Once upon a time, the US Army taught its new officers and enlisted troops that (1) the United States of America, under the Constitution of 1787, was a republic. A federal republic in which the federal government was the agent of, and served, the States: Congress, the Executive Branch, and of course, the Judiciary. And that (2) democracy was nothing more than one step down in the decay of a republic into a mobocracy and finally a tyranny.
Continue readingA guest commentary.
Several years ago, I got a rare treat: a real, hardcopy, postage-stamped Nigerian scam letter – from Nigeria. All the usual things: the widow of a prince wanted me to help her smuggle millions of dollars of her inheritance into the United States for which she would split the proceeds. It was classic and very old-fashioned, as most Nigerian, Pakistani, Ghanan and other scammers had gone to emails a decade before. I still have it as a curiosity. Much more interesting than the usual phone call, text, or email spam.
It seems that the British Commonwealth is often the home base for scammers like this. I understand from friends that it isn’t just Yanks that are targets: Scots and Welsh folks get them too.
But it appears that something that might seem to be a scam may be showing up in your USPS-served mailbox soon. That is, if you were on social media (Facebook, X, etc.) and you spoke up on behalf of people in England protesting against unlimited immigration and the behavior of too many immigrants in the UK.
That subpoena and notice of extradition proceedings against you may not be a scam trying to get money from you. It may be “legit” legal paperwork. (For certain definitions of “legit.” Really issued by His Majesty’s (Charles III) shysters. And no doubt to be acted on by some secret mutual aid agreement between your local Sheriff or police department and those quaint English bobbies.
Continue readingWhomever you (if you are a political Libertarian or libertarian) vote for, remember that “if voting really mattered, they wouldn’t let us do it.” And of course, remember that the fix is always in.
Ah, what a quartet of statists we find on the two old party presidential tickets this year! (Assuming, of course, that we don’t get yet another surprise at Chicago in a couple of weeks.)
With less than three months to Der Tag, let us look at these so-august personages. Are any of them suitable for being Massa now or in the future?
With a deep breath…
Continue readingThe tapping of Governor Tim Walz of Minnesota for the veep nomination by dear Kammie about 48 hours ago has reminded people of just how bad American politics is. And the mental, intellectual, and moral bankruptcy of the Farm-Labor Party of Minnesota and the Democratic Party in all fifty States and the territories.
It also brings back memories of the worst days of the Pandemic Panic and the Black Lives Matter movement and the response to the death of George Floyd in Minnesota and nationwide.
And it is a reminder that the system Heinlein described in Starship Troopers more than 60 years ago does not result in a utopia. “Military service guarantees citizenship” (and therefore the vote and ability to run for and serve in public office) is not a bad idea. Even though it is condemned as supposedly being fascist and militaristic by many. But like all human systems and ideas, it has flaws and weaknesses: on average military veterans have greater civic virtue but not every veteran has that characteristic. Walz is the poster boy for such a lack – even though he has some good points. But as a sixty-year-old, he is the product of the many flaws of both the American military system for the last fifty-plus years and our society.
And of course, we cannot forget that even Heinlein’s ideas of human government are still tainted by the inherent evil and corruption of government.
But to Walz himself:
Continue readingThe most recent Consumer Price Index numbers are out for June (July’s are not yet out: https://www.bls.gov/news.release/cpi.nr0.htm), and they show that the cost of food overall, food at home, and food away from home (dining out, for example) rose across the board.
Here’s a look (and shudder!) at how some prices have changed month over month:
It’s not uncommon to now see a dozen eggs selling for well over $5 per carton. A fresh gallon of whole milk on average costs over $4. And staples like flour and beef have increased in price by about 33% since early 2020.
Continue readingContinuing our discussion of Israel (part 1 here)
The modern State of Israel can trace its evils (and its goods) back to biblical times.
The Sanhedrin (the Jewish high council) was very much opposed to those nasty rustic followers of Jesus of Nazareth – and not just because they were Galillean hicks. They arrested and imprisoned many of Jesus’ followers following His death (even though they claimed He had not risen). Killed some: Stephen stoned to death, James beheaded. It is highly likely that others were killed as well. And the authorities sent agents into other jurisdictions to intimidate and arrest those who had “abandoned” their faith to follow this Messiah. (Saul of Tarsus went to Damascus on such a mission – again unlikely to be the only such act.)
This was clearly done with the knowledge and (at least tacit) approval of the Roman government in Judea and Syria. From the Roman point of view, keeping Judea stable was important for several reasons.
Continue readingMany libertarians delight in bashing the State of Israel for its many sins (in their eyes). Not just, but especially, self-named “left libertarians.” (Who seem to want to find more in common with certain regressivist (“progressives”) than with fellow lovers of liberty.) On the other hand, many other libertarians delight in proclaiming their love for Israel, and at least some religious libertarians see the State of Israel as a fulfillment of prophesy and especially loved by God.
As one religiously-observant Hebrew once quipped, “I’m not sure how long we can endure being God’s chosen people. It’s like wearing a target bulls-eye.”
The war with Hamas, invasion of Gaza, and now a seeming two-front or three-front war just increases the debate and further separates the various sides. As does the Woke betrayal of Zionism.
