While some might describe the tragic events in Ferguson as “anarchy”, in reality, the opposite is true. The situation unfolding is not anarchy, rather it is the predictable result of persistent and egregious state intervention on multiple fronts, writ large.
The twin atrocities of the racist War on Drugs and the Patriot Act have given us police that, while once called “peace officers”, are now increasingly indistinguishable from the military. We now have police utilizing tanks and other military equipment, no-knock SWAT raids, warrantless spying, financially incentivized asset forfeiture – pre-conviction and often pre-charge, unreasonable search and seizure, racial profiling, increasing criminalization of self-defense, thousands of victimless “crimes” and a general lack of any meaningful due process. In this environment of trampled civil liberties, it’s no surprise that the shooting by police of an unarmed young man is the spark that ignites a community that’s had enough.
And while the War on Drugs disproportionately targets men of color, fifty years of the War on Poverty has created an environment that disenfranchises men in their role as providers, creates dependency and erodes the institutions of family and community. Like most government programs it hurts those it was allegedly intended to help. The war on job creators in the form of excessive regulation, taxation and government interference in the right to contract has created a stagnant economy and lost opportunity for large sectors of the populace. While public education spending has doubled in real dollars, students are less prepared than ever for jobs in the real world. Is it any surprise that such an environment results in anger and acts of desperation?
The core libertarian principle is that of non-aggression. No person or group has the right to initiate force against another person or group. The Missouri Libertarian Party condemns the acts of violence carried out against citizens and private property owners by both the police and the looters in Ferguson. We defend the rights of peaceful assembly, a free press and self-defense, all of which have been violated in this incident.
We the people of the Missouri Libertarian Party invite our fellow citizens to step outside the circular firing squad of state-controlled society. Cease to support class warfare, generational warfare, or war on others’ peaceful lifestyle choices or beliefs. War is the health of the state. Liberty is necessary for peace and widespread prosperity.
Contact Name:
Cisse Spragins
Contact Phone:
612-309-9232
Contact Email:
[email protected]
Still disagreed.
Sorry, should have said “on balance the state does nothing but grow.”
I disagree. We can’t do it alone, of course; it will take coalitions on particular issues with people who disagree with us on others.
Also not true. I provided numerous counter-examples on a recent thread.
I want to stop and reverse the insane growth of the state as exemplified by what is happening right now in Missouri, among many other examples.
If we ever succeed in rolling back the state we can see just how far we can roll it back. Not much point in spending a bunch of time arguing about it now when we have much more pressing problems.
Marlon
Answered in another thread. Please keep this one on subject.
pf: Also the really important question that urgently needs to be dealt with is minarchy vs. anarchy, right folks?
me: IMO, that question is completely beside the point. I’d suggest that the better question is whether opportunitistic lessarchism makes more sense that constructivistic min/anarchism, or not? I do. Apparently, most IPR commentors seem more interested in staying the course with the construct approach.
For the powerless, nothing is never really urgent, since the powerless are not in a position to effect change. Ferguson is a symptom that we cannot treat.
None of us has developed a winning strategy, as the state does nothing but grow.
Perhaps the Singularity is our only hope! 😉 Thankfully we can have inner peace if we choose to.
That’s all great but will you do about ISIS where children and Americans are beheaded?
http://www.lpgeorgia.com/blog/militarization-of-police-lessons-learned-in-ferguson-mo/
From: The Libertarian Party of Georgia –
The August 2014 shooting death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo. has once again fanned the flames of anger, frustration and outrage by yet another community in America.
Across the nation the public is witnessing the militarization of our police and the increased awareness of excessive force, shootings and killing of innocent people. While we wait for the shooting investigation to unfold, the Libertarian Party offers insight into the matter.
Doug Craig chairman of the Libertarian Party of Georgia said the state should reexamine law enforcement practices and the militarization of local police force.
“The war on drugs continues to be the main catalyst for the abuse of power and excessive force we see in the streets of this country and state”, said Doug Craig. “From the killing of Kathryn Johnston to the Habersham County baby “Bou Bou” who was brutally wounded to thousands of other cases that rarely make the headline news, the war on drugs has led to death and misery.”
According to Craig, the atrocities we are witnessing undermines respect for law enforcement and breeds distrust. Law enforcement needs the cooperation of the citizens to help protect our property and our lives. A shoot first and ask questions later mentality is not an acceptable practice in this state.
