My last post took to task people who sympathize with Virginia Tech as an institution, rather than the individuals affected. This drew a generous and thoughtful response from Daniel Farrell, whose brother-in-law was one of the victims of the recent tragedy:
I think it's just a general desire to do something. That is what I've seen in so many people as we've suffered through this: people just want to be able to do something.
Unfortunately there really isn't much to do. People traveled down to the funeral to be with us, they are making us meals, and just generally loving us. We appreciate all of it. But not everyone can do that. If the best someone can do is a show of solidarity by flying a VT flag, or wearing a VT hat or shirt, in memory of the victims then I'm fine with that and I appreciate it. My brother-in-law loved VT and I'm fine with people honoring him and the other victims by flying a VT flag.
He's right - there's not much us strangers can do to help him and his family, specifically. And I think he attributes very benign motives to most people who honor VT as some sort of proxy for his pain and suffering. I didn't mention this in the original post, but one of the the experiences that set me off on this topic was going into a car dealership where everything was decked out in VT gear, colors, balloons, salesmen wearing hats and sweatshirts, etc. That seems crass to me, period.
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Why is all this outpouring of support and sympathy for the victims of the VT Massacre being extended to the entire body of Virginia Polytechnic Institute? I can see having support for the students and faculty who were directly affected, but why is the institution the perceived injured party? The school is, at best, incidental to the event, and may even hold some responsibility for it. But all I see are flags, bumper stickers, etc. with VT logos, colors, etc. - as if supporting the school has anything to do with appreciating and honoring their lives.
Don't get me wrong: I have nothing but sympathy and prayers for the victims and their friends and family. But for the grace of God my brother could have very well been in that building. I can also understand how something like this affects the local community.
Still, the way that VT alumni and fans have latched onto this in some display of faux-victimhood seems inauthentic, opportunistic, and even disrespectful. My neighbors have a flag and sign out to show just how "hokie" they are. Well, that's great and everything. But if your intention is to honor the lives of those who were killed, injured, or traumatized by the massacre, you're not saying much. Those lives have importance and meaning aside from their association with a particular institution.
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If you're looking for the other side of the story, check out Nick Napolitano's report at Los Angeles IndyMedia:
Rampart division officers harass and illegally search and detain a peaceful protestor for 15 minutes because the protestor was documenting the march and had decided to take a photograph of the wrong officers. The protestor is released when a crowd starts to gather and take pictures of the incident. (Please note that event #1 occurred when all was calm and peaceful and the march was slowly winding its way into MacArthur Park)
(Approximately 30 minutes after the first event) Officers start to push a protestor at the corner of Wilshire & Parkview. This results in the Los Angeles chapter of Copwatch quickly moving into action to document the incident. A crowd quickly gathers and the street starts to fill up with people of all ages and backgrounds. A protestor was shown the true force of a police baton in blunt force trauma to the head. Organizers start to plead with people to leave the street for fear that the officers will declare this an illegal assembly because of people being in the street. People remain in the street simply because they are trying to protect those that they love and care for. LAPD was now fully mobilizing at this point getting riot gear ready and forming a defensive block. Bear in mind; this all started with LAPD attacking peaceful protestors.
LAPD Chief Bratton called some of the responses "inappropriate", even though officers in full riot armor were "provoked" by "anarchists" (read: people wearing bandanas) throwing plastic water bottles. I guess assault and battery, reckless endangerment, and other unlawful actions get different names when the police engage in them for the slightest provocations.
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Scott Adams strikes me as a mixed bag: at times providing insight into the complex and pervasive issues of authority, hierarchy, and institutional alienation; at other times brushing aside the complexity to support a sort of sweeping, bold insularity and ignorance - and then reveling in the audacity. Luckily, his comics can be read in both senses, and it's the former sense which I find fitting for today's celebration of labor:
Not terribly far from the truth.
