The president and his official henchmen hold meetings behind closed doors to decide over coffee which unlucky souls around the world, including American citizens, should be targeted for elimination. The result of these meetings is an official “kill list,” and everyone on it, all without any benefit of due process, becomes a target for assassination. Barrack Obama, the president of the United States, has the final say as to who is going to die! This practice is nothing more than pre-meditated murder by fiat.

According to Wikipedia:

A death squad is an armed military, police, insurgent, or terrorist squad that conducts extrajudicial killings, assassinations, and disappearances of persons as part of a war, insurgency or terror campaign. These killings are often conducted in ways meant to ensure the secrecy of the killers’ identities, so as to avoid accountability.

Death squads are often, but not exclusively, associated with the violent political repression under dictatorships, totalitarian states and similar regimes. They typically have the tacit or express support of the state, as a whole or in part. Death squads may comprise a secret police force, paramilitary group or official government units with members drawn from the military or the police.

It is quite obvious that the United States government is fully and openly sanctioning death squads, and is practicing extrajudicial killings in order to advance its political agenda of perpetual war. This is being done officially, has been made “legal” by the government, and the assassinations are being carried out by the U.S. military, other government related agencies, including of course the CIA, and private contractors.

Let us consider some of those totalitarian rulers in history that have resorted to official murder as an everyday practice.

Joseph Stalin had death squads, which today would be similar to the military drone teams used to execute those targeted by the Obama administration. These death squads under Stalin’s orders were responsible in a short period of time for the deaths of over 7 million; 3 million of those were children. Eric Margolis wrote about these atrocities in his article, Stalin and the Ukrainian massacre. The U.S and others, including U.S. allies, knew of these mass killings, but turned their backs to this butchery. The official state orders given to the NKVD secret police were carried out without question.

Obviously, the U.S. kill teams have not reached the huge numbers of those murdered by Stalin, but the concept and mission are very much alike. And who is to say what will happen in the future given that this government has purchased 2 billion killing rounds of ammunition for domestic use, enough to kill each and every citizen 6 times.

Under Hitler during the preparations for the German invasion of the Soviet Union, the Einsatzgruppen, special mobile killing units, had the mission of “combating all anti-German elements in hostile country behind the troops in combat.” That meant targeting individuals and entire groups, including Jews and communists, for summary execution. They were the most cold blooded killers of the time. This is similar to what the Obama administration is doing with its kill list, and subsequent assassinations without benefit of any due process.

Death Squads have been prevalent in Central and South America for a long time, and many of those killing events were due to U.S. involvement, whether in support of brutal dictators, in its illegal war on (for) drugs, or for other political reasons. The CIA and U.S. military have been a part of and trained these squads since the 60s. Brazil, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Guatemala, Ecuador, as well as many other countries, had sanctioned killing, and kill lists were used by those in power to target political enemies for extermination.

Although this is just a very short list indeed, it does put in context the company Obama is now keeping. Many if not most in this country will take offence with any comparison of Obama to brutal dictators of the past, but that will in the end be a fatal mistake on their part. Killing is killing, and murder is murder, regardless of who is doing it. When those in positions of power conduct secret meetings regularly so as to arbitrarily decide who is to be assassinated, then a heinous crime has been committed. Obama does not hide the fact that his office is sanctioning these murders, and recently NBC News has exposed a government memo, or White Paper that is titled “Lawfulness of a Lethal Operation Directed Against a U.S. Citizen who is a Senior Operational Leader of Al Qa’ida or An Associated Force.”

This memo outlines the criteria that the White House uses in order to justify when it can target an American citizen for killing. The reasons stated are simply that any American in the world can be assassinated if they are (or thought to be?) either a senior operational leader of al Qaeda, or an associated force. This leaves open the option for the Obama administration to kill any American citizen it desires, all without any due process of law. In other words, official criminal murder, this no different than similar operations prosecuted by brutal dictators in the past!

The current preferred weapon of choice for the Obama administration’s assassinations is the unmanned aerial drone. Killer drones are currently being used by the United States military and CIA in many parts of the world, including Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen, and Somalia, but they are most likely being used in many other countries as well. With worldwide killings to accomplish, there are no limits to drone deployment. To make matters much worse, 30,000 drones are expected to be in the skies of the United States by 2015, so that should make it much easier to target and assassinate American citizens who happen to end up on Obama’s kill list. Am I an “Associated Force” because I am critical of the U.S. government? Are you?

We now live in a country where the political class has totalitarian powers. With the stroke of a pen, the Obama administration now claims the “right” to detain indefinitely anyone on earth, including Americans. It claims the “right” to torture and rendition those who are being held against their will. And now, this heinous government is claiming the “right” to kill anyone in the world, including any American citizen, on the say so of one tyrant, and all without benefit of any due process.

Make no mistake, with this absolute power, and the complete control of the police and military, the Obama administration, and those who follow, will do whatever is necessary to protect and advance that power. In addition, the militarized police and the military itself, if given orders, will shoot Americans on sight!

When a president has unlimited power to arbitrarily kill anyone on earth, has the power of a military and paramilitary force, and has the power to send death squads anywhere he chooses to, all under an umbrella of “legality,” a totalitarian and tyrannical governing system is already in place. The next step domestically will be a substantial increase in police state tactics, and finally Martial Law!

Gary D. Barnett [send him mail] has been a financial advisor for 25 years, and now resides and works in Lewistown, Montana. Visit his website.

Copyright © 2013 by LewRockwell.com. Permission to reprint in whole or in part is gladly granted, provided full credit is given.

In Montana where I live, the options for “health” insurance are not very competitive, and some years ago, the least expensive plan I could find was with Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Montana. This would never have been my first choice, but at the time, I had little option. I have a $5000.00 deductible major medical plan. This is a very basic plan, in that it has no bells or whistles, dental, or any additional coverage.

I will preface the rest of my statements by saying that virtually no claim of any substance has ever been filed. We are very healthy individuals, and very health conscience, and only visit the doctor when absolutely necessary. And of course, any costs incurred are paid directly out of pocket, not by the insurer.

With that said, the premiums have increased dramatically every single year; averaging from 10% to a little over 20% depending on the year. This year however, things changed substantially. In the letter I just received, the premium went up by 39% in one year! That increase was well over $4,000.00 annually. To put this in context, if this continues at this same rate of increase for just four more years, my premium would be around $60,000.00 per year; an impossible situation.

