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Electoral politics has, over more than 2 centuries, proven to be a total failure as a means to even maintain a level of liberty already achieved, let alone to expand liberty even farther.
But hey, THIS election cycle will be different, I'm sure. Right?
Chris
"Government ... does not exist of necessity, but rather by virtue of a tragic, almost comical combination of klutzy, opportunistic terrorism against sitting ducks whom it pretends to shelter, plus our childish phobia of responsibility, praying to be exempted from the hard reality of life on life's terms." Wolf DeVoon
"...Make America Great Again. I'm interested in making American FREE again. Then the greatness will come automatically."Ron Paul
Yeah, yeah... you don't like voting. I get it.
But so far, I haven't seen anyone who holds your position offer a genuine, working alternative. Saying, "I want to wake people up!" isn't going to cut it. It's like bringing a butter knife to a gun fight. Sitting around a circle beating drums - or just beating off - ain't gonna cut it either.
Wishes, in other words, are worth their weight in gold - and I mean *exactly* their weight.
Moonbeams and fairy dust and unicorn tails are all well and good. But when it comes to pushing forward an agenda of freedom, they're worse than useless.
So what's the solution? What's your idea? Because outside of turning things around through the use of ballots, I can think of only one other means of achieving freedom which has been historically proven beyond any doubt to be effective.
And I'm not quite ready to recommend that route yet. Not quite. Are you? And if not, what is your idea of a real and workable solution?
So, I guess it's safe to assume the answer to that threatened skull crushing question is really, "NO NEVER".
How has that voting "genuine working alternative" been working out for you? Do you have much (enough) to show for it?
What election has been decided by your actions? (Unless you're one of the official vote counters.)
http://voluntaryist.com/Statement of Purpose: Voluntaryists are advocates of non-political, non-violent strategies to achieve a free society. We reject electoral politics, in theory and in practice, as incompatible with libertarian principles. Governments must cloak their actions in an aura of moral legitimacy in order to sustain their power, and political methods invariably strengthen that legitimacy. Voluntaryists seek instead to delegitimize the State through education, and we advocate withdrawal of the cooperation and tacit consent on which State power ultimately depends.
"It's really tough to fight an enemy that has outposts in your head."
http://www.google.com/custom?cof=L%3Ahttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.lewrockwell.com%2F wp-content%2Fthemes%2Flrc%2Fimages%2Fgoogle-search-header.png%3BLH%3A50%3B&domains=www.lewrockwell.co m&q=non+voting&btnG=Search
One could ask you the same. At least decent representation is something people think they want, whether they actually want decent representation or merely charismatic and entertaining. A power vacuum, however, is a sleeping dog I've never seen any group of humans let lie.
//liberty (n.) late 14c., "free choice, freedom to do as one chooses," from Old French liberté "freedom, liberty, free will" (14c.), from Latin libertatem (nominative libertas) "freedom, condition of a free man; absence of restraint; permission," from liber "free" (see liberal)
The spirit of liberty is the spirit which is not too sure it is right. [Learned Hand, 1944]
freedom (n.) Look up freedom at Dictionary.com Old English freodom "freedom, state of free will; charter, emancipation, deliverance;" see free (adj.) + -dom. Freedom-rider recorded 1961, in reference to civil rights activists in U.S. trying to integrate bus lines.
It has been said by some physicians, that life is a forced state. The same may be said of freedom. It requires efforts, it presupposes mental and moral qualities of a high order to be generally diffused in the society where it exists. [John C. Calhoun, speech, U.S. House of Representatives, Jan. 31, 1816]
http://www.etymonline.com/index.php
“One may come to the aid of another being unlawfully arrested, just as he may where one is being assaulted, molested, raped or kidnapped. Thus it is not an offense to liberate one from the unlawful custody of an officer, even though he may have submitted to such custody, without resistance.” (Adams v. State, 121 Ga. 16, 48 S.E. 910).
Thank you for doing the research to confirm my correctitude. Though, you could have just oh-so-helpfully and cleverly linked us all to https://www.google.com/webhp?&ion=1&...edom%20liberty , as is your wont. I'm surprised you didn't. Copy and pasting dictionary definitions is much more labor. I thought you hated typing?
Above is our exchange to date.
You asked me what has been gained through voting. I already answered that. We have more liberty oriented (or "freedom oriented" if you prefer) candidates now than before, on the national level and especially on the local level. Ideas that were considered laughable just ten years ago, like marijuana legalization, are coming to pass. Recently New Hampshire became the only state - let me repeat that - THE ONLY STATE in the nation to prevent police from using cameras which would scan everyone's license plate just because the driver happened to be on the road. THIS HAPPENED ONLY BECAUSE THE POPULATION VOTED FOR REPRESENTATIVES WHO CARED ABOUT FREEDOM.
I could go on, but I think I've made my point.
Now, can you answer my question? What is your proposal for a working alternative, and can you give a real life example?
In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock.
Thomas Jefferson
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