“I Declare my Independence”

Today is Independence Day. It is the day we celebrate our independence from the king of England. It is the day we declared our independence from the old society, to create our own new ways of operating.

Yet, today I do not feel independent. I do not see independence. I do not see it or feel it anywhere in my life, in our society, or in our country. Rather, I feel that we are living under Tyranny.

For years, I have seen and felt nothing by Tyranny. Tyranny from the government. Tyranny from capitalists and the 1%. Tyranny from willing accomplices in society. 

We cannot celebrate independence today, because we do not have independence. We do not have independence in any form.

Tyranny of the Government

The government dictates our behaviors. They tell us what we can and can’t do. They restrict anything that is fun and pleasurable. They restrict the way we talk, the things we say, the things we do. The government restricts everything about being a true, free person. The government restricts us as natural humans.

The government has selective bias. The government has long ago stopped treating people as equal. No, the government likes some people, and dislikes others. The government will help certain types of people, and not others.

Tyranny of the 1%, Capitalists, in conjunction with Government

In particular, the government assists the 1%, those people who are already wealthy beyond comprehension. The government writes laws in favor of the 1%. The government allows the 1% to commit theft on a large scale without being punished.

The government allows the 1% to commit acts of slander, extortion, and physical violence with complete immunity.

The government gives money away – money which belongs to the citizens – to the 1%, for no other reason than because the government prefers the 1%.

Yet the government has other biases as well, particularly in the area of unemployment. The government pretends to offer unemployment assistance, yet they will not give unemployment benefits to those who have been unemployed for over 6 months. Indeed the government denies assistance to those people who need it the most. (Meanwhile, the government give $ millions and $ billions to the wealthiest 1%, for no logical reason at all.)

The government is also biased in the area of job creation, still believing that the capitalists and the 1% are the ones who create jobs. (In fact, capitalists and the 1% have never created jobs. In fact, these are the people who destroy jobs).

This brings us to the capitalists and the 1% very specifically. They are the most evil beings in modern history. For decades they have destroyed businesses, they have destroyed peoples’ lives, and they have destroyed local economies. The capitalists have a power and a tyranny which is far worse than anything the colonials ever faced under England.

Tyranny in the Workplace and Restricted Human Behavior

Then there are willing accomplices in society. Between the government and the willing accomplices in society, everything is restricted beyond endurance. The rigid workplace is the most important example. In the workplace you are denied the most basic of human rights. You cannot talk to others. You cannot have friends. You are not allowed to joke. You are not allowed to have fun.

In the workplace, you are not allowed to show that you are a male or female, to dress for attention, to flirt, or any related activity. In some cases, you are not allowed to meditate, to have asthma or to have any medical condition which draws attention to yourself. You are not allowed to be human. Tyranny, tyranny, tyranny.   

Co-workers and subordinates are permitted to slander your good name, fabricate incredible lies about you. And yet the accused is not allowed any fair hearing. He or she is simply dismissed, simply based on the slander, while the accuser is allowed to remain. There is no justice.

The worker has no rights whatsoever. Everything is “at-will”, which means that an employer can fire the employee without any cause. The employee can be the best performer in the company.  He can be highly dedicated, always doing his best. Yet, simply because the employer does not like his personality, or beliefs (or because of slander), the employee can be discarded in seconds like a used tissue. No discussion, no hearing, no options of working through the problem, just simply discarded. This is unjust. This is tyranny.

Tyranny of Society and of the Social Norms

Finally, we come to personal beliefs and actions in our society.  Personal choices and lifestyles are forbidden by government. Personal pleasures such as a marijuana and prostitution are deemed criminal. (And the large scale theft of the capitalist 1% is still legal, where is the justice?)

Disciplining a child is considered abnormal, if not totally illegal. Particular religions face extreme prejudice (particularly pagan religions, new age religions, and Wicca).

Some groups have decided “social norms”. Who are they? Nebulous groups, with will willing supporters, yet tyrannical nonetheless. If any of your actions or beliefs deviate from those social norms in any way…you are deemed expendable in modern society.