“We recognize that most who serve in law enforcement are dedicated to protecting and serving our community. What we are questioning is the tactics being taught and the lack of accountability that sparked the incident in Ferguson. We also expect accountability for those who riot, loot and destroy property and have denied business owners the ability to conduct business”, Craig continued.
Another concern raised by Craig is the detention and arrest of reporters and others documenting the events as they unfold. The right to peacefully assemble should be allowed without interference from the government. The restrictions of these rights will only lead to more unrest and rioting.
Our Position: The Libertarian Party has long advocated for an end to the failed and dangerous War on Drugs. Twenty-seven Libertarian candidates running for federal office in 2014, and many more running for state and local office across the country, have pledged to end the War on Drugs if elected including both Georgia Libertarian candidates for Senate and Governor by way of Amanda Swafford and Andrew Hunt respectively.
I know, right? It’s scary stuff!
…And I’m an optimist..
Thanks for everything you posted, Paulie. I have been moved to tears.
What the hell has happened to our country???
But by all means let’s blame non-existent anarchy rather than real police statist fascism that’s staring us in the face. Also the really important question that urgently needs to be dealt with is minarchy vs. anarchy, right folks?
Lorie Meacham
August 18 at 4:23pm
Cops Fire Tear Gas And Rubber Bullets On Women And Children In Ferguson Missouri
Police threaten to shoot journalists! National Guard moves in.
National Guard Troops Deployed in Ferguson as Police Threaten to Shoot Journalists
That escalated quickly.
theantimedia.org
Lorie Meacham
August 18 at 7:46pm
In yet another incident on Sunday night, MSNBC’s Chris Hayes was delivering a live report when a police officer is heard yelling: “Media do not pass us, you’re getting maced next time you pass us.”
‘Get the f*** out of here!’ Ferguson cops threaten to shoot, mace reporters (VIDEO)
As tensions continue to mount in Ferguson, police officers were captured on…
rt.com
Write a comment…
Lorie Meacham
August 18 at 7:36pm
A new smartphone app called Sidekik aims to make it as easy as possible for you not only to record the police and upload that recording offsite, but to put you in immediate contact with legal representation to help you navigate the encounter … in real-time.
New Anti Police State App Helps You “See Something, Say Something” in Real-Time
A new app aims to help you record police encounters, upload the information, and provide…
activistpost.com
Lorie Meacham shared Revolution News’s photo.
August 18 at 9:41pm
BREAKING: Riot police in Ferguson attacking crowd with LRAD sound weapon Seems they are going to try and clear the protest again. LIVE http://revolution-news.com/live-video-fergusons-justice-mike-brown-protests/
Revolution News
Lorie Meacham
Yesterday at 2:24pm
“Police in Ferguson have a stock of body-worn cameras, but have yet to deploy them to officers.“
Ferguson Police Have Body Cameras… But Don’t Wear Them
Recent events such as the shooting of unarmed teenager Michael Brown by…
benswann.com|By Rachel Blevins
KKK Arrives In Ferguson to Support Their ‘Hero’ Cop Who Shot Brown, Hate Heats Up
Al Sharpton isn’t the only race baiter to descend on Ferguson to take advantage…
universalfreepress.com
Lorie Meacham
Yesterday at 2:35pm
Statistically, It’s never been safer to be a cop. Instead of hiding behind gas masks, how about putting cops back on the beat and talking to the community? Instead of M16s and grenade launchers, how about dashboard and body cameras.
By the Numbers: How Dangerous Is It to Be a Cop? : The Freeman : Foundation for Economic Education
Despite what supporters of police militarization claim, being a cop doesn’t…
fee.org|By Daniel J. Bier
Lorie Meacham via – Police the Police – (A Community Project)
August 18 at 2:36pm
8-Year-Old Child Hit With Tear Gas in Ferguson
“Tear gas is a chemical weapon that stimulates the corneal nerves in the eyes to cause tears, pain, vomiting, and even blindness. Their use as chemical warfare agents is prohibited by various international treaties, such as the Geneva Protocol.”
http://thefreethoughtproject.com/8-year-old-child-hit-tear-gas-ferguson/
Lorie Meacham via Aarons Nelsons
Yesterday at 5:11pm
Vice Journalist Tim Pool has been bombarded with tear gas, flash grenades, smoke bombs, hit by a rubber bullet and was nearly shot by live gunfire.