The reason given by the insurance company for this massive increase:

“Your renewal rate was primarily based on an assessment of all the medical claims by all the individuals enrolled in this plan.”

This is bogus, and I think it impossible that claims increased almost 40% in just one year, even with the passage of Obamacare.  But once all the mandates, subsidies, penalties, and monstrous tax increases take effect in that socialistic atrocity, all bets are off. So what are the real reasons for this astronomical increase in premium?

I could speculate, and then would be faced with a never-ending debate. I could write about the current insurance climate, the structure of bogus groups, of government mandated coverage present and future, of new regulations, of tax and price increases in health care, in government subsidies funded by individuals and companies, and on and on. Besides being boring, the absolute truth of the matter would go unanswered, because all these things and more are the problem.

The bottom line is that this country is headed toward a completely socialized single payer “health care” system. At this point, that is not arguable. Unfortunately, my situation is not unique, and things will only worsen from here.

The system is purposely designed as a disincentive for those of us who choose to be self-reliant and self-responsible for our own care. We are being pushed out of the so-called private market, so that the state can take full control, and fully socialize the system. The advantage here is the government’s, because when it fully controls the country’s health system, the populace at large will be more dependent than ever before on the government. This gains for the government a huge amount of power over the individual. In turn, the individual will suffer greatly, and the quality of care will disintegrate.

Just looking at a few of the changes that will take place over the next few years is eye opening. The Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) is already law, and the implementation of mandated changes will continue to take effect for the next several years. These new rules, regulations, taxes, subsidies, and mandates, should serve to enlighten any who doubt the economic devastation that this will cause. A brief timeline is telling.

In 2013:

• Medicaid payment rates to physicians will be increased, and can be no less than 100% of Medicare rates, and states will receive 100% federal taxpayer funding to cover costs to meet this requirement
• Annual limitation on contributions to Flexible Spending Accounts will begin
• A new excise tax of 2.3 % on medical device manufacturers begins
• The elimination of certain deductions for employers takes effect
• Income threshold for claiming itemized deduction for medical expenses will increase by 33%

In 2014:

• Insurance companies prohibited from not insuring any due to pre-existing conditions
• New federal insurance regulations begin
• New taxes and tax credits, including a mandate that all obtain health insurance coverage (This insurance mandate has very low limits, and the rest is subsidized)
• The employer mandate and penalties begin
• The individual mandate and penalties begin
• Federal premium subsidies for insurance begins

In 2018:

• A 40 percent tax on high-cost, employer-sponsored health plans begins. The tax falls on plans worth more than $10,200 for individuals and $27,500 for families.

Many things have already taken effect, such as:

Keep in mind that these are only a handful of federally mandated changes that have or will take place in healthcare over the next few years. There are many, many more changes as well, and all will be destructive to business, to the economy, and to most individuals, especially those who do not fall under the umbrella of welfare takers. Unemployment will go up due to these mandates, and employers will be forced to make drastic changes. In addition, the costs will be so prohibitive that any who choose to insure privately will most likely be priced out of the market.

Given the recent increase in my premium, and given the changes coming over the next few years due to Obamacare, what should be expected? I can tell you, much higher costs, long waits for life-saving medical procedures, and much lower quality medical care in general will be the result. That is where we are headed, and all, even those who are parasites on the system, will be adversely affected in the long run.

I plan to self insure, but with the extremely high medical costs today, and much higher costs on the way, what will it take to prepare for those major medical situations? How will most react when they can’t get the care they need to survive? Canadians now come to the U.S. for major or timely procedures, but where will they go in the future? Where will Americans go?

The political system in this country has brought us to this place, and the voters who support that system have been a major part of the cause. Nothing in life is free, and when the masses expect everything to be supplied by government at the expense of their neighbors, including healthcare, then all will suffer.

Get used to it, for those who choose theft as a way of life, even if government thugs on their behalf perpetrate that theft, will eventually reap what they sow!

Gary D. Barnett [send him mail] has been a financial advisor for 25 years, and now lives and works in Lewistown, Montana. Visit his website.

Copyright © 2012 by LewRockwell.com. Permission to reprint in whole or in part is gladly granted, provided full credit is given.

~ Charles Bukowski

Voting is a fool’s game. Many might find that statement offensive, but considering our plight, I can’t imagine why. There are so many who have been fooled into thinking that voting is a sacred right, and one that guarantees freedom. The opposite of course is the case. The fooled among us seem completely willing to embrace this ruse; thus allowing the many to continue to be ruled by the few. The result then of voting in this country is oligarchy, making it one of the most worthless endeavors of mankind.

Voting (politically speaking) on its very face is immoral. Men of character cannot argue this, for voting pits one against another; this the desired effect sought by those who seek power. Voting allows for some to determine the fate of others, a fate that can only be accomplished by the use of force. Because of this truth, voting is the destroyer of freedom and liberty, not the protector of it.

Even in the very best of situations, voting is still an unmitigated failure. The fact that any simple majority of individuals (mob) can determine an outcome that adversely affects the minority (mob rule) is against all natural rights. In the United State today, all who vote harm others so that they might benefit. By voting, they are also sanctioning theft of private property at the point of a gun, and the redistribution of that property to those who did not earn it. In addition, those who vote legitimize all that governments do, including drafting unjust laws, waging aggressive wars against innocents, torture, progressive taxation, indefinite detention, assassination of American citizens, destruction of our money, and massive debt; only to name a few.

It is telling to compare how those who believe in freedom and liberty think about voting as opposed to those who do not. The powerful political class, the rulers and totalitarians, “think” (say) that voting is sacred, while those who love freedom understand the truth. This contrast is evident in these few quotes:

Political rulers:

The vote is the most powerful instrument ever devised by man for breaking down injustice and destroying the terrible walls which imprison men because they are different from other men.

~ Lyndon B. Johnson

Voting is the most precious right of every citizen, and we have a moral obligation to ensure the integrity of our voting process.

~ Hillary Clinton

I regard voting as the most sacred right of free men and women.