In other news:
Finally, this quote from Benjamin Tucker sets the tone for a new, free market defense of direct action:
Let Carnegie, Dana & Co. first see to it that every law in violation of equal liberty is removed from the statute-books. if, after that, any laborers shall interfere with the rights of their employers, or shall use force upon inoffensive "scabs," or shall attack their employers' watchmen, whether these be Pinkerton detectives, sheriff's deputies, or the State militia, I pledge myself that, as an Anarchist and in consequence of my Anarchistic faith, I will be among the first to volunteer as a member of a force to repress these disturbers of order and, if necessary, sweep them from the earth. But while these invasive laws remain, I must view every forcible conflict that arises as the consequence of an original violation of liberty on the part of the employing classes, and, if any sweeping is done, may the laborers hold the broom! Still, while my sympathies thus go with the under dog, I shall never cease to proclaim my conviction that the annihilation of neither party can secure justice, and that the only effective sweeping will be that which clears from the statute-book every restriction of the freedom of the market.
Enjoy the day in freedom and solidarity!
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This past weekend, two fellow market anarchists, a non-partisan, and I headed to some wilderness out in the mountains of Virginia. Our mission: engage in discussion on anarchism (with particular emphasis on Carson's mutualist arguments), hike to another mountain to get a cool view of the area, and discharge a variety of firearms. Here is a report on our experiences:
- Hiking to the top of a mountain with thousands of feet in elevation change for almost 5 miles is not a task lightly assumed. Bushwacking it is even more perilous. There were many times where we proceeded on our bellies, the brush was so thick. Ezra and I turned back before reaching the summit but we still got a good view. Jim and Brady made the summit, so kudos to them.
- I tried out a variety of weapons, and I've decided that the .40 H&K USP is the handgun for me. I had never shot one that big but it wasn't a big deal after all.
- Our discussions of anarchism hinged on a few topics:
- How would a mutual bank operate, and would it work?
- Is there such a thing as a "natural elite" as Hoppe talks about?
- Is capitalism a fancy word for entrepreneurship, or are they distinct concepts? How important is the distinction?
Of course, we discussed and did a lot more, but those are the highlights. No visitors except for two locals who rolled by while we were breaking camp. Walking around the mountain, we did run into a lot of other property owners, but they all seemed pretty friendly and generous. I definitely want to buy some land in the mountains so I have somewhere to go and be alone - I love the outdoors and camping, but doing it on private land where you answer to nobody is a totally different experience.
Anyway, the weekend was a magnificent success, and we ate lots of bacon and sausage and probably STILL lost weight. So put that in your pipe and smoke it. Oh, and the camp we established is now officially named Camp Defiance. Many, many heartfelt thanks to Brady for extending the invitation to me - I had a great time!
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I was an LP member for over five years, and was on the central committee for the state party for the last year. In that whole time, I never heard once about the Mises, Rothbard, or the Austrian school of economics.
Looking back on that, I'm flabbergasted. How could such important work, so vital to the foundation of libertarian thought, have not reached me? Frankly, I don't think I should have to have been overly curious to stumble upon some sort of treatment of Austrians, but there you have it.
Does this surprise anybody else? I find it odd.
James Leroy Wilson captures the circular logic of the anti-cut-and-run crowd:
It's the terrible logic of the war: "We must occupy Iraq until we defeat those who are fighting our occupation. Once those who want us to leave are defeated, we will leave." But since us leaving is exactly what the enemy wants, they will declare victory whenever we leave - even if its ten years from now. Our presence is the very cause of the instability that prevents us from "winning" the war, but if we ever leave, we "lose" the war.
- Tomorrow I head out to Scott Mountain for a camping trip with Brady and Ezra from Eytom and one other guy I haven't met. Should be lots of fun! Expect no updates till Sunday.
- The Richmond Left Libertarian Alliance has its first meeting at 7:00 PM on Labor Day 2007 at Commerical Tap House, Richmond, VA. Sign up at upcoming.org if you plan to attend.
- I've pretty much decided I'm probably gonna purchase a Pontiac Vibe once I get back from the trip - probably a used one at CarMax, though I haven't decided whether I want to splurge on the new model.
