liberty.”]

“Only the Egyptian people can do that. What is clear — and what I indicated tonight to President Mubarak — is my belief that an orderly transition must be meaningful, it must be peaceful, and it must begin now.”
B. Obama [Translated: A new US puppet dictator must be installed immediately!]

“We have three branches of government: we have a House, we have a Senate, we have a President.”
Lil’ Chucky Schumer, New York senator and constitutional illiterate

“A rise in global temperature can create all sorts of havoc, ranging from hotter dry spells to colder winters, along with increasingly violent storms, flooding, forest fires and loss of endangered species.”
Al Gore, carbon credit entrepeneur [If warming causes hot and cold, what does cooling cause?]

"And for those of us who worked with him [Egyptian dictator Mubarak] over the -- particularly now I worked with him on the Middle East peace process between the Israelis and the Palestinians, so this is somebody I'm constantly in contact with and working with. And on that issue, I have to say, he's been immensely courageous and a force for good."
Tony Blair

"If I resign today there will be chaos."
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, while observing the chaos in the streets.

“If America is really serious about combating worldwide Islamic terrorism and the increasing reports of Christian genocide among the 44 Muslim nations, then let us take up the battle cry of Ann Coulter and the Muslim author who converted to Christianity and train our military not only to kill and destroy our enemies but to convert them to Christianity.”
Ellis Washington, WorldNutDaily columnist

“Everyone knows that CO2 emissions are the major cause of global climate change, that climate change poses a clear and present danger to our planet, and that the U.S. contributes a huge share of global emissions.”
Alan S. Blinder, professor of economics and public affairs at Princeton University

"Failure is not an option in Iraq and we must be prepared to bear the cost to ensure success, including the costs of our civilian operations and development programs, which will be substantial however this transition plays out. Congress cannot shortchange this mission now."
Sen. John McCain, whining about Republican promises to slash spending on Iraq.

Ft. Hood- Revisited

The wise, all knowing sages of the US Senate have issued their report on the 2009 massacre at Ft. Hood, TX. You can read about it here, here, and here. The FBI is blamed in part for its “failure to use its analysts well,” which may have “contributed to it overlooking the significance of communications with known terrorists transmitted by Hasan.” Perhaps they were too busy assisting potential car bombers by supplying them encouragement and fake explosives.

The report includes the usual “statist speak and gobbly-gook to fill space on a page, such as, "our investigation found specific systemic failures in the government's handling of the Hasan case and raises additional concerns about what may be broader systemic issues." Yep, fair warning to present and future bureaucrats and state apparatchiks- those broader systemic issues will get you every time.

My favorite quote comes from a frequent contributor to “From the Darkness,” Mad Joe Leiberman: "There wasn't evil intent by people in the federal government. There was just what I would call negligence, failure to perform the duties as we have a right to expect federal employees will do.” Say it isn’t so, Joe! Negligence from our brave, competent public servants? Evil?  Perish the thought.

In essence, this is what the report concludes:

Cause of attack: Government bureaucrats didn't read minds well enough.

Recommendation: Government bureaucrats should learn to more accurately read minds in the future.

Nowhere does it recommend that these potential victims (trained assassins, highly expert in the use of firearms) be allowed to carry a sidearm while on base. That would have brought a quick end to this attack or maybe even discouraged it in the first place. But then, don't expect government to ever act in a rational manner or exhibit any judgement whatsoever based on common sense. The state restricts, discourages and even bans free individuals from defending themselves with personal firearms. The state runs a protection racket and cannot tolerate free individuals not being dependent on the nanny state to protect them. The state even forbids such activity among its military servants and warriors (at least when not in a war zone) whose job it is to efficiently dispense violence through the use of firearms. Of course, that violence must be directed against unruly subjects and rival states. The state cannot afford to trust its individual warriors to decide just who else to direct those weapons against. Such a risky policy might just lead to a history changing coup. When a slave, you will always be reminded who your master is.

Random Thoughts on the Stupor Bowl

There has been lots of news this week in the local media concerning the upcoming Super Bowl in Arlington. A couple of items caught my attention and irked my rational mind:

1) The major item discussed, of course, is the abnormal, extremely cold and icy weather that has hampered travel throughout the Metroplex and put a chilly damper on any related activities. Power companies throughout the state have been having trouble keeping up with the demand and have instigated rolling blackouts throughout the area to help conserve power. At least, the hoi polloi has had to tolerate such an inconvenience. The privileged elites associated with Stupor Bowl activities, led by Chief Cowboy Fascist (CCF) Jerry Jones, have not had to suffer- at least at Cowboy’s Stadium, which has received an exemption from such action. Dallasites, as they shiver in their unheated homes, should remember that Jerry Jones owns them. He can run you off your land to build his billion dollar playpen, he can tax you to help pay for it, and now, he can steal your power. But then, you don’t mind, because you must have a professional football team in Dallas and you have been convinced that such sacrifices on your part are “good for the community.”

2) No major sporting event is complete in this day and age without a loud, thunderous demonstration of state power and the accompanying fawning and worship of the state‘s “heroic” enforcers. The most visible of these demonstrations are the annoying “flyovers” of military combat aircraft. Despite having the dome roof closed during the game, Cowboys Stadium will be blessed just the same with five Navy F-15’s traveling all the way from Virginia Beach, VA. This nice little trip and display will set back the US tax slaves a cool $450,000+. Or maybe the cost is being paid by borrowing from foreign investors, in which case your great-grandchildren will be paying for it by licking Chinese boots. Apparently, the F-16’s stationed just down the street at Carswell Air Force Base are just not adequate or patriotic enough to complete the task, though certainly they could accomplish such nonsense at far less cost.

Amerikans have an undeniably sick, perverted love and lust for the military. This disease has particularly infected professional sports which have become unwatchable, thanks in part to these nauseating histrionics. From this demonstration of war power the fans seem to derive motivation and emotional strength to cheer the impending battle of athletes. In reality, these flyovers are just a reminder that Big Brother is still in charge and your obedience and submission is mandatory. Never, never, forget who’s the boss.