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Political Video Link

Tim Pool’s “Time Machine Test” and the Nature of the State

A short response to a thought experiment posed by Tim Pool in which I believe his answer to the thought experiment is wrong. Tim asks a question about whether you or I would believe some of the more audacious events of the last 6-7 years would happen and says our answers would be “No.” But I respond that the nature of the state creates the motivations leading to these events and that, as long as the state claims the kind of massive power over our lives that it does, that all involved with it, the good along with the bad, are vulnerable to these kinds of motivations.

The only way to remove the motivation to use violence to gain control of the state, for good or ill, is to reduce its size.

The video I’m referencing by Tim Pool can be found on Odysee and Bitchute.

So can my video: Odysee and Bitchute.

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Essay Political Uncategorized Video Link

Against Gun Control: Perspective and Action

Gun control is one of the most dangerous policies to liberty. In this video, I discuss a little bit of history, but mostly what I’m after is the current state of things and strategy.

The written version is here, if you prefer that.

Video available at Odysee and Bitchute.

Categories
Essay Political

Against Gun Control: Perspective and Action (written version)

Gun control seems to be a permanent fixture of the American authoritarian left. Despite some significant gains on the side of freedom in the last fifteen years, the forces that want to disarm and subjugate peaceful Americans have not given up. On the contrary, they have redoubled their attack on our rights from different directions, so that today we face increasingly hostile and tyrannical state action against any sort of dissidence. We must be prepared to oppose these forces every step of the way, therefore the topics of civilian arms, self-defense, and self-reliance are more important than ever. Historical perspective is valuable, but accurate evaluation of the current landscape and clear and realistic recommendations are absolutely vital.

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Essay Political Video Link

History, Subtlety, and Complexity in International Relations

This video both is and isn’t about the war in Ukraine. It would be more accurate to say it’s about the principles behind what’s going on in Ukraine now, and happens around the world in foreign policy all the time.

These kinds of events always are more complex than they are presented, and interested parties always frame things in ways that work best for them. That’s why it’s always important to look behind the curtain and get a better understanding of the circumstances.

This is somewhat longer than my usual stuff, but there is plenty of material to cover.

Available on Odysee and Bitchute.

Categories
Political Video Link

Oh, Yeah, Canada!

The Freedom Convoy is now in Ottawa, and has been there over a week! In protest of covid vaccine mandates, it looks like around 50,000 trucks formed a convoy and now they’re making the would-be tyrants in the Canadian government look as bad and as impotent as they really are.

There are lots of things going on, and I wanted to touch on a few of the ones I thought were most interesting, but there’s also a point about the idiotic injunction on honking that I don’t think anyone has brought up yet… watch to find out!

Civil disobedience is one of the most important weapons we have in the fight for freedom.

Available on Odysee and Bitchute.

Categories
Political Video Link

Beware the Bully Pulpit

The “bully pulpit” describes when some person or group in a position of authority uses that authority to make its desires clear to the public. When the executive branch of the government uses it, it is an extremely dangerous tool that can have serious negative consequences.

In the past, it was used to keep wage rates above market and exacerbated the Great Depression. Right now, it’s being used to attack the rights to free speech, expression, and press.

This is a clear threat to free discourse and it should be loudly opposed whenever possible.

Available on Odysee and Bitchute.

Update: Now also available on YouTube.

Categories
Economics Video Link

Weird Ideas About Welfare and Minimum Wage

The minimum wage is one of the dumbest, most short-sighted policies there is. It is worse than other price controls because human labor is almost universally required for the production of all goods.

Yet so many people have weird ideas about wages and how they are determined that the vast majority of people think there is nothing wrong with this highly destructive policy.

Available on Odysee and Bitchute.

Update: Now also available on YouTube.

Categories
Economics Political Uncategorized Video Link

The Blindness of Fanaticism

There are those who will make themselves willfully blind to ensure their viewpoints cannot be challenged. These people forget how important it is to consider secondary effects from any policy choice.

The good analyst, the good economist, looks at the long-term effects on groups that a policy indirectly affects as well as the direct, intended effects.

And subjugating liberty toward safety is a hole with no bottom.

Available on Odysee and Bitchute.

Categories
Political Video Link

You Are Not Non-Essential

A short rant about Covid lockdowns. You are not Non-Essential, and the government has no right to tell you that you, your job, your business, your religion, or even your hobbies are.

Available on Odysee and Bitchute.

Categories
Culture Creation Gaming Political Video Link

Our Hobbies: We’re Taking them Back

I’m a big gamer, mostly video games, but a little tabletop here and there. There’s been a wonderful movement recently for those of us who believe in liberty–and therefore are not welcome in the socialist hellhole communities of a lot of games–to make our own games, materials, and communities as a counter.

I’m in favor of this. Let’s create stuff and make a flanking maneuver on the forces of political correctness and take our hobbies back!

Video available on Odysee and Bitchute.