~ Ronald Reagan

Freedom lovers:

Individual rights are not subject to a public vote; a majority has no right to vote away the rights of a minority; the political function of rights is precisely to protect minorities from oppression by majorities (and the smallest minority on earth is the individual).

~ Ayn Rand

What ass first let loose the doctrine that the suffrage is a high boon and voting a noble privilege?

~ H. L. Mencken

A man is none the less a slave because he is allowed to choose a new master once in a term of years.

~ Lysander Spooner

Many libertarians think that voting is acceptable only if one votes for someone other than those in the two major parties, or someone who is a Democrat or Republican that is accepted by a majority of “libertarian type” individuals. I disagree with this thinking entirely. I disagree because even if a good man might run for high office, regardless of who wins, every single vote cast legitimizes not only the outcome, but also the very flawed political system itself. This is not an option to my way of thinking, because libertarianism is based upon individual rights, and when voting is evident, the individual is abandoned.

Because voting supports the system, those who vote are obligated to accept the results. To accept the results means to accept the system, and to accept the system, means to accept what that system produces. What is produced in the governing system in the U.S. is based upon theft, coercion, police state force, and imprisonment, all for political gain. The laws of the land written by those elected officials in this same system support this criminal activity, so by voting, one’s ability to complain is eliminated. I do realize that this is the reverse of how many think, but it is the only logical position to take.

In my mind, not voting is the only way to denounce entirely the current political system, and to not give consent, implied or otherwise, to its evil ways. By not voting, the message sent is so much more powerful than by joining in with the lemmings in their march to the polls in an attempt to satisfy a futile quest for false security at the expense of liberty. Voluntaryism is a better way.

Most all in this country are indoctrinated from cradle to grave to worship the “sacred right” to vote. On election day, they wear their “I Voted” stickers proudly, displaying them for all to see. Those who choose not to participate in this illegitimate charade are ridiculed and shunned. The brain washing has been very successful, and the masses are always ready to join the herd. This herd mentality is evident simply by a looking at this Rasmussen Report I highlighted in a past LRC article about voting. That report showed that 83% believe that one person’s vote really matters. Pathetic does not begin to describe the gullibility of the American people, and their attitude toward voting for one evil or another.

The false belief that one vote counts, or that any semblance of freedom and “just governance” can be accomplished by voting, especially in a country with over 300 million people, is based on ignorance. Have we become freer due to political elections, and the choosing of those who make the laws and reign supreme? Absolutely not! I can say with authority, that in every election since I was born, and before, the government has become more powerful, more tyrannical, and more authoritarian. Individual liberty has been nearly destroyed, and State aggression has become the rule.

The problem in this country today is that all elections have winners and losers, but in every election, the politicians always win, and all the rest of us always lose. Obviously, voting guarantees that one or another politician wins. It is a rigged game for sure, so all should stay home this election. There are so many better things to do in life than to vote for one or the other evil, especially when that evil will be your master! As I have said before, if no one voted, no one would be elected, and what a wonderful world that would be!

Gary D. Barnett [send him mail] has been a financial advisor for 25 years, and lives and works in Lewistown, Montana.

Copyright © 2012 by LewRockwell.com. Permission to reprint in whole or in part is gladly granted, provided full credit is given.

~Lysander Spooner

I have in the past written about the folly of constitution worship here and here, but the widespread belief by most Americans that this document grants us our rights, and that it also is meant to protect our freedoms, is in my opinion absurd.

Natural rights, or any rights for that matter, are inherent due to our very humanity. Our right to life and liberty, whether one believes that those rights come from God or not, can never be bestowed by men. For if men can bestow rights, then they are not rights at all, because they can just as easily be taken away. To believe then, that a group of men that some call “founders,” could with the stroke of a pen grant rights to another group of men, is ludicrous.

Our rights to life and liberty are evident from the time of our very existence. These rights encompass all others, for without the right to life, and the freedom to sustain and protect that life; no other rights could possibly exist. Pieces of paper secretly drafted by politicians in the dark of night cannot give or protect rights, as those same politicians, or those who follow in their footsteps, could arbitrarily change the rules at any time of their choosing. For any set of rules to be valid, they first have to be accepted voluntarily by the individuals involved, and actively defended at every turn. But today, those individuals affected rely on a small group of corrupt politicians called “representatives,” to act in their behalf, instead of taking responsibility for their own lot in life. That, in my opinion, is a recipe for tyranny.

As I see it, the U.S. Constitution is one of the most misunderstood documents in history. Even though it is filled with contradictions, it is accepted and revered by most all in America. As I have said many times in the past, it is literally worshiped in this country. This attitude has obviously gone unrewarded, but it is also telling of the success of the indoctrination process that has been going on for the past 200 plus years.

The most prevalent belief it seems is that the constitution somehow miraculously limits the power of government. One reading of Article 1, Section 8, should dispel such nonsensical thinking. The first three clauses of that article alone should scare the living daylights out of any who believe in such a thing as limited government.

Clause 1: The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States;

This clause alone negates any notion of limited government. This gives Congress an unlimited power to tax, something that was not possible before the drafting of the constitution. It gives Congress an unlimited power to provide for the common defense. It gives Congress an unlimited power to provide for the general welfare. With no limits mentioned, and language this broad and sweeping, it is no wonder that the massive abuse of power in this country has been evident for so long.

Clause 2: To borrow Money on the credit of the United States;

Once again, there are no limits whatsoever mentioned concerning the borrowing of money by the federal government, and that borrowed money is a direct obligation on the tax-paying citizen.

Clause 3: To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes;

Of course, there has been much heated controversy concerning the Commerce Clause, but is it any wonder? Given this broad language allowing for the federal government to regulate all commerce, and without limits, why is it surprising that the control over commerce has been centrally monopolized? Why should the government be able to regulate any commerce, let alone all commerce?

Constitutional “experts” will generally argue that the founders’ intent was to limit government power. This is an empty argument. Had any real intent been to limit power, the language would have been extremely restrictive, and all powers and terms thoroughly defined. Article 1, Section 8, could never have existed if limiting power was sought. Instead, no limits, regardless of what those drafters of the constitution said in public or in other papers, are obvious, because they spelled out few if any restrictions on power in the actual governing document itself.

Many of these same experts look to the Bill of Rights for answers, but have those amendments ever protected us, and are they protecting us today? The answer to this question should be clear.

