John T. Flynn (1882-1964)

To truly understand Fascism, one must discard Hollywood's depictions of death camps, police states, stripped liberties, various forms of academic, societal, religious, political even racial aryanism, etc., all merely possible symptoms among others, for economic "top-down regulatory" control is the primary objective.

The following is taken from the 1944 book As We Go Marching by John T. Flynn (1882-1964)...

"If you would know, therefore, who are the fascists in America, you must ask yourselves not who are the men and women most vocal in their denunciations of Hitler and Mussolini. The most ardent enemies of those two leaders were some of their rival fascist dictators in Europe. The test of fascism is not one's rage against the Italian and German war lords. The test is—how many of the essential principles of fascism do you accept and to what extent are you prepared to apply those fascist ideas to American social and economic life? When you can put your finger on the men or the groups that urge for America the debt-supported state, thee autarchial corporative state, the state bent on the socialization of investment and the bureaucratic government of industry and society, the establishment of the institution of militarism as the great glamorous public-works project of the nation and the institution of imperialism under which it proposes to regulate and rule the world and, along with this, proposes to alter the forms of our government to approach as closely as possible the unrestrained, absolute government—then you will know you have located the authentic fascist."

... This of course distinguishes from Communism's "bottom-up confiscatory" control of the economy, but control thereof nonetheless. American bipartisan-supported Cronyism (at least since 1913) is a very close cousin if not nearly twin of Fascism, for they share the same "top-down regulatory" methodology towards economic control, flowing from concentrated power in a central government well armed by it's central bank.

Do yourself a favor, read this book. History is repeated because history is ignored...
https://mises.org/library/we-go-marching

More on Human ABILITY to REASON, Human RIGHT to CONSENT - Proem & Poem No. 106

Most likely to be published later this summer of 2019, my 11th book entitled appropriately; More 100 Proems & Poems on the Peculiar Human ABILITY to REASON, Singular Human RIGHT to CONSENT & Other Neglected Matters. The following will probably be included upon further editing, and front cover a slightly modified yet appropriate version of the previous....

PROEM & POEM No. 106 - What Is Covetousness / 3rd Reprise

      Commonly among religions, as well philosophies and teachings admonishing modest even charitable lifestyles, there is a general condemnation, at least disapproval or discouragement for excessive desires and obsessive pursuits. Particularly decried are those objects and objectives craved perhaps lusted to the neglect or detriment of family, friends and the general well being of other human beings. Hence the Biblical question who is my neighbour (Lk 10:29) appropriately answered then comprehensively defined by Christ’s well known parable and often told story the Good Samaritan (Lk 10:30-37).

      At risk of appearing to dismiss such worthy perspectives on the subject, there should be duly noted the obvious, unavoidable dilemma; who can rightly, and how exactly, quantify morally, absolutely, consistently the measurements like avarice, excess, greed, selfishness, or “too much” to simply state. The dilemma complicates further by annunciating the “who and how” presumptuously, often socially, politically therefore forcefully on behalf of a few, some, many or most others. Speculation is the logical extent of these kinds of deliberations, admirably perhaps necessarily for pursuing self-awareness therefore personal conduct privately, spiritually, religiously, philosophically albeit always voluntarily. In this way, one could set their own standards as high as individually preferred, determining and critiquing very minute gratifications and slightest comforts as excessive.

      Unfortunately public, social and/or political discussions on covetousness, often preferring the word greed, concludes to judging and condemning those possessing more than themselves, while conveniently ignoring the conclusions of those possessing less than themselves. Additionally, these discussions assume and associate criminal, illegal means to the successes of the wealthy, or propose criminalizing, illegalizing means quite proper and legal for obviously their riches are a matter of unrestrained greed, or so goes the argument. The poorly formed logic inevitably digresses then transgresses the only consistent definition of covetousness or greed acted out, as emphasize in the Bible’s Old Testament (see Nos. 103-104); forceful confiscation, in this case the possessions and resources of the wealthy. Consequently, the accusers proceed to legally, violently act in the open per observable, substantiated evidence, upon those accused per conjecturable, unsubstantiated presupposition.

