Christine Smith's Blog

Radio Debate with a Socialist (& photos from Venezuela)

(photos and captions/translations throughout my article were taken by a friend of mine on a recent trip to Venezuela – a picture is worth a thousand words – so I share these photos of socialism in action)

The mural says ‘working with the people must be every revolutionary’s principle’.

Radio Debate with a Socialist by Christine Smith

Several days ago I participated in a live radio debate with a socialist (he identified himself as a socialist, both in his political affiliation, philosophy, and activism, and has been for many years).  I perceive the debate not over an economic system, but over the fundamental issue:  freedom versus no freedom.

Never before have I engaged in such a lengthy debate with a socialist. I’ve often (as we all do) strike conversations with Americans who’ve accepted the many socialistic programs the U.S. government has made (only, ironically, many Americans seem to regard them as part of a capitalistic society). In such talks, I have found areas of agreement, and areas of confusion, making the dialog productive and often at least causing those in the discussion to question the premise of legal theft since at least they identify it as such after a discussion. But never had I, till now, spoken/debated someone whose fundamental premise differed so from mine of free enterprise – this man wholeheartedly openly defended theft from the American people and our corporations in order to create his fantasy utopia where everyone is promised to be equally cared for.

The debate was most interesting, so I share my recollection: A libertarian versus a socialist. We were both respectful of one another, though diametrically opposed on every issue discussed save for the wrongness of the empire building of the U.S. government and unjust wars of aggression and greed. But even on this point, we fundamentally disagreed on the culprit of such military action, with he vehemently blaming corporations, and I identifying the U.S. federal government as the one responsible for all the ills of this society and the evils of our foreign policy. He also espoused positive things about Cuba’s system, but conveniently ignored the oppressive policies and lack of freedoms.

Frog being lynched has to do with a decree that Chavez put out, but had to withdraw, revamping the intelligence & counter intelligence services. In Venezuela a toad is a snitch, the new law would have required people to snitch on everybody else, therefore the lynching of snitches in effigy. They called it the Get sapo law. Instead of Gestapo. Sapo meaning toad in Spanish.

For example, the man spoke about poor education in our nation and its brainwashing of our youth into accepting imperialism (he was much opposed to military recruitment in schools), he also lamented the high cost of healthcare, and a few other areas – all of which he said the American people are terrorized by corporations. In fact, he went so far as to say something to the effect that corporations were responsible for the unjust wars and that without corporations there would be no war.

These points were easily decimated with facts about our educational system and how the very things he complained of would be immediately removed if we had true free education (free from government control). “Public education” is government controlled education with the expected results of centralized planning: bureaucracy, propaganda, rewarding of incompetence, a blind eye to historical fact – and paid for by everyone – even those without children. Same with healthcare, I pointed out we once had not only the best in medical care but it was affordable for all (and for those who were indigent, clinics existed), and the sole change making healthcare and pharmaceuticals expensive (and which ended clinics) occurred when the U.S. government ventured into its socialistic programs of Medicare and Medicaid.

Our economic hardship is directly caused by the degree this country has adopted socialism.

‘with Chavez the people are the government’  on a sign on the Metro. In Spanish, small letters to the right,  ’con Chavez el pueblo es el gobierno’.

But regardless of the facts presented, no matter the issue being discussed, the socialist returned to his assertion that healthcare, education, retirement, electricity, food, etc. should be given equally to all and that everyone should earn the exact same amount of money. He said all should be guaranteed jobs, so all will have a life of security.

Black sticker in a mall says “no more FARC, milk now!”.

He was obviously intelligent, articulate, and well versed and believing in the socialist philosophy, but ready with only facts about people’s difficulties in our nation – blaming such difficulties and suffering firmly upon capitalism and corporations. At one point, I told him (and our audience) that every grievance, every one of his examples of suffering and I named several as he had, were caused solely by the federal government, buttressing each with a few facts. Corporations may exploit the situation in which they are given military contracts, subsidies, bail-outs, and protectionism from the government, but they, corporations and capitalism, are not the cause.

The blame for our economic and social ills is with the federal government.

Without the government forming unconstitutional alliances with what should be a free-market and truly free enterprises, none of the problems he mentioned would even exist. I provided a few examples of how it is capitalism which has always given us greater choice, lower prices, and resulted in higher standards of living wherever it is applied in the world. It also brings greater peace among nations that trade as their interdependence develops.

Then we again moved into the basic necessities of life discussion, with he saying no person should ever be without their needs being met, and that everyone has a responsibility to take care of everyone else. I challenged this on a couple points, with his saying that government does waste and that it must be reformed to work more efficiently.

When I pointed out it’s the federal government who is the robber, the thief…and no matter what it says it will do with the money, it’s wrong to take from one to give to another, he could not understand the analogy (the hold-up at gunpoint example in which the robber takes your wallet and gives it to some good cause afterward-posing the question was it wrong for the man to steal your money?) The government threatens all citizens with fines and incarceration unless they pay up. All he could say was “No, no.”

Also in the airport were pamphlets about the 2 plans Zero contraband & Zero evasion (tax evasion).

On the topic of charity, the truth of his doubt and lack of faith in the American people and our generosity became apparent – he truly believes that people must be forced to help others and sees nothing wrong with forcing people to do so.

When I posed the rhetorical question of imagining how much more suffering would be eased, (or for that matter how much more the arts would be supported, and how much more research would be done into areas of science and medical cures, and how the very people who are in need in each of our communities would be helped) if only the American people were able to keep all the money they earned so they could choose to spend (and give) it as they chose, he immediately replied that some people would be discriminated against. To this, I said each individual should have the freedom to help others or not, and the freedom to choose whom they help.