The other troubling clauses of Article 1, Section 8, are the war powers. Again, these powers are unlimited in nature. While the supporters of the constitution rant about restrictions on war making and standing armies, none are present, including the toothless two-year spending restriction. (Clause 12) And when war and standing armies are present, freedom is not.

Clause 11: To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water;

Clause 12: To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of Money to that Use shall be for a longer Term than two Years;

Clause 13: To provide and maintain a Navy;

Clause 14: To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval Forces;

Clause 15: To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions;

Clause 16: To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining, the Militia, and for governing such Part of them as may be employed in the Service of the United States, reserving to the States respectively, the Appointment of the Officers, and the Authority of training the Militia according to the discipline prescribed by Congress;

In case all these unlimited powers were not enough to allow the federal government complete control over the entire country and its citizenry, and all military forces and actions, Clause 18 was added to put the final nail in the coffin of freedom. It states:

Clause 18: To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof.

This single clause solidified the idea of unlimited government. It is in stark contrast to any notion of the confinement of governmental power.

Constitution worshipers once argued that only Congress could declare war, but given Clause 18, and its meaning is clear to me, Congress can “make any law necessary” so as to execute any power. I take this to mean that Congress can transfer its authority to any other department of government at its discretion. Obviously this has happened many times in the past, as no Congressional declaration of war has occurred since World War II, but perpetual war has been the rule. Today, Congress simply authorizes the executive branch the power to go to war, and when Bush attacked Iraq in 2003, most every conservative supported that position, as did the courts. The question now is not whether or not Congress has to declare war, but can a president launch a war without congressional approval. Oh what a tangled web they weave.

Many of the so-called founders spoke eloquently about the importance of not allowing standing armies. They said they feared that possibility, but were they being honest?

“When a government wishes to deprive its citizens of freedom, and reduce them to slavery, it generally makes use of a standing army.” ~Luther Martin, Maryland delegate to the Constitutional Convention

“A standing army is one of the greatest mischief that can possibly happen.” James Madison

Alexander Hamilton also warned in Federalist Paper no. 8 of the danger to civil society and liberty from a standing army, but there is no restriction mentioned in the constitution concerning standing armies. There are no specific rules or exceptions listed concerning the use of standing armies. Why is this, if freedom and limited government were the goals? There is however, specific language allowing standing armies. The real intent of the founders is clear. It is not hidden, and it is not secret; it is there for all to see.

No, the constitution did not grant any rights. It does not protect our natural rights. It was never meant to do so, and the drafting and implementation of that document did little other than vastly increase the power of the federal government over the states and the people. As I stated in a past writing:

The constitution allowed for the usurpation of power by the executive branch, it allowed federal courts to approve and sanction authoritarianism by the government over the people, it allowed for legalized forcible theft by the federal government in the form of taxation, and it allowed the federal government both the ability to collect taxes for war, and to also prosecute those wars. These egregious powers given by the constitution to the central government are completely antithetical to liberty, and should never have been considered by any men of character.

Those seeking freedom and liberty must look to themselves for answers, not to a very flawed piece of parchment. Individual sovereignty is key if liberty is desired. It is apparent that those who came before us, those called the “Founders,” especially the federalists led by Hamilton, were simple men, nothing more. They were not saints, and they were not givers of rights, as our natural rights pre-exist all men. Until this is understood, most will continue to rely on those they mistakenly call “leaders” for answers. For freedom to truly exist, the only leader necessary is self.

Gary D. Barnett [send him mail] has been a financial advisor for 25 years, and now resides and works in Lewistown, Montana.

Copyright © 2012 by LewRockwell.com. Permission to reprint in whole or in part is gladly granted, provided full credit is given.

In days gone by, war was a time of gathering together, of celebration, of waving flags and parades. It was a time of praying for victory; it was a time of unbridled patriotic fervor. The streets were filled with parents and loved ones ready to send their own off to their death for the glory of the cause! Dreams of medals and high honor ran high, as the soldiers began their journey into the fields of battle with the single-minded hope of being triumphant in their glorious adventure of maim and slaughter.

The hard reality is that never was any war glorious or deserving of celebration. No U.S. war has ever been warranted or necessary in my opinion, and no war has ever been fought by those in this country for self-defense or for “national security.” In fact, the only things secured by wars are the coffers of the banks and war-dependent corporations, the government’s advancing power structure, and graveyards.

While wars are not as broadly celebrated in today’s America as they once were, probably due to the fact that they are never ending, those who prosecute wars are celebrated. They are cheered on, thanked for their “service,” and paraded around their hometowns when they return without arms and legs.  Most every sporting event showcases the military, have fighter jets flying over the stadiums, and giant flags are proudly displayed on the battlefields of these mock gladiators. Songs of war are sung, and hands are placed on hearts all across this land. It is a most pathetic display of nationalism!

One of the most troubling aspects of this worship of killing is that it is practiced in many so-called houses of God. This is a contradiction almost beyond description. Many churches across the land, and many so-called Christians take a backseat to no one when it comes to supporting the troops and the wars they fight. They fill the pews, and pray that their side be victorious in battle. They pray for the defeat of those warred against, and pray for their death. They pray for the armies to stand strong, and never relent in their effort to destroy the enemy. They pray that God be with the troops, and that God be on our side!

Mark Twain’s “The War Prayer” is a most appropriate description of the despicable behavior practiced by those who pretend to be holy, and who at the same time worship aggressive wars of destruction and death.

“O Lord our Father, our young patriots, idols of our hearts, go forth to battle — be Thou near them! With them — in spirit — we also go forth from the sweet peace of our beloved firesides to smite the foe. O Lord our God, help us to tear their soldiers to bloody shreds with our shells; help us to cover their smiling fields with the pale forms of their patriot dead; help us to drown the thunder of the guns with the shrieks of their wounded, writhing in pain; help us to lay waste their humble homes with a hurricane of fire; help us to wring the hearts of their unoffending widows with unavailing grief; help us to turn them out roofless with little children to wander unfriended the wastes of their desolated land in rags and hunger and thirst, sports of the sun flames of summer and the icy winds of winter, broken in spirit, worn with travail, imploring Thee for the refuge of the grave and denied it — for our sakes who adore Thee, Lord, blast their hopes, blight their lives, protract their bitter pilgrimage, make heavy their steps, water their way with their tears, stain the white snow with the blood of their wounded feet! We ask it, in the spirit of love, of Him Who is the Source of Love, and Who is the ever-faithful refuge and friend of all that are sore beset and seek His aid with humble and contrite hearts. Amen.

