By Nathan Barton

As this commentary is posted, “election day” is just hours away.  That is increasingly meaningless, as more and more people use early and absentee voting procedures to cast their vote.  And as hacking methods improve to “massage the vote” as those in power (whichever the wing of the “boot on your neck” party) want.

Still here are a few things to think about as we get ready to pay attention to see who is going to be the shills for Massa and the ruling class from 2019-2021.

(By the way, I find it bizarre to be writing a date in the 2020s more and more.  That was a key decade in many series of science fiction stories for a long time.)

First, like our anarchist and libertarian friends in many places (Agora Financial comes to mind – free plug for them and Laissez-Faire Books), Mama Liberty and myself have treated all politicians equally.  With equal contempt.  Even those (including ourselves) who are running for office (as I once did) to inform and enlighten our neighbors.

This is certainly the case in states in which I and my family have interests (and concerns).

Even when there is a Libertarian on the ballot, there are generally NO good choices when it comes to voting for a person. Let me say that again.  On the general election (and primary elections) there are virtually NO good choices.  They all, to some degree, want to control much of your life, take much of your money, and make you do things you really don’t want to do.

And increasingly, the same is true of ballot issues.  I’ve long advocated that the only reason to vote is in self-defense: to keep a much worse candidate from getting in, and to keep the rest of the voters (and those in power) from gaining MORE power and MORE of our money.  Ballot initiatives in several states we work, operate, and live, for the most part are about MORE money to be stolen and MORE limits on what we can do privately or in business.  Even when some freedom is reestablished by a ballot initiative, the legislature and governments at all levels work to regulate that freedom into effective oblivion.

Just a few examples:

In South Dakota, they want to “end corruption” in state government by imposing new rules and regulations on ANY one who wants to talk to a legislator.  While creating a new commission (paid for by government (i.e. stolen) money) appointed by those legislators.  And which will have the power to arbitrarily (by “administrative law”) fine ANY state or local employee who gains their ire.

In Colorado, they want to ban drilling within 2500 feet (nearly a half-mile, folks) of any and all residences and schools.  Never mind who owns the property on which drilling is done.  The old law limits anything within 500 feet, so this is five times the distance.

Also in South Dakota, they want to add another buck onto the tax on a pack of cigarettes “for the children” (the money is supposed to go to schools).

I could add dozens more. It may be self-defense to vote against such things, but never mind: they’ll be back.  Or they’ll pass the restrictions and special benefits in some underhanded way.

Third point: remember NOT to expect anything to really change based on Tuesday’s voting.  No matter who is in power – at least anyone we can expect to WIN – the governments will grow bigger and more powerful, the money will continue to be stolen out of our pockets, and the controllers will continue… to control.

Hearts and minds are not won at the ballot box, or during the campaign leading up to that.  Converting people to the love of liberty is a matter of one or two people at a time being shown the errors of their ways. And most especially what they can do to restore liberty in their own lives and communities.  Although its been a long time, both Harry Browne’s book How I Found Freedom in An Unfree World is worth reading.  So are several of Mary Ruwart’s books, including the Healing Our World series.

Of course, read it all with a grain of salt.  Nobody, especially lovers of liberty, is perfect!

Finally, remember, “This too shall pass.” The world isn’t going to come to an end on Tuesday, or whatever day those politicos do their next round of musical chairs and those ballot measures go into effect.