Compulsory benevolence is not charity, but Americans (even despite so much of their money being exploited) have always sought to care for the poor, the aged, and the ill.  He again responded he didn’t think Americans would care for everyone, to which I simply replied, “Then, I have more faith in the American people. We are generous. And we’ll be even more so when we’re able to keep and spend or donate our money as we see fit.”

From the U.S. government’s (CIA) operations of regime changes, protectionism of U.S. corporate interests in foreign nations, torture, and other similar matters, we were both in agreement as to the wrongness of, and we discussed together several examples in South America…only he blamed the corporations for all of it and I went to the root: unconstitutional programs/policies of the U.S. government. I could not begin to understand (nor will I waste time trying) to make sense of how this socialist could see the suffering and yet refuse to trace the cause to its origin – the federal government. One point on which we agreed was the wrongness of government subsidizing of businesses.

“The words on the left mean “response center – Of the sovereign” ; on the right it reads “With Chavez – one united government”

The debate ended with a final assertion on his part saying something like libertarians would defend the use of military force to protect U.S. corporations stationed in Saudi Arabia if they were threatened (hypothetically) to be taken over by the Saudi Arabian government. I immediately stated that he not presume to speak for libertarians, as he clearly was wrong. So, he posed the question to me: What would you, as a libertarian, do? I replied I don’t care where corporations go, but that they should be on their own be it in Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran, South America, just as I couldn’t care less where an individual goes or who they do business with…but that all protection whatever form it takes, all protection including the use of U.S. military forces and U.S. taxpayer money, should be absent. If someone wants the profit, they take the risks. No longer should private corporations receive the protection of the intimidation and threat of force from our nation to protect their interests. I said “They can go anywhere, they can get killed, they can defend themselves, but they shouldn’t be protected with taxpayer’s money or the lives of our military.”

To this he seemed appalled, asking me if I was saying that private corporations could defend themselves if they were set up in a foreign nations, and I said, yes, I do not care what they do – they should be on their own without any government help. To this, he replied “Corporations would then rule the world,” and he then went further stating all assets of corporations should be taken and given to the people. I replied, “That’s theft. It’s no different than stealing from your neighbor down the street to help some other neighbor out.” At this point, he said “Lines drawn.” We thanked each other for participating and announced our websites (I encouraging the radio audience to read the online version of Bastiat’s The Law.)

I’ve been told by the show host the man enjoyed our on-air debate, and the radio audience was vocal in expressing how interesting it was. I’ve been asked if I might do it again, and, I said yes, that another debate sounds interesting…only next time I want us to choose one topic to be debated, with a moderator timing answers so that we have equal on-air time to answer each question.

From this experience, I can see how such an articulate knowledgeable socialist could easily influence listeners if not challenged point by point. The tactic of identifying people’s lack is powerful, and each time he went back to his primary theme: Capitalism causes all the suffering. Socialism will solve it all. Though his premise is false, Americans who have been well programmed since childhood to accept the basic immorality of taking from one to give to another, and Americans who find themselves suffering economically, are especially vulnerable to such rhetoric.

The only barrier the people have to such a political activist espousing socialism, is the American knee-jerk reaction to the term “socialism.” But the message of providing everything for everyone (no matter how immoral, unjust, burdensome and impractical) is attractive to those who are suffering hardship. They seem to care nothing about the immorality, they can’t rationally accept the fact that they (or their grandchildren and their children) will pay for the debt later, or that the promises will never be met – that those in power will promise the world for their own advantage and agendas.

Therein is the reason for the gullibility of millions of Americans as they take seriously the upcoming presidential election and the major candidates they’ve been provided to choose between. Not one candidate proposes that they’d like to see an end to Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid. Not one proposes an end to government favoring some corporations over others with their bail-outs. Not one proposes ending the widespread socialism we already suffer under. No. Each, in their own deceitful style give lip service to smaller or more efficient government and/or promise changes accomplished only by larger more intrusive government and greater taxation, but none would actually do anything about it. And they never focus on the cost to liberty for all that they promise. They play to people’s desire for security. Do the American people even remember how self-sufficiency and independence once created wonderful ingenuity and thus the wealth of this nation? Don’t they see the world around us where government provided security has always come at the greatest cost of all – letting go of liberty?

Socialism weakens people; it morally debilitates them; and economically destroys them. 

The message I heard repeatedly during my debate with the socialist, is the identical message the major candidates give the American people, only the major candidates have the advantage: they promise benefits to millions through socialism but always they avoid the word “socialism” replacing it with words of change, hope, and compassion. They know what they’re doing, only their motives aren’t as pure as the man I debated. They are going for the power and control, he is simply, in my opinion, a compassionate peace-loving individual who truly (and mistakenly) believes socialism will help America.

Our major presidential candidates care nothing about helping the American people, but they know the great things to promise while never telling Americans what they’ll loose: freedom.

Ironically, as people worldwide abandon socialism having suffered its dark economic and societal repercussions, Americans – once the symbol of freedom, prosperity, and generosity – are forging only deeper into its dark abyss.

For as Edmund Burke, a British philosopher and statesman, said of socialism,”A perfect equality will indeed be produced. That is to say equal wretchedness, equal beggary, and on the part of the petitioners, a woeful, helpless, and desperate disappointment, such is the event of all compulsory equalizations. They pull down what is above, they never raise what is below and they depress high and low together beneath the level of what was originally the lowest.”

4 t-shirts were for sale in the airport.

Permalink for Radio Debate with a Socialist (& Photos from Venezuala)

Photos on a Sunny July Day

A joyous day in the Colorado sunshine!

Did much on this day – started very early in morning – photos taken about 2:30 pm. Was a happy day, got much good accomplished!

