Recent comments

"difference between the way things are, and the way they should be." There is no "should be". There is only the way we (individually, and differently) prefer them to be. If "they" outlaw cash, who cares? Just get around it or ignore it. It's probably going to flop shortly just like everything else they try. Remember when FDR confiscated gold? How many actually turned it in? Don't we now have gold, if we want it? "Our rulers seem totally oblivious to the destruction they are wreaking..." I don't think "oblivious" is quite the right word. They simply don't care. BTW Sam, I use the word "ruler" as a synonym for "parasite". "Even worse, if that’s possible, is the acceptance by so many Americans of this homicidal behavior." Why be surprised? The indoctrination apparatus is gigantic and entrenched. Anyway I think you mistake resignation for acceptance. Most people think we should get out of Afghanistan, etc. Most individuals understand their opinion on the matter affects nothing. As to people getting creative with gender issues, why is that anyone else's business? Yes, public figures always will generate comment, no problem there, but for the rest of them? I look at that and I see liberty, even if I might question the aesthetics or taste.

"I feel kinda bad for the teacher..." Ha ha. :-)

As Thoreau nicely put it, "Trade and commerce, if they were not made of India rubber, would never manage to bounce over the obstacles which legislators are continually putting in their way; and, if one were to judge these men wholly by the effects of their actions, and not partly by their intentions, they would deserve to be classed and punished with those mischievous persons who put obstructions on the railroads." It's hard to imagine the human race without markets. I suppose it is in our genes...

Google It For Your Self how a book code works if you want to know more.

Please expand what you mean by GIFYS because I can't find any meaningful search engine results that explain what that acronym means in terms of communicating with other individuals privately. Written books are usually intended to be read by many people and therefore your mentioning them has no obvious relevance to my comment. It seems to me that only a Statist busybody snoop would question my "want or need" for anonymity at an Anarchist website.

I have learned how to use GNUPGP on TOR by reading the instructions. There, I have e-mailed a couple of people successfully. I would like to practice using it more on the clear web, but the problem I run into is finding other people to communicate to that also know how to use it, or are interested in learning.

The "comments" section is the scary part. If that is indeed a cross-section we've certainly got our job cut out for us. Sam

I, too, am octogenarian, subject to weltschmerz (melancholy). It's natural, I suppose, as we get older, to think of childhood and youth ("simpler times") with wistfulness. Because The-Good-Old-Days were filled with an anarchy, or liberty, few of us questioned. It was "what we had". We had not yet been faced with the challenge of child rearing and the need to become "good" parents. "Good Providers" etc etc. Our needs were mostly met by others -- non-invasive others -- others who loved us and cared for our well-being (in spite of their constant nagging and bellyaching for us to "behave"). The-Policeman-Was-Our-Friend. The Germanic folks had some other techniques by which they made indelible a condition we here at STR have come to call "statism". The use of terms such as "the-rulers" (or, more obnoxiously, "our rulers") is one example. The-Rulers do not exist -- "they" are superstition. Well, they might be your rulers (I can't speak for you), but they are not "our" rulers. I remember early in my trek toward anarchy I almost took the opportunity to move lock, stock and barrel to Costa Rica. I had the means by which to do that. My sister-in-law did. She finally ended up in Belize. She owns a large (and I guess prosperous) resort there. After two divorces and leaving everybody she loved and cared about (and who loved and cared about her) behind. Somehow it came to me that if I were ever to become free I had to be free. Here. Where I am. Now. Thanks, Mark Davis (and all you other Root-Strikers -- wherever you ended up). It gradually began to sink in that all "government" was illusory in nature, but with dangerously armed defenders. That war was produced, promulgated, and the health of what we call "statism", or the state. Once that hurdle was overcome I could treat psychopaths hiding under the mantle of "the state" in the same manner that I recognize rattlesnakes. When I go to the woods I wear boots. And I watch where I reach (I got bit when I was young on my left hand, the fang and surgery marks still remain). Basic precautionary measures -- same as if I take a trip to the area of the Gulf Coast or other places near "borders" (fictitious lines in the sand). I no longer mourn something that never was. Oh, my youth pleasurable enough. I had not recognized the nature of government to metastasize; and, therefore, I "respected" the policeman and the soldier. I've even repented and forgiven myself for my "roll" (I was a draftee). I refuse to resent the ignorant lunatics to this day. The policemen and the border patrolmen probably have among the best jobs in town, and their overtime pay makes it advantageous if I hassle them and "try-to-make-them-accountable". But I'm not going to change my plans to visit relatives in the place they're calling "Louisiana" if I so choose. Sam

I've tooken to creating new words myself, and the most entertaining part is when I hear the mass of children I work with using them. As far as teacher exemplifying what's wrong with america, working at a school deigns those in the profession as the most hobessian and totalitarian among us. They would be elated if they could beat the kids, as their resource officers are allowed to do.

I really could give a fig less about folks expressing whatever gender-bending proclivities they feel, or any noises for or against that others might make, so long as those aren't shoved down my throat (no pun intended) with the caveat "or else!" added. Unfortunately that's exactly the state of affairs these days.

