October 10, 2012
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What I believe
I will just go through a quick run down of the things that I believe regarding government, as I am headed to Libertopia very soon (tomorrow, and I am anxious).
This is a question of morals. I’ll start by asking this: who has control over you and your life? Would you agree that the only one who can rightfully tell you what to do or how to do it would be yourself? That anything else would be immoral?
So if you agree with this…that you think the only person in charge of yourself..let me ask this: Would you not agree that someone forcing you to do something by the threat of violence is wrong and immoral? Let’s give an example of the brute force in African nations forcing young boys to take up arms and murder their own family and join the side of evil or to be murdered and tortured, but first having to see it happen to their family. I think most would agree that this is wrong. Well, let’s give another, let horrendous example. Let’s say a group of armed men came into your community and told everyone that they had to follow the new rules or they would be shot, even if you think the new rules are wrong. Still think this is wrong?
Well, this is what the government is. Every government. They use the threat of violence to get you to do what they want. Behind every law is a gun enforcing it…the initiation of violence. The government threatens you to do what it wants, but makes it seem like it’s a good thing, that you’re doing this for the “greater good.” Some may argue that to keep peace and order, this is the way that it’s supposed to be..that in order to enjoy freedom, there has to be some give in that take.
Well, I disagree. There really aren’t that many criminals in the world, that actually harm people, that we need protection from. You say, but look at all the “criminals” in prison. But, think about it. How many of those people are imprisoned because they actually harmed someone? The majority of people in prison are those that have broken the law with the State as the “victim.” And it’s my opinion that people should protect themselves in the event someone tries to harm them.
I somewhat digress. My point is, it’s not okay for anyone, even the government, to regulate my life, especially with the threat of violence. It’s my opinion, it doesn’t have to be yours. If you think about it, governments throughout history have done SO much more damage than good. And be honest with yourself when you think about this. It’s government that’s created classes and the poor. If people were able to do as they wish and create without being penalized, there wouldn’t be so many unfortunate souls who scrape to get by. The welfare system has only made the situation worse. Wars are terrible, evil things…and what are the causes of war? Religion…and government. Governments pitted against each other for immoral reasons. War is immoral, and it’s not good for people to be involved with it. There’s a reason PTSD and suicides by returning vets are a problem.
The truth is, we can live peacefully side by side without government. Most of us do it every single day. And, the truth is somewhat uncomfortable, once one sees the government as it really is, without turning a blind eye or listening to propaganda spewed by popular media. The truth should make you angry if you really see things as they are. If you’re interested in the truth, I suggest these Facebook pages: The Idealist, Rationalist, and Exposing the Truth. There’s some others you’ll discover if you root around..
But I’m not trying to force anyone to see things as I do. I just think that so many people are in this box, that they can’t see the possibilities without the government’s existence. It’s easy for me to see people living together peacefully, I just wish more people could.
So I’m packing, and I’m nervous about traveling. The furthest I’ve traveled alone is three and a half hours in my car, and I’ve only been on a plane once….anyway, I have to continue packing…I hope everyone is well!!
Comments (20)
Have a safe flight, dear!
Very interesting post, and I think I agree with you for the most part. It’s too early in the morning for my mind to properly digest this sort of stuff haha, but it sounded good.
Have a nice day!
Oh, and I burned out the Sweet Snow. Ahh, it was so good! I’m now burning Spring Rain and it’s also good. I think they smell much more when not burned, but it’s dark in my room so I need some candlelight haha. I’m most excited for Coconut Hibiscus, but I’ll wait a bit more to start it
@Marica0701 - Yes, there are a couple scents that need more fragrance oil added, and I made note of that
And if you like some of the ideas, you should look into it a bit more, whenever you get the chance =]
Thank you for sharing! I hope you have a good time. You’ll have to let us know how it goes!
We cannot blame the government for our incompetence. I could sure use a candle right now, too bad the stores don’t make them with so many nice aromas.
no, I disagree. Not all governments are the same and things are far from perfect, but there’s hope for progress, without anarchy. I do think laws are necessary to even create liberty for many individuals. (For example the liberty to leave your house unattended without fear, or to walk down the street without getting shot, robbed or raped etc) I think governements need to exist as represantatives of certain interests.