      Worse still, misguided even destructive Isms have been conjured and developed to further the popularly embraced violence well rooted in unrecognized covetousness (thus greed) against the uniquely justifiable Individualism. For without exception, Socialism, Marxism, Communism, Fascism, American Cronyism (or Corporatism), even historical Despotism, Feudalism, Mercantilism and more, cannot be entertained in thought without firstly disregarding the individual’s Singular Human Right to Consent or Not Consent on all matters. As the primary if not sole expression thereof, disrespected is the Peculiar Human Ability to Reason, the one distinction among all other species hence the individual completely dehumanized.

---

O the Isms’ schisms by Statism’s well trumpeted chrisms
Despotism cloaked so to coax hence hoax the populism
Benevolence by violence along corpulence by fraudulence
Much opulent continuance, such malevolent vehemence

Gang-raping Individualism by all other pernicious Isms
Duplicitous schisms oft’ among them per covetous egoisms
As distorted prisms their promulgated moralities and polities
Two-penny fitly the colloquies for the two-dollar sodomies

Ah the Romanesque of it all, the arabesques by mesmerism
Burlesques of sorts, as one, two or more exhort the exorcism
Casting out self-determinism as demonic, to rid the cancer
Forbid the candor, fester the anger therein the neo-dancers

---

Come let us Reason. Peace is always a Choice.
Study, Ponder, Labor, till last Breath.

Copyright © 2018 by D.C. Quillan Stone

Tear-gassed immigrants at the US-Mexico border

Before too many begin to sympathize and protest over the tear-gassed immigrants at the US-Mexico border, where were the same sympathizers and protesters when US bombs and drones incalculably killed elderly, women and children per many incidents reported and under-reported, initiated by President Bush, expanded by President Obama and now in lockstep with his predecessors, continued by President Trump. So ignored is the latter by the Neo-Roman empire and mob (fat on tossed bread), to sympathize and protest over the former, a far smaller number not monstrously slaughtered but merely gassed and repelled, would be deplorably hypocritical even inhumanely callous.

Come let us Reason (Is 1:18). Peace is always a Choice (Mt 5:9).
Study, Ponder, Labor, till last Breath (2 Tm 2:15 / Cl 3:23).

More on Human ABILITY to REASON, Human RIGHT to CONSENT - Proem & Poem No. 105

Most likely to be published later this summer of 2019, my 11th book entitled appropriately; More 100 Proems & Poems on the Peculiar Human ABILITY to REASON, Singular Human RIGHT to CONSENT & Other Neglected Matters. The following will probably be included upon further editing, and front cover a slightly modified yet appropriate version of the previous....

PROEM & POEM No. 105 - What Is Covetousness / 2nd Reprise

      To appropriately reiterate (see previous book’s Nos 22-29, 33-34), each and every act disregarding the Singular Human Right to Consent or Not Consent on any and all matters, inseparably disrespecting the Peculiar Human Ability to Reason, is unequivocally, categorically Violence or Force against the individual’s sole distinction as the specie human thus reasonable among all other species nonhuman thus instinctive.

      Immediately preceding the violent act is the transitional prerequisite Presumption, as conceived initially, festered subsequently by Covetousness. The moment Covetousness ponders some course of action to confiscate an object, intrude a condition or manipulate a behavior by violence or force against the dissented, Presumption forms then swells. It is by Presumption’s cancerous effect, Covetousness insidiously expands to further coveting a posture superior, Aryan-esque even God-like over fellow specie members per the aforementioned disregard and disrespect. By so doing, human(s) are targeted and objectified as subhuman, for denied the one essence and sole distinction, the natural capacity to reason manifested by the natural prerogative to consent or dissent.

---

Insidious the effects, trampling suspects as though defects
Erecting the ill circumspect, neglecting the logic retrospect
Discerning not the unethical spin, evil now good so excused
Thieving charitably, murdering collaterally  (expediency’s ruse)

---

Come let us Reason. Peace is always a Choice.
Study, Ponder, Labor, till last Breath.