Paul--"Have the Church leaders surrendered their teaching of morals to the rulers?" The thrust of your dismay seems to have answered that question buried in the sentence above. It is being taken away from them are not surrendering. Local authorities challenge and arrest persons (in certain geographical locations, for holding bible studies), legislation is introduced to force churches to hire persons of deviant behavior as pastors, or youth leaders, Chaplin's in the military are being dismissed (the Navy one got his job back though). I cannot remember all the items under the bill they are attempting to strangle religious belief while promoting Islamic faith, then of course there is the House Boy pretending to be President? How many crimes against the nation has he committed under his "Fundamental transformation of America"? It seems clear and obvious that the House Boy is leading this fundamental transformation of America via any avenue he can find. Every tragedy, the House Boy finds a use in fundamentally transforming the nation. Had this creature not been elected I honestly believe we would not be faced with half the problems we are currently seeing. I know many on STR boo me for having anything to do with the Constitution, but as I have studied it, the Constitution would work if and only if the men and women elected would full-fill their oath to it, however, there are many legislators ignoring the Constitution as Representative Paul Ryan has clearly implied, but that is not the topic.

Consequently the next step to safety would be to take their lighters and matches away and let them eat their food only with plastic cutlery.

Your article hints at my ongoing slogan, "if it's going to be, it's up to me". Whether I'm in Walden or just wandering out to the local corn or cotton patch, I've gotta be free. Nobody can make me free. That's up to me. Nobody can stop me from being free. Like you, I enjoy seclusion -- being away from the crowd. Just the thought of going to, for instance, a stadium full of cheering, jeering halfwits nauseates me. Many of those morons pay big bucks to attend "the-big-game", and you couldn't pay me to sit there -- particularly to have to endure the sickening halftime war promotions. I've got the choice if predators want to collect for visiting a historical site. I can decide to pay, or stay away. I tend to sidestep all "historical" sites. Keep striking at the root. Sam

Excellent insights throughout and well written, Batu. In addtion to your fine conclusion, this thought was spot on "In other words, these academics advocate the forced integration of free individuals and cement patterns of coercively-conditioned associations in an attempt to actualize a personal vision of egalitarianism. These thinkers have long admitted to the implausibility of complete material equality between individuals, so the only equality left to consider is the equality between collectives." It is difficult to know how much of their own bullshit most academics truly believe, but they sure milk assigned collective divisions for all they're worth.

"...It will likely take take many, many generations before enough men will finally believe in themselves and their fellow men such that faith-based institutional violence simply fades away...." The problem, for me anyway, is that I'm octogenarian. I don't have time to wait for "generations" to quell institutional violence. The clock is ticking. If freedom's to be, it's up to me -- not thee. So I've had to learn to be free now. Here. Today. Where I'm "at". I am a sovereign state. I think I first began using the term "state" to stir up and watch the knee-jerk reaction "libertarians" manifest when they hear the word "state". Later it dawned upon me that I'd better get myself into a "state" of sovereignty before I set out to engage in the monumental task of attempting to persuade the other 99.9% that they would do well to take the first step: abstain from beans. Thus, my "sovereign state" -- with borders across which you must not step without my permission (or I wish you wouldn't, since I'm getting too old and feeble to put up much of a fight). In fact, I couldn't (and haven't) even been successful in the task of cajoling my own former Ron Paul supporting kids or grand-kids to cease voting in political elections. I think this next year may show some improvement on that score -- I don't drill them about voting, so I probably won't even know unless they set up a braying for this or that "candidate" for grand wizard of the klan. I did ask one of my sons a couple days ago if he was still active in the local Republican Party (his participation of which gave rise to lots of "grandpa duty" on my part), and he said a vehement "no" -- and that Christa (his wife, my daughter-in-law) has given up her county chairmanship. Alex (from the article): "...But what if we never get there?..." I think you two fellows need to take credit for your own personal efforts -- and understand that you ARE "getting there". Mark, for instance, has been a cyber friend for several years. We've not met face to face, although I've trucked through and past his city many times. Easy to say when you're trucking, "I should stop and look up Mark". Much harder to arrange when you consider time, parking, etc etc. But Mark well knows the effect his old article, "Be Free" had on me shortly after I landed on STR -- and several others as well. I wouldn't try to estimate the number of times I've quoted in various "comments" on other forums the portion: When you go into the voting booth, the only meaningful significance that your action will have is to show that one more person supports the state. ~Mark Davis From Be Free, by Mark Davis July 10, 2005. http://www.strike-the-root.com/52/davis_m/davis1.html Same with you, Alex. All we can do is to do what we can. And take credit for the effort. Sam