If they didn’t, even a tiny group of lucky or remarkably cold hearted people can bring many in danger or misfortune. Someone else can take control and threaten ppl with guns…someone who wasn’t elected and helps NO ONE but themselves, and is even much more cruel. The government are humans. The banks are humans. So WHY don’t they just create peace? The mistake that are made go back to flaws in human nature, and the lesser humans are controlled the more evil they will do. Am I willing to trade my freedom? yeah, for a different kind of freedom. I can’t go and poison everyone I hate (sad sad) but I’m also less likely to be threatened.
I simply don’t think humans are so good. When chaos breaks out, people suddenly become violent and take whatever they can get. Before the time of governments (or at least some organized form of community with certain rules) anyone who was physicaly stronger than you could tell you what to do. Of course that doesn’t mean I agree with all laws in existance…I absolutely don’t, and I hate when people criminalize a totally understandable and non-harmful action “because the law says so” (but I also hate when it’s inversed).
Bottom line…I am not generally against governments. It’s about where you draw the line.
It has been said that people get the government they deserve. I find that a bit harsh, but each of us DOES need to take responsibility for our own lives. I have not done anything because someone said to me “Do it because I said so”, not even when that someone was one of my own parents. For example, I decided to look both ways when crossing the street, because it occurred to me, at the age of three, that cars, trucks and motorcycles can seriously injure or kill me. I pay my taxes, because the money for schools, fire stations and road maintenance doesn’t grow on trees. On the other hand, I have to draw the line at a government which would try to determine what I should believe, and how I may express that belief.
have a safe trip
@PocketfulOfDreams - Not all governments are the same on the surface and the way the work, but they are all fundamentally the same: they use force and violence to enforce arbitrary laws (laws are completely arbitrary, whims of those in power)….so this statement: “Someone else can take control and threaten ppl with guns” IS all governments. “someone who wasn’t elected and helps NO ONE but themselves” …the government and politicians are doing nothing BUT helping themselves…to all the money that’s given to them as bribes from corporations…and I can give an example: Obama said that all foods need to be labeled as to what’s in them, specifically talking about GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms..which is your produce) while he was running for president. However, he made Michael Taylor commissioner of the FDA…and he used to be the vice president of public policy at Monsanto, a top manufacturer of GMOs. There are studies that show how harmful they are for us and our health, and there are countries that have banned GMOs and Monsanto. They don’t create peace because they don’t want peace. It’s in their best interests to have constant conflict. And, it’s not human nature. Human beings are not inherently evil, but there is a tendency to be corrupted by power.
@RighteousBruin - As for the funding of these things…public education is nothing more than a system of deep indoctrination into the system to make people into drones who will go out and get a job, producing more income for the State. I do not agree with public schooling. I fully intend on home schooling my children. As for fire fighters…there are voluntary fire fighters, and while I do not have an answer on how to pay them, one suggestion could be that insurance companies who provide home owner’s insurance pay them. As for roads, those can easily become privatized.
@godfatherofgreenbay - Thank you
@RulerofMasons - I will be placing an order soon for more supplies!!
@heythereJOANN - I definitely will!
I just have to say, there is a difference between jail and prison… I disagree with u on saying there aren’t that many people in jail that actually harm people. Do you have proof or facts from a reliable source? I guarantee that if government stepped out of the picture and cops no longer existed, we would have riots on our hands. we are a hateful world and anyone with a grudge would finally get their vengeance. If we didn’t have people telling us what we can or can’t do, people will steal, kill and destroy, it’s human nature. People love doing things they know they can get away with, push the limits. “Government” has been around since the beginning of ages and needs to be around to keep order. If you are afraid to get shot, don’t do anything worthy of it. As for other countries, I honestly could care less about what goes on in other countries, we need to focus on our own instead of others. And murder whether by people or government is called population control in my mind. Survival of the fittest! Having a government is my saving grace. I wouldn’t change it for the world.
@AlwaysMeForeverSmiling - It is NOT human nature for people to be bad. EVERYTHING is a choice. You make a choice to do something wrong, you make a choice to do something right. Every single thing you do, is a conscious thought and a conscious CHOICE. And, yes, it is a fact that most people are in prison or jail for nonviolent crimes. Only 7.9% of those incarcerated are because of violent crime, and only 1 in 100 people are imprisoned, meaning FAR less than 1% of the population are imprisoned because of violent crime. Also, violent crime has been declining since the 1990s. And the suggestion that if there was suddenly no government that everyone would start killing each other is ludicrous, as though there’s some on/off switch? The fear of punishment is not effective, because there are obviously still criminals. People are good because they choose to be, and people are bad because they choose to be. Also, government has NOT been around since the beginning of time. Human beings have been around for 10,000 years, and government is relatively new in the history of humans and certainly in the history of this world. We were first hunter/gatherers with no centralized authority.
