Wednesday, March 28, 2012

From The Daily Caller

Funding liberty: Will crowdfunding supercharge the libertarian movement?

Creative people working in the liberty movement often have a hard time getting their ideas funded. Let’s face it: much of the movement is controlled by big donors and small committees of stewards. These committees have good intentions, but sometimes they distribute their largess like charitable Keynesians. And in 1960s fashion, it’s often a game of “who you know.”
Worse, perhaps, smaller donors tend to look at a popular think tank brand like Heritage or Cato and simply throw money over the wall during the holidays in hopes the money does some good. The trouble is, bigger organizations can carry a lot of administrative fat. And on a per-dollar basis, these mastodons are not always particularly effective.
Crowdfunding could help change all that.
Let me tell you a little bit about my own experience. (Warning: shameless plug.) I’m using Kickstarter to fund a book project called “Superwealth” in which I defend wealthy entrepreneurs. Because I don’t have the time, patience or inclination to go through traditional publishing channels — a process that can take as many as three years — I decided it was time to do things my way.
So far I’ve done pretty well. I’ve got a publisher and promoter lined up and will pull the trigger next month if my crowd comes through. It looks like the book will be published this year. Of course, my little experiment may not succeed. But I’d rather leave that to the crowd than to the committee (or to the public rather than the publisher) — at least in this case.
Committees v. crowds
When it comes to philanthropic endeavors, the crowd is not necessarily better than the committee. The dynamics are just different.
Committee pros — The positive side of Big Philanthropy is that it forces you to do your due diligence. You can’t just come up with some half-baked idea and get it funded. The committee will take a careful look at what you’ve proposed and suggest changes. If your idea is wonderful only to you, that feedback can be helpful. Foundations are also able to bring bigger dollars to longer-term endeavors and projects that require more capital. And if you do get funding, you benefit from the smarts of the folks on these committees.
Committee cons On the downside, committees are slow and insular. They often convene but a couple of times a year in short bursts. They tend to privilege people and organizations they are familiar with. And they tend to put money on surer bets. Sometimes you have to do something wacky to win big. Sometimes you have to step outside your comfort zones. Unfortunately, committees are almost always comfort zones. Because insiders have better access to the committee, they usually get the largess. This is a problem in the sense that just getting the committee’s attention can be a high-cost proposition for most creatives. And if you can get in, you usually have to offer them a project that ain’t all that wacky (which is one reason there are too many policy analysts creating too many white papers no one will ever read).
Crowd pros — When it comes to crowdfunding, there are definite advantages to little guys with innovative plays. Consider that if someone is only giving $20, she might be more likely to take a chance on something non-conventional. It’s not just that you can involve people that might not otherwise have been involved; it’s also that you can include younger people in the funding process. That’s how crowdfunding can help “democratize” philanthropy in the liberty movement. Younger people often have a higher tolerance for risk than older people, despite having fewer resources at their disposal. (And most crowdfunding sites build in rewards. For example, if you gave $15 to my “Superwealth” campaign, you’d get an eBook.)
Crowd cons — Crowdfunding does have its negatives. It’s not as easy to determine the success or failure of a project (or the track record of the proposer). Crowdfunding centers on ideas rather than outcomes. Committees, because they have much more skin in the game, demand evidence of impact — success metrics and so on. Next-generation crowdfunding sites/aps may include reputation or ratings systems. But, generally, micro-funders have fewer incentives to follow up on success. Without accountability incentives and mechanisms, the ratio of crappy projects to home runs may be more skewed than in traditional philanthropy.
Tribesourcing
Neither crowds nor committees are perfect. Each has a place in the total spectrum of giving. And, indeed, liberty-types may want to develop their own platform in the spirit of what Mark Frazier calls “tribesourcing.” Suresh Fernando writes:
Currently crowdsourcing platforms are designed to enable a single entrepreneur to simply solicit funds from her network, but the relationship between her contacts is not a consideration. Current platforms don’t account for the fact that people are situated within communities and that the people within communities have established relationships. New platforms will therefore include mechanisms that enable projects within a particular community to be evaluated, voted upon and supported. They will also include collaboration features that enable members in the larger “tribe” to provide non-financial support: helping with websites, business planning, etc. This will reflect a recognition that entrepreneurs need more than simply financial capital. They need social capital and intellectual capital as well.
Why shouldn’t freedom lovers (a tribe) be on the leading edge of such developments?
For the record
I will note with some frustration that I proposed a liberty-themed crowdfunding model to a number of funders (committees) before Kickstarter and Indiegogo even existed. Because the only analogs at the time were Donors Choose (which helps fund specific projects at public schools across the country) and Kiva (which gives loans to people in third-world countries), my own idea was greeted with skepticism and confusion. Or perhaps it was simply the natural response on the part of people within an established hierarchy when they are confronted with something truly innovative and truly decentralizing. Conservatives, after all, are more comfortable with decentralization in markets than in activism. Liberals are more comfortable with decentralization in activism than in markets. What about the libertarians? They’re too busy arguing over ideological purity.
For people who love liberty, it’s time to shake up the status quo. Crowdfunders may lead the way.
Max Borders has written a book called “Superwealth.” Find it here on Kickstarter.


