Kent For Liberty Blog

(My Eastern New Mexico News column for April 25, 2018) Why have there been no libertarian countries? It's a popular question from those skeptical of libertarianism. On the face of it, it seems a reasonable question. Until you understand what they're asking; then it makes less sense. How can there be geographic, forced collectives based on voluntary associations and unanimous consent? Coercively voluntary? Enslaved freedom? Where one exists, the other can't. It's like asking why there are no frozen fires...read the rest... - Thank you for helping support KentforLiberty.com Follow me on Steemit and Medium

By Kent McManigal Vote0 0

I get occasional criticism for the things I write, and sometimes a bit of praise. I actually get more praise, I suspect because the critics don't keep coming back (maybe because I won't endlessly engage dumb or misguided criticism), so the pool of readers kind of selects for those who are more likely to praise. Praise is probably as "bad" for me as criticism-- or worse. But it sure feels nicer. Praise just means I said something that someone agrees with. We might both be wrong. And, tomorrow I might say something they hate just as much as they liked what I said today....

By Kent McManigal Vote2 0

People make situations-- make life-- more difficult and complicated than necessary by not living by the Zero Archation Principle. And by pretending there's magic in objects. I'm reminded of this when watching movies or TV shows and the character does something unnecessary and stupid to advance the plot and give the show a reason for being. Yes, I know most shows wouldn't be interesting-- and would end in 3 minutes-- if the characters didn't complicate matters by doing dumb, unnecessary things. I see people doing the same thing in real life on a daily basis. In real life there's no need to create drama for...

By Kent McManigal Vote1 0

From my days inside Christianity I know how much people love the Dramatic Conversion Story. So much so that the people who would come tell their Dramatic Conversion Story would emphasize that you didn't need to have this kind of story to share. Your true story is good enough as it is. Well, you also don't have to have been a raging statist before growing up and accepting your responsibility to reject achation. It matters what you are now and where you are headed, not what you were in the past. My conversion story isn't that dramatic. Sure, I used to accept a lot of...

By Kent McManigal Vote2 0

Is belief in government-- The State-- a religion? Of course it is. Let's hear it from one of the true believers himself. But first-- this has nothing to do with your religion, and it has nothing to do with whether or not you like the implications of anarchy. Those are separate issues completely. Just evaluate this on its merits and don't worry about other things for now. According to outspoken "atheist" activist AronRa (whose videos on science education and evolution I absolutely love!) a religion is "a faith-based belief system, including the notion that some element of self, be it memories or consciousness ...a soul, perhaps... continues...

By Kent McManigal Vote1 0

They are all the same, in that they believe governing others to be legitimate, but although I have said a statist is a statist, and "left" and "right" are not relevant, there are times it helps to know how the statist sees itself. They differ on which superstitions drive them to that belief. If you want to focus on those specific delusions, or want to avoid them in "polite" conversation, it helps to know how they differ. "Right" statists are dead serious over (their notion of) morality, honor, responsibility, culture-- or more generally what they see as the lack thereof in their...

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By Kent McManigal Vote1 0

A liar doing what he does best London's pathetic knife prohibition. First off, "@MayorofLondon" is lying. There are endless very good, legitimate reasons to carry a knife. There are only a couple of reasons to not carry a knife, and they are all sad and pathetic. Such as the fact that a bully has threatened to use violence against you when his henchmen "catch" you with a knife. And he has promised they will catch you. This is a credible threat of archation from him, and I hope he pays the price soon. His victims need to fight back and stop him in a way he...

By Kent McManigal Vote1 0

(My Eastern New Mexico News column for April 18, 2018) Is Syria worth dying over? No. It would be a tragedy for you to die-- or to kill-- over Syria, North Korea, Russia, or any other country the U.S government is trying to goad into war. Americans don't need another war in some country which can never be a credible threat to Americans at home. A new money pit, because apparently your money isn't being shoveled into the other U.S. government money pits fast enough to satisfy the military hardware pushers. I understand some people are very excited about policing...

By Kent McManigal Vote1 0

New word for you to consider-- Atelatheist (atel-atheist) From atelo- (incomplete, imperfect), and atheist [a- (without) + theos (god)] Someone who claims to be, or believes themselves to be, an atheist, but who still holds at least one superstitious belief in a godlike thing, religion, or organization. i.e. government. Examples: almost every outspoken "atheist" in the "public sphere" today. - Thank you for helping support KentForLiberty.com Follow me on Steemit and Medium

By Kent McManigal Vote2 0

Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not? But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites? Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's. ~ Matthew 22:17-21 KJV "Tribute" in this case means a "tax", or the money with which the "tax" is paid. So,...

By Kent McManigal Vote2 0

...of government. "Government is a group of people organizing to hire someone to say magic words at religious ceremonies and write on paper what the people who hired them want everyone within a claimed territory is supposed to be and do, then hiring an army of people in funny clothes with weapons to make everyone within said territory obey what the paper says or be punished with up to and including being murdered for noncompliance. That is the definition of a terrorist organization or violent gang." ~ Anonymous When someone is right, they are right. - Thank you for helping support KentForLiberty.com...

