Like the persuasive Nick Naylor in Thank You for Smoking, David had a way about him that some found charismatic and powerful.* I emphasize some because I was firmly outside that “some” camp when I was working for him. I hated the man. One afternoon I stood up in the middle of a heated meeting, flipped him off, and called him a “cock knocker”. All this with a third-party in the room.

Strangely, I didn’t feel like the hero I thought I would. My reaction to what he said to me was inappropriate. Not because I think calling him a cock knocker or flipping him off are necessarily inappropriate, but because the only memorable argument I brought to the man in our 18 months of working together was something entirely without substance. I regret that.

While we’re on the subject, another opportunity I misdiagnosed and, in retrospect, wasted, was that of the Blackwell family. I remember one day asking Bill Blackwell, “Why are you in business?”. He responded, with a smile, “Because I’m a capitalist.”

I wrote shortly thereafter on this very website that I lost of little bit of respect for him. I don’t know if he ever got wind of that sentiment, but it doesn’t matter. I have nothing but respect for him now. Here is a man whose efforts yield an improvement in the conditions of not only himself, but also his family, his employees and certainly his customers; all individuals whom otherwise may not have received this improvement.

There is, of course, Justin. He, too tried to impart what he had to share. I believe now I missed the majority of his contributions. I thought I knew what was going on. I was smart, but I was acting stupid. Making decisions that felt right according to some garbled notion of “fighting evil”. I’ve grown since then. I’m still fighting evil, but this time I am better informed about its source. I’ve found some things I want to commit to, too. A person. An idea. An enterprise.

Fortune smiles upon thee, Rabbit. Thou hast found a…

* Yes, he was still a jerk, there’s no way around that. But everyone can be a jerk at times.

Some advocates of anarcho-capitalism think that to achieve liberty from government we need to convince a majority or some critical number of people that anarcho-capitalist society will be better for them than governed society.

The porcupine teaches a different lesson – that men will be free from government whenever they become too expensive to govern.

From John T. Kennedy’s The Revolution Will Be All Business.

Trapster.

From an interview with the creator of Trapster:

Pete Tenerillio created Trapster, to warn other motorists of police speed traps, red light and speed cameras, and other wallet hazards.

Trapster also keeps drivers aware of road hazards. Pete saw the need for a driving app that could save you money and keep you safe.

As a steadfast city kid, I appreciate Mr. Tucker’s review on this book’s (pdf) thesis:

… it provides an overview–and a very compelling one!–of the central importance of human freedom in liberating people from poverty, famine, and death. It is striking how the author continues to remind the reader that the “state of nature” is not a blissful oneness with the creator and creation but rather a grim poverty and struggle for survival.

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Bratislava resident renounces American citizenship, becomes stateless person

BRATISLAVA, SLOVAKIA, 10 December 2008 – Citing US war, human rights abuses, rapacious state capitalism and hypocrisy, Bratislava resident Michael Gogulski announced today that he has renounced his United States citizenship and become a stateless person as a means of “political divorce”.

Gogulski, 36, renounced his citizenship on 8 December 2008 at the American embassy in Bratislava, surrendering his US passport and culminating a two-week process and months of personal preparations. He currently awaits a Certificate of Loss of Nationality of the United States confirming his loss of American citizenship. As Gogulski has no other citizenship, he is now a stateless person.

“I was disgusted to be associated through citizenship with the most dangerous gang of criminals in the world, the United States government. Renouncing my citizenship is a means of achieving a political divorce with that vile institution,” Gogulski said. “American politicians extol their state in terms of liberty, human rights, free markets and the rule of law. Examination of the country’s history and present actions reveals nothing but lies and hypocrisy. The genocide of Native Americans, slavery, nuclear slaughter at Hiroshima and Nagasaki, support for brutal dictators, the torture of innocents at places like Guantánamo and Abu Ghraib, the massive robberies for the benefit of big business in the name of ‘rescuing’ the economy, the world’s biggest prison population, the growth of a domestic police state and the brutal wars of oppression underway in Iraq, Afghanistan and Somalia paint a rather different picture. America, via its government agents, is truly exceptional – exceptionally evil,” he stated.

Gogulski says that when he receives the Certificate of Loss of Nationality he will apply to the Slovak Interior Ministry for a Travel Document – similar to a passport – under the 1954 Convention on the Status of Stateless Persons, which Slovakia signed in 2000. He says that he has no plans to leave Bratislava until then, and that he recognizes that his life without citizenship will be more difficult, especially with respect to travel. But, “if the Schengen Zone is to be my cage,” Gogulski states, “I think it’s large enough for me. There’s enough to explore within Europe to last a lifetime.”

On his personal blog, Gogulski indicates that he works as a freelance translator and editor. He also writes about anarchism and supports the revolutionary theory called agorism, which posits that free-market service providers will compete with and eventually supplant states, giving rise to a voluntary society. “Governments pride themselves on notions of ‘equality’ and ‘rule of law’, but fail to apply the same standards to themselves that their subjects must endure,” he says, explaining his political philosophy. “The foundation of state power, taxation, is robbery. That the robbers have fancy uniforms, impressive titles and the sanction of law does not in the slightest way change the basic formula for extortion: pay us, or we will kill you.”

Michael Gogulski’s blog can be found at www.nostate.com.

Might makes right.

Despite the logical prowess of the Austrian School, anarcho-capitalism and libertarianism theory in general, that statement is true.

With eyes wide open, I layed motionless in my bed. The gentle, pulsing glow from my computer provided the only source of light. “Annihilation” by A Perfect Circle played repeatedly.

The power of any social system lies in its mindshare. The flavor of the day, whether freedom or slavery, is subject to the power of might. If I kill you before you kill me, I am in a position of being correct by default; there is no longer a dissenting opinion.

If you disagree with me, I will kill you, too.

Then pen is mightier than the sword.

Given this fundamental understanding, I have a decision to make. To give up my efforts, or persevere.

I choose to persevere. To continue. To spread the ideas. To teach those willing to listen.