Society as a whole has discarded the best and brightest of individuals. We have a tyranny composed of government, psychologists, and close-minded people, who together form a tyranny over anyone who is creative and different.

If you are a free-thinker, then you are not allowed. Just as in the days of Ben Franklin and Thomas Jefferson, all free-thinking individuals have been driven underground to discuss their ideas - for fear of persecution.

If you have ideas and beliefs which are different from the “accepted social norms”, then you are deemed unworthy of society. You are called derogatory terms. You are forbidden from many activities which other people enjoy. If society allowed it, these free-thinkers would be burned at the stake like witches in Salem.

Remember John Nash (as shown in the movie “A Beautiful Mind”). He would not be allowed to live today. He would not be allowed to enroll in a university. In fact he probably would have been given a court order forbidding him from stepping on any university campus. This is the society we live in today. Tyranny, tyranny, tyranny.

Declaring our Independence

Therefore, rather than celebrating our independence (which we do not have), we must Declare our Independence. We must start a new War for Independence.

We must allow, and encourage, all types of human behavior. People should be allowed to exist as they are and accepted as they are. Every person should be allowed to live as they desire, to exhibit his/her personality, and pursue their desires. And they should be allowed to do this without prejudice in the workplace, restrictions from government, or being treated as a social outcast.

We must take apart our current society. We must eliminate the vast majority of concepts of “social norms”. (Only the most basic social norms shall remain - such as prohibitions against theft, murder, and large scale damage to communities).

We must fight to allow free-thinkers to prosper. We must encourage people of all beliefs, with all lifestyles, with all desires, to live as they truly desire.

We must allow, and encourage, each person to act as he or she desires, without any hindrance from government, prejudiced supervisors, or closed-minded community groups.

We must declare war on our government.  We must bring the corrupt politicians to justice. We must repeal all laws which restrict human behavior.  We must radically alter our system of elections, to create a system where only those candidates who believe in freedom will be elected.

Fighting for our Freedoms
Today we are not free. Today we live under Tyranny – in a variety of forms. We must fight our way to true freedom. Yet today we can also Declare our Independence.

Today we must pledge our hearts, our minds, and our lives to restoring true and absolute freedom. This is a War for our Independence. This is a War for our Freedom.

The methods of warfare may be different, and there are many enemies to destroy. Yet we will destroy those enemies. We will find a way. We will – WE WILL – prevail.

The individual cost will be minimal if we challenge tyranny together. The sacrifice will be minimal compared to the final benefit - a life of absolute personal freedom.

Join me in the fight for our Freedom. Join me in challenging all forms of tyranny, regardless of the personal cost, so that we may all benefit from the greater joy of absolute personal freedom

M.F. 2012

Founding Fathers and Many Great Americans were Socialists (according to the modern Republican definition of socialism)

Introduction
Our Founding Fathers, most of our greatest Presidents, and many great Americans in our history were in fact Socialists. This is according to the modern definition of Socialism.

The majority of Republicans, Tea Party activists, and conservative leaders today have been throwing around the words “Socialist” and “Socialism” to just about everything. It seems that any idea where the public is allowed equal access is considered socialist. It seems that any activity operated by the government on behalf of the public is considered socialist. Although I don’t want government to manage everything in life, I do believe that some government management and oversight of activities is sensible. Not all government activities are socialist.

In this article I will point out that their modern definition of Socialism is in fact the best of America. I will also point out that every idea embraced by our Founding Fathers and our greatest Presidents would be considered Socialist today - if we use the modern definition of Socialism.

1. “Of the People, By the People, For the People”.

This phrase was stated by Abraham Lincoln in reference to the essence of our country, and yet it would be called “Socialism” by Republicans of today.

The Republican leaders today don’t believe that the people have a right to participate in democracy; rather, most Republicans believe in representatives (not direct democracy) who perpetuate the cycle of benefiting the elite at expense of the people.

The Republican leaders of today would rephrase Lincoln’s statement of America as “Of the elite, by the bribed representatives, and for the corporations.” Anything else would be considered socialism.

Yes, by modern definitions, Abraham Lincoln’s version of America would be called socialist.

2. The public library system
In the public library system, books are owned collectively and shared among the community for free. This concept sounds like Socialism! And the library is managed by a local government entity, paid for by tax dollars. Clearly this is a socialist concept! 

Do you know who created the public library system? Benjamin Franklin. Ben Franklin - that entrepreneur, inventor, witty statesman, and paragon of colonial America – he created the public library system. Was his creation of the public library system a socialist idea?

Also, here is a side note worth thinking about: The library system would probably not be created today. People would claim infringements on intellectual property. Yet Franklin made his fortune as a newspaper publisher and writer – intellectual property in printed form – and yet he had no problem with the idea of sharing information through a public library. This is something to think about when similar ideas are being discussed today.

3. Public schools
If conservatives had their way they would abolish all public schools. Only the rich would be educated because they could afford to send their children to private schools, or could afford to have a parent stay home for home schooling. Furthermore, conservatives have told me -very specifically - that teaching students practical skills is a socialist idea!

Do you know who created the public school system? Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson believed that all towns must have a public school. The public schools were essential for all Americans to learn about civics, to develop good character, and to learn practical skills. Oh yes, in modern terms, Thomas Jefferson would be considered a socialist.

4. Public Parks
Parks are areas of land set aside by the government for the people to enjoy. These parks are paid for by taxes or use fees, and managed by a government entity. This concept sounds like socialism to many people today.

When discussing parks and natural spaces today, many conservatives would rather see all land be used for private industry, and allow large spaces to be owned only be the wealthy. Yet the land belongs to the people before it belongs to any business. Therefore all land is public land until the people decide to use it or sell it for another purpose.

The first major proponent of national parks was President Theodore Roosevelt. He saw the beauty of parks and believed Americans would benefit by being in the rugged outdoors more often. Roosevelt was a Republican, and born into wealth. Yet if you believe that setting aside land for public use is a socialist idea, then you also must believe that Teddy Roosevelt was a socialist.

5. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Teddy Roosevelt also performed some other acts which modern Republicans would consider socialist. For example, Roosevelt created the Food and Drug Administration (a government entity which regulates a private industry). Modern Republicans would see this as an intrusion on private industry (and call it socialism), yet most other Americans would view this as a sensible move which protects the general public.

6. Printing Money

The Constitution of the United States authorizes the federal government to print money. This is contrast to the states or private banks printing money (which was common in those days). In modern times, Republicans would see this as socialism. Why should the federal government do something that private banks or individual states should do? Republicans today believe that banks should run free, and in this case it would mean printing their own money. Republicans would say that giving the job of printing money only to the federal government is a socialist proposal. I would argue that this is one task which is best left to the federal government, and is not socialism. And if you do think it is socialism, then all those men at the Constitutional Convention were socialists for having ideas such as these!

7. The People versus the Financial Elite

The Occupy Protesters are protesting one common sense idea: that the financial elite who have stolen money, damaged businesses, and destroyed the economy have not been effectively taken to justice. The Occupy Protesters, and the 99% of the population the protesters represent, simply want financial criminals punished, money returned to proper owners, and no more taxpayer money given to these crooks (who use the people's money perpetuate their crimes).

And yet, these ideas are called “Socialist” by Republicans and Tea Party Activists. In their minds, the ways of Mitt Romney, the Rockefellers, and Wall Street are the ways of America. Anything else is “Socialism”.

However, let us go back to the Presidency of Andrew Jackson. Prior to Jackson taking office, there was a national bank which was granted almost unlimited powers by the federal government. This bank was run by the financial elite of the day. Those elite used the bank to support political candidates they liked, and to refuse loans to anyone they didn’t like. Jackson believed this national bank was inherently un-American.

Andrew Jackson was a man of the people. He grew up as an ordinary American, without special privileges, and he despised any actions which benefited the elite at the expense of the people. Therefore Andrew Jackson fought this national bank with all his tenacity. Jackson eventually defeated the financial elite and their national bank – which was a great triumph for democracy.

In a series of speeches and letters he said things very similar to what Occupy Protesters are saying today. Jackson also complained that the rich and powerful should not have more influence in Congress than the average hard-working citizen, merely because those wealthy individuals can afford lobbyists and are able to take the personal time to influence Congress.