Coming Home & The Catechism

There is a Morning Offering prayer which is special to me which I pray with other prayers each day. From it are these two lines I share with you, “…Your goodness has preserved me until now. I offer you my whole being and in particular all my thoughts, words, and deeds, together with all the trials I may undergo this day…”

The entire prayer is one of giving oneself to the work of God; affirming one’s deepest desire and conviction to live each moment of this day in service to God’s love. I love the wording of this prayer, for it expresses the gratitude, praise, and devotion I feel. The line “Your goodness has preserved me until now,” is very significant to me as it expresses the thankfulness I feel for the provision I am now aware of and have been given my entire life (not just today) even during my years away from the Church.

A couple days ago, I met with my parish priest for over an hour, and I am glad I did. This is the first time in my life I have ever joined a church, and I am experiencing such joy and fulfillment in getting involved in ministries of my parish. As I learn and grow, I am sharing the revelation I have received with others (and already helping other Catholics in their lives, just as knowing them is helping me). My priest has invited me to share my path home to Catholicism with the parish, which I am overjoyed to do. I am so grateful for the love and grace which has been here all along for me – it just took the willingness on my part. (I have also shared with him exactly how I came back, reaching out in prayer to our Holy Mary during a time of discouragement and sadness, and finding immediate comfort, help, and guidance which led me to God’s grace, to Jesus, and to the Church.)

My priest again emphasized to me that all things to now led me to this point; it is happening at the right time – now – because I am ready. All I know is I feel blessed, joyous, and am happy to have a community of believers to share with. As I told him, I am one who loves being involved in using the abilities I’ve been given in service to humanity. I’ve always appreciated Catholic emphasis on service…loving our brothers and sisters, bringing compassion, and help to those suffering. It is the way I live, only now, I am joyful that I do this with full understanding and through my Church’s ministries. This is a most happy enlightening time for me. The word “community” now, in this spiritual sense through the Church, now has the most beautiful meaning to me. (I have also been blessed to hear from several Catholic ladies across the country who shared of the inspiration they found in my recent writings of my coming home to the Catholic Church, and who likewise thereby have encouraged and inspired me.)

I would like to share with my blog readers the beauty and enlightenment I have found in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. I am reading other books which are proving wonderful for me, but emphasize that the Catechism itself has opened my understanding in ways that amaze me. For the first time I “see,” and the Catechism is proving invaluable to me as I seek understanding (which miraculously is present, when before I was so confused and did not know).

It is (for me) always best to have a hardcover print book of any text which is meaningful to me, and I do recommend you also obtain a book copy of the Catechism, if you haven’t one. Meanwhile, however, for those who may read this who are curious and receptive to reading of the faith, as well as for fellow Catholics who may have lessened their reading over time, I wish to recommend that you visit the online version of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Even if you are not Catholic, or haven’t been a devout in your practice of your faith, or if you are a Protestant (or an unbeliever in any religious faith), or someone seeking to grow spiritully, someone willing to know the truth of what we, as Catholics, believe, I encourage you to visit the Catechism. There you will find an index, click the topics which appeal to you, and simply read with an open heart and mind.

As for me, I’m studying, discussing, and sharing…praying…and doing what I can do in my own parish. I am experiencing an aspect of joy I’ve never felt until now. The phrase “coming home” describes how I feel precisely.

Conversation on a plane re: “legal plunder”; thoughts on libertarianism

Note: any use of the term “libertarian” in my articles is unrelated to the “Libertarian Party (LP).” I advise all individuals who wish to join with others for the cause of advancing liberty in this nation NOT to join the LP. In my opinion, the party which uses the word “libertarian” is libertarian in name only and is a waste of time, work and money for those who are truly devoted to achieving liberty in our nation.

It is my observation that true libertarians have done far more to advance libertarianism and thereby help achieve greater liberty in America through their political activism, educational outreach, and organizations than the Libertarian Party has ever done. Thus, when I use the word “libertarian” in my writing, I am referring to those, as myself, who love liberty; who believe in the non-initiation of force; who believe in individual liberty with personal responsibility meaning people should be able to live their life as they choose as long as they harm no other; who believe in freedom (rejecting the control of economic and social affairs by the state) and who will not compromise those principles and values.
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               “Thou shalt not steal.” (Exodus 20:15 KJV)

It is one of the most interesting (and opportune) experiences to meet another individual who reminds you of yourself – but yourself a number of years ago. It’s like meeting who you were before you know what you know now…before the experiences which brought you to the beliefs and knowledge you possess now. I met such an individual on a flight en route to Orlando recently.

The past three years have been full of changes, awareness, and realization for me. I agree with Einstein in that, “Intellectual growth should commence at birth and cease only at death,” though I apply that to spiritual and physical growth as well. I am aware that both intellectually (analytically as well as in actual knowledge) and spiritually, I have become stronger through gained knowledge, experiences, and heartfelt seeking. I’ll add that even physically, I’m more developed in my strength now than ever before in my life (More exercise will do that for you! And though aerobic/anaerobic exercise has always been an important priority in my life since I was a teenager, the past three year’s I’ve emphasized it more, with even the past two months being filled with far greater time devoted to even more physical exercise & activities, and I’m reaping the result in how I look and feel. It’s wonderful to see and feel such progress in yourself. It makes you want to do even more. I am feeling great!)

My whole life, as I look back, has been spent wanting to know, learn and grow; these past three years have been most fruitful in this regard! And the past three months the most fruitful of all, empowering me to continue my work to advance liberty.

To be alive is opportunity to grow, to move forward, and thereby create positive results, or as Benjamin Franklin observed “Without continual growth and progress, such words as improvement, achievement, and success have no meaning.” This certainly applies to every area of life – including politics.