Read more: http://dailycaller.com/2012/03/27/funding-liberty-will-crowdfunding-supercharge-the-libertarian-movement/#ixzz1qS6e42MB

Monday, March 19, 2012

From USA Today

What science, libertarianism have in common
By Alex Berezow

What is it about Ron Paul that so many people find intellectually appealing? Perhaps it is his frankness and candor, a rare trait in politicians. But I think it goes far beyond that. Paul — and libertarian philosophy in general — tackles government policy the same way a researcher tackles an experiment.
Let me explain. When I was in graduate school, my research mentor and I were discussing data we had generated and how they might contradict the scientific narrative we were developing. He wisely instructed me that I'd never get in trouble telling the truth. His point was obvious: Let the data speak for itself. Massaging data to make them fit the story we would like to tell is not honest, nor is it good science.
That is good advice, not just for science but also for politics. Yet few politicians follow it. Distorting data to fit political narratives has become the norm. Indeed, the struggle between Team Red and Team Blue has become little more than a giant cherry-picking contest designed to score political points rather than promoting sound policy rooted in reality.

Heavy dose of reality
Our political system could use a hefty dose of my mentor's admonition. Today, libertarianism is the best vehicle to deliver the medicine. The scientific enterprise rests on simple premises: Scientists should have the freedom to investigate whatever they choose. The universe is ultimately knowable and logical. The business of science should be to promote reality, not ideology. This formula has proved successful.
Similarly, the seductive allure of libertarianism relies on its simple assumptions: People should be as free as possible. Our laws should reflect reality. Government policies should be analyzed using logic, not ideology. There are no grand appeals to shaping the world in America's image, no quixotic promotion of economic equality and no obsession over the moral character of the nation.
In a nutshell, scientists and libertarians deal with the world the way it is, rather than the way they want it to be. Or, as Reason's science writer, Ronald Bailey, eloquently stated, "Both embody the freedom to explore and experiment, enabling people to more systematically seek truths about the physical and social worlds."

Promote freedom above all
For a libertarian, like a scientist, this means promoting freedom and reality above all else. When truth is revealed, issues that conservatives, liberals and progressives normally worry about will begin to take care of themselves. It should not come as a surprise then that this appeal has won libertarianism increasing support from a diverse coalition. College students, traditionally liberal, are among Paul's biggest fans. The 76-year-old Texas congressman himself is a devout Baptist and medical doctor. Agnostic science writer Michael Shermer and former New Mexico governor Gary Johnson are both libertarians. What these disparate individuals have in common is a rejection of traditional ideology in favor of freedom and reality.
Thus, the resurgence in libertarian ideology is not only understandable but also desirable. Its support derives from something neither political party possesses: a youthful, widening and intellectually diverse support base.
To be sure, libertarianism doesn't have all the right answers and Paul isn't going to be the Republican nominee for president. But it is a gust of fresh air in what has become the cellar of our dank and depressing political system. It is striking that the qualities that make for a good scientist are identical to those that make for a good libertarian.
Alex Berezow is the editor of RealClearScience. He holds a Ph.D. in microbiology.

Hank Hill vs. The Bureaucrats!

