Hi. I'm just this guy, y'know?
You can find out more about me at 11at40.com or indomitus.net possibly. Or hunt me up on Facebook or something.
The nickname comes from a course I took in 1989. "Productivity, service, and well-being" was the name of the course, which gives you an idea of the new age psycho-babble aspects. But I thought it was worthwhile, and enjoyed the sessions with my classmates.
One of our first exercises was to discuss our purpose in life. When it was my turn, I said "My purpose in life is to make humanity a multiplanetary species, for fun and profit." Yes, I had thought about it before, many years before.
The teacher who led our class was taken aback. After a moment she said, "Wow. Jim. That's so…planetary!" And I've been planetaryjim ever since.
No, I'm not in the country. For reasons of my own, I got out a few months ago.
Yes, I'm interested in free places to live. Since my Space Travel Services venture was busted on false (and malicious) charges in 1991, I've been looking for a free country where I can build up a business and then go build hotels on the Moon.
To paraphrase Davy Crockett, "You boys can all go to hell. I'm going to the Moon."
Welcome to the forum!
Welcome
Just read The Moon is a Harsh Mistress. Welcome!
Thank you all for making me welcome here.
The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress was one of my favorites. I'm about to read it again. Lots of good revolutionary "stuff" in there.
Welcome Jim!
Welcome! ;D
I take it from your profile that you’re in Bavaria? Why’d you choose there?
Luna City here I come!
[quote author=J’raxis 270145 link=topic=1740.msg19121#msg19121 date=1255555998]I take it from your profile that you’re in Bavaria? Why’d you choose there?[/quote]
Where there is freedom, there is my country. Ubi libertas, ibi patria, as James Otis and others said during American Revolutionary times.
[quote author=planetaryjim link=topic=1740.msg19954#msg19954 date=1256174777]
Where there is freedom, there is my country.
[/quote]
So why is it freer?
[quote author=Jay link=topic=1740.msg20022#msg20022 date=1256232653]
So why is it freer?
[/quote]
I was kinda wondering the same thing.
Aloha, planetaryjim.
Lance
[quote author=Jay link=topic=1740.msg20022#msg20022 date=1256232653]So why is it freer?[/quote]
I have not said that it is freer. I have said that I am at home where there is freedom.
What causes a person to be free? Are you made free because some politicians have passed some laws that "grant" you freedom? No. Your freedom does not come from politicians.
Are you free because your country has a constitution with a bill of rights which guarantees your freedom and actually, functionally limits government? No. Your freedom does not arise from constitutions nor other documents. Such documents do not actually limit government in any way. At best you might be able to compare the present actions of government with the limits outlined in the constitution and call shenanigans. But doing so in times of great "patriotic" fervor such as the months immediately following 11 September 2001 won't get you much comfort.
In point of fact, your president, who is presently a constitutional scholar who taught constitutional law at the posh University of Chicago, has said that he has power to detain anyone indefinitely without charge, without trial, without benefit of clergy, without counsel, and without the great and ancient writ of habeas corpus. Your country's president has had his CIA and his military torture prisoners to death - at least 48 that we are sure of, probably 100 that we have heard about, and possibly thousands more. So, to be candid, if you are expecting freedom from your president, your expectations are going to be disappointed.
Many centuries ago, a very intelligent guy wrote a book which is often referred to as the Discourses on Voluntary Servitude. His name was Etienne de la Boetie. You can easily google up his book, which is free online at Project Gutenberg and at other sources. I would strongly encourage you to do so.
In this little book he wrote about tyranny. France, at the time, was a monarchy, and the monarch was a tyrant. But Etienne did not think that the tyrant had enslaved everyone. Rather, he pointed out, the tyrant is just one dude. Just this guy. Quite ordinary. It is not the tyrant who spies on everyone. No, it is the people who spy upon each other, who think they gain temporary advantage by ratting out their neighbor, by getting a fink's fee for false testimony.
It is not the tyrant who beats prisoners to death, but people he hires. He has not fists enough to thwart the freedom of everyone. So it is the people individually and severally who provide the fists, the eyes, the armies, the bureau-rats to do all the things that tyranny requires.
It is no different today. Nothing has changed. The tyrants are less visible, and their puppets pretend to work the will of "the people" but it is all pretense and theater. Anyone can see the puppeteers, the marionette strings, the mock voices, the lips moving. (How do you know when a politician is lying? His lips are moving.)
So how do you become free? From suffering that the beasts themselves would not tolerate, you can free yourself simply by saying so. All you have to do to be fully free is to claim your freedom.
But, what of the tyrant? Don't you have to end tyranny and oppression to be free? No, you don't.
