Kent For Liberty Blog

In a way liberty is a buffet. You can choose among everything that doesn't violate anyone else's equal and identical liberty... but with the liberty buffet, you don't have the liberty to limit the choices of anyone else. They have the same options from which to choose that you have, although their choices from that buffet may differ, and you have no right to interfere with what they choose. Even if they make choices you hate. If you try to take away some of their options, how can you complain when they, quite understandably, try to do the same to...

By Kent McManigal Vote1 0

A blog I often enjoy and agree with (although I used to enjoy more and agree more often) has increasingly embraced a disturbing anti-liberty agenda on one small issue. But, with regard to liberty, is any issue truly small? He asks a question of the NRA, which he says they refuse to answer. Well, OK, I will answer for them, but he won't like my answer much. "Can you produce credible data – not opinion, not anecdotes – something that can be independently validated, that 'amnesty' and a 'pathway to citizenship' for MILLIONS of foreign nationals in this country illegally...

By Kent McManigal Vote2 0

(My Clovis News Journal column for September 23, 2016) If you want something done, do it without forcing your will on anyone else, and without forcing others to pay for what you want. Good ideas don't require force. After the recent SpaceX rocket explosion, I saw someone arguing that this was why space exploration should be left to governments, thus financed with taxation. After all, the apparent cause of the blast was something NASA solved fifty years ago. While this may be true, you'll also notice tax-financed space exploration stagnated decades ago. Long before commercial rockets became a reality...read the...

By Kent McManigal Vote1 0

Somehow I have managed to get on the mailing lists of a few different politicians. I keep marking them as junk, but they keep coming to my inbox. But I don't really mind. It is a reminder of the nature of politicians. I see how they harp on the things that they believe will get them v*tes. You can see there are no principles involved- other than the principle that they lust for your v*te. They say whatever they believe their constituency (or potential v*ters) want to hear. I don't do that. As you've probably noticed. I tell you what...

By Kent McManigal Vote1 0

As I was driving down the road one recent day, I saw a truck which the local road pirates had stopped. I don't know why, or anything about the situation, but I noticed a tow truck moving into position to hook up and take the other truck away. My suspicion is that it wasn't due to mechanical trouble- usually I see the trucks being worked on by a mechanic in that case. I suspect that for one reason or another, the cops were taking possession of the vehicle due to some "law" being broken. Maybe that wasn't the case this...

By Kent McManigal Vote3 0

If you ignore the existence of gravity, there will be consequences. You may not be around to learn your lesson. The same goes for ignoring the Zero Aggression Principle. Everyone is subject to it, whether they "accept" it or not. Youarchate; there will be consequences. And, you may not survive to learn your lesson. I know it seems there are a lot of people who not only survive, but thrive while ignoring the ZAP and property rights. And you're right. But there are still consequences. Look how many archators end up being violated in the same way they violated others....

By Kent McManigal Vote2 12

There are blogs I used to follow more closely in the past than I do now. In almost every case my falling away has been due to the author drifting either right or left. Embracing exceptions to Rightful Liberty that they personally like. More of them have recently shifted right than left, but that may just be an indication of the current political climate- "immigrants" and Islamic mass-murderers and a reaction to Hillary Clinton. The sad fact is, they are ignoring their most powerful ally. Rightful Liberty, without exceptions, can solve any real problem, and expose any illusory "problem" for...

By Kent McManigal Vote3 0

When people use the words "my government" while referring to some gang of bullies, I may roll my eyes and feel pity for them. But when they use the words "our government" I have a hard time not getting angry. I promise you that you and I don't share a government. I govern myself and I don't govern you. End of story. That doesn't mean there aren't gangs of bullies trying to govern both of us. We probably even alter our behavior due to their presence- just like we'd walk around a huge steaming pile of dog feces. But unless...

By Kent McManigal Vote4 0

There's a reason it's "libertarian" and not "freedomarian". Yes, freedom sounds great- doing whatever you want, with no limits. Until the guy next to you is doing the same. Then it's not so wonderful. In fact, it's often unsurvivable. Freedomarians would not be good neighbors. On the other hand, liberty is self-limiting. You can never have "too much" because as soon as your "freedom" violates someone else, you don't have the liberty to do it. Libertarians recognize this fact. Thus, libertarian, not freedomarian.

By Kent McManigal Vote0 1

My Clovis News Journal column for the week- read it here: link

By Kent McManigal Vote0 0

I have more respect for those who have the opportunity to be evil, yet refuse to give in to it, than I do for those who are naturally good with no trouble. That probably doesn't sound nice. I expect good people to stay good- which is why I am so disappointed when they support cops or other acts of evil. But a good person who has the opportunity to not be good, and who wouldn't really surprise anyone by doing evil, yet stays good anyway is refreshing. And someone I can learn from. I suppose we all have the capacity for evil,...

By Kent McManigal Vote1 0

"What a dаta of un-ambiguity and preserveness of precious familiarity regarding unexpected feelings." That lovely bit of prose, my personal favorite, comes courtesy of Chinese spammers. I laugh every time I see it. And I can't make heads or tails out of it. When they visit my blog- always in league- they can add 947 (an actual number from a recent spurt) or more visits in an hour or so. That artificially boosts my stats, but somehow doesn't really make me very happy. I want the people who visit my blog to be able to read what I write and...