It was in 2005 & 2006 that my own political observations and life experience brought me nearly fully to libertarianism. For several years, people had inquired whether I was libertarian (based on their reading of pieces I had written or hearing me interviewed), but, of course, I had always answered “No,” as at that time I identified with no political label whatsoever. Then, in 2006, I finally started reading directly of libertarianism, and found indeed I was libertarian in so many conclusions, approaches, and ideas. Once I actually sought out libertarian writers, I discovered what libertarianism was and identified with it.

In fact, every essay or definition of libertarianism described my position to a tee – save one. My misplaced compassion (as I call it now) found a spot in me in which I still clung to the idea of helping others through the use of taxpayer money.

Well, soon enough, in mid-2006, I finally saw how wrong that position was. For the first time in my life, my eyes were opened to the fact that such “government/taxpayer help” was fundamentally unjust and immoral. (I already knew it didn’t work but attributed that to mismanagement, waste, etc. which, of course, is par for the course from government-so I kept using my mind to try and figure out ways it “could” work without ever questioning the fundamental morality/immorality of the issue). But in early to mid 2006, finally, I realized that the entire concept of welfare was corrupt. How dare anyone force another to supposedly “help” another. That’s stealing. This understanding went far beyond what works or doesn’t work, it went to the core truth: The reality is true charity, true compassion, true help to another in need…is always voluntary. It cannot be done by a collective use of force, but must stem from the hearts of individuals who choose to willingly give to others.

Once this awareness was present, I wholeheartedly embraced libertarianism and could fully refer to myself as libertarian.

The interesting thing is the realization I had agreed with libertarian ideas prior to 2006, and yet never was exposed directly to libertarian thought, writers or speakers. I was always fiscally conservative from my earliest years and simultaneously possessed genuine desire to help others (but misguided in the way I thought that should be accomplished). Good libertarian writers cleared the way analytically and morally for me, with the one who most reached me (fueling my passion now to reach others who were like myself) being Frederic Bastiat in “The Law.”

Once I read that, I had to share it with everyone I knew – and with success! (Note: I have given “The Law” to people who were previously prone to thinking government help to those in need was justified, and they are now strong as I in opposition to the welfare state now as a result. That little booklet/essay clarifies it for many!)

Sometimes I’ve thought: If only I had read “The Law” many years ago…if only I had read the works of uncompromising libertarians years ago…might it have gotten me onto correct understanding so much sooner! My heart and mind were in the right place, but struggling to find answers amongst the false. But then I consider every experience I’ve had in life realizing it was through that journey, I learned an enormous amount. So, I trust that every thing occurs at the right time in my life as long as I have chosen to be on the right path (“right” defined as seeking truth, understanding, motivated by love). It is the path which prepares us to be ready for that new knowledge and lessons. Reflecting on a variety of experiences, I would have to say I trust this insight to be true: I need never question the timing of any event in my life, I need simply trust all occurs at the best time for me. There may times when my spirit, my faith, must be strong..but if I remain in that trust, all will be well. I do believe this.

So, with the story I began with, the meeting of someone who reminded me of myself – but only who I was several years ago. He was a young man (in his twenties, visiting America from Norway). Similar enthusiasm, wanting to be of service to humanity, love of life, highly intelligent and knowledgeable. Our conversation began and ended over one flight to Orlando from DC. Through that, we both went away with a good understanding of the other politically – mine a libertarian and spiritual viewpoint – and he from a humanistic and socialistic viewpoint – but both of us recognizing we want the same things for our brothers and sisters, though we have an entirely different approach.

We agreed on so many things, including that the US government’s aggression/arrogance/imperialistic agenda is responsible for so much of the death and destruction worldwide. But a primary difference was found in our thoughts on welfare and healthcare.  Interestingly, the young man acknowledged he had never thought about socialized healthcare or welfare as I presented it (giving him the analogy of a man who holds you up at gunpoint, takes your money only to give it to a homeless shelter down the street – did the man still do wrong by stealing from you? – “yes” has always been the response I receive from people and was the response received from this man as well). But the difference was, when I posed the point that only voluntary giving is truly charitable or compassionate, he replied he had never thought of it that way, but maintained he truly did want his tax money going to help others because if they needed medical care he wanted them to have it, just as if he ever needed it, he knew it would be there.

When asked about his countrymen who perhaps did not “want” to help others with their money, he had no answer (save that perhaps they shouldn’t live there as that would be a dilemma). This, and his rejection of any possibility of a spiritual reality, were our primary differences…and perhaps it is in that rejection of the spiritual which explains his inability to grasp the wrongness of forcing one’s countrymen to support their neighbors.  Yet, even so, this was a most interesting conversation as you may imagine, with he (and three other people I met on my return flight ) asking me to write the website url for the Future of Freedom Foundation in a notebooks/organizers (it is the site I most recommend to people I meet who express interest in knowing more.) Such conversations of freedom really get people involved and wanting to know more. Even a young man from Norway.

I’ve thought about the conversation much, and was reminded of it yesterday when I had another conversation with someone about both welfare & immigration (sending them to Philippe Legrain’s site since we were discussing how good immigration is for our nation & how much evil happens because of  immigration control and the current war on immigrants). As I think about it – every American I have met and discussed such topics with have been eager to know where they could read further about such a libertarian perspective as shared…and the young man from Norway was the only one who though objective or interested enough to read more, expressed emphatically his adherence to society (government) providing basic necessities for all at a cost to all. But, I reiterate, every American I’ve shared the idea with of the wrongness of “legal” or “lawful plunder” (as Bastiat referred to it) is intrigued, nearly in agreement regardless of their political background, and then they begin to question how it would work…which leads one to discuss elimination of wrongful taxation so you decide how to spend or give your money. Americans are always receptive to this immediately.