- The Central Virginia Ruby Enthusiasts Group is teaming up with the Richmond Java Users Group to present a talk by Stu Halloway on Rails for Java Programmers. Highly recommended - sign up here!
- Tasha documented her craft show last weekend here. I get a shout-out.
I'ts been a long time since I've recommended an entire blog and not just a post, but Paleo-Future definitely qualifies. It chronicles visions of the future from past eras that seem absolutely quaint now. Everything from weather machines to space and sea colonies, from the 19th century to the early 80's.
What I find fascinating about these different perspectives is not their quaintness or absurdity but how each vision of the future is governed by that time period's contemporary understanding of "progress". It just goes to show you that most science fiction has a lot more to do with the present than the future. Only the very best writers can transcend the technological culture, think outside the obvious trends, and propose a world that is fundamentally alien while still just barely plausible. Science fiction promotes an open discussion in our society on the limits, meaning, and direction of progress in a way that politics will never have the imagination or narrative skill to express.
I was thrilled to see one of my favorite childhood books, Future War and Weapons, featured on the blog. There's something about large scale technological organization and mechanized power that I don't think any red-blooded boy will ever be able to resist. Knowing what I know now about the cold war and the State's role in promoting centralizing technology in the pursuit of power only slightly inhibits the appeal of such fantastic scenarios for me. But let a thousand futurist flowers bloom, and let the market sort 'em out.
Alexander Cockburn at Counterpunch fucking nails it - isn't he on "teh Left"?
The Virginia Tech terrible massacre should prompt a radical review of the utility of SWAT teams which now infest almost every community in America. Each time there's a hostage taking or a mass murderer on the rampage, one sees the same familiar sight: overweight SWAT men, doubled up under the weight of their costly artillery, lumbering along in their body armor and then hiding behind trees or cars or walls while the killer goes about his business. SWAT teams perform most efficiently when shooting down unarmed street people menacing them with cellphones.
The answer is to disband SWAT teams and kindred military units, and return to the idea of voluntary posses or militias: a speedy assembly of citizen volunteers with their own weapons. Such a body at Columbine or Virginia Tech might have saved many lifes. In other words: make the Second Amendment live up to its promise.
In 2005 I listened to some earnest ACLU type at a meeting in Garberville, an hour from where I live, deliver a judicious speech about Taser guns--a new toy for the cops, whereby a person can be zapped with 50,000 volts. The ACLU guy was torn. On the one hand, he reasoned that the Taser -- being purportedly, though not actually non-lethal -- is better than a 12-gauge or high powered rifle. On the other hand, there is the possibility of "improper use". His answer: more regulation. He didn't entertain the actual course of events, namely that Tasers have now been added to the means whereby the police can kill or terrorize people and that regulation will be zero.
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Via Roderick Long comes this quote of former SDS president Charles Oglesby from his 1967 book Containment and Change (emphasis mine):
The one and only basic question which Americans now have to ask themselves is whether or not they want to be politically free. … The superstate … may give of its bounty to those who will ritually humble themselves before it. But the state cannot give political freedom. It is neither in the nature of the state that it can give political freedom nor in the nature of political freedom that it can be given. Political freedom is not a license to be purchased or petitioned from a higher power. …
Excellently said. Libertarians would do well to remember this.
There's some scary stuff on PostSecret, but this takes the cake:
More about Rex 84 here.
One other random tidbit: isn't "continuity of government" an usurpation of the human rights asserted by the Founders - by definition?
That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.
If the government is rendered unable to lawfully govern - regardless of whether that is the result of invasion or civil insurrection - then that government can be considered dissolved and no longer a legitimate authority (assuming for the moment that it ever is). I mean, if the government has lost any ability or interest in defending our persons, why even recognize it? If an invasion occurs successfully, then it's over - and resistance is far more likely to occur in a decentralized, guerrilla fashion than as an activity coordinated by the same incompetent and spineless bureaucrats we deal with today. But moreover, is there any real difference between our "public servants" operating as a sort of Vichy regime for hostile invaders and being a hostile sovereign, independent government? Under either scenario, ignoring the State is the only sane option, regardless of the stakes.