Rappoport brings up interesting stuff. If everybody owns everyone, nobody will have to work for anybody. What a gay life (pun intended). In my dotage I've come to see my life as having been filled with various "fixations". Were I a politician, I would definitely fit what "you-the-people" think of as a flip-flopper. (I ceased years ago wishing to be included in a "we-the-people" collective mentality. Perhaps "you-the-people" is unfair -- I should start using "they-the-people" so as not to include you, presuming you might be of the same sentiment). I've been ultra-liberal, ultra-conservative, ultra-religious, ultra-agnostic -- you name it, I've practiced it. In spades. Since last time I ever participated or voted in a political election (1964 -- over a half century ago, for Barry Goldwater) I've steered a relatively steady course toward anarchy, with some tacks along the way. Of course I had to go through the wailing and gnashing of teeth stage and whining over "our-country-is-declining-into-a-police-state". Later I came to see that the moment I think in terms like "our-country", I've lost my bearings to the course toward liberty. All rulership collectives (dubbed "countries", "nations") harbor the seeds of totalitarianism. Lately "jurisdiction" has been my fascination. There are two ways jurisdiction can be in force: consent, and force of arms. Nobody has enough firepower to subdue and/or rule an entire population, so the science of rulership must weigh heavily upon consent. The early emperors -- our true "forefathers" -- understood this. Étienne de La Boétie also understood this. His treatise is as valid today as it was nearly 500 years ago. It's probably time for more of us to take charge of our own lives and well-being and of those we love. And above all, abstain from beans. Sam

How many of "your fellow human (beings)" have any idea of what Albert J Knock knew 80 years ago -- the year I was born? http://archive.lewrockwell.com/orig3/nock1.html Sam

Paul, I do believe that this is an accurate strike, at the root so to speak. I question whether the integrity of the intended recipient of this treatment could withstand the treatment. In the context of living in that saturated environment of lies and deceit, can a person recover his senses? It's a pleasant and heartwarming dream, one I have had many times. Yet, there they are, like sick dogs. I'm not suggesting euthanasia. Cheers, Rich

Jim:  We've been over all of this before, of course.   That the definition of Silverstein's reference to "pull" might've been subjected to 11th hour revisionism after the PBS special doesn't remove the fact that video has long been public of the detonating flashes on Building 7.  No matter how they want to spin it, 7 was "pulled" with explosives.  If they now want to claim Silverstein wasn't responsible, fine...but they haven't done that, or anything even close.  And Silverstein himself refuses to talk about it any further.  No matter:  One look at the video footage of that building says it all.  Ditto, for that matter, the Twin Towers, but 7 is especially indisputable.   The classic fallback of 9/11 Skepticism seems to always be, "How could the government keep something that big secret for this long?"     Answer?  They have.  How?  I don't know.  I only know what all the rest of the evidence -- over 650 pieces of it -- tell us about the events of that day.  And Building 7 is one of the less ambiguous pieces of the overall puzzle.

I thought the author did a good job of highlighting the liberal hypocrisy of someone demanding that he kill himself, with a #LoveWins hashtag. But yeah, he is definitely wigged out.  Hyperbole much?

Vermont sounds a lot like Oregon. "Liberals with guns"... I spent time living in Wyoming, allegedly the most conservative state in the nation. The personal taxation is less there, but the government is largely supported by the severance tax (on extraction of minerals - which of course raises the cost of those minerals and depresses their market). This gives rise to an (apparently) odd phenomenon, a conservative legislature that spends like a drunken sailor while the state finances remain viable. Yet what happens when the market turns down and the severance tax no longer covers the state boondoggles? We already know, because that happened in the '90's: rather than dumping the spending programs, taxes are raised to cover the programs, that have now developed a constituency to keep them going. Wyoming has the highest per capita government employment in the nation. Bottom line, there really isn't much difference between conservative government and liberal/socialist government.

The inmates considered her services a feature not a bug.

Thanks for posting this brilliant essay by Murray Rothbard. Seems it might have been on the board in the past, but not recently. It is so easy for anarchists and/or libertarians (I've yet to read a viable definition outlining the difference) to become soothed into thinking that if "we" just get more heavily involved in the state (politics) at some level, "we" might just make a difference. Perhaps "we" should all go back and start voting again -- see if "we" can help the voting public to do "our" civic duty and get a higher grade of elected officials this time around -- if "we" will all just pitch in (and get all our friends and neighbors involved also). Not. I used quotes around "we" in deference to an excellent article written some years ago by Jeff Berwick. The article disappeared from the archives of his website once he began to dabble in partisan politics (he and Walter Block). There may be no connection between his dabbling and the disappearance, but I felt at the time that it was the most effective article Jeff ever wrote. I googled a copy that happened to be preserved at a non-related Yahoo Group forum. You can read it here: https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/FPE/conversations/messages/61165. As I see it, the prime enemy of "the people" is their faith (dependence) in central political "authority" -- the state. It is that faith that must be exorcised. The "authority" (there is no authority if there is no faith) appears about to implode upon itself, and will no doubt take many casualties in its wake. Until that takes place we are relatively powerless to put an end to the abstraction we call "the state". But faith is the real enemy. That is something we can identify and address. Rothbard in this article "contributed his fair share" (pun intended) toward exposing the state -- the large group of psychopaths who make up that brainless abstraction. Sam

Thank you for the link Sam. thought it very fitting as i fill in today as guest editor. Brilliant!