This is because Americans cherish and celebrate freedom (even as it dwindles). Americans become intrigued at a notion of much greater liberty they never have considered possible. And, most Americans, still adhere to a sense of justice. Just like myself even just two-three years ago, I sought greater liberty but couldn’t fully grasp how it can be achieved until I found libertarian literature exploring true economic and personal liberty.

Even now, amongst those in my circle of acquaintances (more from the liberal side and peace activism side), I find the idea of rejecting “legal plunder” resonates. Some libertarians have told me they think those on the “left” will always cling to their socialistic approach to healthcare for example. But I have found the opposite to be true. It is these individuals who are quite receptive. They already oppose the warfare state, and only espouse the welfare state because of their misplaced compassion. They are good people, very good people, who seek to ease suffering in the world (only they mistakenly think the welfare state does that, when as you and I know, it is the welfare state responsible for only more suffering.) But because they are good, they respond to what for me was the strongest reason to oppose the welfare state, the moral injustice of it. Once they correlate the identical agenda and results of the statist case for the warfare state with the statist case for the welfare state – they view it clearly.

Although I find the moral/ethical case against welfare to be the strongest and most persuasive, it is, ironically, the argument I see least communicated by otherwise libertarian writers. Those egotists who pride themselves for their “intellectualism” even express anger or ridicule of those who share all aspects, including the moral or ethical, for libertarianism. They see not that their vanity in their intellect makes them less effective, with the stage of argument mainly amongst themselves – where it stays – not reaching the American people. For the mind is a good servant but a terrible master. Letting one’s expression of libertarian ideas stop only at the mind by focus only on the pragmatic is far weaker than those who share it both from logic and rationality as well ethics.

But those writers and speakers who do boldly proclaim the immorality and injustice of the welfare state are the ones making the most difference – because they make the case to all Americans – and despite our culture, I believe the moral or ethical approach reaches people’s hearts and that is far more powerful than only reaching one’s mind. Trying to only reach people’s minds (logical & analytical approach) to the exclusion of the heart (values, morals, ethics) is flawed, less powerful, and easily challenged by opposing rational viewpoints. Reaching the heart, gives rise to the analytical, but with an unfaltering foundation.

Such courageous libertarians are not only intellectually developed, but spiritually – in that humility guides their work. (There is nothing more pleasing than meeting highly intelligent individuals, who you are aware know far more than yourself in their areas of expertise, who take pleasure in discussing ideas with you as an equal, even though they know so much more than you. Their choice to view all individuals on an equal basis, makes their sharing of ideas and wisdom so powerful and influential. Such genuine pleasure and willingness to share what they know and understand with others is evidenced in their writings, speeches, and in their very manner when they speak with those who find value in their work. Humility in such individuals, who obviously are aware of their superior knowledge, is most refreshing! It also makes them far more effective communicators.) Rather than trying to only teach “truth,” as they perceive it, the most effective libertarians point the way to truth so others can perceive and grasp it within. They, by their genuineness, reach the witness within the heart of the listener, for truth is not taught so much as it is felt.

This points to the wonderful witness each of us can be for libertarianism. I find so many opportunities, even the one-on-one random conversations with strangers, to share libertarian thought with. All it takes is one complaint from them about the government, or the gas prices, or their taxes, or their lack of medical insurance (the list is endless) to open up an opportunity to appropriately share a perspective they’ve never heard. I just love it when people say “I’ve never though of it that way,” or “I didn’t know that.” And, that, more often than not gives one the chance to point them in a direction (say to a website of freedom ideas) to learn more. Many a time, even in grocery store or department store lines, I have had people actually take their wallets out to write down a website I recommend apropos to our conversation.

Will that young man question his ideas? Maybe. Will the lady who took down the website I recommended while in line at Wal-Mart last week become more knowledgeable (beyond her current opinion) of US government tyranny? Maybe. I do know they wouldn’t have been exposed to the ideas were it not for a brief conversation/encounter with this stranger. Will you be the one to spur understanding, enlightenment, awareness of libertarian thought and solutions in a stranger you meet somewhere? Will you be ready to share your favorite websites, books, or organizations ? Will you be one to point someone in the direction of truth?

The time is now for all who embrace and work for liberty to be unabashedly bold in sharing what they know. Our country is headed in a downward spiral, with the federal government threatening our fundamental rights and liberties, our economy, our freedom. We have already lost so much. If our republic is ever to be restored, the waking up, so the subsequent action, must occur now.

Determine how you, based on your strengths and aptitudes, will have the greatest impact for liberty, and do it. Remember Franklin’s quote,”Without continual growth and progress, such words as improvement, achievement, and success have no meaning.” Create meaning. Make your intellectual, spiritual and physical growth/progress a priority, and I believe not only will your personal life improve, but those strengths will overflow into further achievement and success for liberty.

A Beautiful Morning

Greetings!
Every day is so wonderful, and each time I think about it, I am just in awe of how each day is flowing so perfectly with blessings abounding.

I’d like to share with you what I saw as I waited for my morning tea to brew:

Isn’t he magnificent?

Wildlife is abundant here. On any given day, at my home, I may have opportunity to view deer, elk, bear, mountain lion, bobcat, fox, coyote, skunks, rabbits, porcupine, squirrels, and chipmunks…birds are abundant from eagles and hawks to mountain bluebirds, hummingbirds, flickers, magpies, ravens, jays, swallows, mountain chickadees, owls, and many more. Insects are interesting, too, with a multitude of colorful beautiful butterflies and moths, dragonflies of all sizes (including some huge ones which resemble hummingbirds), plenty of grasshoppers, etc. And there’s rattlesnakes.

Right now, I’m delightfully keeping watch on a little bird who has built her nest on a part of my home, shielded well from rain and sun, she’s chosen an excellent location. I watched her as she built it, and now, as she rests upon it.