We here at TPOL do not fall into either of these camps. We do NOT consider the State of Israel to be a fulfillment of God’s prophesies in the Bible, nor any longer to be a physical nation which is “chosen of God.” At the same time, we DO see the State of Israel as an alternative in the Middle East, and far FAR preferable, to anything Muslims – especially the Arabs – and most especially the so-called “Palestinians” have as far as a society that can promote, encourage and protect liberty. At least not as long as the vast majority of Arabs are Muslim, tribal, and exhibit an insane hatred of Jews and the West. And behave like their (version of) God: cruel, vindictive, and more.
Even so, we consider Israel to be – like all human, compulsory government-controlled lands and people – to be wrong. Their actions – even if motivated by a need for self-defense – are often evil: cruel and unthinking and based on vengeance. but as authoritarian as the Israeli regime is, I see it as very much preferable – for people of ALL faiths and ALL ethnicities and backgrounds – to any current Arab regime.
Still, Israel in 2020 is no bastion of liberty, and nowhere close to a libertarian society, much less a minarchist government. Like all mandatory governments, the Israeli government does many evil things.
One of those areas of evil actions was reported several years back, featured in Freedom Net Daily. It still should rankle lovers of liberty:
Israel: Regime Orders Evangelical GOD TV Off Air (from NDTV [India]) “Israel’s media watchdog said Sunday that it had withdrawn the broadcast licence from US-based evangelical network GOD TV, accusing it of seeking to target Jews with Christian content. International Christian network’s GOD TV launched its Shelanu (Hebrew for ‘ours’) channel at the end of April [2020] on Israeli cable provider Hot, describing it as catering to Christians. But the channel provoked an immediate outcry in Israel, with then-communications minister David Amsalem accusing it of being a ‘missionary channel’ seeking to convert Jews to Christianity. … Israel enjoys vigorous support from evangelical movements in the United States but keeps a lid on missionary work in the Holy Land. While Israeli law only expressly forbids the giving of money or gifts to encourage conversions to another religion, missionary activities in general are closely monitored by the authorities and are offensive to many Israelis.”
Israel is NOT a monoreligious state, but it certainly has an oddity in the 21st Century. A state religion – Judaism – which has direct ties with, and some control over, the “secular” government of the State of Israel. (Even more so, if officially so, than Utah!) While far from a theocracy (a government in which priests rule), there is no First Amendment in Israeli basic law, protecting freedom of speech and religion in the way that Americans have.
And in this matter, the Israelis of 2020 very closely resemble those of AD 30-40, which will be discussed in detail in the second part of this commentary.
Israel today is an integral part of the post-WW2 international order built and maintained by the FedGov, even while it is frequently at odds with various administrations in DC and not a “formal” ally in many ways. And despite its oddities. Traits that make it in many ways at odds with American values (or at least those claimed to be “American”.) At the same time, its existence has been a constant flashpoint, for more than half a century.
Israelis – or at least most of their politicians and military leaders – understand both the value of the special relationship with DC and how far they can push. As they also understand that the wrong moves – or stupidity on one or both sides – can suddenly end that. Just as happened in the First Century AD.
But no one who is a lover of liberty should ever see Israel, and the Israeli “questions” as one dimensional. Whether they are haters of Israel (for whatever reasons – and there are many) or supporters. In our work of promoting, protecting, and expanding liberty, the Israelis can be valuable allies AND dangerous enemies.
Unlike their bitter and dogmatic enemies, the Islamic world, the Ummah. Whether those Muslims are Arab or Iranian or Pakistani. Whether they are Sunni or Shia or something else. Whether they are Islamists or “moderates.” Free speech? Freedom of assembly? Rights of the accused? Please.
Don’t misunderstand – a Muslim can be a lover of liberty also. But such Muslims are few and far between. As societies and cultures and nations, Islamic people are bitter and vengeful enemies not just of Jews but of liberty. (A subject for another time.)
The more we understand Israel and its history, the better we can deal with both the benefits and the threats that Israel of 2020 presents to liberty. And there are both.
See part 2.
News headlines herald new and ongoing attacks on fundamental liberties. Sometimes by a celebrity, sometimes by a politician… (Yes, we know it is often hard to tell the difference.) But often by a lot of people. And of course the fundamental liberties that they attack are
Are these real? Or just hype? Clickbait?
It appears to be both. Looking at recent headlines and actually going beyond the first paragraph or two, many appear to be serious efforts to take freedoms away from the masses. But others are merely reporting some twisted little piece of legislation designed to satisfy donors and fringe constituencies. Or mad(cap) efforts to get a little more news coverage and five seconds on the nightly news.
Continue reading
The Price of Liberty 
The evil of political dynasties
Perhaps we here at TPOL wrongly take for granted that most Americans – especially Libertarians – understand the evil of political dynasties, especially in republics.
It has been a problem in these States since the founding of the Republic, and even more so since the fall of the Republic and the gradual corruption into a “democracy” as it continues to decay.
A political dynasty? Where one (or more) members of a politician – especially an official is succeeded by another member of the same family. Either immediately or at some remove. We’ll look at some examples in a moment.
But first, why talk about this now? It is in the headlines.
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