Littlestuff Weekender-2-5-2011

Continued from last Littlestuff Weekender: Article 1, Section 8.

To coin money, regulate the value thereof, and of foreign coin, and fix the standard of weights and measures;

To provide for the punishment of counterfeiting the securities and current coin of the United States;

To establish post offices and post roads;

To promote the progress of science and the useful arts, by securing for limited times to authors and inventors the exclusive right to their respective writings and discoveries;

To constitute Tribunals inferior to the supreme court;

Over the next two Saturday’s we’ll complete the enumerated powers presentation, and then begin with some commentary about them.

We’ll be leaving at noon today for Flint, Michigan, where we’ll be the dinner speaker for the Michigan Libertarian Party’s LibertyFest. We’ll be staying overnight at the Gateway Center Holiday Inn, and will return to Ohio on Sunday for my sister and brother-in-law’s 40^th wedding anniversary and some small time football game.

Next weekend (Thursday through Sunday) we’ll be in Washington, D.C. to attend the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC). Hopefully we pick up some fertile information for future columns as well as developing some additional sources for info and insights.

Future column in the works include a Church and State analysis, an examination of police powers in the U.S. and how they are utilized, and an inspection of the 17^th Amendment and its ramifications.

Yesterday we taped a segment for Randall Turner’s “Money in America” radio program that airs in New York, Pennsylvania and Nevada. You can pick up Randy’s show or podcasts at www.moneyinamerica.biz

Thanks to Randy Turner and Janis for allowing us the opportunity to discover one more outlet for freedom. As we move through these perilous times, solid financial stewardship is vital, and Randall Turner, M.B.A. provides information that is useful for all of us.

So, Mr. President and bodacious members of the Senate, what is it about “unconstitutional healthcare legislation” that you do not understand? Why do you continue to behave as if all systems were “go?” Why do you insist upon thwarting the will of the people? Why do you forge onward when 28 states have, in essence, told you to cease and desist? Why do you appear committed to goading the citizens of the United States? Why?

As many of you know, I was an active member of the GOP for 42 years. I switched to the Libertarian Party when I discovered that to rise to power in the Republican Party would require that I be neutered. Didn’t seem like a good trade for me, but apparently many others have chosen to sacrifice their jewels for a sip from the cup of political power. When in politics, Republicans sacrifice their cajones, and Democrats give away their brains. Explains a lot, doesn’t it.

Here on our little farmette, the Little Pat-Ch of Paradise, the John Deere has been working overtime as we move snow from near the buildings and the driveway. We have a bumper crop of the white stuff…and that’s enough for this year. The water table should be in good shape this year.

Let’s see, if Ohio would secede from the union, but would not be true to Constitutional principles, then Wood County could withdraw from the Buckeye State. But if Wood County failed to uphold the rights of individuals, then Middleton Township could step aside, and if the township trustees were derelict in their governance, then our Little Pat-Ch of Paradise would declare our independence and rename ourselves….the State of Confusion. Whatever works….

For those of you who are concerned about the impact of illegal immigration in Ohio, Julie Aldrich has a scheduled meeting with Ohio House Speaker, Bill Batchelder, on February 18^th at 10:00am in Columbus. She needs to know how many plan to attend in order to arrange for the appropriately sized room. If you wish to go, please contact Julie at  julieaaldrich@aol.com .

Back on Monday. Enjoy the remainder of your weekend.

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Liberty or License?

As a Libertarian, I often encounter those who suspect that we want no rules, respect no convention and endorse anarchy. Admittedly, there are some Libertarians who believe that total anarchy is the ultimate expression of freedom, but they’re difficult to find because true anarchists can’t have meetings…much too organized. For many observers unfettered living is the equivalent of license…no restraints, no inhibitions, and no rules. They view the anarchistic lifestyle as chaotic.

There is a demarcation between the rule of law and excessive law. So too, there is a line between true individual liberty within a nation state and chaotic license. Anarchy can function effectively in isolation, but is severely limited in the context of a society. The very nature of a society requires standards and rules for peaceful interaction. The trick or the challenge is to devise a system of rules or laws that respects individuals but allows for some element of social cooperation. If we were 310 million anarchists living in the United States, then it seems that the ideal organizational structure would be for 310 million islands of property scattered across the fruited plain. Clearly, that is not a viable plan. The anarchist’s impulse, however, nurtures the seed of freedom. If we didn’t have the desire to follow our individual pathways, then we would all be contented members of the pack….or more appropriately the flock.

The lust for liberty is the driving force for explorers, pioneers and innovators. Their unquenchable yearning to escape the commonplace incites them to seek the extraordinary or to go beyond recognizable limits. Self expression and self determination are powerful. Most of us suppress those sentiments to some degree, but true societal advancement comes from those who harness their desires for freedom. The innovators channel their thirst for freedom toward pursuits that lift others while, at the same time, satisfying their passion for individuality and personal liberty. It is not an easy balancing act, and many give up trying because the reality is so difficult to achieve.

