Civic duty? Or vigilantism?

Posted on 2026-08-03 by TPOL Nathan

This weekend, in Idaho (of all places), a serious and tragic situation unfolded.

This posting from Spec Ops magazine explains what went down:

Unfortunately, three people still died (not counting their suicidal killer) and seven were wounded. As one commenter pointed out, in Idaho, it would not be surprising to find that half the people in the parking lot and drive-through were carrying.(The Washington Standard reports that more than 60 of every 100 residents of the State own at least one firearm.)

But two of those people actually responded. And stopped the shooting and the killing, driving the murderer away from his evil action. One of those men is in the above photo.

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Managed democracy versus a republic

Posted on 2026-08-02 by TPOL Nathan

Stating with the understanding that all mandatory, human government is illegitimate, it is interesting (and perhaps important) to understand all the various forms of human government which abound or have existed on this poor planet of ours.

We do point out that, theoretically, a mandatory human government based on the fundamental of universal consent might – might – possibly be legitimate. But even that is unlikely, given Lincoln’s theorem: “You can fool ALL of the people some of the time, and some of the people ALL of the time, but not ALL of the people ALL of the time.” Government isn’t rolling dice, and how many times in a row can you get snake eyes before something else comes up? Even unanimous democratic government, especially when done in the form of a representative democracy, is virtually (99.9999%) certain to take away human liberty and responsibility.

We here at TPOL were just made away of a concept called “managed” or “guided” democracy. (Oddly enough, via a war game based on Warhammer 40,000.) According to some definitions:

A managed democracy (a/k/a guided democracy) is a system of government that holds formal elections but uses state power, media control, and bureaucratic rules to ensure the ruling elite always wins and keeps control. Key Characteristics include:

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Aggression? Or self-defense?

Posted on 2026-08-01 by TPOL Nathan

A guest commentary and more!

Tom Jefferson described liberty and how laws did not sustain and support liberty, because tyrants used law just as much (or more) than lovers of liberty did.

“How keep under control the men entrusted with the handling of the government apparatus lest they turn their weapons against those whom they were expected to serve? The main political problem is how to prevent the rulers from becoming despots and enslaving the citizenry. Defense of the individual’s liberty against the encroachment of tyrannical governments is the essential theme of the history of Western civilization. The characteristic feature of the Occident is its peoples’ pursuit of liberty, a concern unknown to Orientals. All the marvelous achievements of Western civilization are fruits grown on the tree of liberty.” ~ chapter 21, Theory of Money and Credit, Ludwig von Mises, AD1912

Obviously, free-market/free-enterprise anarchists (like us at TPOL) believe we have come up with the answer to Von Mises’ “main political problem.” Get rid of mandatory human government! Now, we understand that such a statement is considered “extremist” and not viewed as either feasible or desirable by the general public. And certainly not by those in power. So we are condemned when we act to provide that situation, in word or deed.

And that is the point of the question: when we resist human government and human governors (political rulers) are we acting in self-defense, or are we taking aggressive action against them, and those who support them? Is it extreme to take action against the system?

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What will work better?

Posted on 2026-07-31 by TPOL Nathan

Several talk shows have in recent days prefaced their hourly sessions on radio (and online) with quotes from various Woke Tranzi politicians.

They want to abolish at least the following institutions:

  • the US presidency
  • the US senate
  • the US Supreme Court
  • the Electoral College
  • ICE (agency, not substance)
  • the US military (well, technically “defund”)
  • national borders
  • prisons (“mostly”)

My oh my. That almost sounds like a libertarian, even an anarchist, wish list. No?

Of course, they add some other things:

  • The US presidency would be replaced by a chief executive elected by the US House (see next item).
  • The US House of Representatives would be expanded and become a “unicameral legislature.” That body would be elected by “democratic” means including both ranked-choice voting and proportional representation.
  • The US Supreme Court would be replaced by some kind of grand tribunal appointed by and accountable to the unicameral legislature.
  • Gradually, the largest American corporations and “essential industries” would be publicly owned (that is, government-owned) and “democratically” controlled (again, that is, “government-controlled”).

These recall the way the many failed (and failing) governments in various European nations (and the European Union itself) function. Once again, there are many libertarians that would agree with many of these actions.

We point out that we here at The Price of Liberty do not.

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How far do we go? Data centers and other nasty things?

Posted on 2026-07-30 by TPOL Nathan

Apparently a massive data center project in Virginia has been withdrawn, when a major sponsor of the project withdrew support. Many opponents of data centers are cheering this “victory” although it had nothing directly to do with their opposition. A TPOL correspondent shared that new, and like him, we think this is good news for many reasons. But there are many questions, and it is really hard to tell the truth.

