“Common” in this case means “collective”, rather than “ordinary”. Its meaning is closer to “communist” or “everyone” than to the more “common” meaning. “General welfare” is another way to say the exact same thing.

What is “good”? Good is something that actively helps or benefits someone who is not harming others. It isn’t just an absence of “evil” since there are neutral acts that are neither “good” nor “evil”, such as walking across the room. (It is never “good” to help harm innocent people. This is an excellent reason to refuse to help the police. Ever.)

So, “the common good” (or “general welfare”) would be something that helps “everyone”.

The only way to help “everyone” is to help the individual. Yet, most of the time “the common good” is invoked as an excuse to harm the individual. When that individual is not deserving harm right now, then the act of harming him is evil. Violating the rights of an individual; taking away the freedom of an individual, except as an act of individual self-defense, is not serving “the common good” in any way. It only serves the state and other parasites. Instead of imagining you are helping the majority, you need to think about the minority you are harming. That is the true measure of the “good” of your acts. It is better to do nothing (and therefore not help some people) than to do something which harms some who do not deserve to be harmed right now.

Government is good? Part 1

I believe in fairness, especially if there is no danger in being fair. Since my offer to a supporter of government (a person who actually dared to say “I like government“) to write a guest column on why government is so wonderful never materialized, I offer an dissenting voice today.
I found a website, named “Government is Good“, and it is astonishing.
… Please go to the column and read it and leave a comment with your opinion- and send all your liberty-loving friends there as well…Thanks.

“Liberty” is the freedom to exercise your rights.

“Freedom” means doing what you want to do.

Freedom is morally neutral; it can be good or it can be bad- depending upon your desires. You have an obligation to not use your freedom to act upon your desires to harm the innocent, and also to accept the responsibility for your actions. You are accountable for everything you do.

Other people, consequences, responsibility, “laws”, beliefs, reality, and many other things can limit your freedom. Freedom, liberty, and rights are not the same thing but are entangled.

Some people can be perfectly “free” in prison, while others couldn’t be free in Utopia.

Once again, this is what I mean when I use the word “freedom” and it may vary somewhat from your meaning.

A “right” is something you can do just because you exist. It is not dependent upon anyone’s permission.

Rights do not come from anyone, nor from government, nor from any document. A right can either be respected or it can be violated, but it can not be limited, regulated, licensed, rationed, or otherwise turned into a privilege. A privilege is the opposite of a right.

Having a right doesn’t mean there will be no consequences for exercising that right. There are always consequences and responsibilities for every action. Just because you have a right to do something does not mean it is the best thing to do right now. Think before you act, or even better, before you need to act.

I’m not talking genus and species here, but politics.

If you read things I have written, you will notice I use different labels for myself at different times, and depending upon who I am writing for. My core beliefs and values do not change with the labels and don’t normally change over time (unless it is toward even less recognition of coercion as a legitimate tool). I often feel labels are necessary, but I recognize the limits and the baggage they all have. A few of these labels even appear in the headline and introduction of this blog. I’ll see if I can define myself in this post without using any labels at all. So, for informational purposes and future linkage, here is my explanation of my view (subject to revision, clarification, and addition as necessary):

Government is not necessary, and is evil. I am willing to work with those who still wish to “work within the system” using government as long as they are moving in my general direction of “greater individual freedom”, even if just on one particular issue- any chair in a bar-fight, as they say- until we must part ways due to them reaching “enough freedom” (for themselves) and balking at going any further. Unless they try to stop me from continuing along my path, it can be an amicable parting.

I do not wish to control what others do as long as they harm no innocent person. If they wish to start a communist enclave, that is their business until they try to force someone to participate who does not wish to do so. “Legal” is less than meaningless to me, as some of the worst acts are “legal” when committed by government employees, and some of the most innocuous are “illegal” when done against government wishes or without government permission.

I understand rights as existing equally in all people. Rights can either be respected or violated; nothing else. Government has no say in rights, but can wrongly restrict freedom. Freedom can be lost; rights can not.

There is never any legitimate reason to initiate force (attack the innocent). I will not second-guess someone who has been attacked regarding how much force they feel was necessary to defend themselves. I don’t condone revenge, although I can sometimes understand the desire to pursue it. I feel a person must make choices and then accept the consequences.

I don’t obsess over politics or government. In fact, other than writing about them, I don’t think about either one too much unless they get in my way. Mostly, I just live my life minding my own business.

Now, apply any label you think fits.

Hope and change is still on the menu, but not at the Government Cafe

I was reading an opinion in a newsletter to which I subscribe about the recent, and mostly forgotten, ex-governor Rod Blagojevich “dramedy”. The author opined that the imposed “political death penalty”, which bars the former governor from ever again holding a state office, might not go far enough for the offense of … Read the rest….

The forgotten amendment

Amendment III- “No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.”
Once again, just to forestall any misunderstandings, I will state that rights do not come from any government nor from its documents. Read the rest at the link…

My heroes have always been…. well, not thugs

If authoritarians are your heroes, you have faulty priorities. Authoritarians, such as presidents, LEOs, or those in the military, may occasionally act in heroic ways, but it is always in spite of their career choices, not because of them. The act of doing what they are paid to do (with stolen money) does not make them “heroes”…More at the link….

Secede and succeed

Some people fear the death of the state because of their own financial situation. They are afraid of becoming dependent on charity in a free market where no state exists. Without a state to steal money with which to run its agencies and programs, those who work for the state face the consequences of their choices. …Read it all…..