Legal Fiction

No law ever freed anyone, only enslaved them. There is no way to pass legislation allowing people to do things-they already have all their abilities, their "natural rights" as they have been called. All a law can do is tell people what they are not allowed to do. That's why in the Constitution of the U.S. it says, "Congress shall make no law..." at the beginning of the enumeration of rights; that's why, "those rights not numbered herein are reserved to the individual citizens." Every time a law is passed, it adds to the list one more thing that people are not allowed to do. The argument is that new laws cover ground not foreseen by those who originally composed the laws, that times have changed and they are needed to protect us against new problems. However, passing a law to prevent something every time an abuse is perceived leads to abuse. Take "speeding", for example: no doubt a two-ton object hurtling out of control through a heavily populated area is dangerous, but does it require a law to say it shouldn't happen? No, nor will that law stop it from occurring-only proper training and a conscientious operator can avoid it. So, one may ask, what makes more sense than a law? Well, the answer is just what I said before: the only thing that can actually stop a collision or prevent a vehicle going out of control is the operator. The person "behind the wheel" is solely and totally responsible for what happens, so our best hope of preventing all these deaths and maimings each year is to ensure those operators are well-trained, conscientious, and as fully-prepared as possible. No law can do that, only adequate training and caring (or, if that word scares you, you can say 'aware') individuals can. We especially don't need a law that allows municipalities to collect unapproved, extra 'taxes' through catching "speeding motorists" and fining them for 'breaking a law'. No matter how adamantly the government denies this charge, that is what these "fines" are. Any time one pays a fine, it provides operating expenses for that governing body, which is exactly what taxes are for. We should not be subjected to taxes in disguise, just as taxing us twice on the same thing has historically been a provocation to action. If a government requires more money to accomplish those things we need it to do, then let it come out and state that. Hiding behind the ridiculous argument that these "fines" are a deterrent, and are only meant to stop these "dangerous individuals" is an insult. They do not accomplish this stated goal, people who drive in an unsafe manner do so because they have a basic disregard for others and themselves and making them pay a little money will not change their minds about it. We need to recognize these fallacies for what they are and act to stop them from starting and/or spreading, to realize our rights, understand what really protects us, get together with others who feel similarly, and move to protect ourselves from further oppression and end those practices that currently hold us down.

The Other Guy

What about the 'other guy'? For example, if we all decide as a group to do some great thing, but everyone worries about this unknown 'other guy', then chances are that nothing will be done; people are petrified by this concept. It isn't even this 'other guy' doing anything, all it takes is the idea of someone not following the plan and it will all fall apart. Yet people will proclaim their belief in the basic goodness of people-that, "given the chance, yes, of course, people will do the 'right thing'." Sure, which is why in the same breath they will say, "well, i would, but what about the ten percent who aren't with us?" What happens is that we become the 'other guy' by worrying about it when we don't follow through because we worry that someone else won't follow through. What kind of sense does that make? To live in fear, not because of what someone has done, but of what they might do. With no demonstrable cause, we let our own interpretation of someones potential actions dictate what we will do.

Unedited Rant: the message I sent to my Representatives through MoveOn.org

I've been paying attention to both sides of this argument and can only say that this is obviously just a ploy to eliminate yet another part of the security net we have in this country for people that need assistance. The true purpose of being a "united" nation is that we care for one another- especially in tough times-and this administration is intent on destroying our ability to do that, as previous ones have as well. Further, it is not just the ability to shelter our weak, weary, poor, huddled masses, but taking away the will to do so by making it into an oppositional race to see who will survive: "us, or them". We cannot claim to be a civilized, higher-order society if we fail to provide for the basic needs of those in the society. No one is perfect, and no one can do it all, or all alone; this is the basis for clinging together, the origin of culture and social interaction. We have an obligation to do these things, and that obligation is all the more imperative when we are really caring for our own welfare. All "social programs" do this, in one way or another, either directly or indirectly, and Social Security one of the few that is direct. We are paying for our "own" retirement already, we don't need to have a 'personal fund' to do it, my money pays for those who raised my fellow co-contributors, and we are raising the workers of tomorrow who will 'pay' for us. Money is not important, only people are important, the system works as it sits now. Please engage these ridiculous allegations now before people begin to believe the rhetoric, and help stop yet another mistake in the making by this administration! Thank you for your time.

A Dreaming Man...

It is essential for people to believe that dreams can come true...not in the childish, innocent sense of meeting ones' True Love or making the cheer-leading squad (although there is nothing wrong with that sort, either). Look at Dr. M. L. King, Jr.-the first thing that comes to mind is probably that excellent speech he made about-what was it, ice cream, right? No, he spoke of a very noble and passionate aspiration-how many of you are reciting it to yourself right now? How well known is this one simple and important dream? Yet people don't talk about having dreams in their lives! Isn't that something wrong with us, rather than something admirable? Since what time is it better to not have a dream, hope, some desire to see fulfilled? Never, that time should not ever exist! Things can be as we want them to be, they can be as they should be. Better, better for all of us, but we are the ones that need to make that happen, not anyone else, and certainly not by sitting on our asses, either! The ideals we hold are more than just meaningless fantasy, the restrictions and rules we place around ourselves are the meaningless things. While the truth can be complicated, not always-sometimes it is a simple, elegant thing staring us in the kisser. Sometimes it seems difficult because of our own problems and shortcomings, sometimes it is because others make it tough for us. Don't let others decide what you will do or think, don't let them win!

Belief In a Better Way :)

The pervasive belief that things cannot be as we envision or desire them to be-that these ideals are just fantasies-is a meaningless restriction. The truth is that it can be simple, plain, easily-understood, and not just the messy, complicated, intricate thing we've been lead to believe. Things can be better, we should not lose our idealism, our 'innocence', if you prefer. We can be realists (and even be happy) and still work for, and desire, better lives. There is no rule that says we cannot enjoy what we have and still want a better world. Isn't it better to want something, to work and be motivated by this dream, whatever it is? Even if we die not seeing it done-but to know that we did something, even if it is something that maybe only we know or think is important? Even if it means being ridiculed, shunned, labelled (since we all are, anyway)? To have a purpose in life, something that gives meaning to our lives, that we decide is important, because otherwise we live for something outside of ourselves, that we do not truly believe in. We cannot continue to allow others to direct and motivate our lives, this direction and thrust must come from within ourselves. Others are not always around to direct us, nor interested in what is best for us. Others do not necessarily make the best choices for us, and do not feel bad for those poor decisions because, after all, it isn't their life! Why trust others to make decisions that we are capable of making for ourselves? How do they know better than we do what is best for us? If they are better informed, than why? We should all have that information, all of us should be able to make the most informed and best choices for ourselves. These are the questions we should be asking, "why is it I don't know what is best for myself?" The greatest disparity is created when some are more capable than others, not just when they have more, but when they are more. Just like, "if you give a man a fish and it feeds him for a day, but teach him to fish and he is fed for a lifetime.", not teaching him to fish is another option; and keeping him dependent upon the fish you provide can be much more appetizing since it creates a 'master and servant' situation. The destruction of hope or faith is malevolent and far more disruptive than physical debilitation. By this I don't mean a religious 'faith'-there is an amount of faith in trusting that tomorrow will come, and it is just as important and valid to many people as believing in a deity. I mean the capacity for belief in something not necessarily certain; such as that the future doesn't need to be the same as, or worse than, the past. Isn't it part of being alive to want things to be better today than they were yesterday? If not, why keep getting out of bed? Why do anything, if we can never improve our lives in any way? That is the reason this method of control, of abuse, is so insidious and malicious-it robs one not of the ability, but the desire, to do, to live.