So, this morning, I’m humming and singing to myself the lyrics and music of Hammerstein & Rodger’s “Oh, What a Beautiful Morning” (from Oklahoma), as it is so apropos with it’s “All the cattle are standing like statues” (they are!) and “All the sounds of the earth are like music.” Even now, as I type this, I hear a cricket and many birds singing. I’ll later go for a walk to the creek (the water music), may see the horses and cattle, and experience the coolness of gentle breezes under the shade of the aspen and blue spruce. Paradise.

And I must say the song refrain suits me perfectly: “Oh, what a beautiful mornin’,Oh, what a beautiful day. I got a beautiful feelin’ Ev’rything’s goin’ my way.”

Happiness

Where the Fight is Truly the Most Fierce

“…Some Americans claim that the Second Amendment is outmoded. They say that while U.S. personnel would do bad things to foreigners, they would never do bad things to Americans. Oh? You mean, like the way they tortured and sexually abused John Walker Lindh? Or the way they tortured, isolated, drugged, and brutalized Jose Padilla? Or the way they massacred people, including defenseless children, at Waco? Or the way they shot Vickie Weaver in the head, as she held her baby in her arms, and her teenage son in the back? Or the way they shot and killed antiwar demonstrators at Kent State? Or the way they rounded up Americans of Japanese descent and put them into concentration centers? Or the way they engaged in syphilis experiments with unsuspecting African-Americans? …”
-From Jacob G. Hornberger’s July 8, 2008 article “Robert Mugabe and the Second Amendment.

What a powerful paragraph from an excellent article!  It’s a warning and reminder to be heeded.

Most Americans entirely forget the reason for the 2nd Amendment, and they refuse to believe that the U.S. government is capable of using force against its own citizenry.  When one speaks of the original intent behind the amendment, one is often met with scoff as so many Americans think it’s just paranoid to regard the government as a potential enemy.  The excellent piece above details just what occurs when the citizens of a nation are unarmed, and it’s a story we’ve seen throughout history.  Tyrannies haven’t any reason to stop at any length of oppression when a citizenry is powerless to defend itself. 

When we look at the U.S., we see increasing acts of tyranny, arrogance beyond what I think Americans would have imagined in years past, and increasing power and control  over every aspect of our lives.  I can conceive of a day, perhaps in our not so distant future, in which U.S. troops may be ordered to be used against the American people right in our cities and neighborhoods.  Though the “against” part will not be said, the effect will be the same.  The U.S. would then eerily begin to resemble every past tyrannical country throughout history.  Of course, it would almost certainly be done in the guise of “protecting” us from some dangerous “them” the government says is threatening us, but nevertheless once it’s done, clashes (be they random, malicious, accidental or ordered) with fellow Americans are bound to occur.  Then, those who have made the point of the original intent of the 2nd Amendment will no longer be viewed as paranoid, but as prophetic…but it’s not something that takes any extraordinary sight to see, it’s the natural outcome of any nation which permits its “leaders” to exert more and more power over their daily lives – with disarmament a major warning sign. 

A healthy nation of liberty has nothing to fear from law abiding citizens with guns.  Only those who would seek to victimize law-abiding citizens have something to be concerned about.  Any would-be oppressor thinks twice before attempting to victimize those who are armed, and as a people, and as individuals across this nation, we are an armed people.

Recently, the DC gun ban was lifted by the U.S. Supreme Court, and interestingly who came out vocally against it? The director of the FBI, Robert Mueller, who said, “”weapons harm people, and more often than not they harm the people carrying them, “ (NBC5news). He even referred to hoping the college campuses his grandchildren attend will be “weapons-free.” Ironically, if college campuses were to become the “incubators of terrorism” he says he fears, it’s an armed citizenry which will be our best protection.

So, with Mueller’s extensive background in the military and law enforcement (and presumably/apparently with his military and law enforcement background an expertise with weaponry), perhaps (giving him the benefit of doubt) one may assume he thinks that’s where guns should be – only in the hands of those trained and working for the government.  To not give him the benefit of doubt, perhaps he realizes that the people’s last recourse against being completely controlled by the government is in weapons they own.  But, again, if we do give him the benefit of doubt, we’re left with the conclusion that Mueller must think he’s a “special” person, better than the rest of Americans and thereby more capable of rightfully or justly using a gun for self-defense or employing those with guns to use guns rightfully in self-defense on his behalf. But as for the rest of us, let them be weapon-less and vulnerable to those with guns (and then it would only be criminals and government with guns).  Is that the kind of nation Mueller wants?  A nation of victims?  That kind of thinking, that kind of rationale and motive behind such absurd statements, serves to make the point well – we sure can’t trust the rational ability of those who are there to “protect” us. 

Want to know more about Mueller?  I suggest you read a most interesting article  from the VFW Magazine glorifying his combat experience in Vietnam…touted as experience to now be the one heading up efforts in their “War on Terror.”  In the article you’ll find a quote from John Ashcroft, “”There’s no question but that Bob Mueller was the right choice to reorganize the Bureau…The FBI is on the front lines of the war against terrorism, and as a former combat Marine, Mueller has always wanted to be where the fight is most fierce.”

But people such as Bush, Cheney, Ashcroft, Rove, Hayden, Mueller and the rest of the gang, in my opinion, have begun the most fierce fight – and it’s not their convenient “War on Terror” – it’s right here in America against Americans. They have done everything within (and Constitutionally without in my opinion) their invested power to strip Americans of  rights they are Constitutionally bound to uphold and protect.  And while director Michael Hayden’s CIA may destroy tapes of interrogation, the results of their continual evil remains: it is Bush’s gang and its oppression of people worldwide which is responsible for the enormous increase of hatred and rejection of this country.  And though that in no way justifies retaliatory attacks upon civilians here, the rage of millions against this nation (our government) is understandable. 