War Zone in Ferguson: Police Ripped Off Vice Journalist’s Press Badge and Yelled, “This Doesn’t…
Last night Ferguson turned into a what resembled a war zone.
pontiactribune.com
http://theantimedia.org/constitutional-rights-essentially-suspended-in-ferguson-as-police-raid-homes-door-to-door/
Write a comment…
Mark Christensen
Yesterday at 8:07pm
“Amnesty International has a long and tested history of monitoring and investigating police conduct, not just in foreign countries, but right here at home in the United States,”
Amnesty International USA Calls for Investigation of Police Tactics in Ferguson
As communities across the nation stand witness to the killing of an unarmed African American…
amnestyusa.org
Write a comment…
Lorie Meacham via Revolution News
Yesterday at 7:07pm
“Film it! I don’t give a sh*t. Because you’ll go, and I’ll sure confiscate your film for evidence.”
Police to Al Jazeera journalist near Ferguson: ‘I’ll bust your head’ | Al Jazeera America
Producer Aaron Ernst looks back on an encounter with local police near…
america.aljazeera.com
Mark Christensen
Yesterday at 8:17pm
Former Seattle Police Chief Norm Stamper has made an astonishing political transformation, not only owning up to his own mistakes at the WTO protests, but becoming a staunch advocate of reforming the police and legalizing and regulating drugs.
Seattle’s Former Police Chief Speaks Out Against Police Brutality | VICE United States
Norm Stamper ordered a brutal crackdown on WTO protesters in 1999, when he…
vice.com
Write a comment…
Lorie Meacham via Wave of Action PHX
Yesterday at 3:09pm
Cops kill another man just 4 miles from Ferguson, angry crowd forming.
The cops are so out of control they can’t stop from murder even during this. People killed in Phoenix, St Louis, Los Angeles, and others just this week. They’re just making this spread faster and faster. The police state is driving the nails into its own coffin. Long live the Ferguson insurrection!
St. Louis police fatally shoot man who brandished knife : News
Shooting occurred about 12:30 p.m., police say.
stltoday.com|By Lee Enterprises
Mark Christensen
Yesterday at 10:10pm
“When inquiries were made to law enforcement officers regarding which law prohibits gathering or standing for more than five seconds on public sidewalks,”
“the officers indicated that they did not know and that it did not matter. The officers further indicated that they were following the orders of their supervisors, whom they refused to name.”
ACLU: First Amendment ‘suspended in Ferguson’
Civil liberties groups say police actions have violated the rights of both the press and protesters.
msnbc.com
Weapons fired in Ferguson come from companies supplying Israel, Bahrain and Egypt
When tear-gas was first fired into the streets of Ferguson, Missouri at people…
mondoweiss.net
Mark Christensen
Yesterday at 10:20pm
The situation in Ferguson also headlined today’s editions of Spain’s El Pais, Portugal’s Publico, Denmark’s Politiken, France’s Liberation, and Germany’s Der Tagespiegel, Die Tageszeitung and Die Welt.
Lorie Meacham via An Imminent Rebellion
Yesterday at 10:31pm
A Howard University spokeswoman confirmed that the photo was of Aaten-White, and that the school was aware of the injury she sustained.
Howard University Alumna Shot in Head While Protesting in Ferguson, Missouri
Howard University alumna Mya Aaten-White said she was shot in the head while…
inthecapital.streetwise.co
Mark Christensen
Yesterday at 10:48pm
“I condemn the excessive use of force by the police and call for the right of protest to be respected. The United States is a freedom-loving country and one thing they should cherish is people’s right to protest,” Navi Pillay Human Rights Official
Racial violence in Ferguson reminiscent of apartheid, UN rights chief says
GENEVA (Reuters) – Clashes between police and protesters in the U.S. town of…
rawstory.com
http://thefreethoughtproject.com/ferguson-police-fail-attempt-smear-michael-brown-exposed/
List of 10 reporters arrested so far in Ferguson:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/08/19/1322938/-Ferguson-police-continue-arresting-and-attacking-media?detail=email
Lorie Meacham
22 hrs
These assholes are not even pretending to make sense anymore. Look above at the picture of the arrest of Getty’s superstar photographer Scott Olson. It’s broad daylight. He’s got extensive and expensive photography equipment wrapped around his neck and waist. There is no crowd, so no chaos. He’s got a lanyard with his press credentials. And he calmly told police who he was, and explained his media role.
Mark Christensen
14 hrs
Since Brown was killed, police from both Ferguson and St. Louis County have fired on protesters with rubber-coated bullets, pepper balls, beanbag rounds, tear gas, and other less-lethal ammunition on an almost nightly basis.
http://www.dcclothesline.com/2014/08/20/ferguson-cop-points-guns-journalists-im-going-fing-kill/
Ferguson Cop Points Guns at Journalists: “I’m going to f***ing kill you!”
Posted on August 20, 2014 by Paul Joseph Watson
Other officers forced to intervene during shock incident
Shocking footage out of Ferguson, Missouri shows a police officer pointing his gun directly at protesters and press while remarking, “I’m going to f***ing kill you!”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=8zbR824FKpU
Lorie Meacham
12 hrs
TAKE ACTION, Contact your state rep AND senator and urge them to introduce: http://openstates.org/find_your_legislator/
4th Amendment Protection Act
The 4th Amendment Protection Act would ban a state from taking actions which provide “material support or resources” to warrantless federal spying programs. This includes provisioning of resources, and banning the state from using data…
offnow.org
http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2014/08/20/libertarians-police-and-ferguson-fury/
Lorie Meacham via Kitty Wolf
9 hrs
Amnesty international is removed but the Klan can stay? No wonder they want the Press kept at a distance.
Ferguson Police Removed AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL Observers, Media From Protest Area
Lorie Meacham
11 hrs
Pentagon spokesman Rear Admiral John Kirby today reported that Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel has the authority to unilaterally end a program where the military provides “surplus” war materiel to local police across America.
http://revolution-news.com/nationwide-day-of-rage-aug-21-for-ferguson-schedule-and-locations/
http://www.thenation.com/article/181315/catalog-ferguson-police-weaponry#
A Former Marine Explains All the Weapons of War Being Used by Police in Ferguson
There’s at least one line every Marine knows: “Never point a weapon at anything you do not intend to shoot.” The St. Louis County Police Department apparently never received that memo.
http://www.democracynow.org/2014/8/20/rubber_bullets_tear_gas_and_jail
Rubber Bullets, Tear Gas and Jail: Ferguson Police Crack Down on Journalists Covering Protests
https://cms.fightforthefuture.org/ferguson/
Tell Congress: no more weapons of war for local police.
Because of Ferguson, it’s clear we need to stop technology from being used to silence free speech. Police have brutally attacked protesters and journalists with teargas, rubber bullets, sound cannons, concussion grenades, and military vehicles. We have to draw the line or we risk losing our basic right to dissent. Tell Congress: “Support the ‘Stop Militarizing Law Enforcement Act’ and restore free speech now!”
http://www.aol.com/article/2014/08/19/why-ferguson-police-are-arresting-journalists/20949452/
Lorie Meacham
6 hrs
One thing everyone needs to keep in mind is the cointelpro aspect. A favored tactic of alphabet agencies for many years. Note that most of the looters came from outside ( coincidentally) right around the time Al Sharpton made his entrance and was promptly asked to leave. Also, keep in mind that is the citizens of Ferguson who have been guarding the stores from those same looters.
http://madworldnews.com/group-ferguson-agenda/
http://reason.com/blog/2014/08/20/mentally-ill-killed-by-cops
http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2014/08/veteran-international-war-journalist-arrested-first-time-obama-crackdown.html
http://www.wfaa.com/news/local/Open-carry-advocates-march-in-South-Dallas-272079771.html
pf: It certainly makes a good case against the overreaches of the state.
me: Mos’ def.
Sincere to some extent but it’s like being outraged by summer heat in Phoenix.
And I am not sure what the purpose of using a less commonly known and understood term would be.
If it caught on it would get demonized too.
It certainly makes a good case against the overreaches of the state.
As for statelessness…well, non-state voluntarily organized folks have been protecting businesses from looting and feeding folks, while cops have been ignoring looting, arresting, gassing and threatening peaceful protesters and journalists, and of course sending agents provacateurs into the protest crowds … and putting out new and conflicting sets of lies hourly. Also kicking in dors and generally acting like the cross between an occupying army and a bunch of hoodlums that they actually are.
pf: Of course it is not unexpected but we can still feign outrage – maybe some people will notice our alternative viewpoint on it as a result. Obviously we can’t reach everyone.
me: Good points. Were I an abolitionist, I think the term “stateless” would suit the position best, as it’s harder to twist the meaning. It would simply mean “no government.” It’s still be highly abstract, since it’s hard for most (and me) to imagine NO government in a populated area, and it takes LOTS of imagination to conjure up a lawful, law-abiding configuration that was without some state and some domestic tranquility institutions.