Copyright © 2018 by D.C. Quillan Stone

More on Human ABILITY to REASON, Human RIGHT to CONSENT - Proem & Poem No. 104

Most likely to be published later this summer of 2019, my 11th book entitled appropriately; More 100 Proems & Poems on the Peculiar Human ABILITY to REASON, Singular Human RIGHT to CONSENT & Other Neglected Matters. The following will probably be included upon further editing, and front cover a slightly modified yet appropriate version of the previous....

PROEM & POEM No. 104 - What Is Covetousness / 1st Reprise

      As pointed out by Christ, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily (Lk 9:23). Later. Apostle Paul reiterated the admonition by denying the flesh with its passions and desires (Ga 5:24). What would be the proper response, for there are many passions, many desires? Are we to assume all are to be denied or most passions, some desires? And of course, if that answer is known, where do we start in what might be a long list of denials? For logic as well honesty suggest the universally observable human propensities towards error and excess, or if preferred the synonymous Calvinistic first-point regarding humanity as totally depraved, then denial of passions and desires by moderate measures (at least) would be quite a long endeavor if not nonstop till the Shakespearean shuffling off the mortal coil. 

      It is possible an appropriate initial step is to recognize moderation’s mitigating effects upon unrestrained passions and desires. The Biblical proverbs speaks of harms by eating too much honey (Pr 25:16), drinking too much wine (Pr 23:29-31), seeking too much one’s own glory (Pr 25:27) and so on, as well other religions of similar moderated behaviors. Taoist writings make as many references to moderation by various poetic metaphors and specifically practical suggestions; those who take long steps cannot keep the pace as well the sage avoids extremity, excess and extravagance. 

      So where does one begin, and why should one begin? For is the denial of passions and desires beneficial per solely the self-mustering of inner strength prior to acting out moderation, or are there as well ethics socially affecting as or more noteworthy to the former? Ultimately if studiously persistent, is there a prevailing principle or morality far exceeding mere lists of denials or admonished styles of moderate living?

      While theologians, philosophers also psychologists, much wiser than this poet, may be capable to identify specifics and strategies to remedy immoderation, that is, proclivity for error and excess or inherency for depravity, it could simply be by learning, discerning then curbing one’s own covetousness, minimally a significant effort towards moderation would ensue. Such a lifelong endeavor would not only benefit inwardly by newly acquired awareness therefore character, but outwardly as well per a noticeable self-restraint prompted by a resurrected respect and regard meaningfully humane towards others’ Peculiar Human Ability to Reason, inseparably, Singular Human Right to Consent or Not Consent on all matters.

---

Weep under the willows, wallow beneath the poplars
Harps on branches bent, robes rent and cast upon waters
Wheat fields coercively let, lords crazed per the scent
Envying the laborers’ sweat, as the covet guilts consent

Yea the laborers no less esurient, tempted to begrudge
While predatorily begrudged, to avoid their fuckin' trudge
O the trodden trampled, coequally the trampled trodden
As socio-cannibals, all bled, vestments red then sodden

So goes the penumbras within heads per the conundrums
Emotively sustained, instinctively unrestrained the tantrums
Serpentine-echoing along corridors cobwebbed, shadowed
While academic hall-monitors align as whores in trousseau

---

Come let us Reason. Peace is always a Choice.
Study, Ponder, Labor, till last Breath.

Copyright © 2018 by D.C. Quillan Stone

What is fairness?

What is fairness? Often argued regarding wages, prices, economics in general or any other socio-political arrangement, are some particulars that cannot be universal across space (geography) and time (history). For when these particulars are applied universally, nationally even regionally, inconsistencies and arbitrariness are exposed, always falling short of objectives, thus the subsequent cry for more fairness. Therefore the inherent problem when fairness is defined according to specific results or ends oppose to universally consistent methods or means.

Fairness is determined by nothing else than unanimous agreement, the consent of each person involved. A dozen eggs may be mutually, agreeably exchanged for $0.89 between person A and person B, then mutually, agreeably exchanged for $0.79 a dozen between person A and person C. Either exchange are no more or less fair than the other, for both exchanges were conducted per unanimous consent. Does person A ethically owe $0.10 to person B? Absolutely not! Would it be nice or generous to charitably give $0.10 to person B? Perhaps it might. Though nicety and generosity are not ethical considerations, nor duty or obligation, and certainly not a basis for law. Duty or obligation if you will, and any sense of being nice or generous, begins by resorting NOT to any form of FORCE privately, socially and politically.

