Starchild,
Over the years you’ve written many fabulous emails addressing immigration, borders, and people’s tacit assumptions which reinforce the legitimacy of the State. Your arguments frequently deconstruct down to their elemental level people’s basic thoughts and perceptions. I hope you’re saving them for a book of collected essays to be published one day!
Warm regards, Michael
Marcy,
Should I blame myself for the voting choices of others? Should I blame myself for the actions of those in government who act contrary to the preferences I express through my votes and my activist civic engagement? Say not so! Regarding "responsibility as citizens", a recent favorite mantra of mine is this:
"Citizenship is just another Big Government program."
Labeling some people "citizens" and others "non-citizens" (or "foreigners" or "aliens") is a means for government to extract money from people; to divide them against each other; to dole out privileges and obligations as it chooses; to ignore the basic human right to equal treatment under the law and discriminate on the basis of nationality.
Love & Liberty,
((( starchild )))
Hi Michael and Starchild,
And I always disagree with this point of view. "We" means "We the People" who have a responsibility as citizens of the United States of America (whether native born or naturalized) to choose representatives in government who have a modicum of respect to the U.S. Constitution. If we choose to be anarchists, choose to be "takers" (vote for those who give out freebies rather than stick to the Constitutions mandates of upholding individuals rights and property), or choose to be in the outside looking in, then we have no one to blame but ourselves that those who govern are rogues.
This is not an idle discussion (especially since this is the Activist List). It is my expression of hope that LPSF does not drift to the outside, where it only looks in and plays "ain't it awful."
Marcy
To: lpsf-activists@yahoogroups.com
From: lpsf-activists@yahoogroups.com
Date: Thu, 3 Jul 2014 12:04:46 -0700
Subject: Re: [lpsf-activists] Excellent Letter to the Editor in today's Chronicle
Starchild,
Thanks for continually reminding us “we” are not the State.
The State is a terrorist organization and “we” are its hapless victims.
Warm regards, Michael
I don't think WE (the LPSF or libertarians generally) have been particularly involved in the Middle East.
I agree that *the U.S. government* is incapable of fixing the Middle East; I won't venture a guess as to the total net effect of its involvement there.
Other than the implicit "nationalist we", I agree a good letter. Particularly the point about how casualties from a minor involvement can progressively lead to greater involvement.
Coincidentally, just listening to the song "War" by Chuck D (of Public Enemy) vs. Ticc Tacc, featuring Ambersunshower (lyric: "Time to go to war again" -- MP3 file attached if anyone's interested).
Love & Liberty,
((( starchild )))
Wow, so true. Good work, Marc. Furthermore, not only are not capable of fixing the Middle East, we have contributed to messing it up some more in my view.
Marcy
To: lpsf-activists@yahoogroups.com
From: lpsf-activists@yahoogroups.com
Date: Mon, 30 Jun 2014 18:51:01 -0700
Subject: [lpsf-activists] RE: Excellent Letter to the Editor in today's Chronicle
Thanks, Francoise. Here’s the link: http://www.sfgate.com/opinion/letterstoeditor/article/Letters-to-the-editor-June-30-5588326.php
Marc
From: francoise@thefieldingcompanies.com [mailto:francoise@thefieldingcompanies.com]
Sent: Monday, June 30, 2014 6:30 PM
To: lpsf-activists@yahoogroups.com
Cc: Marc Joffe
Subject: Excellent Letter to the Editor in today's Chronicle
Marc Joffe wrote an excellent Letter to the Editor in today's San Francisco Chronicle about Obama's decision to send military advisers to Iraq.
I can't send the link because I was reading a paper copy but it is worth looking at.
Great job, Marc.
Francoise
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