I do wonder if this message reached anyone other than the converted. Ferguson making the case for statelessness…seems like a poor teachable moment. Katrina seemed better.
Was the outrage feigned or sincere? My impression was the latter.
It may dazzle and confuse some people in the meantime.
So where was this story until now? I call BS.
Exactly!
That is exactly what it is.
And they kept it under wraps until now? Does that even start to pass the laugh test?
I guess the cops are hoping for “later.”
Exactly.
I think it was twice in the back and six times in the front, but either way it was from easily far enough away that the officer could have easily used nonlethal means. There appears to have been a final execution “finish off” shot through the top of the head that sealed the deal.
Ferguson PD officers have also been caught threatening to kill journalists, as well as arresting at least ten journalists.
Another questionable police shooting has taken place near Ferguson since the protests have been happening.
Amnesty International has dispatched their first team in a US location and has been removed by the police while the KKK has been allowed to remain.
I doubt this highly. If this was true it would have been touted from the beginning by the cop propaganda machine aka MSM.
The police have already admitted this was a lie in their press conference.
Zero evidence of this.
More bullshit. See reports from multiple eyewitnesses on the scene.
In other words they can’t keep up with their latest lie, while the eyewitness accounts from people who are not professional trained liars (ie cops) has been consistent.
That lie has been exposed, see http://www.alan.com/2014/08/18/ferguson-pd-video-backfires-brown-seen-paying-for-cigarillos/
That’s easy enough; take the obvious BS from police propagandists such as John and Ken to be obvious BS.
Not much point. If one of those terms started catching on it would be pejorativized (is that a word?) just like anarchy.
Of course it is not unexpected but we can still feign outrage – maybe some people will notice our alternative viewpoint on it as a result. Obviously we can’t reach everyone.
Agreed! Although I do like national’s a lot, too.
And for the record:
If Jim Hoft (“Gateway Pundit”) tells you it’s raining, you don’t need to check to see if he’s pissing down your back — you can just assume it with a 99% chance of being right. When he claims to be “reporting” something based on anonymous “sources,” I’ll generally bet money that those sources are his own id, ego and superego.
“The autopsy reveals that Brown was shot six times from the front (and not in the back, as Brown’s friend claims he witnessed).”
The autopsy reveals that Brown was shot six times. At least one of the shots (a forearm graze) could have come from behind (that’s according to the assistant who helped the pathologist conduct the second autopsy — the only claim so far released from “official” autopsy results is that Brown had marijuana in his system).
* The police officer suffered a severe fracture in his eye socket
A claim which nobody bothered to make for 11 days after the incident. And IIRC, it was at least two days after the incident before the police claimed that he had any injuries at all. To put it bluntly, he had plenty of time to have some fellow cops work him over for fake evidentiary purposes.
The eyewitness accounts have been fairly consistent with each other and so far no evidence has emerged which damns or contradicts those accounts.
The police accounts, on the other hand, have changed by the hour, with some versions directly contradicting previous versions.
Did Brown attack the police officer? Maybe he did. But so far those making the claim haven’t proven themselves very credible, believable or consistent.
Anonymous accounts of injuries to the officer are not intended to stand up on the witness stand, they’re intended to taint the grand jury pool so they’re more likely not to indict the officer. Same with the video from the convenience store, the allegations that Brown had marijuana in his system, and the frequent references to his size.
Sure cops lie. But this is not a lie that can withstand scrutiny. Such a fracture leaves behind hard evidence. Medical/hospital records. Doctors/witnesses who treated him. And lingering evidence that future doctors could detect upon examination.
If the cop lied, he wouldn’t be able to pass this story off on the witness stand.
I had that exact bone broken. It is not minor at all–his eye would have been swollen shut for a couple days. I’m amused at your statement: .”So if it’s a lie, it’s bound to come out as a lie, sooner or later.” Where have you been??? Policeman routinely lie and get away with it. Seriously, check out Copblock or Antonio Beuhler’s or even my FB page. You’ll see that cops get away with lying ALL THE TIME. I know we have a couple defense attorneys that read our site. I’m sure they’d back me up on that.