Thanks to Adult Swim re-airing King of the Hill five nights a week I recently caught an old episode that has expanded my list of approved politicians to now feature two: Ron Paul and Hank Hill. The episode is "Flush with Power" from season four.
It makes sense that the only politician in American history whose integrity would rival Dr. Paul's is a fictional cartoon character.
In this episode, the Texas town of Arlen is experiencing a severe drought, and the local government has instituted water-rationing policies. Each household is permitted to use only a certain low amount of water each week until rain returns, and an army of bureaucrats has been unleashed to patrol the neighborhoods of Arlen, randomly checking meters and cracking down on those who defy the policy.
Rationing is a very typical measure imposed by central planners ignorant of economics. Much like the saying that a person who has a hammer sees everything as a nail, city managers see every societal problem as something that can only be solved by the exercise of their power. As if they are wizards holding magical wands, they believe each and every trouble in their jurisdiction can be fixed by regulations and policies.
This rationing policy is very bad news for Hank Hill. Hank has a lush lawn he proudly maintains, but this requires a lot of water. In order to stay within the restrictions of the rationing policy and still leave his family with enough water for their needs, Hank has to let his yard suffer.
If, instead of rationing, the Arlen city government allowed the price of water to freely fluctuate according to supply and demand, people like Hank would be much better off. The price of water would rise, which would result in people who don't value water as much reducing their consumption. This would leave more water left over for those who value the water more and are willing to pay the higher price. With rationing and price ceilings, yes, the price is lower, but the supply is extinguished much faster.
An even better solution would be for the city mangers of Arlen to completely demunicipalize water distribution and let the market handle it. Entrepreneurs would compete with each other over who can offer the highest-quality water services for the lowest price, and the victor would be awarded with the highest profits. This profit motive would make new innovations in water distribution much more likely. One entrepreneur might buy the rights to a water source in another well-hydrated territory and pipe it into Arlen. Another might invent a new, cheap way to desalinize the ocean water surrounding Texas.
Another, more pitiful solution the city managers of Arlen offer is the promotion of inefficient low-flow toilets being issued for "free" (at the expense of the taxpayers being forced to pay for them). This too is a typical response of the central planners: reduce your quality of life by using lower-quality products, citizens, and shut up. Rather than owning up to the problem being the result of foolish government management, the bureaucrats place the blame on the citizens for using the "wrong" toilets. We not only see this with the American government's present policy on toilets, but also with light bulbs and cars.
In the market you never hear entrepreneurs blaming their customers for problems. The customer is always right, and entrepreneurs slavishly have to find ways to continue pleasing the customer. If an entrepreneur held a press conference and told his customers that they need to quit complaining and learn to accept lower-quality products, he would go bankrupt overnight; but with government it is always about making the tax-slave citizens sacrifice and suffer, and about using violent force against those who refuse.
Hank, desperate to have water for maintaining his lawn, breaks down and gets a low-flow toilet.
The toilets are immediately revealed to be inferior products — requiring many more flushes to dispose of waste than normal toilets. This is a typical result of the government's remedies: not only are they usually unsuccessful, but they also exacerbate the problems they were allegedly intended to solve.
All the extra flushing has resulted in the Hill family using much more water than they were using with the old "eco-unfriendly" toilet. By now a significant number of Arlen residents are using these low-flow toilets: the city has a genuine decivilization crisis developing. Their standard of living is decreasing. They have less water and their waste is harder to dispose of.
Very quickly Hank expresses his desire to get his old high-flow toilet back, but he discovers the old high-flow toilets that are collected get smashed up and dumped into the ocean to aid in the development of coral reefs. When Hank stops by the hardware store to buy a new high-flow toilet he discovers that they have now been outlawed entirely in his county. This is similar to the quickly abandoned "cash-for-clunkers" program of the Obama regime that consisted of using tax dollars to buy perfectly functional but "eco-unfriendly" vehicles, destroy them beyond repair, and replace them with "eco-friendly" cars. The decivilizing effects were and remain many. There were fewer used cars available on the market, which raised the price of used vehicles and hurt the poorer people who depend on the used-car market to satisfy their transportation needs. Each and every tax dollar that was spent on this program is gone forever, leaving the economy as a whole poorer and our tax burden larger. And in the end, it turns out the "eco-friendly" cars aren't even any better for the environment.