Such talk and actions from a President today would be called “socialist” and “communist”. I prefer to call it “democratic” and “egalitarian”.

8. Clean Water, Equal Access to Water

Water is fundamental necessity, and the person who controls the water controls society. Wars and feuds throughout history have been started over adequate water supply. Therefore equal access to water is essential. Yet to hear the conservative leaders talk about it, ensuring an adequate supply of water is another socialist idea.

Under common law (as well as federal law and in every state law), no one is allowed to hoard water, to prevent people downstream from using water, or to pollute the general water supply. Anyone who lives downstream is allowed equal access to water. In addition, every citizen in a metro area can be ensured that community drinking water meets a minimum level of health standards.

Over the course of American history, there have been hundreds of civic leaders throughout the nation who created and served on government agencies which manage water supplies. These Americans have ensured that people in their region have equal access to water, enough water to meet their needs, and water that is safe to drink. If you believe that it is a socialist idea for a government body to manage water on behalf of the people, and to ensure adequate water supply for the future, then you must concede that these numerous civic leaders were socialists.    

9. Transportation

Whenever public transportation is discussed, many conservatives adamantly state: “public transportation is a socialist/communist agenda – it is a plan to keep the people controlled and confined”. This is one on the most common, and longest held, charges of “socialism” or “communism” I have heard over the years. It is also one of the craziest.

Let us take a look at another type of transportation system (and one approved by the conservatives): the Interstate Freeway System. These are highways which are built and managed by the government (rather than private land owners) for the public to use (oh my – the public!) rather than selected individuals (such as the elite). And it is “Free” for the public to use - the word Free is even in the name! (taxes yes, but no tolls, so daily travel is free).

Do you know who the visionary was behind the Interstate Freeway System? None other than President Eisenhower, a Republican! The man who fought Nazis (the German socialists) in the 1940s, and then communists in the 1950s, was also the man who developed this “socialist/communist” idea of "transportation which benefits the public"!

If public transportation systems like rail and buses are socialist ideas, then freeways and public roads which also benefit the public are equally socialist. And so is Eisenhower.

Therefore, the next time you hear any proposal for an effective transportation system, think twice before dismissing it as a nefarious plot.

Conclusion

Either all of these acts are examples of socialism, or none of them are. Either all of these great Americans were socialists, or none of them were.

If you believe that the actions and views of Thomas Jefferson, Ben Franklin, Abraham Lincoln, Andrew Jackson, Teddy Roosevelt, and Dwight Eisenhower were socialist, then you must concede that socialism is a good thing. You must concede that socialism is part of the American Character. You must agree that Americans should embrace socialism, fully and openly.

Otherwise, you should stop calling every proposal related to democracy, equality, and the good of the people as being part of a socialist or communist agenda.

Mark Fennell
Feb 12, 2012

Free Market versus Capitalism

Introduction

The Free Market is NOT the same as Capitalism. They are two very different concepts.

We must make the distinction because capitalism needs to be restrained, while the free market should be encouraged to flourish.

The Free Market is the system where things happen. People do things. People create things. People provide needed services for other people.

In contrast, Capitalism is merely a method for moving money around. No goods or services are created using Capitalism (unless the capitalists specifically invest in goods and services). Capitalism in itself does not create products or create jobs.

The Free Market

The Free Market is the best economic system available. The Free Market is a system where people create goods and services, using their passion and pride. The people then exchange those goods and services for other goods and services.

We commonly think of the goods and services being traded for money, but that is not necessarily an absolute in the free market system. People can exchange goods and services for other goods and services. For example: I will repair your barn if you give me a bushel of wheat. Or, I will provide the meat if you prepare the meal.

All that matters in the Free Market system is that there is an exchange where both parties get something they need, by providing something of value to the other person. The only reason money is involved is because money is a standard unit from which to compare the price of goods and services.

Remember, the Free Market is the system where things happen. In a Free Market people do things. People create things. People provide needed services for other people.

Capitalism

Capitalism is vastly different from the Free Market. Capitalism is all about the movement of money. Capitalism has nothing to do with real activity.