Consequently, person A was quite ethical therefore fair to both persons B and C, for he did not force either to buy his eggs at a higher than agreeable price nor simply steal their money. Persons B and C were equally ethical therefore fair to person A, for they did not force him to sell his eggs at a lower than agreeable price nor simply steal his eggs.

When properly understood, fairness is absolute oppose to arbitrary, consistent oppose to inconsistent hence ethical oppose to unethical, when all refrain from the use of force. In contrast, upon government involvement when properly understood, fairness is arbitrary oppose to absolute, inconsistent oppose to consistent hence unethical oppose to ethical, for always engaged is the use of force.

Come let us Reason. Peace is always a Choice.
Study, Ponder, Labor, till last Breath.

For some perspective

For some perspective... Anyone having (lets say) a small, modest house in the burbs, used SUV, Target wardrobe, Sam's Club food in bulk, local craft beer, affordable Chilean wine, two dogs cherished more than Mideastern children, occasional night out to a restaurant or bar, streamed movies on 32" flat-screen, cell phone 2 or 3 versions dated, laptop and matching bag, community college degree or vocational cert, are quite excessive even unimaginably greedy to most people in the world.

So what is greed again exactly? By what absolute principle condemns those with "too much" yet excuses those who claim the former as having "too much"? And what is "too much" so well defined, so well understood, so well discerned, thus divinely worthy of public slander and political confiscation? ... Who is John Galt?

Come let us Reason. Peace is always a Choice.
Study, Ponder, Labor, till last Breath.

Two quotes by Albert Jay Nock (1870-1945)

"As Dr. Sigmund Freud has observed, it can not even be said that the State has ever shown any disposition to suppress crime, but only to safeguard its own monopoly of crime. … Taking the State wherever found, striking into its history at any point, one sees no way to differentiate the activities of its founders, administrators and beneficiaries from those of a professional-criminal class."

Our Enemy, The State (1935) by Albert Jay Nock (1870-1945)... And nother quote worth posting...

"The practical reason for freedom is that freedom seems to be the only condition under which any kind of substantial moral fiber can be developed — we have tried law, compulsion and authoritarianism of various kinds, and the result is nothing to be proud of."

Come let us Reason. Peace is always a Choice.
Study, Ponder, Labor, till last Breath.

People tend to regard government as a quasi-divine

"It is curious that people tend to regard government as a quasi-divine, selfless, Santa Claus organization. Government was constructed neither for ability nor for the exercise of loving care; government was built for the use of force and for necessarily demagogic appeals for votes. If individuals do not know their own interests in many cases, they are free to turn to private experts for guidance. It is absurd to say that they will be served better by a coercive, demagogic apparatus."

Murray N. Rothbard (1926-1995)

Note:
My favorite of his writings is his two-volume collection An Austrian Perspective on the History of Economic Thought (1995), reaching as far back to Taoists and Greeks to modern era, to empirically identify the near-endless consistencies or causalities among economic activities. That is, consistencies or causalities still ignored today, in favor of the more popularly emotion-based or short-sighted economics.

Austrian as in Austrian Economics as referred per the four successive economists of Austrian-German descent; Carl Menger, Eugen Böhm von Bawerk as well F.A. Hayek and Ludwig von Mises (highly recommend his book Liberalism: In the Classical Tradition). Though rightly these intellectual giants studied three successive French economists plus others; Anne Robert Jacques Turgot, Jean-Baptiste Say and Claude-Frédéric Bastiat (his essays The Law and That Which Is Seen, That Which Is Not Seen among other essays are a must). One could arguably favor the reference French-Austrian Economics, or my preference simply The Economy of Man.

Come let us Reason. Peace is always a Choice.
Study, Ponder, Labor, till last Breath.

