Libertarian Enterprise Columns

SpaceShipOne, GovernmentZero in issue 277, June 27, 2004.

My first of three "from the spaceport" reports and commentary; starting with the initial extra-atmospheric flight of SpaceShipOne, the first free-market space ship in human history.

"It's not what it is. It's what it means."

"Up. Down. Done. Wow!!!

"SpaceShipOne, GovernmentZero!

"A day and a half without sleep, two and a half hours on the road in the middle of the night, (including the traffic jam at the spaceport) four hours on my feet, my arms are a wreck from shading my eyes from the sun (and trying to hold binoculars and a camera steady), my mind is blown and I am still pooped!

"But it was all worth it to experience the thrill of watching the first free space ship -- piloted by the first free astronaut -- stretch the grip of Earth and enter near-earth space -- despite government interference and resistance. We now have a real space program for the first time in human history."

Space ShipTWO, GovernmentZero! in issue 291, October 3, 2004

My "from the spaceport" report on the second extra-atmospheric flight of SpaceShipOne, the first free-market space ship in human history.

"It's not what it is. It's what it means."

"Up. Down. Done. Again!

"SpaceShipTWO, GovernmentZero!

"It is September 29, 2004 and Mike Melvill in SpaceShipOne has, once more, punched through the limits of the Earth's atmosphere to outer space. The Scaled Composites team will do it again, scheduled as of now for 5 day hence, on October 4, to win the Ansari X-Prize -- the trophy and a check for ten million dollars."

SpaceShipWON, GovernmentZero! in issue 292, October 10, 2004.

My "from the spaceport" report on the third and prize-winning extra-atmospheric flight of SpaceShipOne, the first free-market space ship in human history.

"It's not what it is. It's what it means."

"Up. Down. Done. WON!

SpaceShipWON, GovernmentZero!

"It is October 4, 2004 and Astronaut, Brian Binnie in SpaceShipOne has punched through the Earth's atmosphere again to near-Earth space -- to win the Ansari X-Prize of a beautiful trophy and a check for ten million dollars. He also won the hearts and minds of Ethnically American Folk of all countries and nationalities -- by proving, with solid performance, that mankind can go to space without any input from, and despite interference from, government."

Election and Revolution in issue 295, October 31, 2004.

On the 2004 election and the introduction of Fifth-Generation War strategy.

"On Tuesday, November 2, 2004 I will go to the polling place and cast a ballot for Michael Badnarik for the office of President of the United States. It will be counted for John Kerry.

"If the Americans are willing to fight this current revolution to a successful conclusion, we can once more have peace and prosperity, and that for a long time to come . . .

"The method is Fifth-Generation War. And it has two parts . . ."

Fixing the Tiger in issue 298, November 21, 2004.

On why you can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear, nor any government "good".

"Government has four basic functions. All other things that government does are mere lies, window dressing and sugar coating. The four functions are:

* Robbery
* Rape
* Slavery
* Genocide

"The reason for this is that government, all government, is a criminal enterprise. It has no legitimate purpose."

The Solipsist Fallacy? Wazzat? in issue 299, November 28, 2004.

In which I introduce a new term and get chided for it.

"I am trying to present a view of a mental function for which I do not yet have any other name. It has aspects of both solipsism and transference (actually, projection) and is not a symptom of mental ill-health. It is, instead, a combination of lack of information and an error in thinking. We find it among most people at least some of the time (including me!), and many people all of the time, both the healthy and the "mad". "

Cold Shutdown and Don't Re-Start! in issue 336, September 11, 2005.

Once again, Lady Liberty is both agreed with and (gently) taken to task.

"It is my observation that the Constitution of the United States is dead as a door-nail; and has been at least since 1933. Welll... maybe 1938, but I won't give you 1939! I hope it never returns, because it was a dismal failure. As Lysander Spooner told us, it either authorizes what we have now or has been powerless to prevent it. In Lady Liberty's idiom it was "Freedom 1.0" -- and the Microsoft version, at that!"

Teaching the ZAP to the 4-GW Crowd in issue 345, November 13, 2005.

"You can lead a boy to knowledge, but you can't make him think."
On communication and teaching methods.

"The following is adapted, from my reply to a correspondent's note, about my previous note to him, regarding his posts, in a discussion, on a bulletin board (Hoo-boy, this is getting round-about!) on the subject of (Pant, choke, gasp wheeze...!) guerrilla, or Forth-Generation War. He was having the devil's own time being understood, and said that I was the only one who "got it". Oh, well!"

Why Do They Hate America? in issue 351, January 22, 2006.

On the "new" racism, bigotry and state worship.

"The following is a post by Dervish from the Claire Files forum about why the Prussian-Americans hate and fear individuals in general and, particularly, the Ethnic-Americans (the people of the 18th century enlightenment, as it has evolved) -- and my reply. By the way, those "P" and "E" labels are mine, not his."

Home of the Slave? in issue 362, April 9, 2006.