The final analysis, as I see it, is that each of us is born with a God-breathed desire for liberty. For some of us that impetus for freedom is so compelling that we prefer to isolate ourselves and follow our anarchist drummer. One could argue that anarchists are selfish and anti-social, but nevertheless, the impulse is a self-reliant one. Others nourish the spark of freedom but direct their energies toward a society that values the individual but recognizes the necessity of working in a structured society. The third group has extinguished the flame of freedom, succumbs to whatever government or society proposes, and lives a life of quiet and puzzled desperation. Personally, I believe that the third group, the compliant ones, is far more threatening than the wild and crazy anarchists. The compliant ones will lull us into servitude.

In my humble opinion we must possess an internal anarchist for liberty to prevail. Certainly, the anarchism must be tempered by reason and limited by self responsibility and accountability. For freedom to work, for liberty to be effective, each of us must yearn for it. Liberty must be more than an intriguing concept. It must be an unstoppable force.

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The Remnant and the Reality

A remnant is what is left over after the task has been completed. For today’s discussion the remnant is what is left over after the larger portion of the people becomes dependent on the government for their provision. As accountable individuals, we are each responsible for our own livelihoods, our own safety and our personal security. Each of us bears personal responsibility for our actions, and we must answer for failures and errors in judgment. The remnant, as I see it, in today’s United States is not poised to restore America or to recapture the ideal that was advanced by the Founders. Today’s remnant must rebuild our nation…brick by brick, wall by wall.

Restoration is significantly different from rebuilding. Using antique furniture as an example, when one restores the piece, it may involve stripping the finish, replacing the upholstery, tightening the dowels, and finally putting everything back together with a new finishing. If the piece has rotted, however, or its structure has been compromised, then rebuilding is necessary. The builder reforms the new parts as close to the original as is possible, but the rebuilt unit will have more enduring structural integrity than if the original flawed piece were merely cosmetically refinished. 

It has been 220 years since the ratification of the first ten amendments to the Constitution of the United States. Since that time only seventeen additional amendments have been approved, but do any of you really believe that the basic structure of our government and nation has been limited to those twenty-seven formal changes? No, throughout our history and especially in the past century, our system of self-government has undergone radical change. In my view the gross distortion of our original concept of a free self determining society has been the product of three major areas: the people, career politicians, and personal perspectives.

Our citizens have become fat, happy, stupid and lazy. They are willing to allow others to make critical decisions for them, but willingly moan and whine if they find those decisions unsatisfactory. As long as the vast majority of the people lean on government and others, restoration is unlikely if not impossible. The bright spot is that if the people prefer to remain relatively unengaged, then an eager and committed remnant can rebuild the social structure when they ignore the moaning, whining, and teeth-gnashing of their fellows.

Career politicians are a serious barrier for those who wish to rebuild the nation. Their self interest and their instincts for self preservation would drive them to give lip service to a true rebuilding process…but only if they can foresee their holding on to the power and the perks. In many of my speaking engagements I have remarked that career politicians are particularly adept at jumping to the front of a parade. A rebuilding movement would attract the most opportunistic of the political class as they scrambled to provide their bona fides as true defenders of the Constitution and the people. In other words, they would lie….again. Their lack of principle and shortage of honor would drive them to become the face, the voice and the beneficiaries of the movement.  For a rebuilding effort to succeed the careerists must not be allowed to participate in any meaningful fashion.

Perspective is probably the most difficult element to identify and to overcome. What are our attitudes about the role of government in our lives? Some of the most vociferous supporters of rebuilding will clamor for the restoration of their Social Security payments, or their agricultural subsidies…or their home mortgage deduction. Policies that have developed over the years as vote-purchasing mechanisms have been ingrained as “rights” by many of the citizenry. Many of the most ardent supporters for restoration or rebuilding will, nevertheless, expect and insist that their favored programs be continued. “I’ve earned it” will become the dominant cry in the rebuilding process. Their pampered self-interest will propel them toward “getting theirs,” even as they commend the Founders for pledging their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor. Every recruit for a restoration or rebuilding movement must be willing to forfeit everything.

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Graceful Saving

If you are a modest investor as am I, you probably listen to what market guru’s have to say. After paying attention to their various pronouncements and predictions, it appears that you have two acceptable alternatives: bury yourself in a very deep hole, or fill your basement with precious metals. There are a few stock pickers who forecast rosy scenarios as far as the eye can see, but they usually have a very hefty stake in a robust market. When you look around, when you shed your wishful thinking, you’ll note that the U.S. economy is standing on shaky legs….quivering, jello-like legs. The source of the instability is difficult to identify because there are so many factors that are in play.

The present situation in the Mideast as it affects oil prices could swing either way. The potential closing of the Suez Canal could cause petroleum prices to skyrocket, and on the other hand, the disintegration of civil order in several Gulf States could undermine the power of OPEC and result in lower fuel costs. An emerging global food shortage is beginning to impact and undermine political stability. Demagogues and opportunists will not hesitate to capitalize on hunger as a motivating reason for disruption. Hungry people become desperate. Quality drinking water is another variable that could have serious repercussions in the times ahead. If water is of poor quality, then disease will become commonplace and devastating. Food, fuel and water are three vital staples for the preservation of social order, and all three of them appear to be at risk at the present time.