To be clear, Politicism is Anti-Individualism

To be clear, Politicism is Anti-Individualism, interfering, intervening, interrupting or impeding otherwise ethical activity as unanimously and consensually defined and determined by the two or more persons involved. The very same interfering, intervening, interrupting or impeding actions politic if private would be deemed intolerable, unacceptable, undesirable hence resented even resisted. As it is, the publicly educated, propagandized mind of either majorly partisan persuasion have deemed the same arrangements if simply politic as tolerable, acceptable even desirable hence preferred even praised. How perverted have people become per the conditioning, no longer questioning the arbitrariness nor presumption, consequently the gross, politically voyeuristic intrusion into private affairs.

Note:
Paragraph taken from Proem & Poem No. 102 - What Is Politics / 1st Reprise, see link for entire installment.

Come let us Reason. Peace is always a Choice.
Study, Ponder, Labor, till last Breath.

Quote by D.C. Quillan Stone

Honoring those who opposed war on Veterans Day

Honoring today US Representative Barbara Lee of California, the sole voice and vote against the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Terrorists (AUMF). She claimed then such an authorization could easily be used to endlessly further US militarism in Afghanistan and elsewhere. Unfortunately, the following years of warmongering by Bush, Obama and now Trump administrations proved her right.

Honoring today US Senators Wayne Morse of Oregon and Ernest Gruening of Alaska, who spoke and voted against the 1964 Gulf of Tonkin Resolution. Both critiqued the resolution and those who supported it. Gruening sharply objected, "Sending our American boys into combat in a war in which we have no business, which is not our war, into which we have been misguidedly drawn, which is steadily being escalated." Morse added, "I believe this resolution to be a historic mistake", and later when interviewed, fervently questioned presidential presumption in the matter.

Honoring today US Representative Jeannette Rankin of Montana, and first woman to hold federal office, who alone voted against the declaration of war on Japan. "You can no more win a war than you can win an earthquake" she compared, and as one among very few others in government, questioned Roosevelt's posturing, "the United States was at peace" as well his later categorization of the Pearl Harbor attack as "unsolicited".

Come let us Reason. Peace is always a Choice.
Study, Ponder, Labor, till last Breath.

Veterans Day someday unnecessary?

If Americans were willing to self-examine honestly therefore empirically, logically, ethically thus critically then judgmentally, bringing an end to US warmongering abroad while refusing to elect warmongering presidents (i.e. Trump, Obama, Bush, etc.), refusing to elect warmongering senators and representatives too (i.e. McCain, Clinton, etc.), then yes, someday Veterans Day would be unnecessary.
 
The economist Ludwig von Mises (1881-1973) observed and wrote,  "The state is God (for many), deifying arms and prisons. The worship of the state is the worship of force. The citizens passionately participate in the war for it is their state, their God, who fights... Whoever wants peace among nations must seek to limit the state and its influence most strictly." That is to say, whoever wants peace must reduce their God the State to merely human as prone to self-interest as well error and excess as fellow humans.

Come let us Reason. Peace is always a Choice.
Study, Ponder, Labor, till last Breath.

More on Human ABILITY to REASON, Human RIGHT to CONSENT - Proem & Poem No. 102

Most likely to be published later this summer of 2019, my 11th book entitled appropriately; More 100 Proems & Poems on the Peculiar Human ABILITY to REASON, Singular Human RIGHT to CONSENT & Other Neglected Matters. The following will probably be included upon further editing, and front cover a slightly modified yet appropriate version of the previous....

PROEM & POEM No. 102 - What Is Politics / 1st Reprise

      To exemplify for a moment, 20th/21st century American society have considered marijuana from political/social toleration to regulation, taxation, with increases of both followed by eventual prohibition, until the recently growing reintroduction of uses medical or recreational, well regulated and taxed of course, per those states legally allowing. Thusly, one could randomly point to a historical timeline noting the same acts and players, the production and consumption therefore producers and consumers, were all unhindered if allowed, commodity taxed if levied, activity restricted if regulated or person imprisoned if prohibited. To comparatively complicate further, one could randomly point to any one of the many types of productions and consumptions possible within the economy, whether marijuana, computer, bread, hat, book or car, noting the same sort of arbitrary differentials regarding allowance, taxation, regulation and prohibition.

