It's Not Apathy

We've got nothing to fear...but fear itself?
Not pain, not failure, not fatal tragedy?
Not the faulty units in this mad machinery?
Not the broken contacts in emotional chemistry?

With an iron fist in a velvet glove
We are sheltered under the gun
In the glory game on the power train
Thy kingdom's will be done

And the things that we fear are a weapon to be held against us...

-Neal Peart "The Weapon"

Political pundits often decry the perceived apathy of the American public when it comes to involvement in the political process. They wonder why people stay away from the polls, drown themselves in reality TV and talent shows, rather than engage themselves in changing the growing tyranny of government run amok. Why is it that so many people prefer to finish their day off being lulled to sleep by the droning of entertainment TV, rather than involving themselves in the process of downsizing the state? Even the large numbers of people who make the effort to go out and vote in the elections only do that one thing. That's barely an effort at all in any meaningful sense. So, why the apathy? Is it true, as some would contend, that the masses are “sheeple”, mindlessly going where they are told and doing as they are commanded? I cannot think that's correct for the great majority of people.

It's something much worse than mindless, unintelligent apathy. It's fear. Not the crippling, mind numbing visceral fear of eminent danger. It's the grinding, low frequency fear engendered by nothing more than the ever looming potential for destruction at the hands of another. The fear of being noticed by the powers that be and their representatives. The representatives who, even at the lowest levels, hold the power of life and death in their hands and over the heads of everyone. When even a petty bureaucrat in a tax department or a secretary in a government office can destroy a lifetimes accomplishment with the stroke of a pen there is reason to fear. Even simple tasks, such as a trip to the grocery store have the potential to end in death or imprisonment at the hands of a state minion. Over time these fears cannot help but become ingrained into the very fibre of a persons being and make them long to become invisible.

This, I think is the reason for the perceived lack of activism and caring. The need to become small and unnoticed by the powers that be. The constant small fears foster an old instinct that drives people to turn away and hunker down, hoping the danger will pass us by or take another, instead. Gathering around the television has become the modern equivalent of gathering around the fire in the darkness of the cave. The government has created a country where ruling by low level fear is the paradigm. Whether it's the police, the IRS, DHS, Child Services, the mayor, Al Quaida or whomever they all have one thing in common. They create fear in people and that cannot be good for anyone in the long run. It's no wonder so many people seek refuge in pharmaceuticals and entertainment.

It's no wonder that the masses cannot be reached past the myriad fears which they have to live with in their day to day existence. On some level they know that carrying the torch in the darkness gives you some degree of light, but it also lets the enemy in the darkness know where you are. Better to let someone else do it than be devoured by the beast.

Those who would promote a freer world are going to have to find a way to surmount the deeply ingrained fears that dominate so many of their neighbours if they wish to motivate the masses to action. It will be no easy task, either, so folks had best be prepared for the long haul and great disappointments. With the ever present fear so many already have it will come as no surprise that any message concerning freedom will elicit even more fear in many of the people who hear it. Those involved with the political aspects of the freedom movement are fond of mentioning it, often saying that messages should be moderated in order to avoid scaring people. Well, folks are already afraid so what's a little more fear if you might break a few of them free of the shackles of the ever present, grinding fear that already keeps them immobile?

Regardless, it's time we all left the confines of the campfire and the cave and somehow manage to walk without fear. Maybe we'll manage to bring a few others along for the journey.

I must not fear.

Fear is the mind-killer.

Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.

I will face my fear.

I will permit it to pass over me and through me.

And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path.

Where the fear has gone there will be nothing.

Only I will remain.

-Bene Gesserit Litany Against Fear

Frank Herbert "Dune"

Technorati Tags:
Libertarian, Fear, Police State

Tim O' Reilly Can Go And...

...jump in the lake. Mr. O'Reilly, would like nothing more than to impose Amish-like censorship on the "blogosphere" and the freedom to speak ones mind, all in the name of civility. If Mr. O'Reilly thinks the blogosphere is wild and woolly now he should stretch his imagination out to a time when his collectivist nonsense is in force. If he thinks trolls and griefers are bad now just wait till the sheep his followers adopt this code. They'll never have a moments peace. The blogosphere will end up resembling a Baghdad market on bomber day rather than the delightfully anarchic entity we all enjoy now.

Do gooders seldom pay attention to the law of unintended consequences. Mr. O'Reilly needs to step back and take another look at things. We live in an adult world not a nursery school.

Technorati Tags
Blogging, Tim O'Reilly, Censorship

How Far Is Too Far?

What's the line in the sand where government interference is concerned? Onerous taxation? Regulation of your business? Well, how about interfering in the naming of your child? Is that government run amok? It is to me.

STOCKHOLM, Sweden (AP) -- Metallica may be a cool name for a heavy metal band, but a Swedish couple is struggling to convince officials it is also suitable for a baby girl.

Michael and Karolina Tomaro are locked in a court battle with Swedish authorities, which rejected their application to name their six-month-old child after the legendary rock band.

------------

Although little Metallica has already been baptized, the Swedish National Tax Board refused to register the name, saying it was associated with both the rock group and the word "metal."

Tomaro said the official handling the case also called the name "ugly."

A taxing authority telling you what you cannot name your child. It's a short step from there to telling you what you can name your children. Coming soon to a bureaucrats office near you, too given the way this country is headed.

Technorati Tags:
Libertarian, Nanny State, Sweden

The ERA Is Back

With very little fanfare the ERA has has, once again been brought back up for consideration, albeit renamed the "Womens Equality Amendment", and I find that I am in favour of it, oddly enough. Certainly not because of the added power it places in the hands of the Congress, or the funds which will undoubtedly be misappropriated for its enforcement. No. I find myself in favour of it because it may just solve the same sex marriage issue once and for all.

Section 1. Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.

Section 2. The Congress shall have the power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article.

Section 3. This amendment shall take effect two years after the date of ratification.

Of course the usual suspects are no doubt already gearing up to fight it, again and I'm sure that any number of talk radio pundits will weigh in on the matter, probably against it.

While I have little faith that the government can or will uphold any amendment (unless it suits some statist goal of theirs) I think this may well be a step in the right direction to solving an issue that is becoming increasingly ugly. Here in Indiana we are currently facing an anti-gay amendment that has been solidly embraced and promoted by the Christian Right as a moral necessity. Despite opposition from major corporations, universities, numerous civil libertarians, just plain folks and rational politicians, (including one of my favourite Libertarians) the amendment is slowly going forward and is likely to become a matter for the mobs to vote on.

An ERA amendment could settle this matter once and for all if passed and we could move on to worrying about bigger things than how our neighbours choose to live. I can't wait to see how this plays out again!

Technorati Tags:
Equal Rights Amendment, Libertarian, Gay Rights