Regulation, taxation, prohibition, marijuana, Venezuela, and more

Regulation and taxation have the same effect as prohibition, by criminalizing otherwise ethical activity that will not cease or abide simply by laws saying so. When there exist black market activity, that is, any illegal economic activity among unanimously agreeable participants, it is always indicative of government's powers exceeding individuals' preferential willingness to tolerate and/or financial capacity to sustain within legal bounds. The mistake repeatedly made with dire consequences; to increase government's enforcement.

The Netflix documentary Murder Mountain side-noted the recent difficulty marijuana growers (in Humboldt County, California, where I lived for 2 years as a kid) are having per operating under the new umbrella of legalization due to cost of regulation, taxation, as well the array of fees levied by state and federal agencies. The unintended consequence; the return by some to black market operations. The equation is as simple as it is amoral. When the cost to operate legally reaches a critical lost versus gain, then operating illegally becomes the next logical consideration by assessing future risks of encountering government enforcers against past costs of obeying government bureaucrats. This is true whether a marijuana grower, building contractor (i.e. paying cash versus check), shopkeeper, truck driver. Equally true for non-profit organizations so same goes for a pastor, director, chairman, board member, etc. each with their own preferential willingness to tolerate and/or financial capacity to sustain.

When visiting Venezuela in 2008, particularly the city of Maracay, I witnessed exactly the kind of black market activity caused by government's excessive control of the economy. So widespread were the ill effects, so were the illegal economic activities as widespread, operating in plain view. Streets and parks were crowded by shoe shiners, vegetable farmers, laundry services, nail polishers, and more, all illegal in some measure. One outlaw merchant told me it was much cheaper to pay off the local police (who actually protected them by the way) than to pay government's taxes and align with government's regulations.

Americans would be wise to take note, by supporting candidates proposing rescission, not further legislation. Legislation to fix past legislation, merely perpetuates government's well established complexities and inconsistencies. The solution towards economic well-being is to rescind, rescind and then rescind more.

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).

I fear Truth will not win this time.

Unlike the case against Daniel Ellsberg for releasing the Pentagon Papers to the public, I fear Truth will not win this time.

Government and their crony-journalists in pop-media are already making subtle even imaginary distinctions as to why Mr. Assange should be convicted and punished. For as we speak, talking heads are characterizing that a "responsible news agency" would have first consulted with the government as to which information to publish or not. Thus Assange and WikiLeaks were not responsible and were not practicing legitimate journalism. Of course this is USDA inspected bullshit (my apologies)! However, per many comments I'm already seeing online, supporters and politicians of the two major parties are quickly buying into this concocted narrative.

Side-note:
In retrospect, many today think most or all were against the Vietnam War. The country was politically, socially torn in various ways and magnitudes, with as many perhaps more in favor as they were against. If not for the war itself but for patriotism, the US government's foreign policies were tolerated if not supported. I remember in the news, communities, churches even in my high school classes, many were negatively labeling Mr Ellsberg as many are of Mr Assange. Though worsen over recent years and decades in my opinion, much is as it always was even since the country's founding. Hence I do not point to any "good ole days" politically in the American past. I digressed...

The Pentagon Papers as well other stories coming out Vietnam turned public opinion enough to bring the propagandized war to an end. Contrary to then, far more information have been exposed by far more whistle-blowers yet US warmongering as well surveillance continues unabated. Not only public opinion have not turned thus wars have not ended and surveillance have not stopped, this country "allowed without wincing" the Obama administration to arrest more whistle-blowers than prior administrations combined, while expanding his warmongering. So much have this been accommodated, rarely are these well-documented facts raised in critical comparison to the former president's 2009 Noble Peace prize. Although, I use Mr. Obama as an example, by no means he as commander-in-chief stands alone in view of United States' horrifically violent history.

So yes, I fear Truth will not win this time.

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).

