Philadelphia Libertarians and Socialists Protest the FBI's Raids on Antiwar Activists (video)

In the face of the government's attempts to silence antiwar activism, libertarians and socialists came together to protest. The object of their outrage was the series of raids conducted by the FBI on antiwar activists in Minnesota, Chicago, Michigan, and North Carolina; and the issuance of subpoenas to appear before a grand jury to many of the same. While the government claims that the raids are seeking evidence of material support of terrorism, the peace activists insist that it is a fishing expedition intended to harass. Below is video of the Philadelphia protest that took place on September 28, 2010:

Uniting to Fight Tyranny: Darren Wolfe's Interview on Call to Decision (audio)

On September 23, 2010 I had the pleasure of being interviewed by Pastor Butch Paugh on his radio show Call to Decision. Though I'm secular and he's religious we gladly came together to advocate liberty. We had a great discussion about my article "Principled Nonvoting: The Beginning of Disengaging From the State" and fielded several good questions from his listeners. Enjoy the show by clicking below:

http://archives2010.gcnlive.com/Archives2010/sep10/CalltoDecision/092310.mp3

United States of America vs George Donnelly: How US Marshals Framed a Peaceful Photographer

The US government frames a peaceful photographer. Photography is not a crime. This video shows the brutality of US marshals in Allentown, PA, the ability of state agents to frame peaceful people, and how the libertarian community can overcome the tyranny of a powerful central state.

The government cited the war on terror to justify their aggression so this quote seems apropos: "No nation could preserve its freedom in the midst of continual warfare."
--James Madison

Others are writing some excellent articles on this subject too. George Donnelly is giving his account of what happened in an article with the same title as this one. Read it here.

Darian Warden has written some very insightful commentary in No Pictures!

Principled Nonvoting: The Beginning of Disengaging From the State

Labor day has come and gone, and there is an election this November. The campaign season is on. The airwaves, the internet, and what’s left of the print media are saturated with political ads. All of this leads many Americans to wonder who they’re going to vote for. Quite a few realize that the choice is essentially limited to the Democratic scoundrel or the Republican scoundrel. Regardless, to too many people voting is seen as a patriotic, almost sacred duty. Clichés abound about how our forefathers gave their lives so we can have the right to vote today. A lot of people see voting as a way to control the government and preserve our liberties. "If you don’t vote don’t complain", they say. In this article, however, I will explain why none of these positive things attributed to voting are true. In fact the very opposite is usually the case.

What should have been clear for generations is made ridiculously obvious after a year and a half of the Obama administration, namely that elections have failed as a means of controlling or changing the government. The almost seamless continuity of policy from the Bush administration to Obama’s presidency is undeniable and represents only the victory of the special interests in thwarting the people’s will.

After more than two centuries of elections the system has become quite good at this. In 1870 Lysander Spooner wrote in "NO TREASON, No. VI., THE CONSTITUTION OF NO AUTHORITY.":

Dupes --- a large class, no doubt --- each of whom, because he is allowed one voice out of millions in deciding what he may do with his own person and his own property, and because he is permitted to have the same voice in robbing, enslaving, and murdering others, that others have in robbing, enslaving, and murdering himself, is stupid enough to imagine that he is a "free man," a "sovereign"; that this is "a free government"; "a government of equal rights," "the best government on earth," and such like absurdities.

Unfortunately, that is the perception, that voting equates to freedom. The reality is that nothing could be further from the truth. The fact that we are allowed to choose our dictators doesn’t make us any freer. It merely gives voters the feeling of power and the illusion of control. All the while they are being manipulated into supporting a government that implements policies detrimental to their well being.

What better way is there to get people to follow the law and pay taxes than to convince them that these things are their will? What better way is there to get people to tolerate the government’s evils than by convincing them that the situation is temporary and that they can change the government at the next election? What better way is there to get people to respect elected officials than to convince them that they, the people, chose these scoundrels to represent them? (A mandate, it’s called.) None of these things are true, but the fraud works. Democracy is held to be the best form of government yet devised. The question is best for whom? Certainly not the people.

It does work best for the ruling elites who can hide their evil plans behind a smiling democratic facade. The formula is to give people just enough freedom to feel free but not so much that the government loses control of them. To assure that the people will put up with their laws, antics, and taxes the ruling class must keep the citizens involved. Most will take the easy route and go along, especially when the economy is doing well and they feel prosperous. Thomas Paine warned of this over two centuries ago:

…the portion of liberty enjoyed in England is just enough to enslave a country more productively than by despotism, and that as the real object of all despotism is revenue, a government so formed obtains more than it could do either by direct despotism, or in a full state of freedom…

Does all this sound far fetched to you? According to a Georgetown University professor of history Carroll Quigley:

The argument that the two parties should represent opposed ideals and policies, one, perhaps, of the Right and the other of the Left, is a foolish idea acceptable only to doctrinaire and academic thinkers. Instead, the two parties should be almost identical, so that the American people can throw the rascals out at any election without leading to any profound or extensive shifts in policy. Then it should be possible to replace it, every four years if necessary, by the other party, which will be none of these things but will still pursue, with new vigor, approximately the same basic policies.

Unfortunately, he thought this is how the system should work. Dr. Quigley was not some fringe radical either. He was one of President Bill Clinton’s professors and was cited by him as a major influence.

It is past time for people to face the reality of what voting really is, an endorsement of the evils that governments commit. I call on you not to take part in this fraud any more. Withhold your consent! Have the courage to join us in principled nonvoting and commit not to vote ever again. Remember, if you vote don’t complain!

Please join and promote our group on Facebook, Vote for Nobody Campaign

Unity at a Peace Rally

Just like the September 11th of nine years ago this year’s was also a perfect late Summer day in West Chester, Pennsylvania. On this sad anniversary of the horrible terrorist attacks I had the pleasure of joining the weekly peace vigil held by United for Peace & Justice.

My libertarian message was well received. The key was explaining that at its core libertarianism is about abolishing the use of all force from human relationships. Every conclusion and policy prescription derives from that principle. This resonated nicely with everyone that I spoke to at the rally. The other participants were quite open minded and asked many good questions.

I encourage all of my fellow liberty minded peace lovers to join rallies such as this one. There is much we can do to help end the imperial wars by working with people who may differ with us on other issues.

Video of the event:



Near the rally, but not participating in it, was Mark Smith, a veteran of many of the same End the Fed rallies as I. He mentioned that the pro-war demonstrators had not taken too kindly to his 9/11 truth message. Unfortunately, as I wanted to talk to them too, the pro-war demonstrators had already held their weekly demonstration and left by the time of the peace rally.

Mark was kind enough to explain his views: