That’s what I seem to have grabbed when I started this blog. How do you reach out to people in a meaningful way and not take it personal? That’s a tough one. As my last post revealed, I am passionate in defending our rights and freedoms. And while I won’t ignore challenges to my integrity, I don’t want to be distracted by clashes of egos either. I certainly hope that pieces like my last screed are rarely needed. Though I must admit, folks seemed to love the drama of it all.
Now, I suppose I could rail against the night, posting away and inviting no feedback, but what good is that? Sometimes the greatest clarity comes in defending the positions you take. On the other hand, I don’t want my blog to turn into "Southern Indiana Bulletin Board #8719". So, I guess I will have to look for a happy medium. For the most part, I hope to convey my passion while being reasonable and constructive. Then perhaps the comments will be about people building on an idea.
If I can accomplish one thing with this blog, it would be to calm everyone the #%&! down. Look, I freak out about life too. The world seems to be hurtling at us, non-stop, 24/7, but it really is not so bad. I promise you that even if it's not all okay, it will be okay. Okay?
You don’t want a perfect world. You might think you do. The drama around my last post is proof enough. I could have farted around in this blog for months, staring at my own navel, without generating half that much interest. I think it’s natural for us to thrive in response to challenges, and that’s precisely why I am fighting against those who are conspiring to make life idiot-proof.
Don’t get me wrong. If you want to play it safe, you should be able to do so, while accepting all of the restrictions that come with playing it safe. However, it is wrong to foist your personal restrictions on others against their will or make them carry the burden of your risk tolerance – both mental and physical (i.e., allergies, lung disease, etc.).
So, when it comes to choices like exposure to second hand smoke, playing it safe may mean staying home or visiting non-smoking places. Outside of the countless public and private organizations that voluntarily cater to your needs, it is wrong to force private individuals and businesses to guarantee your well being. Some will. Some won’t. Do business with those who will. If a bunch of people can agree to be together, smokers and non-smokers in the same space, that should be their choice. That is called freedom of association. It should apply in business as it does for the individual.
If you choose to be safe (and smart) and wear your seatbelt, why is it necessary for you to force the same restriction on me? Children? Sure… but me? I know, I know, the argument always derails at this point, where it turns out that my increased likelihood of injury costs all of society, even if I am insured or independently wealthy. But most people like me -- we are anti-parasites. We don’t want your handouts. We’ll gladly pay as we go, or go without. We may even prefer dying early to life in a gilded cage, and when we do accept your charity, we expect to look you right in the eye, and pay our respect for your generosity, and never assume that we were entitled to it.
No. I don’t want an idiot-proof life. I don’t want to be denied the pride I feel, in the knowledge that I could have screwed up – but I didn’t, not today… well not too bad, anyhow. Am I glad that there are people in the world who want to take care of me (rather, people who don’t strenuously object to having money deducted seamlessly from their paycheck in order to pay for others to take care of me)? Aaaaahh… Yeah, I suppose. Nice people are, well, nice. If it seems like people are not generous anymore, it is only because they don’t have to be. Our elected officials have largely taken that burden away from us too.
I believe there should be some kind of connection between those giving and receiving aid. That connection can be as simple as empowering individuals to voluntarily support worthy causes, so they have a conscious connection with their choice. I want to do away with a cynical system where this connection is lost and people feel entitled to be supported, with no sense that they have a debt of gratitude to pay to those who support them. Feeling gratitude toward people investing in your present and future is far more empowering than feeling the world owes you something. If we leave people to care for each other instead of working towards a centralized, totalitarian solution that can account for everyone, will people fall though the cracks? Yes, and people fall through the cracks today, exactly because we don’t have a centralized, totalitarian solution – not yet.
But have no doubt. Only such extreme measures can create the idiot-proof world that is dreamt of by so many. Having a safe and peaceful society is not enough; for some, it must be voluntary too. Dream a little dream for me.
Dream of unending challenges to come…
2005-11-30
2005-11-27
Run Your Own Life
This post is a response to a local blogger, NA Confidential (NAC), who commented on a where I was quoted in the Jeffersonville Evening News last Tuesday. This is following the city council's final passage of the smoking ordinance the day before. Here is my quote from the paper and NAC's response:
Dear NA Confidential,
I am responding to your crass comments, not because I see any point in reasoning with you, but because your hypocrisy, cynicism and fear mongering should not go unchallenged. Yours is the standard behavior for bullies, and as such, I will not engage you in ongoing debate. However, I now have my own blog and will continue to make the case for a rational, voluntary society.
First and foremost, I have no intention of offering "evidence to indicate that people in general are capable of running their own lives," as no evidence is needed. Among, the most basic of our rights and freedoms is the right to run our own lives. Rights are not earned by proving our proficiency with them, and the rights of all are not forfeited just because some behave recklessly.
It seems you believe that people in general are incapable of running their own lives – except, of course, you. I take it you are the pillar of our community, and that you are so capable and responsible that your business was among the first to institute a non-smoking policy, thus leading the way and setting an example for others – Not!
Unfortunately, rights and freedoms, like muscle, atrophy when not used. The more that elitists like you "save us" from our inadequacy, the more you create dependency on your institutionalized solutions. I realize that dependency is fine by people like you, whose contempt for the average guy is apparent. For you most people are just idiots, who should shut-up and do what they are told (as long as that includes buying your beer). Sadly, there seems to be an endless supply of those who prefer being told what to do and comply, rather than being accountable for their own choices, good and bad.
Finally, you prey on the fears of those who depend on "the system" by suggesting libertarians wish to kill their sacred cow – as if a culture of intolerance for individual choice and dependency on a welfare state made our country great. I have no wish to replace order with chaos – no libertarians do. We prefer voluntary solutions to compulsory ones. Government solutions are by their nature compulsory and rely upon the threat of force; this makes them anything but noble or charitable. Far too often, our society uses force when force is not needed. This trend is creating an ever more authoritarian society.
We are working to reverse this trend before government becomes so powerful and intrusive that reclaiming our personal autonomy is no longer possible. You see, we have a radical idea: we believe in the inherent goodness of people and trust them to run their own lives.
BTW -- Many of the protesters were non-smokers. Among the 10 or more adult libertarian supporters known to me at the rally, at least 8 were non-smokers like my wife and myself. And while I am sure there were some smokers in the crowd protesting on the basis of a "right to smoke," all of the business owners and libertarian oriented folks were protesting on the basis of property rights.
“I would appreciate anything you can do to turn the power back to the people to run their own lives.”
NAC says: Mr. Singh is invited to present any available evidence to indicate that people in general are capable of running their own lives, at which point we’ll be happy to consider the various Libertarian proposals to dismantle the state and institute anarchy. Until such a time, is it humanly possible for there to be a spectacle more deliciously ironic than chain smokers merrily protesting limits on the spread of their disease-wracked addiction?
____________________________
Dear NA Confidential,
I am responding to your crass comments, not because I see any point in reasoning with you, but because your hypocrisy, cynicism and fear mongering should not go unchallenged. Yours is the standard behavior for bullies, and as such, I will not engage you in ongoing debate. However, I now have my own blog and will continue to make the case for a rational, voluntary society.
First and foremost, I have no intention of offering "evidence to indicate that people in general are capable of running their own lives," as no evidence is needed. Among, the most basic of our rights and freedoms is the right to run our own lives. Rights are not earned by proving our proficiency with them, and the rights of all are not forfeited just because some behave recklessly.
It seems you believe that people in general are incapable of running their own lives – except, of course, you. I take it you are the pillar of our community, and that you are so capable and responsible that your business was among the first to institute a non-smoking policy, thus leading the way and setting an example for others – Not!
Unfortunately, rights and freedoms, like muscle, atrophy when not used. The more that elitists like you "save us" from our inadequacy, the more you create dependency on your institutionalized solutions. I realize that dependency is fine by people like you, whose contempt for the average guy is apparent. For you most people are just idiots, who should shut-up and do what they are told (as long as that includes buying your beer). Sadly, there seems to be an endless supply of those who prefer being told what to do and comply, rather than being accountable for their own choices, good and bad.
Finally, you prey on the fears of those who depend on "the system" by suggesting libertarians wish to kill their sacred cow – as if a culture of intolerance for individual choice and dependency on a welfare state made our country great. I have no wish to replace order with chaos – no libertarians do. We prefer voluntary solutions to compulsory ones. Government solutions are by their nature compulsory and rely upon the threat of force; this makes them anything but noble or charitable. Far too often, our society uses force when force is not needed. This trend is creating an ever more authoritarian society.
We are working to reverse this trend before government becomes so powerful and intrusive that reclaiming our personal autonomy is no longer possible. You see, we have a radical idea: we believe in the inherent goodness of people and trust them to run their own lives.
BTW -- Many of the protesters were non-smokers. Among the 10 or more adult libertarian supporters known to me at the rally, at least 8 were non-smokers like my wife and myself. And while I am sure there were some smokers in the crowd protesting on the basis of a "right to smoke," all of the business owners and libertarian oriented folks were protesting on the basis of property rights.
2005-11-25
First Articles
I am long overdue in starting this blog. There are so many thoughts bottled up in my head looking for an outlet. Recent events around a smoking ban here in Jeffersonville, launched many freedom lovers like myself into action, and this is a good way to build on that momentum.
While I am a libertarian and advocate of self-government, I suddenly realize that I am also conservative, in the sense that I believe in humility. We are all truly blessed. And while I understand that I have skills and talents others don't have, I still feel life is extremely easy for all but the extreme edges of our society. Even that fringe is better off than many children around the world who are grateful for a handful of rice. Instead of gratitude we just demand more, and it is always at the expense of and destruction of choices for others.
People will say that it is easy for me because I had advantages. If you call a work ethic, self esteem, and a sense of accountability advantages, then I would agree -- only families and involved neighbors, out of necessity, can supply these attributes -- no social program will ever suffice. I squandered and rejected every socioeconomic advantage that my father burned midnight oil to give me. I never fit any mold that he or society expected me fit. I have stumbled through life with no real purposefulness, and without trying very hard, I ended up with more than I ever imagined having. This is partly because I was taught to be happy with whatever I have.
Growing up in middle and upper-middle class homes, I learned that creature comforts do not bring happiness and peace; such comforts did not make our home happy or peaceful. Respect for others, responsibility for ourselves, dedication to establishing peaceful and voluntary associations, both business and personal -- these seem be much more important than luxuries like dining out on my own terms.
To start things off, I am including extended versions of letters to the editor that I submitted to the Courier-Journal (Louisiville, KY) and The Evening News (Jeffersonville, IN) regarding the smoking ban. I submitted highly abbreviated, 200 word versions of these articles, and both were published with few changes on Saturday, November 12th, 2005. Despite our best efforts, the ordinance passed, divided along partisan lines and is currently awaiting the Mayor's signature.
__________________________________
... Business Owners Rights
(title of abbreviated version in the CJ)
*** Full version (368 words) ***
Jeffersonville may pass a smoking ban. This shows how our affluent society tends to spoil us. You will upset some folks if you suggest that the issue is not about the rights of consumers. "Of course it’s about MY rights. It’s all about me!" Ask where the property rights of business owners figure in, and it’s like you are suddenly speaking a different language.
We have been so coddled for so long, we mistake luxuries like eating out for rights, so we whittle away at the essential rights of some while imagining new rights for ourselves. We demand to be served on our own terms and never consider that the people who run these places are free too, and are not obligated to do anything in particular for us. To say otherwise is to say people in business are slaves – there to serve our selfish interest.
After the War Between the States, former slaves were promised land in the understanding that their so-called freedom meant nothing without property. That is also why they were later booted off of those lands. Property is the fruit of our labor. To infringe on property is to steal the fruit of our labor and turn us into servants of the state – these are called serfs and slaves.
Most of us are just working folk and do what we are told every day. So what do we care if businesses have to bow to the whims of a few council members? That’s a common view. "Business" is demonized today. Yet, this is not a conspiracy by evil rich corporations to profit from our misery. This ban largely affects small local businesses, run by your neighbors; you will find many of them behind the counters of their restaurants and shops and hopefully at the next city council meeting.
You would not (I hope) come into your neighbor’s home and tell her that she cannot smoke. Please give your neighbor’s business the same respect. Realize you are a guest who is privileged to be served. And if you don’t like the food, or the service or the smell of smoke, don’t go whining to the city like a spoiled child who didn’t get his way.
__________________________________
Enter At Your Own Risk
(title of abbreviated version in the Evening News)
*** Full version (297 words) ***
The Jeffersonville City Council may pass a smoking ban. Supporters will supply all sorts of reasons. They will speak of imagined rights to dining out, while ignoring the essential property rights of business owners. One justification that has real traction is "public health".
Public health justifies forced dumping of fluoride into the majority of water supplies. My brother-in-law, a retired government biochemist, says it is the most successful public health program ever, that it nearly put dentists out of business. Some in the scientific community disagree with the NIH and doubt the safety of this wholesale 1-size fits-all solution. Others say it was fancy footwork to repackage and sell fluoride laden industrial waste while protecting industries from liability claims. It seems odd to dump tons of a highly regulated chemical just to get a few pounds of it to the children who may need it, but I don’t know who is right.
All I know is what is right for me. Public health is a dangerous notion. It lets a few people decide what is right for everyone. They will sound informed and well intentioned like my brother-in-law. And many welcome lifting these burdens off their shoulders. It means not having to live a cautious, informed and responsible life.
Public health removes your responsibility to weigh life’s risks for yourself. From a health standpoint, no one should become a fire fighter. It’s just too risky. But the risk of not having fire fighters is worse. No one’s forced to become a fire fighter and no one’s forced to enter restaurants. We can each vote for non-smoking establishments with our dollars and our feet, without the tampering of the city council.
Think of restaurants with smoke like you would a burning building. Enter at your own risk.
While I am a libertarian and advocate of self-government, I suddenly realize that I am also conservative, in the sense that I believe in humility. We are all truly blessed. And while I understand that I have skills and talents others don't have, I still feel life is extremely easy for all but the extreme edges of our society. Even that fringe is better off than many children around the world who are grateful for a handful of rice. Instead of gratitude we just demand more, and it is always at the expense of and destruction of choices for others.
People will say that it is easy for me because I had advantages. If you call a work ethic, self esteem, and a sense of accountability advantages, then I would agree -- only families and involved neighbors, out of necessity, can supply these attributes -- no social program will ever suffice. I squandered and rejected every socioeconomic advantage that my father burned midnight oil to give me. I never fit any mold that he or society expected me fit. I have stumbled through life with no real purposefulness, and without trying very hard, I ended up with more than I ever imagined having. This is partly because I was taught to be happy with whatever I have.
Growing up in middle and upper-middle class homes, I learned that creature comforts do not bring happiness and peace; such comforts did not make our home happy or peaceful. Respect for others, responsibility for ourselves, dedication to establishing peaceful and voluntary associations, both business and personal -- these seem be much more important than luxuries like dining out on my own terms.
To start things off, I am including extended versions of letters to the editor that I submitted to the Courier-Journal (Louisiville, KY) and The Evening News (Jeffersonville, IN) regarding the smoking ban. I submitted highly abbreviated, 200 word versions of these articles, and both were published with few changes on Saturday, November 12th, 2005. Despite our best efforts, the ordinance passed, divided along partisan lines and is currently awaiting the Mayor's signature.
__________________________________
... Business Owners Rights
(title of abbreviated version in the CJ)
*** Full version (368 words) ***
Jeffersonville may pass a smoking ban. This shows how our affluent society tends to spoil us. You will upset some folks if you suggest that the issue is not about the rights of consumers. "Of course it’s about MY rights. It’s all about me!" Ask where the property rights of business owners figure in, and it’s like you are suddenly speaking a different language.
We have been so coddled for so long, we mistake luxuries like eating out for rights, so we whittle away at the essential rights of some while imagining new rights for ourselves. We demand to be served on our own terms and never consider that the people who run these places are free too, and are not obligated to do anything in particular for us. To say otherwise is to say people in business are slaves – there to serve our selfish interest.
After the War Between the States, former slaves were promised land in the understanding that their so-called freedom meant nothing without property. That is also why they were later booted off of those lands. Property is the fruit of our labor. To infringe on property is to steal the fruit of our labor and turn us into servants of the state – these are called serfs and slaves.
Most of us are just working folk and do what we are told every day. So what do we care if businesses have to bow to the whims of a few council members? That’s a common view. "Business" is demonized today. Yet, this is not a conspiracy by evil rich corporations to profit from our misery. This ban largely affects small local businesses, run by your neighbors; you will find many of them behind the counters of their restaurants and shops and hopefully at the next city council meeting.
You would not (I hope) come into your neighbor’s home and tell her that she cannot smoke. Please give your neighbor’s business the same respect. Realize you are a guest who is privileged to be served. And if you don’t like the food, or the service or the smell of smoke, don’t go whining to the city like a spoiled child who didn’t get his way.
__________________________________
Enter At Your Own Risk
(title of abbreviated version in the Evening News)
*** Full version (297 words) ***
The Jeffersonville City Council may pass a smoking ban. Supporters will supply all sorts of reasons. They will speak of imagined rights to dining out, while ignoring the essential property rights of business owners. One justification that has real traction is "public health".
Public health justifies forced dumping of fluoride into the majority of water supplies. My brother-in-law, a retired government biochemist, says it is the most successful public health program ever, that it nearly put dentists out of business. Some in the scientific community disagree with the NIH and doubt the safety of this wholesale 1-size fits-all solution. Others say it was fancy footwork to repackage and sell fluoride laden industrial waste while protecting industries from liability claims. It seems odd to dump tons of a highly regulated chemical just to get a few pounds of it to the children who may need it, but I don’t know who is right.
All I know is what is right for me. Public health is a dangerous notion. It lets a few people decide what is right for everyone. They will sound informed and well intentioned like my brother-in-law. And many welcome lifting these burdens off their shoulders. It means not having to live a cautious, informed and responsible life.
Public health removes your responsibility to weigh life’s risks for yourself. From a health standpoint, no one should become a fire fighter. It’s just too risky. But the risk of not having fire fighters is worse. No one’s forced to become a fire fighter and no one’s forced to enter restaurants. We can each vote for non-smoking establishments with our dollars and our feet, without the tampering of the city council.
Think of restaurants with smoke like you would a burning building. Enter at your own risk.
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