You should withdraw your consent and withhold your support. Doing so will bring down the tyrant, because as more and more people see how easy it is to do, as Etienne pointed out all those long centuries ago, the tyrant will have less and less support. It is not necessary to put your hands on the tyrant and push him over. Simply withdraw your support and he will topple, like a statue whose pedestal has been removed.
What makes a man a slave? His consent. You cannot be enslaved unless you are willing.
Of course you can be killed. But you cannot be forced to do anything unless you agree. You can be beaten in the effort to make you agree. I've been beaten. I've had eleven bones broken by a group of pigs. But I don't agree to serve.
Yes, they can kill a free man. But, no, they cannot make him a slave. Only he can do that.
My recommendation is that you free your mind. Free yourself. I cannot make you free. Moving to Bavaria, or away from it, cannot make you free. If you are free, you are free wherever you are. If you aren't free, no amount of running around will shed your chains.
It might be that a fuller explanation is in order. I invite you to read my 2003 essay, "The Morpheus Proposal" and consider it alongside my more recent update, Morpheus Reloaded.
http://indomitus.net/morpheus.html
http://www.ncc-1776.org/tle2009/tle540-20091011-06.html
Perhaps then you will realise the obviousness of the truth. After all, it is not the government that gets bent. Only yourself.
I'm with you on the freedom is a state of mind concept, but your response to "why Bavaria?" referenced freedom. Hence the curiosity.
He may have referenced freedom, but I think it has more to do with beer.
Sounds to me like it’s Bavaria because Bavaria simply isn’t the U.S. (or some even more authoritarian place like North Korea or Cuba).
[quote author=J’raxis 270145 link=topic=1740.msg20765#msg20765 date=1256971278]
Sounds to me like it’s Bavaria because Bavaria simply isn’t the U.S. (or some even more authoritarian place like North Korea or Cuba).[/quote]
You are welcome to speculate, but since freedom of expression, self-defense, and retaliatory force are not allowed on this forum, you won't have me around to confirm or deny anything you imagine.
The simple fact is that I don't care to discuss with anyone where I am or why I choose to be where I am. It is not any of your business now, it never was, and it never will be.
[quote author=planetaryjim link=topic=1740.msg20873#msg20873 date=1257039698]
[quote author=J’raxis 270145 link=topic=1740.msg20765#msg20765 date=1256971278]
Sounds to me like it’s Bavaria because Bavaria simply isn’t the U.S. (or some even more authoritarian place like North Korea or Cuba).[/quote]
You are welcome to speculate, but since freedom of expression, self-defense, and retaliatory force are not allowed on this forum, you won't have me around to confirm or deny anything you imagine.
The simple fact is that I don't care to discuss with anyone where I am or why I choose to be where I am. It is not any of your business now, it never was, and it never will be.
[/quote]
While a great many members of this forum are in Keene and putting it on the line … you want your anonymity to talk about criminal activity ? I like Russell's gun polisher moniker more and more every day . I bet you are the first to run at a demonstration when the teargas canisters start getting fired … I have seen hundreds of your type over the years .
What a charming individual. :roll:
[quote author=CJS link=topic=1740.msg20880#msg20880 date=1257044524]
While a great many members of this forum are in Keene and putting it on the line … you want your anonymity to talk about criminal activity ? [/quote]
Who said anything about anonymity? My location is none of your fucking business.
What criminal activity? Defensive force is not initiatory force. But you moron pacifists always deny the possibility that anyone is ever allowed to fight back.
[quote author=CJS link=topic=1740.msg20880#msg20880 date=1257044524]I bet you are the first to run at a demonstration when the teargas canisters start getting fired … I have seen hundreds of your type over the years . [/quote]
Bring the teargas and let's find out. I've had eleven of my bones broken by pigs. I don't really care what you think, say, or do.
Talking in general terms about the right to self-defense is "breaking the rules" according to you filthy fucking pacifists. So, delete my account, please. And go fuck yourselves.
I am sorry your anger gets the best of you , may I suggest a book ? The way of the peaceful warrior ?
I am not a pacifist , I just have no desire to hurt anyone. No change of in the scope that people here want will happen with violence… how many Waco's ( and there have been more instances of groups being invaded since then) do you need to witness before you understand the people just can't win against the military power of the Gov ?
If the Keeniacs have not been able to enlighten you I won't waste your time … they have shown me a better path than I was walking … and even though I don't agree with their every thought , I will say they are doing more than any other group I have found.
for the record … you were talking about burning down a family's home … that is not a defensive act , and location is what counts Jim … Ian , Dale , Nick , Sam , Meg and so many others… these people are the ones your words will hurt . They have a lot invested in their deal . What are you risking ?
I also will say sorry for my snide comment about your running from a teargas canister … those damn things are hot … I try and avoid them myself.