http://www.lewrockwell.com/knaebel/knaebel21.html

The State and the “ego” have a lot in common. Each is a reflection of the other perhaps?

Thanks

A most excellent and appreciated article.

One of my coworkers, an avowed republican and McCain lover, informed me he was happy the bailout occurred. He wanted more regulation because obviously americans are unable to behave responsibly. He was happy that the people would be regulated and thought it was the best thing that could have happened to fix the unfixable american. In his mind it was the citizens who had caused this problem.

Shortly after uttering this he was joined in chorus by a diehard liberal and Obama supporter who agreed. It was not the government who caused it, but it was the government who was going to fix it. We needed the government to intervene for us to save us from ourselves because we were incapable of managing our affairs. He was upside down in his condo because people took out mortgages they could not afford. The bailout would save him…

I jumped in mentioned it was the governments fault and not the average joe. I informed them it was previous actions by the government and free credit driven by the fed that caused this. I said these banks should all go belly-up. We needed prices to drop back to manageable levels and things would work themselves out. Keeping prices artificially high were not going to “fix” anything, but would give some people a semblance of wealth while driving up every other price. I said they should look up some definitions of governments and they should start with fascism and work their way to socialism and communism. Well a fight was about to break out as my republican coworker was feeling I was insulting his country and leaders so I just turned around and walked away.

These people will never realize what has happened. They will never accept the truth and/or freedom. Liberty to them is provided by a government. This country has no chance when the citizens bow to the state and liberty is given by the guy who holds the biggest gun.

A man I know felt very disheartened about the state our country was for me the next generation to deal with.

I told him that we aren’t down yet!

There are sooo many people becoming actively free again. Campaignforliberty.com has helped a lot.

I’m sure it will be just like Poland, which story I didn’t know by the way and appreciate knowing VERY much!!!!

Thanks for the great article.

A soldier named Nobushige came to Hakuin, and asked: “Is there really a paradise and a hell?”
“Who are you?” inquired Hakuin.
“I am a samurai,” the warrior replied.
“You, a solider!” exclaimed Hakuin. “What kind of ruler would have you as his guard? Your face looks like that of a beggar!”
Nobushige became so angry that he began to draw his sword, but Hakuin continued, “So you have a sword! Your weapon is probably much too dull to cut off my head.”
As Nobushige drew his sword, Hakuin remarked: “Here open the gates of hell!”
At these words the samurai, perceiving the master’s discipline, sheathed his sword and bowed.
“Here open the gates of paradise,” said Hakuin.

This is a bit of a weak spot in Western thinking IMO. A bit of Eastern philosophical understanding of the inner meanings of “Liberty” might combine well for mutual benefit here.

Brooks Hatlen was the Librarian in ‘The Shawhank Redemption’ and thus a keeper of books but not a bookkeeper

While both of your comments seem correct and common sense, this article actually does reflect what is really needed in each of us to truly be free. I highly recommend reading the short article “A Letter To A Hindu” by Leo Tolstoy, which I’ve linked here:

http://dwardmac.pitzer.edu/Anarchist_Archives/bright/tolstoy/lettertodhindu.html

And think about what this quote, from the article, really means and how it applies to our struggle for liberty:

“A commercial company enslaved a nation comprising two hundred millions. Tell this to a man free from superstition and he will fail to grasp what these words mean. What does it mean that thirty thousand people, not athletes, but rather weak and ordinary people, have enslaved two hundred millions of vigorous, clever, capable, freedom-loving people? Do not the figures make it clear that not the English, but the Indians, have enslaved themselves?”

I personally believe a person’s spirit has a dramatic effect on free will, which is what ultimately moves society. I’m going to bookmark this article to get my mind back on track whenever I run into some stupid story on TV or online about how great the government did this that, bla bla bla.

I understand the moral this article is to express. I just worry that it does not take seriously just how dangerous the lack of pure negative freedom is. I think the mitigated claim that the right mindset is necessary, but not sufficient, for preserving freedom is more to the point.

Cheers,
Lamont

Freemen, in defense of liberty, will at all times and under all circumstances, stand as beacons, illuminating the path toward freedom for those willing to embrace its call. It would be easy in our times to resign ourselves, as so many have done, to wringing of hands, whilst fretting over which candidate can best rescue us from our own slavish apathy. Perhaps the most sought after bailout, should be the one we perform for ourselves, once again reasserting, government of the people, by the people and for the people. Anything less, posits us squarely on the path to slavery.