I was taught that all on earth are made in God’s image. I was taught the Golden Rule. I was taught that life is sacred, and that we should love our neighbor. None of us are perfect, but why do so many wish harm on others? Why do so many revel in the slaughter of our fellow human beings? Why do so many cheer on the battle? Why do so many applaud when the bombs rain down? Why do so many pray to God for unmerciful war?

In the United States, war has become a constant. War is a part of our everyday lives, and it is difficult to even imagine peace. A better way is to be unable to imagine war!

The evil controllers of this country, and their military are waging many wars today. Many more are being planned. None are warranted, and none are necessary. All are criminal. Will this madness ever stop? Will the killing ever end? Can human decency ever replace the wanton desire for the carnage of war?

War is evil. It is the essence of darkness. It is immoral. It contradicts all that is right. War is ungodly because its aim is the destruction of mankind. War is unholy, and God is not on our side!

Gary D. Barnett [send him mail] has been a financial advisor for 25 years, and now resides and works in Lewistown, Montana.

Copyright © 2012 by LewRockwell.com. Permission to reprint in whole or in part is gladly granted, provided full credit is given.

~Leonard Peikoff

The mind of the collectivist is empty and pitiful, and has not the ability to think on its own.  It has no uniqueness; it has no individual personality. It does not create, nor does it possess any sense of self. The collectivist mind can’t possess these virtues because it is only a very small cog in a wheel of the group. It is but a speck in the midst of a mob. This is the story of America today, as collectivism runs rampant and individualism is shunned.

This is a rather harsh truth about the dramatic decline of individualism, of individual thought, critical thinking, and self-responsibility. It is an admission that once sane minds have all but disappeared from view, and philosophical degradation has been the result. Because of this mass escape from personal responsibility, moral, physical, political, and economic corruption has become the norm, and now this corruption is all encompassing.

When collectivism takes hold, individual rights naturally disappear, and mob rule policies take root. This policy transformation of course, is affected by the state. The progression from a system that is based on individual self rule and individual sovereignty to one of community or nation is not in the interest of freedom and liberty. When any political system is in place, this negative progression is easily achieved nonetheless. Only peaceful anarchy allows for the individual to be truly sovereign. Only when the state is absent can freedom flourish.

Ruling “elites” crave this merging of individuals into a societal tumor, because this cancer destroys the power of individual thought. The result of this diseased system can lead only to consensus and compromise. It can lead only to corruption. Consensus leads to no real decision at all, and the following compromise is nothing more than a mass combining of ignorance. When political policy is decided in this manner, it serves only to limit the individual’s ability to achieve.

While freedom is a natural right of man, it is difficult to obtain, and even more difficult to keep. It requires that the individual be self-responsible. Apparently, many if not most in this country today, have chosen to follow along with the crowd instead of listening to the beat of a different drummer. They have chosen to be dependent sheep in the collective flock. This is unfortunate, and in my opinion, it has destroyed any idea of real liberty in this country.

Why do people choose to run with the mob, to exist in a mass? They do so because it is the easiest path with the least amount of resistance. They do so thinking they are bettering their lot in life. They do so because they are afraid, and seek to gain a false safety. They do so to shirk personal responsibility. They do so to hide from the truth. They do so to hide from themselves.

In the United States today, virtually everything is decided by the few, but with the implied consent of the mob. The U.S. political system has major aspects of socialism and fascism, and is certainly an oligarchy, but most have the misguided notion that the mob is in charge. This is due to a belief by the masses in the farce of voting. Voting gives the false impression that the voters themselves are in control, but nothing could be further from the truth. In essence, those voted into office as “representatives” of the people, are fully controlled by very powerful interest groups, and these groups are the real rulers. This is a very flawed system, but it is one that gives the false impression that the majority rules. That is simply not the case, and even if it were, it would still be immoral! This system is accepted and embraced by the crowd, but in reality, why should anyone rule over anyone else, majority or not? How can freedom survive in a place where one has the power to rule over another? I can tell you, it can’t!

As Butler Shaffer pointed out in the past in his great article titled Collectivist Utopias:

“All political systems are socialistic, in that they are premised upon the subservience of individual interests to collective authority.”

This truth goes unnoticed by the masses, mainly because they have been fooled into thinking that they are free, when in fact their lives are virtually void of any individual thought or authority. This is a sad state of affairs, but it is the reality in America today. Without the individual, real freedom cannot exist, so collectivist societies based upon the common or greater good of all, are destined only to end in slavery to the state. This has proven to be true throughout history.

The collective “we” has been brainwashed into believing that self-interest, self-responsibility, and self-sufficiency are not in the best interest of the group, but just the opposite of course is the case. This brainwashing has been accomplished through a long indoctrination process that is still firmly in place.

Consider the government’s “public” school system, where most every child in the country is taught the same nonsense for most of his learning years, and is indoctrinated throughout childhood to love first his community, state, and nation.

Consider the worship for a constitution that gave massive and in some cases, unlimited (not limited) power to a federal government, and lessened greatly the importance of the individual in favor of the “general welfare.”

Consider the reliance on government welfare by the people via the multitude of social programs that are meant to make dependency on government almost mandatory.

Consider the mindset of the “99 per centers” that aim to force the so-called 1 per cent to be more inclusive, fair, and responsive to the group.

Consider the mob’s acceptance of a heavy and progressive income taxation used as a way to equalize outcomes by redistributing private property for the so-called benefit of all.

Consider “public” lands or “public” anything.

Consider the idiotic term, “giving back.”

Consider today’s strict concentration on race, class, society as a whole, community, state, and nation, all more important than the individual.

Consider the mass acceptance of the National Anthem and the communistic Pledge of Allegiance.

Consider the constant call “for the greater good of society!”