@crazy2love - I can honestly tell you, I am a good person! I do what I have to do to behave and do right. But if there were no laws, and I didn’t have to pay for my consequences, I would go around and get what I want in any way possible. I’m a very happy, positive person, educated and people enjoy being around me, but I have to be have to do these things because if I don’t I have to pay the consequences… If I could steal money and not get in trouble, I would, if I could kill an ex and get away with it, I would. If there aren’t consequences for our actions, then why would people have to follow the laws. I think I would purposefully scare people and make them fight for their life because I can get away with it. and if I died doing it, then I died doing exactly what I wanted, not what I had to.
I can say that war and lording yourself over someone has never solved one thing. Take NAM for an example. We turn around and give the country back to the North. I still haven’t really figured out why any of us was there myself part of it.
The only real thing that has control of us or anything is the Father in Heaven.
But He allows us to do our own thing, until we hung ourselves on a rope so too speak. Bro. Doc
I’d say this is more an opinion than an belief, also I’m a socialist, because everyone deserves to have what they need to survive, and no one should have to struggle to get the help they need. To each their own, but I’m glad that things are making progress in our government, even if I don’t agree with every single thing they decide to do.
@AlwaysMeForeverSmiling – logically and rationally, if you would choose immoral actions such as murder or stealing if there were no consequences, that does not make you a good person, it makes you immoral if you were to do those things. Albert Einstien once said, “If people are good only because they fear punishment, and hope for reward, then we are a sorry lot indeed.”
I think it is perfectly justified for me to kill people who wear bright orange on mondays.
Some of what you propose is true but you’re mixing apples with oranges and turning a blind eye to much in human nature. The U.S. and many other countries exist in democracies. Perfect? No but we live in large part by the rule of the people. The most recent example of a country without government is Somalia. I don’t think any person living in a democracy wants to move there.
The Detroit police department has been cut drastically and what are we seeing? Crime has gone up to the point where American’s are being advised not to visit Detroit. The movies “Road Warrior” and “Robocop” come to mind. They are only movies and fictitious but they are critiques of human nature without a collective governance. Most of us have experienced middle and high school where bullies reigned but for the intervention of teachers, principals and sometimes parents. I agree most of us can get along just fine but there are those of us who want to take advantage financially, physically, sexually. The moment we band together against them we have a government of some sort.
Just like people, governments can be good or bad and just like people governments fall somewhere in between. I never lost a fight in my life. Only a few years ago a dozen 20 something guys about to get into a brawl walked away from me. One of them turned around and shouted something disparaging to me but kept on walking. Yet I would not want to live in the days of the wild west. The concept of common people pooling their money to pay for sheriffs, deputies, marshals and judges in our history grew out of the lawlessness that existed then.
@bonmots - haha. i loved this quote from the movie Legally Blonde…”And last week I saw Cameron Diaz at Fred Segal, and I talked her out of buying this truly heinous angora sweater. Whoever said orange was the new pink was seriously disturbed.”
@crazy2love - yup and I know I am not the only one, and it only takes a few to scare the world and change it! People doing good when there is no government or consequences would only last so long, eventually people will start thinking, “If you can’t beat them, join them.” Or hide away and be afraid to do anything. I fully believe government is a great thing and cops are a great thing. I would never ask for their removal! EVER! I love living the life I have! I love the set of rules and laws we have. I know that I wouldn’t make it in this world if we didn’t have them. I am not a survivalist at all. The thought of no government scares me, there’s so much good they do do, and yes there is bad, but the bad doesn’t affect my life. SO what if I pay taxes, I don’t bitch about it, I deal with it and budget. Other than that, life is gooooooood!
We all have different ideas of what the government’s role in our lives should be, but I agree with most of what you said. People are basically good, and should be treated as such. Never be afraid to share what you believe, and sometimes your beliefs change as you age, too. Don’t be afraid of that, either Keeping your mind open and testing what you believe can only benefit you and the ones you influence.
And by the way, 1 in 33 adults in the US are incarcerated, and 74 percent of them are for non violent crimes. Just to back you up a little.