The general consensus seems that the reason for the explosion in data centers is to increase the powers and ability of the surveillence state and its “private business” partners. But is that really the truth or just the propaganda that creates the most anger and reaction?

We already know that some of the claims made about the impact of data centers on water systems, electrical power, noise, and other issues that are pushed by opponents are either exaggerated, just plain lies, or already addressed by the companies and their contractors.

But often that information never makes it into any media, but is only available from person-to-person contacts. Or, we must ask, are our contacts also being fed falsehoods or corrupt?

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The face of evil

Posted on 2026-07-29 by TPOL Nathan

Despite movies and shows, Satan and his minions do not go around wearing horns with red skin and costumes. Evil is described as being a wolf in sheep’s clothing: it disguises itself as doing good.  We’ve seen that to be the case with human government time and time again. “Hello, I am here to help you” is the first of the lies we can expect on a visit from a government agent.

This week, we’ve seen a truly horrible example of just that. A man who successfully fooled not just the public, not just medical authorities, but other evil people, like other government employees and governmental leaders.  The man we here at TPOL refer to as “Faucet” actually “testified” in front of a US Senate committee.

The following information is from a correspondent. From what I can tell, these dates and data match what I’m seeing from multiple sources, about the guy’s appearance and the matters surrounding a man who probably was directly involved in the killing of at least a million Americans.

He put the correct mortality estimate in his own notebook, published it under his own name, and gave Congress a figure three to five times higher. Eighteen months later, he was hiring litigators to claim a share of the product he was telling Americans to take.

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Just a reminder…

Posted on 2026-07-28 by TPOL Nathan

A correspondent shared this political cartoon with us at TPOL recently:

Other correspondents and friends of The Price of Liberty also share reports from various places. Reports that point out the accuracy of both of the above labels.

Of course, political Libertarians are quick to point out that American voters (at least in most States) do have a third choice. Maybe even several: we think you can still cast a vote for the Prohibition Party in Colorado. And Natural Law and actual “we-still-call-ourselves” Communist Party in several States.

But we understand: the chances of a Libertarian (much less a true lover of liberty) getting elected to Congress (or even to a State legislature) are slightly less than the chances of you successfully catching a meteor falling from the sky in your bare hands (without injury)!

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Arrogance and condescension: how liberty’s enemies view the world

Posted on 2026-07-27 by TPOL Nathan

… And certainly how they see many of the American people.

These people (regressives who call themselves “progressives,” Tranzis (transnational socialists or progressives), socialists (democratic or not), Marxists, communists, social justice warriors, etc.) are a pestilence upon the land. (Which land? EVERY land, frankly, not just the States.) In their incredible lack of ability to reason and understand, they believe that everyone else is more stupid than they are. Even while they daily exhibit their stupidity!

In their constant fear and struggle against “Fascism” they embrace fascism: witness the action of Antifa in fighting “conservatives” opposed to government mask and vaccine mandates. While they tout their demand for “No Kings” they demonstrate their eagerness to assume the power of ancient (and modern) absolute monarchs. They demand free speech and freedom of assembly while working hard to deny those same rights to their political opponents. And they even turn on each other if one of their number dares to not follow the party line.

While condemning government (which uses more and more power to reward and push the agenda of the elites), they embrace socialism and communism – systems which give government MORE power. Why? Because more and more often, they are the leaders of these elites: in society, business, industry, academia, and media.

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What is liberty?

Posted on 2026-07-26 by TPOL Nathan

Thomas Jefferson wrote this in a letter to Isaac H. Tiffany on April 4, 1819, explicitly noting that he did not add “within the limits of the law” because “law is often but the tyrant’s will, and always so when it violates the right of an individual.” It is an important distinction.

There in lies the difference between a truly libertarian mindset and a libertine attitude and life.

Today, that has been recognized (as probably Jefferson and others of the Founding Fathers (and certainly, Mothers!) understood) as a form of restating of Jesus’ Golden Rule. “Do unto others as thou would have them do unto you.” And distilled into the Non-Aggression or Zero Aggression Principle.

Of course, Jefferson et al. understood that the People themselves (en masse or a majority) could be “the tyrant” and so chose a republic rather than a democracy. A choice proven wise just a few years later in the bloody chaos and tyranny of the French Revolution and decades of horror.

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Fool me once…

Posted on 2026-07-25 by TPOL Nathan

Most folks know the old saying, “Fool me once, shame on me. Fool me twice, shame on you.”

Of course, today, the frequency of being fooled by certain people is a whole lot more than just a time or two. Every sweep of the minute hand (the long one on analog clocks, remember those?) is another incident of Americans being fooled. Or at least, likely being fooled.

But Mark Twain makes a very important point:

It was true 150+ years ago when he wrote it, and it is true today.

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