      The comparisons could be easily enumerated, indicating the seemingly endless inconsistencies hence complexities imposed, however the aforementioned are suffice. It should be plain how quickly muddled if not lost the intentions and benefits by politics. If clear minds persist, how quickly exposed are politics’ covetousness and presumption, ultimately resulting to forcefully manipulate or terminate people and confiscate possession. This is true even for well meaning do-gooders in government and society at large, quite prideful of their acquired oft’ subsidized knowledge and preferential oft’ subjective morality thus inciting their unconstrained arrogance and far-reaching presumption. Insatiably, they quickly proceed to covet the political power necessary to lord over others’ exercise of preferences therefore privacy and liberty. By so doing, it is the disregard of others’ Singular Human Right to Consent or Not Consent on all matters, inseparably, the disrespect of the observably sole expression of others' Peculiar Human Ability to Reason on all matters.

      To be clear, Politicism is Anti-Individualism, interfering, intervening, interrupting or impeding otherwise ethical activity as unanimously and consensually defined and determined by the two or more persons involved. The very same interfering, intervening, interrupting or impeding actions politic if private would be deemed intolerable, unacceptable, undesirable hence resented even resisted. As it is the publicly educated, propagandized mind of either majorly partisan persuasion have deemed the same arrangements if simply politic as tolerable, acceptable even desirable hence preferred even praised. How perverted have people become per the conditioning, no longer questioning the arbitrariness nor presumption, consequently the gross, politically voyeuristic intrusion into private affairs.

---

Well uppercased the Word; Freedom’s logical singularity
Chiseling into pieces innumerably the Whole observably
Lowercasing to pluralities the freedoms fiat yet counterfeit
The lost ante so to play the rigged hand for illusory gambit

For lovely the gauntlet, liken pirouettes all too well spun
Spirits wrung, minds strung, while Truth remains unsung
Although the ballet enchants via government’s lorgnettes
Enlivening the dancers’ ashen costumes and gray aigrettes

---

Come let us Reason. Peace is always a Choice.
Study, Ponder, Labor, till last Breath.

Copyright © 2018 by D.C. Quillan Stone

Marijuana, Presumption and Covetousness

Marijuana was once allowed, then criminalized and now allowed again, that is, in some states with Michigan as the latest. Do you think government(s) will be apologizing to those incarcerated for marijuana possession and distribution, whose lives were ruined, liberties restrained and properties confiscated tyrannically? And did it really matter the commodity in question was marijuana, Cuban cigars or chewing gum? Did it really matter the commodity in question was physically/medically beneficial versus harmful, religiously/socially acceptable versus unacceptable, or politically advantageous versus inconvenient?

We have allowed ourselves to be so conditioned (or welcomed it) we no longer question the arbitrariness nor presumption thus the gross intrusion into conducting our private lives. We have long accepted differential sale taxes, gradual income taxes, subsidies and grants to favored recipients, as well various mandates, regulations, bans, embargoes, tariffs, licenses, fees and the list goes on, all inconsistently justified and applied. Yet we hail ourselves as "free people".

I do not think people are as blind by propaganda as assumed for many years, though there are certainly elements of that of course. Rather, people are as arbitrary and presumptuous as the politicians they elect, therefore government simply mirrors the citizenry, that is to say plainly, tyranny in government reflects the tyranny in society. Many will practice "this" or abstain from "that" in their own household, yet remain oddly even perversely discontented until they petition government to force their neighbors to practice "this" or abstain from "that" as well. In this way, it is cruel, inhumane covetousness of others' liberty to live as they prefer. Interestingly, the religious right and the moral left are equal bedfellows in this oddity and perversion.

Come let us Reason. Peace is always a Choice.
Study, Ponder, Labor, till last Breath.

I prefer an evenly divided therefore "broken" Congress

I prefer an evenly divided therefore "broken" Congress, perhaps there will be far less legislation, as originally designed. One can only hope. With that said...

I fear however a forthcoming political media circus as in the 1990s, per conjured and well exaggerated offenses allegedly impeachable, oppose to "actual" breaches of constitutional limits as well crimes against humanity, that is, nearly two decades of US warmongering. abroad The challenge is of course, such "actual" offenses thus charges would have to be levied against Bush, Obama and Trump as well Congress themselves. No one among government nor electorate seems to have the moral fortitude to endeavor the daunting task.

Come let us Reason. Peace is always a Choice.
Study, Ponder, Labor, till last Breath.

Government is a broker in pillage

"Government is a broker in pillage, and every election is a sort of advanced auction on stolen goods."

H.L. Mencken (1880-1956)

Unless there are candidates running solely on a platform of rescission, then this quote applies to tomorrow's elections. With that said, a "stated" choice to NOT VOTE is a vote against the entire system of plunder. It is true, without public statements, how can one tell someone is not voting in this manner oppose to common frustration, apathy or laziness? You can't of course.

Although, how can one tell someone is voting upon much reading, study and research oppose to common blind partisanship, titillating appearances and mannerisms (see note), last-minute checking of boxes, alluring one-liners per blogs and tweets, etc? You can't. Though it is safe to say the majority are the latter, given the sort of politicians, Democrat or Republican, incumbent or challenger, who win elections over and over and over again.

Note:
I am truly amazed how often I hear that this or that politician is a good or moral person without knowing the individual personally. It is not possible to make such a judgement standing in the same room with the person, and certainly not from afar via television or online videos.

Mencken was quite right. Tomorrow is nothing more than a day of pillaging, with federal and state capitols as convenient clearing houses of confiscated goods. Candidates have campaigned and offered to later toss bread to the coliseum mob in exchange for power. Unknowingly, citizens have elected to forgo increased measures of property, liberty even life itself, far more in worth than the few loaves of government bread always poor and stale in quality.

Come let us Reason. Peace is always a Choice.
Study, Ponder, Labor, till last Breath.

More on Human ABILITY to REASON, Human RIGHT to CONSENT - Proem & Poem No. 103

Most likely to be published later this summer of 2019, my 11th book entitled appropriately; More 100 Proems & Poems on the Peculiar Human ABILITY to REASON, Singular Human RIGHT to CONSENT & Other Neglected Matters. The following will probably be included upon further editing, and front cover a slightly modified yet appropriate version of the previous....

PROEM & POEM No. 103 - What Is Covetousness

      To roughly paraphrase the theologian and thinker Francis Schaeffer from his 1971 book True Spirituality, the climatic end to Moses’ list of commandments is the 10th; thou shalt not covet (Ex 20:17).  He goes on to expand and expound, preceding all sins or wrongdoings against others with covetousness, thus the single transgression actually two; the thought then the act. There is of course the two-millennium old parallel where Christ himself levied the same weighty condemnation on the murderous, hateful thought whether the killing act was committed or not (Mt 5:21-22).

      Covetousness per 20th chapter of Exodus are exemplified thus defined quite specifically, by the coveting of another’s family, home, livestock nor any thing that is thy neighbor’s. Later in the 34th chapter, more examples are provided, utilizing the same Hebrew word chamad, forbidding covetousness by confiscation of land when the owners are away.

      Many would dismiss the necessity for the aforementioned examples. Obviously (they would argue), the forceful taking of another’s possessions or properties are clearly wrong. Yet apparently it is not so obvious, nor clear, for societies’ politics are ridden with covetousness manifested by the very same violent actions, well disguised and hidden amid complexities therefore inconsistencies per arbitrary isms, justifications, laws, policies, programs, etc. As pointed out in the previous proem, when covetous thought results to plunderous action, does it really matter if one uses his/her own gun versus the gun of a privately hired enforcer, mobster or assassin versus the gun of a governmentally employed police officer, agent or soldier?

      In today’s democracies peopled with minds well propagandized by government funded schools, two or more sets of principles coexist, rarely questioned the inconsistencies if raised at all. First and privately, a person lives by whatever preferred set of principles driven in part by religion, philosophy and/or sentiment, combined harmonious but more likely disharmonious with inherent propensities regarding their own life, liberty and property. Second and publicly, the same person supports whatever preferred set of principles; sometimes organized as partisan planks and platforms, else formed by trendy isms per academia or media, perhaps wildly melding an array of political postures per personal attachments, however the mode, always in contrast partly or wholly to inherent propensities regarding their own life, liberty and property.