To me, it is in many various forms and ways, that the U.S. government  is waging the most fierce fight of all and it is against the American people.  For it is this government which endangers us from both within and from without.

In conclusion, I for one, and with many other Americans nationwide, believe in the full restoration of the 2nd Amendment.  No bans.  No exceptions. It’s up to you to defend yourself against whomever the oppressor may be… when the fight is truly the most fierce. 

(comments/discussion of this article are at its Nolan Chart publication in my “Seeking Truth” column).

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4th of July Message (& who I’m voting for in November)

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.–That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed…”

A strong bold and clear definition of the proper form of government, one deriving its power from the citizens solely to protect the rights each individual is born with.  Fifty years later, Jefferson wrote in a letter to Henry Lee describing the Declaration of Independence as “an appeal to the tribunal of the world,” and “…intended to be an expression of the American mind, and to give to that expression the proper tone and spirit called for by the occasion…”

Continuing from the Declaration of Independence, “…Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people…” 56 signers put their lives on the line for a vision we as Americans celebrate every 4th of July.

They were men unafraid to challenge the injustices imposed upon the people, bold enough to declare the existence of 13 sovereign states, and courageous in stating clearly the people should be governed by the rule of law not by the words and control of a man with dictatorial rule, unrestrained by law, unjust, a usurper of sovereignty…in short – a tyrant.

Yet is that spirit of courage present today?  Where are such patriots?  Where are individuals who truly love freedom and will fight to ensure the liberties we hold so dearly are not taken from us?  Certainly not in the halls of Congress (with rare exceptions).  And most certainly not in the White House…and November 2008 will do nothing to change this sad fact.  We, as a nation, willingly participate in a huge farce.  A dark comedy.  Only without the laughs.  For this nation will again install yet another “unfit to be the ruler of a free people.”

But though unfit to rule a “free people” they are fit to be the ruler of the American people, because the people continue to accept more and more loss of their liberties.  On this 4th of July weekend we’ll see the flags waving, the festive parades, the BB Q’s, the fireworks and patriotic songs…but do we see liberty? I think we see vestiges of the freedoms we once held so dearly and were willing to fight for.  We see symbols, removed from the truth, enjoyable representations of days and a country (a republic) far gone.  Yes, we have liberties, but we are losing them at an alarming rate as we continue to elect people who care nothing for liberty.

Celebrating is fine, it’s what the founders wanted:  As John Adams wrote in a letter to his wife, on July 3, 1776, when the Declaration of Independence had been approved, saying,“It ought to be commemorated as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more. You will think me transported with Enthusiasm but I am not. I am well aware of the Toil and Blood and Treasure, that it will cost Us to maintain this Declaration, and support and defend these States. Yet through all the Gloom I can see the Rays of ravishing Light and Glory…”

We’ve got the “Pomp and Parade” and the sports and all the other festivities, but we have omitted the “Toil” and all that goes with that as well as the “solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty.”  In doing so, the people as a whole have not maintained the spirit of the Declaration of Independence, and rather have permitted a government to become so huge, unresponsive, unjust, immoral, authoritarian, burdensome, wielding power without regard to the wishes of the people any longer.  Most Americans have brought so little solemnity to defending the Republic, that they don’t even grasp that which they’re celebrating on the 4th of July, and they certainly don’t give it a thought until the next holiday they can celebrate and feel patriotic about.  If the enormous number of Americans having a good time today channeled just some of that energy into challenging the corrupt status quo by refusing to ever again vote for a politician who doesn’t uphold the U.S. Constitution in all their policies and decisions, things would change.  No longer would the lying politicians have a mandate from the people to continue as they are – giving lip service to all things patriotic while being the antithesis to liberty.

I’m all for having a celebratory enjoyable time with friends in honor of our independence, but I am well aware that “Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom, must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it.”  (Thomas Paine).  I don’t see most Americans doing anything to support it.  Instead they treat politics like a game, with the biggest example of that being the political party conventions which are just a big party, with the rest of Americans who don’t attend hyping themselves up emotionally over their preferred dictator. 

What has happened to the liberty you are celebrating when you have a government that assumes an essentially dictatorial rule since 9/11; a president exercising power and authority as no president prior, along with a Congress that rubberstamps it all?  And consider the decades of oppressive taxation by this federal government while providing virtually no representation; so why do millions of Americans go to the polls and cast a vote for anyone, be they from the “left” or “right” who seeks to not only continue the oppression but increase it?

Recognize that any candidate who has supported or defended the Iraq War, the “War on Terror” or the Patriot Act; pledges to increase foreign aid; refers to foreign nations as our “enemies;” supports using our military for any reason other than defense of America; maintains the use of embargoes; supports the “War on Drugs;” advocates windfall profits tax; supports expanding the government be it for “campaign finance reform,” Medicare, supporting airline bailouts, federalizing regulation of sports such as boxing, education, or any other “good cause” at your literal expense; or who advocates any number of other unconstitutional positions, is “unfit to be the ruler of a free people.”

A candidate that does not openly and boldly state they will cease the imperialistic agenda of the U.S. government by ending all meddling in the affairs of other nations – no exceptions – and any candidate who seeks to use and increase “legal plunder” as Bastiat says to fund programs to “help” people by taking from others – is not fit to “be the ruler of a free people.”  In my opinion, there’s not a single candidate running which I believe (save one) is a patriot, who would always endeavor to  put the true best interest of the American people (the upholding of the U.S. Constitution) above all political agendas, who respects individual liberty and a truly free market, and would at least try to reign in the out of control government intrusion/invasions of our civil liberties, taxation, much less end the interventionist assaults on sovereign peoples worldwide. 