I wonder if the U.S. government has any super-secret military plans to encourage and coordinate the smooth transition to "new Government" being instituted by the People. Of course, I'm sure they have all sorts of plans for new government that they'd like to institute.
- Last night, Tasha and I saw the Flaming Lips at the NorVa in Norfolk, Virginia. It was an awesome show, with lots of balloons, confetti, and streamers, and a huge LCD screen behind them playing stuff, and everybody had laser pointers. Yes, it was my first time seeing them - how could you tell?
The concert was a lot of fun, and I enjoyed the music. I find Wayne Coyne to be a painfully inarticulate, but nevertheless sincere, speaker. Last night was one occasion when I would rather have not heard his opinions on current events - which isn't necessarily to say I disagreed with them. But other than that, it was a great experience. Tasha says it was her favorite concert ever.
- The Brick Weekly article on the Spring Bada-Bing Craft Show is out, and Tasha's work was featured on the Indie Fixx blog.
Taking Responsibility From Within the System
There was a time when I didn't just dislike cops; I was actively prejudiced towards them. I stated to friends that when it came to law enforcement, I was completely, irrationally disposed towards hating them, regardless of individual merits. Of course, even now I'm not very warm towards law enforcement as a group. However, I've learned to distinguish between the group and the constituents. There are good, community-oriented, genuinely friendly police officers, and it's wrong to lump them in with the bad ones. For to do so is to practice the very same dehumanizing collectivism that the system practices on us.
However, I have always held one caveat towards law enforcement professionals: when they see fellow cops act wrongly and cover up or defend those actions, they are part of the problem. Good police doesn't let bad police - however trivial or seemingly just their illegal and immoral actions may seem - get away with doing the wrong thing. I make a point whenever the subject of policing comes up to address this issue because it demonstrates that the system doesn't have to be totally awful if the member individuals take initiative. The so-called "Blue Wall of Silence" is what prevents people from trusting police far more than outwardly acknowledged police brutality and corruption.
Of course, the whole point of the system is to reduce the initiative of individuals, make them compliant and complacent, and socialize values among the group to insulate individuals from the full consequences of their activities. People act like a herd when treated as a herd, and there are so many institutions among us that promote such a mentality, ossifying one's own inner guide and promoting dependence on authority. In such an environment, isn't the most subversive act to be an individual, to act on one's own values, and most of all to be one's own, unmediated moral agent?
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Kevin Carson wrote a groundbreaking investigation of labor relations and vulgar libertarian double standards that says everything I wanted to say on the matter, mostly. What little is left is the subject of an upcoming article I'm writing on the subsidies for centralization that the State guarantee of security provides, but Carson goes a long way towards making my point for me. With in-depth analysis of historical issues in labor and government, he argues that Wagner and Taft-Hartley served more of capital's needs than labor's and that the answer is direct action by minority, wildcat organizing:
Whatever value the Wagner regime had for us in the past, it has outlived. We are getting kicked in the teeth under the old rules. If labor is to fight a successful counteroffensive, it has to stop playing by the bosses' rules. We need to fight completely outside the structure of Wagner and the NLRB's system of certification and contracts, or at least treat them as a secondary tactic in a strategy based on direct action.
In the neoliberal age, they've apparently decided that we need the contracts more than they do, and that "at-will" is the best thing for them. But I think if we took off the gloves, they might be the ones begging for a new Wagner act and contracts, all over again.
... We'll gladly forego legal protections against punitive firing of union organizers, and federal certification of unions, if you'll forego the court injunctions and cooling-off periods and arbitration. We'll leave you free to fire organizers at will, to bring back the yellow dog contract, if you leave us free to engage in sympathy and boycott strikes all the way up and down the production chain, boycott retailers, and strike against the hauling of scab cargo, etc., effectively turning every strike into a general strike. We give up Wagner (such as it is), and you give up Taft-Hartley and the Railway Labor Relations Act. And then we'll mop the floor with your ass.
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