Kent For Liberty Blog

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  • Kent McManigal

Demanding equal oxygen Jan 29, 2017

I'm all for women's oxygen. Men have oxygen- why shouldn't women have it, too? Of course, I suppose you could point out that the same oxygen surrounds us all, and if anyone deprives any other person of oxygen-- man, woman, child, "non-citizen", believers in bizarre and violent superstitions, whatever-- then the person withholding the oxygen is violating them. Oxygen belongs to everyone equally. And, it's all the same. There aren't different varieties of oxygen for different people-- even the isotopes of oxygen don't get doled out differently. By using oxygen you aren't depriving someone else of oxygen-- you would be...

By Kent McManigal Vote1 1

Walk the line Jan 28, 2017

There's a fine line between being a bully and a wimp. And that line is libertarianism, as brought to life by the Zero Aggression Principle. Walk that line and you'll be neither a bully nor a wimp. Stray to either side of that line and you'll have problems because, either you won't stand up for yourself, or because you'll cause problems by violating others. -   This blog, like all of KentforLiberty.com, is reader supported.  Any donations or subscriptions are GREATLY appreciated! Thank you.

By Kent McManigal Vote1 0

The Wall Jan 27, 2017

(Video here) A border wall is a bad idea, and it's wrong. It is not even slightly similar to putting a fence around your property. Instead, you are wanting to put a fence around MY property, and around the property of every one of your neighbors. And right through the *middle* of some people's property. You are exposing yourself as an enemy of property rights, unlike the friend of property rights who would put a fence around his own property and realize he can't fence off his neighbor's land. Your right to control property ends at the edges of your...

By Kent McManigal Vote0 0

Rapists protecting virginity Jan 27, 2017

Statist idiots believe the opinions and actions of thieves and aggressors can actually protect the innocent. You can't reason with people like that. All you can do is work around them, and defend yourself from them when they molest you.   - This blog, like all of KentforLiberty.com, is reader supported.  Any donations or subscriptions are GREATLY appreciated! Thank you.

By Kent McManigal Vote0 0

Not quite “quiet as a mouse” Jan 26, 2017

If government-- the State-- could stay unnoticed, it might survive longer. But by becoming intrusive and meddlesome, it has sealed its fate. Sooner than otherwise would have been the case. If you have some guy living secretly in your attic, but he can go unnoticed, you won't kick him out. Sure, you'd rather he not be there, but if you never notice him how will you know here's there? You won't think about searching for him to throw him out (or shoot him). But as soon as he starts stealing enough food that you notice, or as soon as he...

By Kent McManigal Vote1 0

Petition to repeal the NFA Jan 25, 2017

As disgusting as I find it to ask permission to exercise my rights, I still think it would be a good idea to get rid of the anti-liberty National Firearms Act of 1934. Thus, I signed this petition: Repeal the NFA If nothing else, getting rid of this "law" would end the violation of some who choose to do what they have a natural right to do, in spite of the opinions of bullies. Therefore, I am in favor of repealing it (or ignoring it). No, the NFA hasn't stopped anyone from doing what they were set on doing, and...

By Kent McManigal Vote3 1

Political creatures can’t run your life Jan 25, 2017

(My Eastern New Mexico News column for January 25, 2017) Another year, another president. Some people are optimistic; others are wringing their hands in apparent horror. As with every president, I'm a disinterested observer. Presidents and other such political creatures haven't mattered much to me since I was in my twenties and began to grow out of my desire for a leash. There has never been a president who had much impact on my life, unless I foolishly paid more attention to him than was warranted. The longer I live, the less frequently this happens...read the rest... - This blog,...

By Kent McManigal Vote1 0

Believable crime solvers Jan 24, 2017

My awareness of what's on TV is kind of low. I have Netflix, but nothing else, so I don't even get exposed to what's currently on the air. But, through other people, I notice a lot of shows revolving around the solving of crimes. It's an old theme, but still a popular one. Unfortunately, they all seem to solve crimes as government employees, or in league with government employees. That's silly. Government is the biggest crime of all. Even Sherlock, with his contempt for the stupidity of cops and his willingness to ignore "laws", still acts as though the government...

By Kent McManigal Vote1 4

Government’s two choices Jan 23, 2017

Just as I wish for any nasty gang, I want government to fail. To get so bad that no one complies any more. To spend its way into oblivion, and try to "tax" itself out of the box. To go overboard with everything it does. And, as if it cares about my wishes, government is doing so as fast as it possibly can. I would also be OK with it if government went so smoothly that I didn't notice it at all. Yeah, death to the State is still better, but as long as it's not molesting me, I'm not...

By Kent McManigal Vote1 2

“La la la… I can’t hear you!” Jan 22, 2017

When people are doing something incorrectly, they aren't generally interested in being shown the right way. This baffles me beyond words, but it's true. It holds true whether it is my daughter trying to bowl, holding the ball completely wrong and getting a gutter ball every time, or people believing freedom comes from government, cops, and "laws". When I can clearly see what someone is doing wrong, I want to point it out to them. It pains me to see someone fail over and over again, out of ignorance. It's even worse to see them stay the course to failure...

