L. Neil Smith's THE LIBERTARIAN ENTERPRISE
Number 880, July 10, 2016
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Are ETs Libertarian—article from Cato Institute
This might tie into my article & "Message to the Stars" but I haven't read it yet. Will later when I get home:
[LATER]
When I finally got around to reading in depth I found out it was opposite my expectations having nothing to do with whether or not ETs are Libertarian. It was just a new twist on one of the original explanations of The Great Silence. It has been long understood that a fixed social order the likes of the medieval feudal system or its modern equivalent in the Limits to Growth mindset of environmentalism and bureacracies and ruling elites in general; represents a serious bottleneck for the development of a spacefaring civilization. As evidenced by the way we have been going so slow with manned space flight. The argument that space colonization is too expensive does not wash in light of the facts that the very same people who told us that would bankrupt us into oblivion have found a multitude of ways to do the same without producing any real wealth or solving any of those problems they said had to be solved on Earth before we could ever consider going anywhere else.
It was a good perspective on the really formidable obstacle that stands between us and the stars. David Brin—I didn't notice it was him until the second time I went over the article—is the author. His comparisons between the traditional feudalistic social pyramid that most human societies gravitate toward and the diamond shaped structure of the society with the large middle class—or bourgeoise—"that does not fear the rich or the poor"; and the way the cheaters and schemers among the elite aspire to change it back to the pyramid shape with themselves on the top gave me quite an epiphany. It explains the phenomenon of the plebeian tyrants very well who manipulate the masses to accrue and hold onto power. It is simplified version of the enemy of the enemy alignment described by Tucker in Progress & Privilege meets the superorganisms and social pecking orders of Howard Bloom's Lucifer Principle. The elites want power and the plebes want economic security and the creative energies and volatility of entrepreneurial capitalism are a threat to both. So it is no wonder they want to control and fix society in the present state or take it backward to a more simple and nostalgic age.
The other epiphany I got was how the issue of immigration of masses of Third World people into First World nations fits into this formula. The reason Barrack Obama, Hillary Clinton and Angela Merkel are in favor of taking in swarms of poor, tired huddled masses not necessarily yearning to breathe free but more often seeking what they've been told is a free lunch at the buffet table of the Welfare State set by western nations—and give these people citizenship and voting rights—is obviously the manifestation of an elitist desire to make the lower half of the diamond shaped social structure bottom heavy again and recreate the traditional pyramid of ancient military kingships and feudal societies.
And that was ongoing since the ink dried on the Declaration of Independence. Fitting topic to ponder on Independence Day. The Real One!
Happy 4th!
Jeff Fullerton
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The Militia
"An armed citizenry, willing to fight, is the foundation of civil freedom."—Robert Heinlein
Jim Woosley
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How I celebrated Independence Day
Adam Kokesh
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The Freedom Line
PO Box 973
Ash Fork, AZ 86320
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Re: "Reforming the Libertarian Party" by L. Neil Smith
"The Party's biggest problem, the National Committee, spending unearned resources extorted from the state parties like drunken Democrats, would be abolished. It would be replaced by a Congress of State Chairs, who are elected by the grass roots, are accesible, know what campaigns need most, and have a better idea what's really going on in the whole country. This Congress would meet at every national convention."
There is a State Chair's association, the Libertarian State Leadership Alliance, now with a new set of national officers.
We are here to help through cooperation not tell you what to do.
George Phillies
Political Coordinator, LSLA
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Sean Gabb Newsletter, 7th July 2016
Here is my my first ever podcast. My delivery is rather stiff, as I neglected to think what I would say until the camera was rolling. I also forgot to move the latest sales out of sight from my wife's E-Bay business. But it is my considered view of the Chilcot Report on the Iraq War.
While writing, please allow me to draw your attention to our latest crowdfunding initiative. It is a most worthy thing, I do assure you. If you feel able to sign up for this, we shall all be very grateful.
Sean Gabb, Considered Response to the Chilcot Report on the Iraq War (YouTube)
Best regards,
Sean Gabb
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Elephant in the Room
"The problem with accepting European money is that Europeans come with it."
—paraphrased from The Wind and the Lion
In the recent Brexit vote the parts of Great Britain that voted to remain in the EU are all regions that rely on income from the EU. A while back the vote for an independent Scotland failed in part to voters who didn't want to give up economic benefits derived from union with England. Americans are no less driven by money, in 1994 the NRA was able to vote all but two Congress who supported the 1994 Assault Weapon Ban out of office. One of the survivors was Ron Coleman of El Paso, who had just moved some $800 million dollars into his District's coffers in the form of expansions of Fort Bliss and other Federal projects, including a project to extend water service to unincorporated communities in the Eastern part of the County.
All classic examples of people voting their pocket books. It is reasonable to expect people to support politicians who put money in their pockets, especially when times are tough. Times are always tough somewhere.
Government spending creates between thirty and forty percent of the US economy. About 52% of Americans get at least part of their income from the government, everything from Social Security (re) payments to salaries and pensions ( I'm one of them). That's an awful lot of voters and pocket books we're talking about here.
Those of us who support reducing the size and power of government, including those of us who are in the 52%, need to deal with this. It would be unreasonable to ask some 150 million people to condemn themselves to homelessness and starvation, companies dependent on government contracts to court bankruptcy.
If we can not simply cut government spending there is only one choice, increase the size of the private sector. Jobs have to be created to get people off welfare, production and sale of goods and services has to be aimed more at the needs of the private market (e.g., sale of guns and ammo to civilians needs to exceed sales to the military and bureaucracy.). The US needs an explosion of private sector entrepreneurial growth, call it at least a doubling of the non government part of the economy.
We can cry about how this is impossible. Or we can figure out how we are going to make it happen. At according to your inclinations.
A.X. Perez
[email protected]
L. Neil Smith's reply:
I know how to "create" jobs. Have you read my piece "Unanimous Consent and the Utopian Vision, or, I Dreamed I Was a Signatory In My Maidenform Bra"? It's easy to find. Read it, and we'll discuss expanding the economy.
L. Neil Smith
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Make of this what you will
I posted the following to Facebook. Please keep in mind that as a matter of fact more White people are killed by police than Black people. However, there is an agenda of "stay in your place" to the killing of people of Colour that does not apply to White people.
Nevertheless, it's getting nastier and political trouble makers need to keep an eye out for trouble. So:
About eight years ago I took to carrying my drivers license and other ID on a lanyard round my neck. Whenever I have to present my ID I pull on a string and take out the case. My hands don't go anywhere near anyplace a person might have a weapon. Make of this comment what you will and do as you please.
A.X. Perez
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