The Price of Liberty

By Nathan Barton

As reported by MSN, Chairman Jerry (Moonbeam) Brown continues to preside over the rapid deterioration of the People’s Republic.

‘A 2017 California law requires that its attorney general keeps a list of states subject to a state travel ban because of “laws that authorize or require discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression,” Becerra’s office said in a statement.

‘”California taxpayers are taking a stand against bigotry and in support of those who would be harmed by this prejudiced policy.” he said.

‘Oklahoma becomes the ninth state subject to the state-funded ban. Travel to Alabama, Kansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee and Texas had previously been prohibited due to the 2017 law. ”

I am so glad that South Dakota is a banned destination: Oklahoma joins a select group of states that (at least somewhat) recognizes that true freedom of association involves a right to reject association: it is our choice whether or not to associate with, cooperate with, commune or fellowship with other people.  Whether it is in religion, business, family matters, or everyday activities.

Hopefully fewer people from California will come to South Dakota and try to push their moral opinion (which many of us brand as “immoral”) down our throats.  Ditto for Oklahoma. And the other states.  At the same time, hopefully Californians who believe in liberty – for others as well as themselves – will emigrate to South Dakota and other places, and help us counter the haters of liberty.

But that will not solve the problem.  Nor would the secession of California and its rapid decline into a third-world slime pit, creating an intolerable situation. One in which more and more people would demand a wall to keep Californians (and the flood of other migrants from around the world) from fleeing to Nevada, Oregon, or Arizona.  (Shucks, even Mexico might put up barriers, as they’ve done with Central America.)

Because we’d still be living under the thumb of DC.  We’d still be living in a land where black-robes can create “rights” out of thin air while denying real rights.  Where they can redefine words to mean whatever they want, and then use the power of guns to ram those down our throats. Where their posturing and pronouncements and slick, disgusting reasoning is supported by the occupants of the White House with very little question.  Whether they have (D) or (R) after their name.  Whatever their hair color.  Or their skin color. Or their supposed values.

Just like the black-robes and the arrogant money- and power-hungry members of the California Assembly – and the holier-than-thou resident of their governor’s mansion.  Whether that be a Schwarzennegger or a Brown – or even a Reagan.

The rest of the Fifty States are not that many steps behind the increasingly-socialist progressive paradise of California.  Indeed, it is a matter of degree and not kind. And many, like Colorado with its progressive laws, policies, commissions, and executive branch, are very close on California’s heels.  (And the black-robes refuse to take a stand for liberty, instead slapping the State of Colorado on the hands (gently!) for not being nice enough about kicking businesses in the teeth.)

So we see stupidity like travel bans, and kids getting busted for selling lemonade without a permission slip, and people harassed for having the wrong kind of medicine in their luggage.  And hundreds of other examples of the stupidity, arrogance, and just plain evil lurking in the hearts of politicians and bureaucrats, including the armed-thug bureaucrats.  And it will get worse and worse. Unless we stop it, by refusing to be their puppets, their billfolds, their sheep, their servants.

I don’t know if there are enough of us, yet, who are willing to say enough is enough.  But the number is growing daily.