Quote by D.C. Quillan Stone

Quote by D.C. Quillan Stone

More on Human ABILITY to REASON, Human RIGHT to CONSENT - Proem & Poem No. 115

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. 115 - What Is Politics / 3rd Reprise

      Present facts, empirical evidences, natural laws, self-evident truths therefore determinable logic and unavoidable consistency are politically secondary, tertiary even quaternary or more often; irrelevant per a depravity infectious academically, intellectually thus ethically. For to acknowledge such requires equal, universal critique of government, both major (and third) parties as well supporters, foreign war(mongering), domestic intrusion, economic interference therefore much of the laws and policies in place. Consequently and popularly, many conjure an imaginary "moral" schism between the so-called Left/Democrats versus Right/Republicans, thus the schoolyard-like name-calling, classroom-esque bullying per assuming, accusing, dismissing, dissing, slandering, ranting, raging even hating and violating person, preference and possession by either side towards the other, all wildly justified.

      In unethically stark contrast to naturally practiced Individualism, Politicism (thus all politics and political systems) have always been so from the subtlest to harshest disregard for each and every individual's Singular Human Right to Consent or Not Consent on all matters. By disregarding that Right to prefer, prioritize hence economize, concluding by consenting or dissenting therefore the sole manifestation of the Peculiar Human Ability to Reason, the individual's humanity is subtly or harshly disrespected. In this way, the human specie innately reasonable ceased to distinguish themselves among nonhuman species innately instinctive.

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O to emote is common and constant, while compounded
Per familiar instincts then propensities, yet confounded
As well subjugated if chosen, for to reason is human
And human alone, the acumen for existence as proven

O the human ability, evolved to be or divinely breathed
If not intervened, likely gardens `tween deserts and heaths
Oft perverted when covetous, degenerately presumptuous
Plunderous, murderous while self-righteously censorious

O the human virility per reason’s faculty then utility
From twigs and sticks to rigs and bricks’ superiority
Yet the temporality, perpetually ergo “this o’er that”
“That o’er this” post hoc, so mocked by the kratocrat

O the Adamic passion unbridled, amid dust till touched
Damnation rivaled by Causation’s archival, ah insomuch
Per one Nonesuch, hence Existing preexisting perpetual
Scribing on rock aft’ wind, to wit, Writ as Law natural

O the woes and wailings, hence teeth thoroughly gnashed
Humanity as wheat as well chaff (threshed then thrashed)
Stashes in common caches, while the Truth as rare flashes
Intentions like whiplashes, hence outcomes as hot ashes

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

Copyright © 2019 by D.C. Quillan Stone

More on Human ABILITY to REASON, Human RIGHT to CONSENT - Proem & Poem No. 113

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. 113 - Solomon's Ecclesiastical Slip / Part 5

      Once any stateless society throughout history created a state of any framework upon any motive, ideology or ism, the same society was forever cursed with government. Thereafter the unavoidable chaos between every fall and rise of governments were not a return to the original civil statelessness, rather indicative of the pathological codependency as abusively instilled thus psychologically scarred by decades or centuries of political subjection even subjugation to tyranny, monarchy, oligarchy even parliamentary and democracy. It has yet been observed such a civil return other than remnants of societies emigrating to nearby or distant lands beyond the practical or actual reach of governments' oppression, only to duplicate the declination upon establishing a new state or adjoining to an extant state, per some naive notion or shortsighted objective. For an odd psychosis often germs and spreads among the people as well polity, passed on from generation to generation as though some genetic deformity per government’s inherent toxicity, each hoping in pathetic earnest for different outcomes by repeating past efforts in greater measure.

      This was true long before the Hebrew kingdoms, so it was not surprising for the prophet and priest Samuel (1000 BCE +/-) to empirically, logically warn (1 Sa 8:17) prior to anointing their first king Saul, ominously concluding with the inevitable outcome thus relentless curse; and ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you; and the Lord will not hear you in that day (1 Sa 8:18), and so it was then and since.