Resolve this July 4th to re-dedicate yourself to really trying to make a difference for the cause of liberty.  Vow to withhold your time, money and work from all political candidates for any office whom you distrust.  Past voting records, empty words, vacillation on issues, and outright declarations of so many unconstitutional positions proves to me that a candidate is unworthy of my support. I will cast a vote only for a candidate, who if they received the office, would not only swear to uphold the Constitution but I believe they would do it.  I vow to be always be a voter of integrity.  I will cast my vote as if it would determine who will be in that office.  As a voter of integrity, your candidate may not win this time, but neither will you have again been a part of giving “a democratically elected dictator” (defined by Jacob G. Hornberger in his article A Democratic Dictatorship as “a person who has been duly elected to office who exercises dictatorial powers”) a mandate from the people. 

As for me, the choice is clear: I’m writing in the name of Ron Paul.  Let’s use this 4th of July to dedicate ourselves to actively working for liberty at every level of government, and let’s use this special day to vow to be part of a unified effort across this country to write in “Ron Paul” on the ballot in November. Any other vote is a wasted vote.

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Catholicism

I have always shared who I am (my personal beliefs- spiritual and political) throughout the years on my website/blog writings; I now share the joyous finding of my Catholic faith.

A number of years ago I rejected religion (though not my spiritual seeking) from my life and described my reasons in an essay.

But all of those reasons or objections have now been resolved in my discovery of my Catholicism.  I was christened/baptized Catholic as a baby (for which I am grateful and recently told my father so), and though on certain occasions as a child I was in the Church, it was only rarely.  (Frankly, looking back on my fond childhood memories of being in the Catholic Church with my father, lighting a candle and praying, I think my awe, reverence, belief and gratefulness then is identical to my openness with which I am receptive to the teachings, the blessings and the grace I now am (again) aware of.)  All my life, each time I have entered a Catholic Church, I felt I was entering a sacred place, a holy place, I never felt that feeling in any other man made place of worship. I have always felt drawn to the Catholic Church no matter where I was throughout my life.  I feel this awareness has been just under the surface, and as a lady at my local parish told me yesterday, Jesus was always there, my Catholicism (the Catholic Church) was always there, waiting for me… and that my feelings and awakening as I described it to her was happening at the right time and that everything in my life had brought me to this point.  I was so happy to be welcomed so warmly.  I keep using the word “my” in this blog post…and objectively as I type this, I find my use of the word “my” very interesting.  My Catholic faith, my Catholicism, my parish, and yet all of this is new to me…but it is as if it always has been.  I am joyous.

I’ve always sought to know, grow, and be in the Truth.  That seeking (and questioning of myself) has led me to be an avid reader of spiritual matters for years.  Without going into great detail here, suffice to say I regard my previous rejection of religion as foremost a rejection of certain Protestant teachings and emphasis (and lack of emphasis in other areas) which did not resonate/coincide with my conscience, negative experiences with Christian hypocrites (which as a friend pointed out to me, it is irrational to reject a belief simply because those claiming to also believe it do not practice it), and hardship and struggle in my life which made me feel much despair and discouragement. I now see that it was my mind trying to comprehend and understand, rather than my heart,  rather than my spirit, in essence rather than faith.  But I will not dwell on the past, for it is behind me.  The past does not exist.  What matters is this moment, and my life decisions from now on.  I am 41 years old, and this is for me the most significant decision I have made (since I suppose I could say that decision to reject religion) and this decision for my life of devoutness, worship, repentance and acceptance of love and reconciliation, fills me with joy.  I believe I’ve always been on the right path, my heart has been seeking, and now I have realized something that was always there – though it took some life experiences to come to it, embrace it, experience it.

Now, I am filled with happiness, amazement, and gratitude.  I feel full of wonder.  This comes after my decision to study of Catholic theology and the lives of the saints. My study of Catholicism over the past several months has been enlightening!  I became deeply interested in learning more of the saints, and through learning of their courageous inspiring lives, I became intrigued with learning much more of the faith they so devoutly committed their lives to and to prayer.  So much I did not know but thought I knew; what I have learned and experienced has enhanced my spiritual understanding and recognition of teachings, practices, and my moral beliefs. I look forward to Mass, the Sacrament of the Eucharist (Holy Communion again) and adherence/practice/respect of all Sacraments  (which I discussed with my parish).  And to help continue my understanding, I am happy to be enrolled in Catholic Study.  Prayer, in a way I’ve never experienced before is one of the most important experiences that has brought me here (including Marian prayer which has been most blessed in my life-a communication with our Holy Mother (Christ’s mother and ours) has been life-changing and wondrous – intercessory prayer is real, valid, and through Mary solace has been given me), is a part of my daily life.

The sacred, the mysterious, the grace of supernatural revelation, has brought me a peace I’ve never had.  I want my works, the process of my learning and growing in faith, to be strong and reflect His love.  As I reflect on my experiences, all of which were a part of bringing me to this beautiful happy point, I must say life is mysterious and wondrous.  I needed to share this here (I’ve shared my experience of my Catholic faith/practice of Catholic prayer with my father, and only a few others so far), as it is who I am, and reflected in every area of my life.  (To even begin to speak aloud about how significant prayer/what I have experienced/learned in the past several months, brings forth deep emotion in me.)  I am joyous.   I am blessed.  I am happy.

Photos with My Beloved Father, May 2008.

No matter what I do in life, I know my father’s love for me is always there.
No matter what I choose to do, where I choose to go, or what believe, my father’s love is unconditionally there for me.  He wants me happy in life, and when I am happy, he is happy.  I have seen this my whole life through. He is a blessing in my life!

His example as my earthly father reminds me of my Heavenly Father, nothing can ever separate me from His love.

I invite you to visit my father’s web page.