The disassembly of "Master John" for being a silly Marxist twit;
with an introduction to basic economics in the appendix.

WARNING: This paper contains heavy sarcasm and (richly deserved) insults.
No cursing; although it might as well have.

"Now, it seems, I must add another to the short list (previously one, now two) of TLE columnists to pass over with a heavy and resigned sigh.

"Master Steinsvold's "piece" is the most blatant and infantile example of Communist propaganda and apology that it has been my unhappy lot to wade through since my days with the astronomers in a major (and unnamed to save embarrassment for the guilty) university. They taught me astrophysics and I exposed them -- usually for the first time -- to philosophy and economics. Perhaps I should try again.

"And so, another brief exercise in futility."

The Semantics of Death in issue 364, April 23, 2006.

Another "springboard piece" inspired by the lovely and talented (and philosophically sound) Pat Hartman.

"Re Pat Hartman's column "Cruel April--"Waco" Seeds" in TLE 363: Miss Hartman has written a darn good article. I agree with much that she said about tolerance, bigotry and scapegoating. However (ain't there always a "however . . . ") she does stumble a few times, and I think that in these subjects it is of paramount importance to be as accurate as one can. The results, after all, mean life or death for hundreds of millions of people. I will cite two examples and offer some thoughts."

A technical piece on the shooting of pistols without pain from recoil, and some other benefits.

"Back in April a lady named Kirstin posted the following question on the Claire Files Forum and I decided to help her out:

"ORIGINAL POST: "My hand is killing me..." on: April 17, 2006, 11:44:47 AM

"Every time I go shooting, I remember why I hate going shooting. I was shooting yesterday, and today my hand is killing me! That muscle right below my thumb feels like someone has been whacking it with a mallet for hours. Is there anything I can do about this?

"I sent a message with some ideas, and did not hear any more about it until August 20, when she sent the following message back to me:"

Some Thoughts on Government Vs. Free-Market Police Services in issue 436, September 23, 2007

"In a discussion thread at the Mental Militia Forum on private vs. government police services, a lady posted comments (hers are paraphrased and her name changed here because I do not have communication with her anymore) that I responded to as follows:"

People Ain't Chickens, Neither in issue 446, December 2, 2007.

In which I borrow A.X. Perez's second letter to the Editor in TLE number 445 to use as another springboard; to dive into the deep and roiling sea of controversy about libertarian purity and collateral damage in a just war.

"I would like to excoriate, put down and generally disagree with Mr. Perez.
Unfortunately, I can't, because he's right.

"Oh, darn.

"Instead, I would borrow his letter to use as a springboard. I hope he approves . . .

"The 5GW strategy is my effort to give a method of fighting the evil of all government with the least cost in innocent lives and treasure, with the least risk of collateral damage done by freedom-fighters, while giving the best chance of victory for the forces of freedom. It even addresses the "power vacuum" problem of all previous revolutions for freedom. It seems to me to be the best way to approach the world of "The Probability Broach" and maintain it over a long span of time."

Who Shall Bell The Cat? in issue 447, December 9, 2007.

Federal vs. state constitutional amendments -- what works and what doesn't?

"Re Neil Smith's article "The Zeroth Amendment" in TLE #445

"He proposes a new amendment to the United States Constitution for the purpose of enforcing the Bill of Rights. OK, I like that. "Death to the Tyrants!, etc." But . . . I see no practical way to introduce such an amendment to the states for ratification (because, as he so poetically puts it "they [the congress] are so putrescently corrupt that they shine in the dark") , nor any way to make three-quarters of the state legislatures ratify it, for the same luminous reason.

"Who shall bell the cat?

"How-some-ever . . . "

Half Baked Cookies Topped With A-priori Assumptions in issue 451, January 13, 2008.

My reaction to another benighted soul "spinning his wheels in the mud and making, at best, 'much sound and fury, signifying nothing' ".

"Recently on a forum that I frequent, one of my numerous correspondents named Fred (It's amazing how many folks are named Fred; or I can't remember their names, so they default to Fred... Are they related to Zathras?) suggested that a wealthy libertarian might fund a new non-profit newspaper to spread the word of the abuse of the Bill of Rights -- until just about everyone was familiar with those laws; so that "we" could then begin to dismantle the government.

"He had absolutely no idea how or why that might work. Magic, perhaps . . .

"Sorry to horn-in on your "brain holiday" Fred, but I just couldn't resist."

Re, Re, Re... Victor Milan's Question? in issue 477, July 20, 2008.

He raises, as usual, a very good question:

"Okay, do we want freedom, or do we want politics?"

Part of my reply:
"If you want politics, you will have to sacrifice your (and steal your neighbor's) freedom. If you want freedom, you will have to sacrifice the state. Literally. On an altar of fire . . .

"5GW is a two-stage program to achieve a "New (Non-political) World Order" by first abolishing the state, and second, preventing a new one from arising afterward. Expect to see some overlap of the two steps in the middle."