By Kent McManigal Vote1 0

I am a much less angry person since I dropped any belief in "authority" of The State (or anyone). We AVAL (Anarchists/Voluntaryists/Abolitionists/libertarians) are always accused of being what we are because of anger, but the angriest people I see are statists. Maybe that's because nearly everyone I see is a statist. But, really, statists are just consumed with anger. Sure, they hide it behind euphemisms like "rule of law" and such, but scratch the surface and you'll see the true foundation of their belief. But, me? I don't have much desire to punish others, or control them. I don't expect perfection,...

By Kent McManigal Vote2 0

Part of the reason I acknowledge the fact that there are no good cops, while admitting there are "nice" ones, is because of the cops I have known and those I have talked with. When cops are being truthful, because you are a Nobody who can't touch them, they are really scary. Another part of the reason is simple logic: you can't enforce "laws" without doing evil. It's just not possible at all. But, I'm not generally going to make it an issue as long as someone else doesn't make an issue of it first. I really don't go around...

By Kent McManigal Vote3 0

You might suspect I hate prohibition. And you would be right. Do I want to abuse all manner of drugs without the risk of being "legally" destroyed for doing so? Not exactly. Although, if I ever find myself in the position where a doctor is scared to prescribe me the pain relief I need due to "laws" which could end his career if he gives me what I need, you'd better believe I will want all the drugs I can get, "legally" or otherwise. And if I can get them, I will, with a perfectly clear conscience. Drug use is...

By Kent McManigal Vote1 0

If the cops in your town are claiming that your town needs another cop because the current cops are too busy with drug cases to do anything else, it's a sign your town cops are wasting their time doing what they shouldn't be doing. Things they are completely in the wrong for doing. That is the excuse the local Chief Wiggum has used to inflict another tax junkie on my neighbors and me. And, yes, obviously the corrupt and cowardly city council gave in to his demands. Spineless jerkwads. Look, I don't want cops at all. Ever. Anywhere. Period. But,...

By Kent McManigal Vote0 0

(My Clovis News Journal column for September 9, 2016) Prohibition is drug abuse‏ (my chosen headline- I didn't even try to come up with something they'd use this week) Drugs can make people crazy. For proof, just look what drugs have done to Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. His craziness apparently doesn't come from taking drugs, but from his murderous lust to prohibit them. Like so many prohibitionists in the US. He's a perfect role model for supporters of the stupid and evil War on Politically Incorrect Drugs. Particularly for those who have the political power to continue to impose prohibition...

By Kent McManigal Vote0 0

It is in the paper, with the headline "Prohibition dangerous as addiction", but they haven't put it online yet. And may not. If they do, I'll link it here and in its own post. If not, you can read it in a month (unless you have a subscription to the paper, then you can still read it now). - My subscriptions are down about $65 from a year ago. That may not sound like much, but when you live on the edge as I do, it's a lot. I desperately need to replace those subscriptions. A big "thank you!" to...

By Kent McManigal Vote0 0

(Submitted to the Farwell, TX/Texico, NM State Line Tribune) Drug abuse is dumb. I understand why people want programs and strategies they believe would lower the risk of someone abusing drugs. However, very often the things they grasp at are counterproductive and actually increase the risk. They are feel-good, knee-jerk reactions based on ideology, not grounded in reality. Study after study indicates that one of the biggest risk factors involved in drug abuse and addiction is a lack of quality social connections. One of the primary justifications for the athletic programs in government schools is that it creates camaraderie between...

By Kent McManigal Vote0 0

It's disheartening. People who work for government harm people while being paid with money stolen from those they harm. Yet they are considered "pillars of the community" and given respect. My disgust and disappointment at this state of affairs isn't going to change anything, even if I don't participate in the charade. What I can do is treat all people as people, based not on their "job" or position, but on how they treat others. Until someone isn't nice to me, I will be nice to them. I will give them the benefit of a doubt, as a person, even...

By Kent McManigal Vote0 0

The buffet of liberty Sep 25, 2016

The answer the NRA should give Sep 24, 2016

Government ‘help’ solves nothing Sep 23, 2016

Politicians’ emails are “educational” Sep 22, 2016

Don’t help cops violate others Sep 21, 2016

Stupidity has consequences Sep 20, 2016

Drifting, shifting blogs Sep 19, 2016

“Our government”? Don’t be absurd Sep 18, 2016

Don’t be a “freedomarian” Sep 17, 2016

Liberty, anarchy go hand in hand Sep 16, 2016

Resisting the opportunity to be evil Sep 15, 2016

It could be worse- you could be a statist! Sep 13, 2016

Dealing with government-lovers and their kin Sep 12, 2016

Prohibitionists and other nasty diseases Sep 11, 2016

Too many cops committing too many wrongs Sep 10, 2016

Prohibition dangerous as addiction Sep 9, 2016

Liberty Lines- Sept. 8, 2016 Sep 8, 2016

Archators: “pillars of the community” Sep 7, 2016