Greetings! My name is Don and I just turned 40. I'm married, with 4 kids. We're living in Ogden, Utah. Strongly considering moving :). Just began my mid-life crisis at the end of 2008 when a friend recommended I check out Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand. Been studying philosophy ever since.
I've been spending the last 16 or so years frustrated that nobody else had a problem with how isolated and inefficient our adult lives were. I even wrote up some rules and guidelines for a community to live together. I called myself a communist (always laughing), because that was the only term that came close (in popular definitions) to the kind of cooperative living I wanted. A little over two years ago I ran into the Free Capitalist Project and soon learned to despise the acceptance of the ideas represented by both "communism" and "utopia". I also learned how to turn my brain on and approach a mental state closer to full consciousness. Its fun! I've been trying to wake up more each day and catch clearer and longer glimpses of reality. I was fully converted to the idea of fixing the government by whittling down the extra baggage and was preparing to run for local office.
Then I started to understand why people are so isolated. It wasn't until I got a letter in the mail this Spring, from our nice neighbors at the Ogden City Government declaring that because I had salvaged some old evaporative coolers I wanted to fix up and had them in my yard, that they would like us to give them $100.00 or so and get the coolers out of our back yard, that I began to suspect the validity of the statement that governments are established to protect us. I didn't pay the fine, but I didn't know what else to do. The fine climbed up to $3000.00 before we got a summons to court. When my daughters asked one day why we had to go see the judge and why they wanted $3000.00, I told them that it was because our back yard (fenced and very private) was messy for a few months. Abby (6) said, "Dad, is this in real life?"
I realize that our isolation isn't simply a defense against a hostile organization–we're pretty good at ignoring others naturally. I ran into Marc Steven's stuff on a referral from a friend who was interested in traveling and didn't think he needed a license from the state to do so. I have since bought a couple of scripts from Marc and am looking forward to giving not only the moral defense I had prepared, when I go to court on the 6th of next month, but in that defense not really being necessary because of the bullet-proof legal defense I now have access to.
I'm realizing that Rick Koerber (freecapitalist.com) had nailed it when he identified the principles that dollars follow value, people are assets, productivity is the standard, group action gives no moral authority, and force destroys freedom. What I never suspected until I found Marc's No State podcasts was that every human interaction should be voluntary. Further, I'm still jumping out of my skin with excitement over the implications of what it really means to give my consent, and of the power of other people's consent. It's the foundation for avoiding war! Anyway, this is probably way more than anyone wanted to know, but I'm just "jazzed to be on the show" (favorite Galaxy Quest line).
I heard an add for your little community there in NH and I had to see what was going on. I love New England, and have some friends there. I'm looking forward to finding a lot more. Hope all of you get a chance to check out these sources of information:
Atlas Shrugged (book by Ayn Rand)
No Treason (essay by Lysander Spooner)
13 Principles of Prosperity (lecture series by Rick Koerber–here is the first in the series: http://www.freecapitalist.com/media/podcasts/fcr_080519_podcast.mp3 )
Discourse on Voluntary Servitude (here is that link: http://tmh.floonet.net/articles/laboetie.html )
Keep up the good work, folks, and I'm happy to participate in any way I can. I'm glad to find others whose minds have wandered the same paths as mine and gone a whole lot further.
first! Hehe, just kidding.
Welcome! I hope ur situation works out for you. It's good to meet others like you.
Hey there - great intro!
I'm a fan of Marc's but remember, his road is not a guarantee of anything. All he can do is corner the robed man with questions. That doesn't mean the robed man will not lash out to attempt to hurt you. Be prepared for what the consequences may be of taking his approach.
It seems like a lot of us here have stories like that; sounds like you'll fit right in. 