By Kent McManigal Vote0 0

What “taxes” provide Jan 20, 2017

My 9 year-old daughter already understands that "taxation" is theft. But today she asked a question about how "taxes" work, and here's the illustration I gave her. I told her that if she wants an ice cream sundae, she can choose the kind of ice cream and toppings she wants. If the price is what she (or I, as the case may be) is what she is willing to pay, she can buy it. But, when "tax" money pays for something, you might get a similarly good sundae- or not. Maybe the ice cream is obviously contaminated with rat droppings....

By Kent McManigal Vote0 2

“If a cop tells you to do something, just do it!” Jan 19, 2017

No matter what a cop tells you to do, just do it. If his demand was unlawful you can survive the encounter, with only a little damage to your ego, to face him in court at a later date. Or, so sayeth the copsuckers. Unfortunately, this belief of theirs ignores reality. The main problem isn't even that the courts are controlled by the same gang, and will give the cop every benefit of the doubt, while viewing you as an enemy. Sometimes, cops are delusional and irrational, and dangerous to decent beings. OK, not just "sometimes". Once, years ago, I...

By Kent McManigal Vote1 1

Yet another worse-than-worthless constitution Jan 17, 2017

My 9 year-old daughter tells me that because some kids irritated the "teacher", her third grade class was coerced into writing a "class constitution". Laying out, of course, how the kids are to behave, rather than how the "teacher" should. Kind of the opposite of the whole idea of a constitution, but exactly how they are applied these days. But, me being me, I told her she isn't bound by any contract she didn't agree to, no matter what anyone says. Yeah, I'm trouble like that. - This blog, like all of KentforLiberty.com, is reader supported.  Any donations or subscriptions...

By Kent McManigal Vote0 0

Be more antifragile Jan 16, 2017

Antifragile, by Nassim Nicholas Taleb . Read this book. If you don't plan on doing so, or want to know why I recommend it, I'll tell you. (You can also read this long-ish take on the book and concept.) I like the book, and the idea, because it feeds my confirmation bias- but I think it is right, anyway. I'll admit, I am still reading it, but I don't see it going astray. One of the major points of the book is that by designing all the danger out of things, trying to make the randomness and volatility go away...

By Kent McManigal Vote1 0

Cops and shootings Jan 15, 2017

When am I OK with a cop shooting someone? When I'd be OK with anyone shooting someone in that situation. When am I OK with someone shooting a cop? When I'd be OK with anyone being shot in that situation. A person's employer doesn't matter in that regard. If a cop doesn't like it, he can quit being a parasite and go find an HONEST job. Just before one of those NOT OK shootings   -   This blog, like all of KentforLiberty.com, is reader supported.  Any donations or subscriptions are GREATLY appreciated! Thank you.

By Kent McManigal Vote1 0

Lethal threats from trespassers Jan 14, 2017

OK, so I'm confused. If I go into someone's yard, and they tell me to leave, and I don't, so they chase me out, they are somehow the bad guy? Or maybe I'm just pacing the road in front of their house, periodically aiming a rifle through their window. If they tell me to stop it, or aim their rifle at me, they are threatening me? What if I break down their door, rape their daughters, smash up the place a bit, and they fight back. They are the bad guy for fighting me, and I'm a hero? So, why...

By Kent McManigal Vote2 8

Support Law Enforcement Jan 13, 2017

I am totally in favor of supporting law enforcement. With a trap door. Temporarily. Just until the rope can be placed around its steroid-thickened neck. Then I quickly withdraw that support. No, I'm not calling for the death of any particular individual who lowers himself to do that "job", but of the entire idea that "laws" are a legitimate thing which should be enforced. Cops are scum because the "job" is scummy. "Police" is an act of aggression and theft, not the vermin committing the act. You can never make doing a bad thing into something noble or good. No...

By Kent McManigal Vote0 0

Possessed by statist delusions Jan 12, 2017

If someone believes in X, and uses that belief to kill and steal, it doesn't matter much that X is all in their head. The harm they cause is real, but, its not X's fault; it is theirs alone. They have to be the one to make the choice to be the bad guy. After all, X-- be it "authority", government, religion, or whatever-- can't actually do anything. It's all the individual's choice. Every government employee is guilty of this, even when they believe what they are doing is good or necessary. For one thing, it is all financed by...

By Kent McManigal Vote2 0

Discomfort and agony Jan 11, 2017

"My discomfort is a monumental tragedy of epic proportions-- maybe not even survivable. But yours? Yours is trivial, you whiner, and you need to just shut up and deal with it." Or, at least that's the message most people seem to be sending. Not just statists, but almost all statists. I do think most people are addicted to comfort. Even me. But I also understand the difference between comfort and necessity. Liberty is a necessity, which is often shoved aside to make way for comfort for the weak losers who find liberty inconvenient or scary. Physical discomfort can be a...

By Kent McManigal Vote0 0

Keep an eye out for the unexpected Jan 11, 2017

(My Eastern New Mexico News column for January 11, 2017) [Note: I believe the columns may now be unavailable unless you are a subscriber. If that's the case, never fear- I will post the entire thing in a month, as I always have. Watch for it.] Life comes at you unexpectedly. Risks are always near-- from aggressive people, the weather, or simply from Murphy's Law. No matter where you are or what you are doing, expect the unexpected, but don't let it consume your life. You could worry yourself to death over dangers, or you can let awareness and preparedness...

By Kent McManigal Vote0 0

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