In capitalism, money is moved around. Yet no goods are created. No products are made. No services are delivered. It is simply the movement of money.

And that is the inherent problem of the Capitalist system.  This is one of the central problems which has led to the economic situation of today.

Fallacies of the Capitalist supporters

The supporters of Capitalism say that Capitalism does create products and services, because of the investment into the businesses. This is not necessarily true.

First, understand that it is the dedicated people in our nation who create products and services. Capitalism is only one means to fund those businesses. Many successful people have never used Capitalism to grow their businesses.

Second, many of the financial elite in the past 20-30 years have used the method of Capitalism for strictly personal gain. They have used Capitalism as a method to defraud investors and to destroy businesses, while taking large personal profits. So in fact, Capitalism has been used by many financial elitists to destroy businesses and eliminate jobs, rather than to grow businesses and create jobs.

Capitalism is but one tool in the Free Market System

Capitalism is not the Free Market. Rather, Capitalism is a tool used in the Free Market system. And Capitalism is not the only tool.

Over the past few years I have meet with dozens of entrepreneurs throughout the nation and the world. All of them are quite successful. Note that every one of these successful entrepreneurs used the Free Market system, yet none of them used Capitalism.

Each entrepreneur created his own business, using his own money, and building it up over time. Small investments led to small profits, which were reinvested into the business.

Many of these successful businesses were created as a partnership, where each person provided some of his own savings, as well bringing his/her unique skills to project. In many cases, the project partners worked for almost nothing until the business became profitable.

There was no capitalism in any of these cases. There were no bank loans, no stockholder investments, and no connections to Wall Street. So you see, capitalism is far from the only tool available to boost prosperity in the Free Market system.

Capitalism as a tool: for good or for evil

Capitalism is a tool. And as with all tools, Capitalism can be used to create or to destroy. Capitalism can create happiness or it can cause harm.

If Capitalism is used as a means to boost the free market, then Capitalism is a useful tool. But if Capitalism is used solely to acquire more money without providing a useful product in return, then Capitalism is very destructive.

Capitalism is a useful tool when used properly. The proper use of Capitalism is to invest money in a business. This money is used to develop new products, to acquire supplies, to hire a skilled team, and to pay for marketing. As the business grows and makes money, some of the profits are given to the Capitalist investor while other profits are put back into the company.

When used in this way, Capitalism helps to create products and services, Capitalism helps a business to grow, and thus Capitalism does help to create jobs.

However, Capitalism by itself does NOT create any of these things. When used improperly, Capitalism will cause great harm.  If Capitalism is used to just move money around without creating a product or service, then Capitalism will destroy a community. If Capitalism is used as a mechanism to defraud others, then Capitalism will cause serious harm (not only to the people who were stolen from, but also to the general economic health of the region).

This is exactly what we have seen over the past 20 years, culminating into the situation we have today.

Focus on Free Market, not on Capitalism

In order to restore some sanity in our economic system, in order to create prosperity in our nation again, we must change our focus. We must place our support on the Free Market, and we must keep Capitalism in its place.

The Free Market is good. The Free Market is the best economic system available because it will obtain the greatest prosperity and personal happiness for the largest number of people.

We must stop thinking of Capitalism as our basic economic system. Capitalism should be thought of as just one tool of our economy, and not the entire basis for our economy.

We must remember that unrestrained Capitalism is NOT a successful economic system. Unrestrained capitalism causes destruction and chaos.

We must remember that Capitalism does not create jobs. It is the Free Market that creates jobs.

Furthermore, it has been proven over the past 20 years that unrestrained Capitalism destroys successful businesses and puts many good people out of work. In contrast, the Free Market economy allows successful businesses to prosper, and allows passionate workers to have good jobs.

We can appreciate that Capitalism, when properly used by responsible parties, can be a useful tool. Yet the serious damage caused by unrestrained Capitalism proves that we must restrict the privileges of the Capitalists.

If we encourage the Free Market to grow, at the rate of the unbridled creativity and labor of the people, while at the same time restraining Capitalism to only legitimate functions, then America will prosper again.