Eric Blair, writing in the January 30^th “Activist Post,” identified five “collapse-proof investments” that everyone should have. They are food, alternative energy, tools, precious metals and useful skills. Without wanting to be unnecessarily alarmist, I wholeheartedly endorse Blair’s list. In my own life I can identify a period of time when I drifted from having basic skills for survival and the tools for doing so. Now I’m not writing about armed bunkers, camouflage clothes and fully-stocked arsenals, but I do believe that everyone should acquire some basic gardening skills, gardening and general household tools while building a healthy stock of non-perishable food. Some LP canisters and a turkey fryer would give you the means to cook food and heat water if for some reason the power should fail. Again, I’m not necessarily predicting an economic and social collapse as the cause of massive power disruption, but as we have noticed in recent years, the weather can wreak havoc with the power supply and expose your vulnerability.

Being prepared is not just a good idea for Scouts, it is a prudent approach for everyone who has the means to do so. How much is enough? How much food? Alternative energy? Which tools are needed?  These are the types of questions that you must answer for yourself and your circumstances. If you live in an apartment, for example, then your gardening opportunity will be limited to container growing, and you may require a larger cache of food than someone who has the means to grow and harvest it.

Here on the little Pat-Ch of Paradise we are doing all of the above. We are stocking fuel for the generators and the tractors. We already have an excellent selection of useful tools (many of them purchased at auctions), and our skill set is improving every day. We currently have about a two-month supply of non-perishable food in storage, but our short-term goal is for six months or more. Admittedly, I am not satisfied with our preparations to date, but I am much more at ease than I was last Spring.

Bangles and baubles are beautiful, but you can’t eat them. Preparation should never be underestimated, and should always be undertaken. Do what you do every day, but be ready if the situation changes.

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Line in the Sand

How do you determine your priorities? What is really important to you? What matters most? It seems at times that we are overwhelmed by choices. Some of them are clear cut, but others hover in those gray either-or worlds of maybe-maybe not. You probably haven’t thought of yourself as a philosopher, but a coherent and rock solid philosophical base is vital for making the critical decisions in your life. Many of you may recoil in horror at the suggestion that you become philosophically astute because your perception of philosophers is one of thinkers, not doers, and of crazy inbreds locked in an attic while attempting to solve the unsolvable mysteries of live. Well, you are correct. It may be useful, however, for you to embrace “philosophy-lite.” It certainly works for selling beer, and it may be useful for you as you frame your world view.

Each of us should have a foundation for our belief system. For some a point of view may be internally driven such as your quest for individuality or an intuitive sense of “”rightness.” For others the structure of the world view may be built upon outside sources like faith, wisdom of the ages or systematic philosophies. You don’t have to be totally familiar with Hume, Locke, Rand or any number of political/social thinkers in order for you to develop a consistent and resolute position for confronting difficult issues. Personally, I find that the Word of God (the Bible) and the Founding documents provide enough mortar to hold my world view together. I have read many of the great philosophers, and I’ve found their musings intriguing. As I’ve stated before, Ayn Rand’s Objectivism appeals to me, but within the context of the Christian faith. My bedrock, unmovable, underlying principle is individual liberty. For me that view is wholly consistent with God’s Word and intuitively reasonable also.

If you seriously consider what you hold dear as foundational principles, then when you are confronted with seemingly difficult positions, your reasoning will lead you to the optimum solution. People who have not established their base often find themselves on the slippery slopes of rationalization. As an example, my fallback bedrock principle is individual liberty. I am never torn by the security/safety versus freedom calculation. I know deep within my being that when government determines what is “safe” or “secure,” my liberty will be compromised. I also know that my liberty is a gift from God, and that I should not squander it.

My impetus for following this line of commentary today was a recent interview with John Boehner. The new Speaker of the House had been asked which programs he would recommend for cutting or elimination, and he responded that he couldn’t think of anything off the top of his head. Mr. Boehner has been in Congress for 20 years. He has been at some level of House leadership for 16 years. If he can read polling data, he knew for several weeks that he would likely become the Speaker. Boehner also knew that the “tea party” movement was an important element of the GOP victory in November, so why did nothing “pop” to the top of his head? I contend that John Boehner does not have a system of principles that guide him through life or as a political office holder. Over the years he has been a nominal “conservative,” but willing to strike a deal with an adversary to gain some small measure of political advantage. If and when John Boehner embraces any legislative activity that reduces the size of government, it will be solely as a response to his constituency…not as a philosophical or constitutional principle. He will only move as far as he is pushed because he has no principled guidance system. His call for a 5 per cent across the board cut is another Boehnerism. The 5% figure does not begin to address the nation’s fiscal situation, and it compounds the problem by its failure to prioritize. It represented a token cookie tossed to his constituents.

Principles do matter. From principle springs integrity, honesty and consistency. Principle is the source of an individual’s morality and courage. Without principle, no matter how you vote or govern, one becomes just another sleazy opportunist. We deserve better. We must demand more.

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