I’d Like to Think…

I’d like to think that if I stop paying attention to the crimes and conspiracies of the US government abroad, those crimes and conspiracies stop.  They don’t.

I’d like to think that as a vocal person, as an occasional voter, as a sometime letter writer, and as a teacher, my impact on my “democratic” form of government is made, and felt.  It isn’t.

I’d like to think that the police across the vast country of America are like Sheriff Andy and Deputy Fife, with a single bullet tucked away in a vest pocket, and reason and respect ruling the day.  That’s a fantasy in 2014.

[amazon asin=B005FZ2L5W&template=*lrc ad (left)]I’d like to think that the 14th Amendment was well intentioned, and wouldn’t be abused to centralize the federal government any further.  That’s incorrect.

I’d like to think that the presidents are elected by small-r republicans, who understand what self-government might mean, and are in agreement that money doesn’t grow on a tree in Washington, DC.  They aren’t!

I’d like to think that the standing military and its associated spy agencies since 1947 exist to protect the country, not just to expand and protect its metastasized bureaucracy.  But it’s not true.

I’d like to think that despite not having declarations of war, USG interventions since WWII in Korea, Vietnam, Central and South America, the Balkans, North Africa and the Middle East have been a net benefit for the people [amazon asin=0849946883&template=*lrc ad (right)]and economies there, and here, and have successfully promoted ideals of liberty abroad.  Unfortunately, only devils and idiots believe that, and I have my doubts about the devils.

I’d like to think I own my own property, rather than leasing from banks for decades and local tax revenuers in perpetuity.  But I’d be wrong.

I’d like to think that just because my farm is surrounded by GMO corn and soybeans and broilers that I can maintain a small oasis that isn’t touched by it.  But that’s not really the case.

[amazon asin=1604500417&template=*lrc ad (left)]I’d like to think that if an orphaned fawn or raccoon or possum comes my way, I may take care of it without breaking the law.  But I would be a lawbreaker.

I’d like to think that if I exercise my Constitutional rights in a traffic stop, I won’t anger the policeman or deputy.  Instead, he or she will likely become perturbed, impatient and frustrated with me.  I’d like to think I will remain calm and polite.

I’d like to think that helping my neighbor out directly instead of going to long, wrong way of contacting a government agency, filling out paperwork, and ensuring both of us are now the naked object of local, state or federal government scrutiny is the better course.  I’d like to help directly.

I’d like to think that young people are interested in issues of history, justice and strategy.  Given the numbers of youngsters I know – oddly, in the age of handheld boredom control devices – who play chess and monopoly and aren’t afraid to ask a question of an adult, I believe there is hope.[amazon asin=0990463109&template=*lrc ad (right)]

I’d like to think that modern infotainment is beneficial to liberty.  In fact, given the number of survival and sustainable living “reality” TV and the popularity of dystopian (often subtle) anti-state themes on the small and big screens, I think we have many anonymous, yet very effective Tom Paines about us.

karen head shot benchI’d like to think that the central state is more frightened of us than we are of it, and given the domestic surveillance state’s rampant paranoia, I’m very possibly correct on this.

I’d like to think that the state exists solely because we are voluntarily dependent upon it, accidentally and mindlessly integrated into it, and circumstantially frightened of it.  Well, so did Etienne de la Boetie, and he was absolutely brilliant.

I’d like to think that the work of the Mises Institute with its global reach and dedication to liberty and peace has inspired millions at every level of society, touching transcending religious and cultural cliques.  Well, it certainly has!

I’d like to believe that peaceful emancipation from the state is possible, one thought and action, one person and one family, one neighborhood and one town at a time.  And I do!