Considering how much force and violence have shaped our destiny, it is understandable why statism is so tempting. Do you care about the poor? Want to protect the environment? Care about national security? Value a society that makes education freely available? Governments would like you to think you have done your part on important social issues by voting and paying your taxes without thinking critically. The threat of violence makes government monopolies and other organized crime distinct from voluntary organizations. Even the good things they achieve are made possible by coercion.
Over the course of human history, as we have demanded more self-government, the government racket has adapted. At one point, it was accepted that whoever could pick up the biggest rock was in charge. Then we had to be convinced of the divine right of a king or queen. Then we needed a vote to be satisfied. The racket will be plenty lucrative until we see it for what it is. As we demand self-ownership, rather than participation in the oppression known as democracy, the racket will become impossible.
If it is wrong for one person to do something, why is it acceptable when 51% of a voting population agrees to hire someone to do it for them? Democracy is not freedom. When fully living up to its ideal, democracy is at best a majority coming up with an excuse to impose its will on a minority. More often, it is a completely bogus pretense for the powerful to exploit the rest of us as much as possible without creating more discontent than they can manage. Democracy also conveniently provides a false outlet for discontent with the promise of “change” from the next election.
As long as people demand a protection racket, they will get one. Regardless of what it is called, or what false ideology is used to justify it, government is based on forcing ideas on people. Statism is the dominant paradigm today because most of us are in denial or ignorant of its true nature. Dependence on government makes it scary to consider something new. When enough of us realize the ideals of freedom, and turn to cooperative solutions instead of turning to force to solve problems, the paradigm of statism will have passed, and the government racket will be seen for what it really is, before it is quickly abolished.
Chapter 1 Section III FREEDOM! by Adam Kokesh
I am the author of FREEDOM!, a book endorsed (I mean banned) by the US Department of “Justice.” You can get a copy here. I’m running for Not-President in 2020 on the platform of the peaceful, orderly, and responsible dissolution of the United States federal government. You can find out more here. I am currently on my #TaxationIsTheft tour! You can find an event near you here. Whoever has the top comment on this post after 24 hours can claim a free signed copy of FREEDOM! by sending me a message with their address.
Hi @adamkokesh! @fishyculture is sending you 0.1 SBD tip and @tipU upvote
:)
@tipU - send tips by writing tip! in the comment, get share of the profit :)Thanks Adam!! Another great post as always. I almost get a little 'giddy' when I see you have something new online. lol Seriously, I know there is a better way. Mankind evolves, so things must change. The amazing technology we have wasn't just suddenly invented, it was great ideas that were built on previous great ideas. Our government, society and culture has to evolve also.
If you actually run in 2020, you have my vote. I'm 57 years old, so I've been around for a few elections. Every time it's the same thing - voting for the lesser of the evils, but always knowing we're just gonna get more of the same, e.g., war, increased deficit, corruption, and a bunch of lies.
I have a friend that was taught by his father that you always vote democrat, it doesn't matter who it is. I have a theory that we'd be MUCH better off if we just got a US Census out, had someone close their eyes and just randomly pick someone to be president. I don't think we could possibly do worse.
H.L. Mencken had a few good quotes about democracy and government that I've always liked.
"The most dangerous man to any government is the man who is able to think things out... without regard to the prevailing superstitions and taboos. Almost inevitably he comes to the conclusion that the government he lives under is dishonest, insane, intolerable."
"Democracy is a pathetic belief in the collective wisdom of individual ignorance."
"Every decent man is ashamed of the government he lives under."
"It is inaccurate to say that I hate everything. I am strongly in favor of common sense, common honesty, and common decency. This makes me forever ineligible for public office."
And a bonus...
It doesn't take a majority to make a rebellion; it takes only a few determined leaders and a sound cause.
Keep up the great work Adam, it's much appreciated.
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/h/h_l_mencken.html/authors/h/h_l_mencken.html
Thank you for your continued support! I am running in 2020, please check out my website: http://kokeshfornotpresident.com/.
This should be mandatory reading before you are allowed to register to vote.
Good read Adam.
Just my two STEEMS Worth.
Thank you for your support!
After reading this, I Don't Want to Vote! Haha
I told my coworkers about Kokesh's plan to dissolve the federal government. They were mostly on board except, "What about the nukes?!"
To which I reminded them of the 10th amendment:
""The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.""
I.E. Divide the military resources up among the states. Each state would get about 135 nukes. That is more than sufficient to deter foreign invasion. Not to mention, Americans are the most heavily armed citizens in the world.
I think we got this.
"Statism is the ideology of turning to organized force to solve problems better solved through peaceful persuasion."
Beautiful man!!
love freedom
Thank you for your support!
tip!
Freedom with no purpose creates a situation that nobody wants to live through. Also I am not quite sure what "Freedom" is an acronym for as I understand you have a political agenda so instead of using a word that has a real meaning, please define what "freedom" you are talking about, and what "freedom" you currently lack.
Maybe you supply something there is very little demand for?
"The secret to happiness is freedom"
Yes it is!
The smallest minority on earth is the individual. Those who deny individual rights cannot claim to be defenders of minorities.
Ayn Rand
Democracy oppresses the minority by nature!
Agreed.
Good quote!
We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.
- Albert Einstein
Exactly!
Keep up the good work Adam.
Thank you!
Are you putting the whole book on the Steem blockchain? Great! Just in case your book gets banned, it's still available everywhere.
Yes, releasing it one section at a time.
Genius.
Speaking of protectionism... Imagine how well Steemit wouldn't work if you were coerced into upvoting for every 3rd article whether you liked it or not?
Or better yet, if you could only upvote posters older than you? (This would be a good example of crony socio-capitalism.)
Upvoted 100% and resteemed (already following, and thanks for following me earlier! :) ).
You mention at the end that you're on a #TaxationIsTheft tour. What is your basis for that? I have read "Cracking the Code" by Pete Hendrickson, who also runs http://losthorizons.com -- do you agree with his analysis? Or are you following a different method?
I used Adele Weiss's services last year and it seems to have worked, but an attorney friend who reviewed the US Tax Court decision said that "dismissed for lack of jurisdiction" just means that nothing has changed regarding the status of the case, which status previously was that the IRS had a levy against me.
However, now the IRS is coming after me for a different year, not the one we went to court over, so perhaps it did get thrown out? I'm confused, and Adele wants $400 more to discuss it (no thanks).
So, before I start using another tactic, I want to verify it with trusted experts like yourself.
Thanks Adam, appreciate everything you do!
I feel oppressed by center justified text!