By Kent McManigal Vote0 1

Recently on Quora, someone asked a dishonest question about whether countries with stronger "gun control laws" had "less shootings". I pointed out that the question isn't an honest one because an attack on the innocent is wrong, regardless of which tool was used. Someone replied, accusing me of building a straw man for pointing out the flaw in the original question. He said I needed to just answer the question as asked, rather than changing the question. I pointed out that this is like asking him if he has stopped beating his wife yet, and refusing to consider any answer other than...

By Kent McManigal Vote0 0

How much guilt does the "average statist" have for their beliefs, and how much slack should we cut them? I've been having an interesting discussion with Jim Henshaw, the former Chair of the Hawaiian LP, recently of regions closer. He says I "come across as a bit unforgiving at times". And, I can see that. I'm pretty sure this has caused me to lose followers and financial supporters. So, I asked his advice. "...it throws me a bit when people label [a standard leftist bleeding heart] as the enemy, or as evil, or whatnot. It doesn't comport with my observed reality...

By Kent McManigal Vote1 0

What part of "concealed" do people not understand? Seems the first rule of "concealed carry" is that you don't go around yapping that you carry. And yet, I've encountered so many people who do just that. Usually bragging about their "permit" and wanting to show it off. I'm underwhelmed. If you want to reveal that you carry, then open carry. Yes, I want everyone, with few exceptions, to own and to carry firearms. I will assume you are doing so because I assume liberty. I'm probably interested in what you carry, how you carry it, how you like both the gun and carry options, and...

By Kent McManigal Vote2 0

How many times have you seen the claim that America has more guns (and fewer anti-gun "laws") than other civilized societies in "The West"? It's a nonsense claim. Countries with anti-gun "laws" are not civilized. They may be domesticated, or not. But "civilized"? No way! One non-negotiable mark of a civilized society is that it doesn't interfere with the liberty or rights of those inside it. Anti-gun "laws" do interfere. They treat the residents as bad, stupid, helpless children. All else being equal, the more anti-gun "laws", the less civilized a society. No matter the claims made about it by...

By Kent McManigal Vote1 0

(My Eastern New Mexico News column for April 11, 2018) It's a wonderful thing when someone decides to help the community. I might even join them if their efforts align with my values. I'm somewhat less thrilled when someone mistakes running for office, getting a government job, or passing a law for helping. A government position or job is nothing to be proud of. It's not honorable or praiseworthy. Everything is better without the threat of law or punishment, and when funded voluntarily. Worthwhile ideas don't require arm twisting. Lampreys aren't helping the fish they latch on to, nor is...

By Kent McManigal Vote0 0

"The borders have just been closed." ~ Uttered by a nun to the von Trapp family in The Sound of Music It wasn't said in celebration, but as evidence that the bad guys had done something evil. Something which would put the good guys in greater danger. This is what borderists refuse to see. Those who "close" borders might fool you into believing it's to your benefit, but it isn't. It is a trap. A cage. Yes, it may keep some of "them" out, but it can also keep you in. - Thank you for helping support KentForLiberty.com Follow me on Steemit and Medium

By Kent McManigal Vote0 0

What do you value more than liberty? "Your" culture? The nation? Safety? "Morality"? Do you really value those things if you believe they can't hold their own against others living within the things they have a right to do? Living in Rightful Liberty? It sure doesn't seem like it to me. - Thank you for helping support KentForLiberty.com Follow me on Steemit and Medium

By Kent McManigal Vote0 2

I feel embarrassed for people who assume that governing of others is legitimate and necessary. They'll be speaking right along, making good sense, and suddenly they slip. They'll say something in support of some theft-funded government program, or democrazy, or some politician. Or even more likely, they'll randomly bash a politician or policy that goes against how they think humans should be managed, robbed, and controlled. Their credibility takes a hit, and I suddenly feel embarrassed for them. My daughter would call this kind of gaff"cringeworthy". They don't even realize they goofed. They'll believe they stayed consistent and rational and smart, even while expressing their belief...

By Kent McManigal Vote0 0

Maybe it’s time for libertarian countries Apr 25, 2018

Praise Apr 24, 2018

Complicating life Apr 23, 2018

Where you are and where you are headed Apr 22, 2018

An atelatheist exposes the religion of statism Apr 21, 2018

Know your statists Apr 20, 2018

Darwin’s advice Apr 19, 2018

#KnifeFree? #Spineless! Apr 19, 2018

Americans don’t need another war Apr 18, 2018

Atelatheist- incomplete atheist Apr 16, 2018

It isn’t Caesar’s money. Taxation is theft. Apr 16, 2018

Not a fan Apr 15, 2018

Dishonest questions lead to unwanted answers Apr 15, 2018

Guilty statists? Apr 14, 2018

Concealed carry or revealed carry? Apr 13, 2018

Anti-gun societies are not “civilized” Apr 12, 2018

Government involvement not helping Apr 11, 2018

The Sound of … the cage door closing Apr 10, 2018

Backwards values Apr 9, 2018

Smart people unwittingly embarrassing themselves Apr 8, 2018