One of most misguided notions is one of patriotism

"There's no glory like those who save their country."

Lord Tennyson (1809-1892)

One of most misguided notions is one of patriotism as implicated by Lord Tennyson's quote, spoken of course within the context of a global empire. It is held as virtue or principle, yet by what consistent standard. Certainly such regard is not applied to all who fight and die for their respective country; the Nazi German, Imperial Japanese, Soviet, Chinese or Hussein's Iraqi soldier among those often excluded in the average American mind. Obviously, the willingness to spill blood among comrades cannot be the sole consideration.

Is glory reserved for countries of particular ideologies, religions, or polities, and if so, by what universal, timeless criteria, per whose infallible determination, and upon what confidence and clarity absolute so to sacrifice or terminate life absolute. Nor by social programs and central management by government declared as empathetic or socially just, for that would undermine the aforementioned exclusions. Neither is war glorious in the pursuit of national independence, for it would include as well resulting tyrannical regimes. It could be said and done for freedom or liberty, though questionable at best, often doublespeak when forcefully dismissing the liberty of one government to rule or control in favor of another.

I would suggest there is no such glory, only the horrid necessity upon actual intrusion requiring the defense of individual life, liberty and property, that is, against the terminating of one's own life, the restricting of one's own liberty, and the confiscating of one's own property, until flight of threat and no more. For prevention and preemption are modern excuses to wage offensive wars of conquest beyond domestic borders and coastlines.

Come let us Reason. Peace is always a Choice.

At the core of most if not all societal ills

At the core of most if not all societal ills is force, legally instituted or politically enabled. Unfortunately and commonly, the resolution often imposed by government or demanded by people is more of the same.

Come let us Reason. Peace is always a Choice.

Mississippi should be more like Connecticut

An individual from Connecticut enumerated various critiques upon Mississippi (my adopted home state). In this case, I happen to agree with most of his assessments, though few were trite assumptions commonly promulgated by media. In conclusion, I satirically compared, "You mean Mississippi should be more like Connecticut." "Well, in ways, yes.", he defended. Curiously and politely I reaffirmed, "Don't you already live in Connecticut?"

Come let us Reason. Peace is always a Choice.

Mandatory voting will come

Given the relentless growth of centralism thus statism in Washington, manifested by expanding socialism and militarism (both) strategically supported by the two major parties, combined with popular discontent and resulting resignation to "not vote", mandatory electoral participation will come. The mandate will be hailed as patriotically American, else punishable by fines or imprisonment, for denying society and nation of one's duty. A duty so compelling in principle and spirit (I suppose), it will require force to convince, hence prevent each and every person to be otherwise. Once made law, mandatory voting will be followed by unprecedented escalation in government intervention and intrusion in all aspects of life.

Note:
It is critical to understand liberty on this issue, that is, the freedom to vote or not vote, for either is a signal to government of equal importance, akin to the fundamental human right to consent or not consent.

Come let us Reason. Peace is always a Choice.

ON UNDERWRITING AN EVIL, by Frank Chodorov (1887-1966)

A good essay on democracy's failures, and the inevitable lost of individual life, liberty, and property, eventually enforcing citizen participation during elections, criminalizing the choice to vote or NOT vote, hence one of numerous warnings of the forthcoming tyranny.

"Even when kings ruled by "divine right", the throne was held in place by the proper juxtaposition of rival and envious nobles. When the ambition of a particular noble got out of hand and an army was needed to make him respect divinity, the money lenders supplied the war funds and received their compensation, usually a grant of land and the privilege of collecting rent from the users. In the 18th century the rising class of manufacturers and merchants came to the support of the king in his quarrels with his nobles, in exchange for tariffs, cartel privileges, and the "rights" to foreign exploitation.

Constitutionalism and the extension of the suffrage did not alter the character of politics. These institutions merely increased the number of claimants for special privileges and complicated the art of balancing interests. In the early years of our country the politician's problem was quite simple: the pressure groups consisted of tariff seekers, land grabbers, money brokers, franchise hunters and a few others, and the balancing of interests was fixed by the size of campaign contributions. In due time, thanks to professional organizers, others got into the act, and the politician now has to consider the privilege claims of vote-laden and skillfully led proletarians, farmers, teachers, veterans — a host of articulate "minority" groups — as well as the traditional claimants. The juggling has become more intricate."

For entire essay...
https://mises.org/library/underwriting-evil

As part of his collection entitled Out of Step...
https://mises.org/library/out-step

Come let us Reason. Peace is always a Choice.

Quotes by Walter E. Williams (economist/philosopher)

"Democracy and liberty are not the same. Democracy is little more than mob rule, while liberty refers to the sovereignty of the individual.”

“But let me offer you my definition of social justice: I keep what I earn and you keep what you earn. Do you disagree? Well then tell me how much of what I earn belongs to you - and why?”

“French economist/philosopher Frederic Bastiat (1801–50) gave a test for immoral government acts: “See if the law benefits one citizen at the expense of another by doing what the citizen himself cannot do without committing a crime.”

“How does something immoral, when done privately, become moral when it is done collectively? Furthermore, does legality establish morality? Slavery was legal; apartheid is legal; Stalinist, Nazi, and Maoist purges were legal. Clearly, the fact of legality does not justify these crimes. Legality, alone, cannot be the talisman of moral people.”

“No matter how worthy the cause, it is robbery, theft, and injustice to confiscate the property of one person and give it to another to whom it does not belong”

“There are many farm handouts; but let's call them what they really are: a form of legalized theft. Essentially, a congressman tells his farm constituency, "Vote for me. I'll use my office to take another American's money and give it to you.”

“Social Security is unsustainable because it is not meeting the first order condition of a Ponzi scheme, namely expanding the pool of suckers.”

“What our nation needs is a separation of “business and state” as it has a separation of “church and state.” That would mean crony capitalism and crony socialism could not survive.”

“Philosopher Johann Wolfgang von Goethe explained that “no one is as hopelessly enslaved as the person who thinks he’s free.” That’s becoming an apt description for Americans who are oblivious to—or ignorant of—the liberties we’ve lost.”

“It’s government people, not rich people, who have the power to coerce and make our lives miserable. Coercive power goes a long way toward explaining political corruption.”

Note:
The above first point/quote, as affirmed by other like-minded writers, is perhaps one of the most important paradigm shifts one could experience, particularly for the publicly schooled, propagandized American. That, combined with the related thought, national independence is not necessarily the same as individual liberty... I recommend the numerous interviews and lectures of Mr Williams found on YouTube and various online sources.

Come let us Reason. Peace is always a Choice.

1913

The year that will not live in infamy, rather in obscurity. Upon 2016, the majority of Americans could not tell you the threefold significance, nor the grave contribution and continual facilitation to US declining economy, increasing political/legal interventions here and abroad, manifested most darkly by endless inhumane war-making.

Come let us Reason. Peace is always a Choice.