      It is by this oddly practiced dualism, violence assured and embedded covertly or overtly in political/legal systems. Unavoidable as well prerequisite of course are the disregard for the Singular Human Right to Consent or Not Consent on all matters intimate, private, philosophical, , public, social, political, consequently, ethical, inseparably the disrespect for the Peculiar Human Ability to Reason.

---

Disastrously great the watersheds, empirically the emotions
Potions then odd devotions per all Isms’ alchemical notions
Untested the juggles, pinned to corners, vie logic’s coroners
Again she weeps, he in streets, aft’ praxeological forerunners

Laborers lament, troubled o’er stubble in blackened fields
Properties sacked as liberties racked, histories well concealed
Duly, individual minds coerced, communal lines rehearsed
“Truth perverse! Lies aspersed, tho’ the loveliest of verse!”

---

Come let us Reason. Peace is always a Choice.
Study, Ponder, Labor, till last Breath.

Copyright © 2018 by D.C. Quillan Stone

More on Human ABILITY to REASON, Human RIGHT to CONSENT - Proem & Poem No. 101

Most likely to be published later this summer of 2019, my 11th book entitled appropriately; More 100 Proems & Poems on the Peculiar Human ABILITY to REASON, Singular Human RIGHT to CONSENT & Other Neglected Matters. The following will probably be included upon further editing, and front cover a slightly modified yet appropriate version of the previous....

PROEM & POEM No. 101 - What Is Politics

      What is politics? Instead of you putting your own pistol to someone's head forcing their behavior and/or extorting their possession to satisfy your preference, you vote for politicians thus laws, regulations, policies, programs, licenses, taxes, fees, fines, bans, sanctions and more that put police officers, agents or soldiers’ guns to others’ heads forcing their behavior and/or extorting their possession to satisfy your preference.

      What is politics? Instead of you using your own cattle prod to presumptuously herd other people as though solely instinctive nonhuman specie, corralling them into your preferred ism, environment or society, you vote for politicians thus laws, regulations, policies, programs, licenses, taxes, fees, fines, bans, sanctions and more that use police officers, agents and soldiers’ batons and rifle-butts to presumptuously herd other people as though solely instinctive nonhuman specie, corralling them into your preferred ism, environment or society.

      What is politics? Instead of you disregarding others' Singular Human Right to Consent or Not Consent on all matters, thus disrespecting others' Peculiar Human Ability to Reason on all matters, you vote for politicians thus laws, regulations, policies, programs, licences, taxes, fees, fines, bans, sanctions and more, hence necessitating police officers, agents or soldiers to disregard on your behalf others' Singular Human Right to Consent or Not Consent on all matters, thus disrespecting on your behalf others' Peculiar Human Ability to Reason on all matters.

      Who does Politicism ignore, dismiss, redefine, critique, protest, belittle, ridicule, slander even resent, loathe, despise, hate per covetous propaganda? Who does Politicism hinder, trample, restrain, shackle, castrate, enslave even terminate in various forms abortive, euthanasic, incarcerative, capitally punitive, offensively militaristic, genocidal or holocaustic per avaricious promulgation? Who is Politicism’s analytic censor as well instinctive contender? Individualism of course, or the Individual, that is to literally say, each and every person. To reiterate alternatively, the “who” is the specie human thus individual, antecedent to arrangements communal (if unanimously deemed beneficial), peculiarly able to reason and conclude therefore singularly rightful to consent or dissent, and will do so accordingly, consistently, universally, persistently and if necessary quite insistently.

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O wrested struggle within, the Schaeffer’ian climax to append

To Self ego’ed in glass darkly, aside the Last of the Mosaic Ten

Covetousness haunts the shadowy end of Man’s dimly lit hall

Relentless the gall and Psychosis’ writ as graffito holy on walls

Spirituality truly spewed hence Individuality thoroughly strewn

Humanity’s essence spat upon, scorned long then dragooned

Must not attune, must not contend propaganda’s grandness

Must not portend (empirically) Bastiat’s forewarned madness

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Come let us Reason. Peace is always a Choice.
Study, Ponder, Labor, till last Breath.

Copyright © 2018 by D.C. Quillan Stone