Rightfully angry that bureaucrats have made it illegal, as Hank puts it, to "install a working toilet in your own bathroom!" Hank decides to go to the next Board of Zoning and Resources meeting and lobby against their ban on high-flows.
As Hank begins making his case to the board, the head bureaucrat, Nate Hashaway, cuts him off and announces that in order to discuss an issue at the meeting it must be formerly added to the agenda, but only a board member may add subjects to the agenda. Hank is politely told to shut up and the gang of bureaucrats moves on to a more important matter — wishing one of their members a happy birthday.
Hank's powerlessness against his local government is quite reflective of American politics. Even the smallest, pettiest bureaucrats have no concern at all for the citizens they rule over. The political class doesn't listen to reason. We're simply expected to shut up and unconditionally obey their every foolish, illogical, or immoral command. If a local zoning board doesn't care what you think, do you really believe your congressman or senator does? For every one US representative there are over 700,000 Americans. Your congressman, contrary to what he says in his campaign ads, does not care what you think. For every US senator there are over 3 million American tax slaves. How can one person possibly represent the interests of 3 million individuals? Your senator simply doesn't worry about it, that's how.
As the condition of his lawn worsens, Hank decides to run for office on a platform that consists completely of repealing the high-flow toilet ban. It turns out that a seat on the Board of Zoning and Resources has been empty for four years and Hank automatically wins the election upon submitting the paperwork.
Hank introduces a motion to repeal the ban at his first meeting with the board. He's shot down again. Nate Hashaway is a bit more defensive this time.
After the meeting is adjourned and the members are leaving, Hashaway slyly asks to speak with Hank in private. Turns out Hashaway has a secret stash of high-flow toilets. He offers to give Hank one if he agrees to shut up about the toilet situation. Hank heroically turns the offer down due to the gross immorality of a lawmaker not following the laws he himself commands others to obey. Lawmakers seldom follow their own rules the way they say we must. One example is how elite congressmen and senators are often exempt from the humiliating TSA search procedures the rest of us endure. Antigun politicians often use tax dollars to pay for armed security for themselves. Elite environmentalists seek to force us to reduce our fossil-fuel consumption as they fly around on private jets that emit more carbon emissions in a single trip than most cars emit in a year.
By now Hank's lawn is nearly dead, and Hashaway has launched a surveillance-and-blackmail operation against Hank, but Hank's son, Bobby, discovers some dirt on Hashaway just in time: Hashaway is the exclusive seller of the low-flow toilets.
Corporatism, also known as fascism, is collusion between businesses and the state. Examples include businesses lobbying for tariffs to protect them from foreign competition (at the cost of domestic consumers having to pay more for goods), businesses lobbying for competitor's products to be banned entirely (as with hemp and marijuana), businesses lobbying for monopoly privileges where the government outlaws their competition by instituting barriers to entry in the market, or any other scenario where private interests use the government to gain advantages at the expense of consumers.
Corporations often fear a free market, because in this scenario there is no government there to protect them from new innovators and young entrepreneurs. In a free market, all businesses must be on their toes, constantly innovating and willing to evolve. Corporations instead frequently favor a vast regulatory state that they can use to beat up their smaller competitors. (For a good example of Walmart doing this with minimum-wage laws, see Lew Rockwell here.)
This political thug Hashaway is using his government power to make people pay for his inferior toilets, and then he bans the competing toilets. This is similar to the case of Michael "Skeletor" Chertoff promoting the installation of naked body scanners in airports during his time as the secretary of Homeland Security and then immediately going on to work as a well-paid consultant for the primary company that makes them.
Not backing down, Hank reveals Hashaway's conflict of interest at the second meeting with the board and again introduces a motion to repeal the high-flow ban, but this time he begins a filibuster before the voting finishes.
As Hank reads his wife's very boring columns from the local newspaper, the members of the board eventually start needing to use the restrooms. One by one they go and come back, obviously frustrated by the poor performance of Hashaway's low-flow toilets. All the other board members can clearly hear each restroom occupant having to flush multiple times. After several hours, both the men's and ladies' rooms are out of order with broken toilets.
All the board members, except Hashaway, vote for the repeal, and toilet freedom is restored in Arlen.
Hank immediately resigns from the board.