Collectivism, as a political ideology, thrives on the idea that force by the state should determine how those in the mob can benefit at the expense of others. It allows for the collective to force policy decisions that serve to dictate how each individual must live his life. It has no respect for private property. It attempts to destroy self-responsibility, self-reliance, and self-interest. It puts the mob, whether that is the community, the state, or the nation, above all else. It relies on the elimination of individualism, all for the so-called benefit of society as a whole. Collectivism is then, the epitome of immorality, of dishonesty, and of exploitation.

Unless a man has talents to make something of himself, freedom is an irksome burden. Of what avail is freedom to choose if the self be ineffectual? We join a mass movement to escape individual responsibility, or, in the words of the ardent young Nazi, “to be free from freedom.”

~Eric Hoffer

Gary D. Barnett [send him mail] has been a financial advisor for 25 years, and now resides and works in Lewistown, Montana.

Copyright © 2012 by LewRockwell.com. Permission to reprint in whole or in part is gladly granted, provided full credit is given.

What service is actually being praised by those conditioned to say these empty words? Why are they thanking and praising nearly every soldier they see?

• Is it because hatred of the U.S. is increasing, and new enemies are being created in the Middle East and all around the rest of the world?
• Is it because thousands and thousands of innocent people are being killed now in places like Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Libya, Syria, Yemen, and many more are being threatened?
• Is it because 20,000,000 to 30,000,000 foreigners, mostly innocent civilians, have died just since World War II due to U.S. interference and war?
• Is it because indefinite detention without due process, torture, assassination, and rendition are now common and accepted practices?
• Is it because suicide rates among American soldiers have increased 80% since the Iraq War began?
• Is it because mental problems now send more military personnel to the hospital than any other cause?
• Is it because destruction and separation of military families is rampant?
• Is it because civil liberties have all but disappeared due to so-called terrorism legislation? (terror legislation would be more accurate)
• Is it because of the creation of the USA PATRIOT Act, Military Commissions Act, NDAA, TSA, and Department of Homeland Security (DHS)?
• Is it because of the massive buildup of killer drones abroad and at home?
• Is it because the huge deficit spending to support multiple aggressive wars is causing economic chaos?
• Is it because of the surging number of double amputees of American soldiers?
• Is it because of increasing energy costs due to the United States unwarranted presence in the Middle East region?
• Is it because the domestic police have now become a brutal militarized force, bent on controlling the entire population?

I could of course go on, but the picture is clear. Those who continue to believe the propaganda about all U.S. wars leading to the protection of freedom, and to our national security, are blinded by ignorance, and consumed by pathetic false patriotism. No U.S. wars have ever served the purpose of freedom; they have only served to destroy it.

Due to these wars of aggression and occupation, our freedoms are virtually non-existent today. We are spied upon, tracked, searched without warrant, sexually assaulted, and radiated. There are now checkpoints in many parts of the country where it is demanded that we “show our papers,” and killer spy drones are filling our skies. Government agents and the military are patrolling all U.S. borders, and Blackhawk war helicopters sporting heavily armed soldiers hanging on tethers are flying over our cities.

Because of these wars, the government has gained enormous power, and continues its assault on liberty. A police state environment has taken hold, and if not curbed soon, will lead to Martial Law in the near future. The DHS has purchased enough killing ammunition to murder more than twice the population, and on the say so of one man, Americans can and are being assassinated. Why?

In order for our national security to be defended, we first have to be attacked. That has not happened. In order to protect freedom here at home, all foreign wars must cease, and all the government agencies and “terrorism” legislation created since 9/11 should be abolished immediately! Every U.S. base on foreign soil should be closed, and every troop stationed in another country should come home and enter the private sector. At least that would be a good start.

There is a reason that the young are sent as cannon fodder to die in the wars of the politicians, bankers, and corporations. They are less likely to challenge the orders they are given; orders meant to be obeyed regardless of the immoral nature of those demands, and regardless of the horrible consequences they will most certainly face. Those who “serve” do not serve the people who falsely praise them; they only serve one master, and that master is the nation state and its benefactors. It is not “we the people.”

Thank you for your service? Absolutely not! We can’t afford any more of this kind of service!

Gary D. Barnett [send him mail] has been a financial advisor for 25 years, and now resides and works in Lewistown, Montana.

Copyright © 2012 by LewRockwell.com. Permission to reprint in whole or in part is gladly granted, provided full credit is given.

Government is always an instrument of force, as government has nothing, creates nothing, and produces nothing; it only steals from those who do. Therefore, politically based government should be avoided at all cost. Unfortunately, this has rarely happened in history.

Although government is controlling and brutal in its efforts to remain in power, it can only retain that power over the rest of society given that the majority consents to be ruled. In many instances, this consent is simply implied.

In order to gain the consent or implied consent of the people, the state uses many strategies that are steeped in lies and deceit. Government’s most important and necessary strategy for retaining control is fear. Fear mongering therefore, is a constant weapon in the arsenal of the state. For if the people were not afraid, they would have little use for government’s continuous assault on their liberty. Fear is a most powerful driver of emotions, and the illusion of safety a most coveted prize of the sheep. Rulers, whether elected or not, fully understand the importance of using fear tactics and the illusion of safety as weapons against the people. The desired effect is to at once purposely intimidate the population at large, while allowing for a state manufactured rescue. The result is an acceptance by the citizenry of less freedom for an imagined safety.

To achieve these ends, the state has to create false enemies. In order for this strategy to be successful, one individual has to be pitted against another; one group against another group; one nation against another nation, and so the deception goes. This strategy is nothing new, but it has been forever effective. It is the strategy of divide and conquer, derived from the Latin saying, Divide et impera, which may refer also to divide and rule.

This divisive agenda takes on many faces, and planned divisiveness and dissension is found virtually everywhere, this due to the stirring of the pot by political agitators. Consider white versus black, heterosexual versus homosexual, Christian versus Islam, men versus women, rich versus poor, and Republicans versus Democrats. Consider Wall Street versus Main Street, citizen versus immigrant, and the U.S. nation state versus the Middle East. As George W. Bush said after the 9/11 attacks, a statement meant to divide if ever one was uttered, “Either you are with us or you are with the terrorists.”

Most are aware of this great divide in our country, but most don’t understand that much of it came about by design. Division leads to separation. Separation leads to weakness. Weakness leads to serfdom, which of course is slavery!