I called it a severe fracture. And if the police are lying about it, it’s a stupid lie. There’d be medical evidence. So if it’s a lie, it’s bound to come out as a lie, sooner or later.
Anyway, here’s one story about it: http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2014/08/breaking-report-po-darren-wilson-suffered-orbital-blowout-fracture-to-eye-socket-during-encounter-with-mike-brown
RTAA: The scenario you describe doesn’t seem to be the way things happened. I’m suspicious that the story keeps changing, as far as the police’s accounting is concerned. As far as the officers’s eye socket being broken–I don’t believe it. It’s taken this long for something that major to come out? Yeah, right. They must have been too busy getting their bridge in the Mojave desert ready for sale.
What exactly is “human nature,” and can it be demonstrated? Seriously. All I see is examples where people organize to commit violence (states or pro-states), fear of the outsider which can be overcome, and a few contrived experiments that are oft-cited but fail to establish what they claim.
Even if, though, human nature is violent, it tells us nothing about the state – except to worry about the fact that governments are composed of humans.
Paulie: “Meanwhile, for the mentally deranged people who think that petty theft justifies summary execution, it appears that upon further review Mr. Brown did not steal cigars…he paid for them.”
I don’t know who to believe in this incident. I keep hearing wildly divergent narratives.
KFI-AM’s John & Ken have broadcast more police allegations this past week (which I assume is also available from other news sources):
* Brown’s friend has now admitted to police that he and Brown stole the cigars.
* The autopsy reveals that Brown was shot six times from the front (and not in the back, as Brown’s friend claims he witnessed).
* The police officer suffered a severe fracture in his eye socket, supporting his claim that Brown fought him and struck him.
John & Ken have suggested the following possible sequence of events, assuming the police statements are accurate:
* The police officer saw Brown & friend walking in the street. He told them to get on the sidewalk.
* As he was driving away, he heard the police radio broadcast the cigar theft. The description sounded like Brown & friend, so the police officer returned to Brown & friend.
* Whereupon the police officer saw what looked like cigars in Brown’s hand.
* Brown apparently realized he was busted. He resisted arrest, fought and struck the police officer in the eye.
* Brown began to run. The police officer ordered him to stop. Brown turned around and taunted the police officer, “What are you gonna do? Shoot me?” Then Brown (who “appeared to be on drugs”) rushed the police officer.
* The police officer was half-blinded, in pain, and disoriented. In this disoriented state he saw the huge Brown charging at him, and fearing for his life, shot at him.
As Tom Knapp has observed, the police narrative has changed several times. But the above is the latest narrative, as filtered through John & Ken.
Happened to see a CNN report that described Ferguson as “anarchy.” When the reporter used the term, I took him to mean “lawlessness,” or “chaos,” or “riotous,” or “a state of disorder due to absence or nonrecognition of authority.”
“Statelessness” as some Ls use the term is a non-standard understanding of the word “anarchy,” and is beyond most people’s ken, I’d submit.
Those who wish to advocate “statelessness” might consider Rothbard’s “nonarchy” or Knapp’s “stateless” to avoid the misunderstand. Consider throwing in the towel on the word “anarchy,” if not the entire notion, aside from employing it as an asymptotic goal.
Or, carry on and get incensed when others use “anarchy” as a pejorative!
I thought it was a fine statement — better even than the LNC release.
As for anarchy leading to rioting and chaos, it can, if the transition is overly rapid. Institutions for maintaining order emerge fairly rapidly though, and tend to work better than state monopolies. For example, in Detroit, non-existent or subpar city services have been frequently replaced by private alternatives that work much better. The same is true throughout much of the developing world. It’s simply a fallacy to presume that a state monopoly is needed to preserve peaceful commerce.
Meanwhile, for the mentally deranged people who think that petty theft justifies summary execution, it appears that upon further review Mr. Brown did not steal cigars…he paid for them.
http://www.alan.com/2014/08/18/ferguson-pd-video-backfires-brown-seen-paying-for-cigarillos/
Luckily we are right on the verge of the greatest evolutionary step ever, so that won’t be long.
Evil thrives with or without a state. The big problem is not the state, but human nature.