      If willing to read Samuel’s entire warning documented in the first book of Samuel of the Biblical Old Testament, chapter 8, verses 11 through 18, one would not find anything startlingly revealing nor mystically intriguing, rather, characteristics common of every government in history. Differences among government are duly noted merely in breadth and depth of political force executed therefore the biblically implied policies, laws, regulations, taxes, confiscations, etc. For what government have not covetously, presumptuously hence forcefully recruited and mustered, worked and taxed, confiscated and plundered, schooled and drilled, regulated and manipulated, incarcerated and terminated their own people and/or people of other governments, with much arbitrariness, complexity, inconsistency combined with tenacity, velocity even atrocity, monstrosity.

      As traditionally written by the prophet and priest Samuel, and historically commissioned for translation by King James IV and I, the text applicably reminds now as it imperatively cautioned then. This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you: He will take your sons, and appoint them for himself, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and some shall run before his chariots. And he will appoint him captains over thousands, and captains over fifties; and will set them to ear his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and instruments of his chariots. And he will take your daughters to be confectionaries, and to be cooks, and to be bakers. And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, even the best of them, and give them to his servants. And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants. And he will take your menservants, and your maidservants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put them to his work. He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants. And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you; and the Lord will not hear you in that day. And so the ancient warning remains as it was since first written; unknown, unfamiliar, unexplained, unrecognized or worst, arrogantly unheeded.

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Thy dung forthcoming amongst the dearth thus mounting
Upon Hell’s bells so rung as pyres `yond lack accounting
Hearths cold, berths shoaled, steely eyes by strangleholds
O’er podiums then lecterns perpetuating penuries tenfold

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

Copyright © 2019 by D.C. Quillan Stone

Quote by D.C. Quillan Stone

Quote by D.C. Quillan Stone

Politics versus Individualism

My arrogance has enabled me to redefine terms/words traditionally held otherwise. As implied in my previous post/quote  (narcissistically of my forthcoming book), POLITICS is any use of organized force justified and exercised by one of more in society or group of individuals, always lacking unanimous consent, regardless the ism (save one) or system whether tyranny, monarchy, oligarchy or democracy. Oppose to the broadly misused word Libertarianism (i.e. Republican-Lite, not Rep nor Dem must be Libertarian, etc), I prefer the personally defined INDIVIDUALISM, for at core is the Human Right to CONSENT or DISSENT on ALL matters, logically hence ethically resisting and rejecting POLITICS at every turn.

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).

Ask not what your country can do for you...

“Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country."

President Kennedy was quite accurate as well ethical till midway of his famous statement, while just as inaccurate and unethical thereafter hence undermining the former half with the latter. Consequently, a worthless if not detrimental quote by him so declaring.

Today, many are asking, actually demanding more and more of government, that is, what the country can do for them. Many of the same along with others expect , actually demand everyone to "do for your country" by way of propagandized "fair taxes" for social programs illogically categorized as "rights". By government's expansion of political wars therefore further recruitment of soldiers, agents and contractors, it is expected to continue to do more and more for "your country" in this way as well. At the end of the day, Americans are wanting more of government as well of their neighbors' resources even lives.

Ask NOT what your country can do for you. Ask NOT what you can do for your country. Instead, ask what you can do for yourself and your family, to become less dependent on others thus less covetous of others. Personal independence, not societal dependence, is the path towards a sustainable country, the sole prerequisite to a better country.

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).

Rescission, rescission, and more rescission...

Why do we still think the solution is getting the right person in a given office? Instead, reduce the breadth and depth of power to such minimum level where character, integrity, honesty matters little to none.

Meanwhile as I have stated many times, I would prefer do-nothing slackers in any and all political offices, preoccupied with particular vices and general carousals, therefore new laws, regulations, taxes, programs and wars not imagined thus not proposed, as well pending legislation and executive orders piled high on desk and floor left unsigned and undecided. For more legislation and/or executive orders, even proposed as fixes, will only compound towards more complexity and inconsistency, injuring further Individual Life, Liberty and Property regardless of intent. The solution logically remains; rescission, rescission, and more rescission till there are few left to rescind.

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).