Those who seek to rule understand this concept very well, and use it in order to gain more power. Those in power control the mainstream media, and that media is a willing accomplice in the spread of hate. John C. Danforth once said:

The loudest voices we hear are those who advocate conflict, divisiveness.

This is a true statement, and it should serve to alert all to the fact that those who scream the most, those who spread fear, and those who would seek a platform to pit one against another, are nothing more than wolves in sheep’s clothing. The U.S. government is just such a wolf, and constantly seeks to spread fear and hate among us.

It is government that should stand in fear of the people. Government is afraid of an educated and intelligent populace. Government is threatened greatly by self-responsibility and self-reliance. Government becomes impotent in the presence of peace. Government cowers when confronted by a unified people. Government loses control when the people know the truth.

But this government is not afraid. It is not impotent. It does not cower. It has not lost control of its power. It is a monster!

So long as “we the people” continue to accept the government’s plan for us, so long as the hate continues, so long as most continue to live in fear, so long as unholy war continues unabated, and so long as Americans hide from the truth, our future will be predestined. If we do not alter that now probable destiny, only a life of lost hope will remain!

Government is in the last resort the employment of armed men, of policemen, gendarmes, soldiers, prison guards, and hangmen. The essential feature of government is the enforcement of its decrees by beating, killing, and imprisoning. Those who are asking for more government interference are asking ultimately for more compulsion and less freedom.

~Ludwig von Mises, Human Action [1949]

Gary D. Barnett [send him mail] has been a financial advisor for 25 years, and now resides and works in Lewistown, Montana.

Copyright © 2012 by LewRockwell.com. Permission to reprint in whole or in part is gladly granted, provided full credit is given.

My questions would not concentrate on any racial implications because that should be irrelevant, and because the untimely death of anyone, regardless of color, is always a tragedy.  So why is almost all the coverage based on white versus black or black versus white?

I would ask, why should the color of one’s skin matter, and why should any greater importance be placed on such a shallow and obvious race-related conclusion? Aren’t we all the same in that we are all human beings? Aren’t we all born with the same natural rights? Don’t we all live on this earth together? Do any of us have any say as to where we are born, or what color we are? Do any of us deserve more favorable consideration simply due the consequences of our birth and heritage? Would race be such a big issue without the agitators, the politicians, and the media’s continuous stirring of the pot of hatred of one group over another? In the scheme of things, is one man’s life worth more than another man’s life, simply due to the color of his skin? Only the truth should matter, except for those with an agenda, and something to gain from the pain of others.

What is really happening here? Is this story real or is it staged? What happened is real, but those who wish to gain something from the death of this young man have staged most of the rest. Those I speak of are not interested in finding out the truth, and they are not interested in the deceased or his family, they are only interested in themselves and in gaining an audience.

Who are these parasites? They are all different colors, and they are from the left and from the right, but they are all the same. They are users, and they are users with an agenda. Regardless whether they are in the media, in politics, or just agitators looking to cause a racial divide among us, they all come out for the cameras, and for the notoriety they seek.  They are much like scavengers who seem to gravitate to any place where they are assured they can gain attention and cause trouble.

And of course, the president himself, Barrak Obama, the king of all politicians, also came forward to speak to the nation about this particular incident. His words and gestures were the epitome of agenda driven politics. As usual, his phrases were carefully chosen, and delivered in such a manner as to invoke false pity. He even made the comment: “My main message is to the parents of Trayvon Martin. You know, if I had a son, he’d look like Trayvon.” With this statement, he placed himself, metaphorically speaking, into the Martin family, while at the same time using the death of this young man as a political ploy to raise his poll numbers. What a narcissistic display by this pathetic political performer!

There are on average about 15,000 murders in the U.S. each year, with about half of those due to gunshot wounds. Many more deaths occur for other reasons every day, but Obama chose this single case to take on personally, and spoke about it to the entire nation. Why just this one incident? Why did he not feign sympathy for any of the many other deaths that occur in this country? Why does he not feign sympathy for the deaths of those innocents murdered overseas by American forces, forces that he commands?

Obama’s hypocrisy here is beyond the pale, and is beyond the imagination of any moral thinking person. This president has taken the aggressive wars started during the Bush administration, and dramatically expanded the carnage. He has presided over more aggressive interference and war in Egypt, Pakistan, Libya, Yemen, and Syria, while threatening Iran and other countries. His regime and its military have murdered thousands upon thousands of innocent civilians in the Middle East. The recent attack in southern Afghanistan by a U.S. soldier was a literal slaughter of families, including little children while they slept. All this, but not a whisper of real sympathy was ever forthcoming from Obama about any of those deaths, except in the form of ‘blood money’ to pay off those relatives of slain family members in Afghanistan.

In October of last year, Obama boasted of the assassination of an American citizen, Anwar al-Awlaki in Yemen. Two weeks later, the assassination of al-Awlaki’s 16-year-old son, an American citizen, took place, and his 17-year-old cousin, and nine other young innocent people died in that deliberate attack. Al-Awlaki’s son was the third American purposely murdered by the U.S. government in this two-week period. None were given any benefit of trial or due process, and no sympathy was forthcoming.

Does Obama really care about the deaths of innocent people, including children? Apparently, he wants the masses of apathetic state worshipers (voters) in this country to think so, or why would he specifically choose the Martin boy’s death as his personal cause? There have been many thousands of deaths of civilians overseas, and there are over 14,000 murders that occur in this country every single year, but he chose only one to speak about. Why?

The answer of course is obvious. This is pure hypocrisy! But it is not just hypocrisy, but also political grandstanding used for Obama’s personal gain, this at the expense of the truth.  What in the world has become of humility, real sympathy, sensitivity, morality, and honesty? What has become of love for one another? What has become of sanity? I can tell you that none of these things exist in the White House, and none exist in most of the mainstream media.

All those who would use a “convenient” death to benefit themselves at the expense of others, who would attempt to advance an agenda of hate, and who would use their position to do these things, are calculating and without principle.  I concentrate on Obama here, not because he is alone, but because of his powerful position. His behavior, behavior that is also shared by those who support him, and those who would act as he acts, is beyond contempt, and should serve as evidence of the continuing decline of this society!

Gary D. Barnett [send him mail] has been a financial advisor for 25 years, and now resides and works in Lewistown, Montana.