We can’t get rid of human nature. We can get rid of the state.
Indeed, I am not convinced that things would be better under anarchy. The Rodney King riots, the Sudan, these are the faces of True Anarchism. A vacuum of order, leading to looting, raping, gangsterism, mafiosi, warlords, etc.
Rodney King, seriously? The aftermath of a man being brutally beaten by government thugs is laid at the doorstep of anarchy? Besides, your laundry list of horrors are all things that exist with the state, and there’s no evidence to suggest that they would be any worse without it.
I know real anarchism doesn’t match the paper definition found in books. But neither does real communism match its paper definition. But hypocritically, many libertarians insist that anarchism by judged by its paper definition, but communism be judged by Stalin and Mao and Castro.
Communism doesn’t even sound good on paper, at least not to anyone with even a basic grasp of economics.
When someone tells me they believe in “true anarchism,” they may as well be telling me they believe in “true communism” or in Middle Earth. It’s all fantasy.
I feel the same way when I hear people talk about “limited government” (a pipe dream if there ever was one).
langa: “You’re right. The state does not cause evil. It merely enables and institutionalizes it.”
You’re right too. “Merely” is indeed the correct word.
Evil thrives with or without a state. The big problem is not the state, but human nature.
Indeed, I am not convinced that things would be better under anarchy. The Rodney King riots, the Sudan, these are the faces of True Anarchism. A vacuum of order, leading to looting, raping, gangsterism, mafiosi, warlords, etc.
I know real anarchism doesn’t match the paper definition found in books. But neither does real communism match its paper definition. But hypocritically, many libertarians insist that anarchism by judged by its paper definition, but communism be judged by Stalin and Mao and Castro.
When someone tells me they believe in “true anarchism,” they may as well be telling me they believe in “true communism” or in Middle Earth. It’s all fantasy.
You’re right. The state does not cause evil. It merely enables and institutionalizes it.
Steve Scheetz: “If anarchy broke out it would be no need for guns there would be no need for violence because people would be peacefully coexisting with each other.”
Anarchy does not lead to peaceful coexistence. Anarchy simply means no government. It does not follow that eliminating the State will lead to an outbreak of unicorns singing kum-bah-yah.
Some libertarians have this bizarre view that the State is the root and cause of all evil. It’s not. Human nature is. Violence, looting, and thuggery will exist so long as humans exist.
Cisse has been a hard-working state chair for the last four years, building a great affiliate.
Bravo, LPMO. Excellent response.
Sorry we had to send you Al Sharpton.
This is a great statement. I’m glad to see this from a state party.
A good press release.
One thing I’d like to point out about looteres. I’ve read several reports of local protestors trying to stop looters and protect local shops. But even more I’d like to point out that looting does not have a racial component. Here in WA state we had a huge wild fire, and while on a food break firefighters confronted a truck of men who were crusing areas where the houses were still standing b ut abandoned, so that they could loot them. And after the landslide north of Seattle earlier this year there were peole arrested in the damaged area attempting to loot an abondoned house. I think most often it is criminals who take advantage of social disruptions to pillage for qucik money.
If you find anything else please let us know. And thanks for this one.
I think Cisse is a great state chair. I know Rick Vandeven also had a statement about this but I have not been able to find it online. He is our candidate for the Congressional 8th district.
Robb Cunningham is our candidate for the congressional 1st. I am not aware if he issued one himself. More than likely he let Cisse do the talking. Kelly Owens has taken photographs and video of the activities of Ferguson. She is a true warrior for Freedom.
I am not aware of anything negative happening at the state fair booth this year. I believe we had four candidates this year working the booth.
The police/military persona has been a hot topic for candidates. I hopes others are prepared to answer as well as Cisse did.
I like this release. Great stuff!
If anarchy broke out it would be no need for guns there would be no need for violence because people would be peacefully coexisting with each other.
What is actually happening is a battle between people and a group of Jack booted thugs who have been ordered to enforce the will of government.
Pushing back against this is not anarchy, pushing back against this is what should be expected by any armed group trying to force its will on people who would rather be free.
Sincerely,
Steve Scheetz
I’m glad to see the state party take a stand!
Nixon has called on the National Guard. Al Sharpton gave another “Justice” speech at a Baptist Church yesterday. Autopsy confirmed that Brown was shot six times in the front.
Nobody is going to “win” this one.