One Law

Re-thinking governance. We only need one law - the Non-Aggression Principle - the foundation of libertarianism - to maximize justice, peace, and prosperity.

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The Supreme Court’s New Attack on the Fourth Amendment | Mises Wire

The Supreme Court’s New Attack on the Fourth Amendment | Mises Wire

Source: The Supreme Court’s New Attack on the Fourth Amendment | Mises Wire

In the spirit of Murray N. Rothbard, Fegley’s article exposes the fundamental reasons why the proverbial concept of “checks and balances” between the three branches of American government fails to protect  its constituents …and I would offer, why at fundamental level government is unsustainable and doomed to fail:  because all men are self-interested, regardless of the type of organizational structure from which they work.

Yet this begs the question of organizational structure – which is better?

Government

Non-Profit

Limited liability company

Partnership

Corporation

Sole-Proprietorship

Some would say that it depends.

In truth, they are all “fictions of law” or “creatures of statute”, and thus arbitrary. Nothing is accomplished by these entities unless someone actually does something i.e. digs hole, types a letter, diagnoses cancer or protects your home, etc.

Only individuals think, decide and act – not entities.

All governmental employees provide goods and services too – but because they work for government, they are not held to the higher bar of consensual exchange imposed upon non-governmental employees where the decision “to buy” is left solely to the customer.

Instead, the entire foundation of government and the subsistence of its employees is based upon force. There is no choice whether you want their services; and hence, no basic justice – which is the cornerstone of a peaceful and prosperous culture.

As such, the creation of government (not the services of governance) necessarily creates two groups of people which are held to entirely different standards of care and where the governmental class exists upon the efforts the non-governmental class – like or not – it’s actually a form of serfdom or slavery, not to mention that this sanctioned theft creates an enduring and seemingly ever expanding safe harbor for waste, inefficiency, and corruption.

Yes, the Constitution was a fantastic idea for its time and relative to other systems it has served the country’s constituents well, but time has exposed its deep flaws – namely as Fegley quoted Rothbard, pieces of paper don’t enforce themselves.

Think about it: The Constitution was signed in 1778. Fast forward to today and we can clearly see the metastasis of the U.S. Government and current conflicts of interest such as the debacle du jour: the alleged preferential treatment of Hillary Clinton by the FBI.

Is this result surprising given the rise and fall of so many civilizations?

As we can see, the great system of “checks and balances” is forever flawed by an inherent conflict of interest.

Each branch of government tends to cover the others because they all need each other to maintain the edifice of government and the interest of those who benefit from the status quo.  No conspiracy here – just an expression of human nature.

The only “checks and balances” we really need is the maintenance of the power for each person to decide whether he or she needs any good or service – and for this to be enforced based upon one rule of law – the Non-Aggression Principle.

Note:  The views expressed are solely the opinion of the author.
Conceptual and title source:  Tate Fegley https://mises.org/blog/supreme-court%E2%80%99s-new-attack-fourth-amendment.
Media source:  www.mises.org

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The National Defense Authorization Act Explained in 3 Minutes

 

Great piece!

As Americans celebrate the 4th of July, let’s look more deeply at how the government has expanded its reach, in effect, equivalent to a dictatorship – the antithesis of America.

Sound far-fetched?

Watch the clip and you decide whether it’s consistent with a “Government of the people, by the people, for the people…”.

The National Defense Authorization Act is just one of many modern instances of extraordinary governmental overreach and abuse – a harbinger of greater despotism and tyranny.

If political history has a way of repeating itself – and it largely does because it is inextricably tied to the imperfections of human nature – then let’s quit living in denial and push back. Let’s use our discomfort with this issue and others as inspiration and energy for real change.

And what real change would that be?

Creating a socio-economic structure fundamentally more just; thus, one more capable for providing greater peace then prosperity. Holding literally everyone and every entity, locally and globally, accountable to a single code: the Non-Aggression Principle (“NAP”) where it would be applied as the rule of law.

Logically, morally and spiritually, in this author’s opinion, it is the only way forward to better solve any problem in the world. We need to trust ourselves – not our overseers. The NAP is the foundation of pure libertarianism a/k/a anarcho-libertarianism/capitalism which hold the keys to a better future for all.

Note: The views expressed are solely the opinion of the author.
Conceptual and title source:  Storm Clouds Gathering https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNcbsB1Pizg via http://www.recuro.org/
Media source:  Storm Clouds Gathering https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNcbsB1Pizg

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Is This the Best We Can Do?

From-Aristocracy-to-Monarchy-to-Democracy1000pxI suspect that most democratically-minded people have never stopped to think that democracy may not be what it’s cracked up to be. Perhaps, it too is a historical stepping stone to something better?

After all, at least in the United States, we’re brought up, educated and then repetitively reinforced through a myriad of media types and sources that representative democracy is the epitome of all available systems of governance. So good in fact, that we’re somehow morally justified in forcing it on others.

However, if it hadn’t occurred to some before, then after watching the last several months of the U.S. presidential electoral process, I also suspect that more folks may now be wondering just what the hell has happened to this country and perhaps with the democratic model as a whole.

So, looking under the hood:  is representative democracy the best we can do?

And if not, what would we trade it for?  Right?  Because if we’re going to complain, then we better have a solution …and in the case of social re-organization, a damn good one for sure!

For many of the politically and non-politically minded, that may sound like a non-issue (probably mostly for the reasons above).  For others, struggling for something deeper – whatever that may mean individually – and willing to think outside of the current political box (for you Constitutionalists, see the Preamble to the Declaration of Independence – you have the right and arguably the obligation to test fundamentals) that question can really inspire some passionate discussion; the type that could well overtake and ruin a good Thanksgiving dinner!

Nonetheless, at some point, like daily! …we need to continually recognize and remember that social organization has been in constant evolution since time immemorial and with the decentralization in informational resources, communications; and soon, energy and money, then this evolution will most certainly quicken to a pace unknown in human history.

And, as disruptive is that process has tended to be, in the long run it has proven better for the greater mass of humanity than not, but there is still obviously much room for improvement.

This social and political evolution …and a suggested solution (a likely inevitable one)… is very nicely illustrated and supported in the succinct and very readable:

From Aristocracy to Monarchy to Democracy — A Tale of Moral and Economic Folly and Decay by Hans-Hermann Hoppe, an Austrian School economist and libertarian/anarcho-capitalist theorist/philosopher, Professor Emeritus of Economics at UNLV, Distinguished Senior Fellow with the Mises Institute, founder and president of The Property and Freedom Society.

It’s a fantastic little book! If you are not familiar with Mr. Hoppe and you are open-minded and desirous of moving toward a social organization which far better supports the free and peaceful movement of people, ideas, services and goods of all types, with greater responsibility and security that can be provided by any centralized form of governance, then he and a host of others at Mises Institute offer the most realistic way forward.  Give it a read.  See if it resonates.

Note: The views expressed are solely the opinion of the author.
Conceptual source:  Hans-Hermann Hoppe.
Media source:  Mises.org