Copyright © 2012 by LewRockwell.com. Permission to reprint in whole or in part is gladly granted, provided full credit is given.

As a libertarian, I continually struggle with the widespread acceptance, and in many cases, love of war by Americans. Since I detest aggression, I therefore despise war. The only legitimate force that is acceptable in my opinion is that for self-defense of life, liberty, or property, and self-defense should not allow for any use of force that extends past defense to aggression. It is irrelevant to me whether one’s defense is protected individually or collectively, so long as the non-aggression principle is followed.

I was reminded of the lack of understanding of morality, and the lack of any adherence whatsoever to any idea of non-aggression or compassion, when I listened to the testimony by the Secretary of Defense, Leon Panetta, during a hearing held by the Senate Armed Services Committee recently. The questions and testimony seemed to concentrate not on any just cause for continuous wars, or on war itself, but on who gets to make the decision to go to war. I came away with the distinct impression that there was no concern at all for those being sent to die, or for those foreigners being killed, but only for those on high who get to claim the glory for the slaughter!

Just today in the news was the story of a sergeant in the Army who methodically murdered 16 innocent civilians in southern Afghanistan. After he shot and killed these people in their homes, 9 of which were children, he proceeded to pile their bodies, and burn them. President Obama and Leon Panetta expressed their condolences, and of course promised investigations. They also said, with unmitigated audacity, that this “incident” does not represent the “exceptional character” of our military. This statement is beyond pathetic, and is without conscience! No apology for an immoral war of aggression was forthcoming, but only a statement lauding the murderers themselves! These people are not fit to represent anyone, and are complicit in all these barbaric acts!

What Panetta said in the senate hearing was revealing about the mindset of a dictator or king, and exposed the Obama administration’s lust for absolute power. In reality, the same could be said about most any presidential administration, especially those to come in the future, as the expansion of executive power is continuous and ongoing. His comments were staggering to say the least. He basically said that the president could wage war, commit troops, and build foreign coalitions, by gaining “legal” authority from international bodies. He said that this could be done “legally” without the consent of Congress. This particular statement is incorrect, but could it not be in the future?

Of course, the constitutional worshippers who immediately came forward, may have had a point, but both sides were fighting about the same thing, waging war, and who gets to make that decision. Nothing was discussed about the immorality of wars of aggression, and that is very telling.

The increase in the power to wage war by presidents has been around a long time. What is considered the First War Powers Act was the War Powers Act of 1941 signed by Roosevelt, but that was not the first time that war powers increased. The “legal” authority today to wage war is not gained from any direct constitutional authority, or congressional declaration, but from the War Powers Resolution of 1973, which was supposed to be a “restriction” on the power of the executive to wage war. That has hardly been the case.

The power to declare war according to Article 1, Section 8 of the constitution rests only with Congress, but no declaration of war has been evident since WWII. Today, the War Powers Resolution of 1973 is an accommodating tool for both the Congress and the executive branch when it comes to the authorization for waging aggressive wars. The 1973 document allows Congress to simply give an “authorization” for war instead of using a formal declaration of war. This gives them political cover, while vastly enhancing presidential power. George W. Bush used this to his advantage as his so-called constitutional grounds for his aggressive wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Conservatives accepted and applauded his claim proudly, but they were being very deceitful in that approach.

To understand the massive constitutional power that Congress holds over waging war, one only has to read the war powers given in Article 1, Section 8, of the constitution, including the all inclusive final words in that section. It says that Congress has the power:

To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof.

The powers given to Congress concerning war in the flawed piece of parchment called the U.S. Constitution are broad and immense, and don’t define the reasons necessary for war, but only the power to raise armies and declare war. In addition, Congress can make any law necessary to execute its powers! This was and is an open invitation for abuse, and that abuse has been with us for a long, long time. Given the above language, can Congress simply make any laws it chooses to, without constitutional amendment, to affect its intent concerning war? Can it legally transfer it obligatory duty concerning war to another branch of government? Will Congress in the future draft another resolution to turn the power to make war over to international bodies, as it did when it transferred that power to the president?

The bottom line is that regardless of the so-called “legal” authority, all U.S. wars are wars of aggression, which means they are immoral, unholy, and murderous. They are waged for purposes of imperial conquest, for power, to steal or control the natural resources of other countries, and to enrich all those government supporters who are dependent on warmongering, such as government contract corporations, and the big banking sector. While most don’t want to hear this, it is the truth of the matter, and that by any standard is an evil truth!

The United States has become the poster child for imperialism and perpetual war, and now stands as the single most powerful nation on earth. It is that lust for power that has driven public policy for over 100 years, and now is expanding almost beyond imagination. Millions of innocents have died, and tens of millions have been displaced from their homeland due to U.S. aggression.

War is hell, as the old saying goes, so why do so many support war and those who prosecute them? Why are all those doing the murdering considered heroes to the masses in this country? Why do soldiers follow orders to kill, when that killing is unjustified? Why are American flags constantly waving, and why is the national anthem, a celebration of war, always sung at every local and national event? Why do so many pledge their allegiance to a flag, an allegiance that is the communistic epitome of worshiping the state regardless of its actions? Why do Americans love war?

The prosecutors and benefactors of war are the lowest among us. They are the politicians who gain massive power with every conflict. They are the parasites that lobby for war in order to gain profit. They are the central banks that supply the capital for war. They are the military that builds its ranks in the presence of war. They are the complicit citizens who swell with pride in the presence of death, and revel in the glory of battle.

War is the health of the state; it is not the health of a nation of free individuals. War always leads to less freedom, not the other way around as so many falsely believe. War is devastation and sorrow. War is the destruction of families and innocent lives. War is death and maiming. War is torture. War is terrorism. War is murder. War is immoral and unholy. War is without mercy.

Is war worth the lives of your sons and daughters? Is war worth the lives of your friends? Is war worth the torment and anguish that is brought on loving families? Is war worth the carnage? Is war worth a lifetime of tortured minds? Is war worth all the orphaned children left with nothing? Is war worth the mass graves of innocent unknown souls? Is war worth anything? No! What is it good for? Absolutely nothing!

Copyright © 2012 by LewRockwell.com. Permission to reprint in whole or in part is gladly granted, provided full credit is given.