Sunday, March 4, 2012

An Excellant Refutation From Laurence M. Vance!

Pay Up or Die

Recently by Laurence M. Vance: Fact Checking the Washington Post
 


"I like to pay taxes. With them, I buy civilization." ~ Oliver Wendell Holmes
Because I don’t like to pay taxes, I was intrigued by the title of the article by Stephen Foster that I was directed to titled: "102 Things NOT To Do If You Hate Taxes." The article is a liberal defense of the legitimacy of the government (usually federal, but sometimes state or local) confiscating a portion of Americans’ incomes and redistributing and reallocating the incomes because the government provides certain services. Implied throughout the article is the myth that none of the 102 things listed "NOT to do" would exist without the government. The above Holmes quote appears at the end of the article.
Before the list of the 102 things "NOT to do if you hate taxes," the article is prefaced with this statement: "So, you’re a Republican that hates taxes? Well, since you do not like taxes or government, please kindly do the following."
Since when do Republicans hate taxes? Since when do Republicans not like taxes or government other than when it is Democrats collecting the taxes and running the government? There is only one Republican member of Congress that I am aware of who has called for the complete elimination of the federal income tax – Ron Paul. Although I am not a Republican, since I still "hate taxes" and "do not like taxes or government," I feel compelled to analyze the list of things I should not do.
What follows is Foster’s complete list of 102 things that no one should do if he hates taxes – all followed by my comments.
1. Do not use Medicare.
It is not the job of government to pay for medical care or have anything to do with medicine. But if the government is going to tax me for it against my will, then I am going to get my money back one way or another even if I have to use the service.




2. Do not use Social Security.
It is not the job of government to operate a retirement/disability system. But if the government is going to tax me for it against my will, then I am going to get my money back one way or another even if I have to use the service.
3. Do not become a member of the US military, who are paid with tax dollars.
First of all, who would want to be a member of the U.S. military in the first place? Secondly, most of what the military spends is on offense and should be cut from the budget. And third, the United States had no income tax until 1913, but certainly had no trouble funding a military before then.
4. Do not ask the National Guard to help you after a disaster.
It is not the job of the government to help anyone after a disaster. And it is a myth that no one would be helped after a disaster if the government did not send help. The American people are a resourceful and generous people.
5. Do not call 911 when you get hurt.
It is not the job of the government to provide 911 services. And it is a myth that this service could not be provided by the private sector.
6. Do not call the police to stop intruders in your home.
Especially when it is the police who are intruding in your home. More intruders are stopped dead every year with a gun than are stopped dead by police who don’t arrive until after you are dead or have been robbed.
7. Do not summon the fire department to save your burning home.
It is not the job of the government to fight fires. And it is a myth fires would never be put out if the government did not provide fire fighters. Many fire departments are private and/or volunteer.
8. Do not drive on any paved road, highway, and interstate or drive on any bridge.




It is not the job of government to construct roads, highways, interstates, or bridges. And it is a myth that there would be no roads and bridges if the government did not construct them. In early American, most roads and bridges were privately owned and some of them are privately owned today. See Thomas DiLorenzo’s "The Role of Private Transportation in America’s 19th-Century "Internal Improvements" Debate" and Walter Block’s The Privatization of Roads & Highways.
9. Do not use public restrooms.
It is not the job of government to provide restrooms. And it is a myth that no one would be able to find a restroom while traveling or walking about without the help of government. Any American can walk into any McDonalds anywhere and use the restroom.
10. Do not send your kids to public schools.
It is not the job of government to operate schools or have anything to do with education. And it is a myth that no one would be educated without government schools. Public schools are a recent development in American history. And just look at the multitude of private schools and parents that homeschool their children.
11. Do not put your trash out for city garbage collectors.
It is not the job of government to collect trash. And it is a myth that trash would not be collected if the government did not collect it. Many areas of the country rely on privately owned garbage collection companies.
12. Do not live in areas with clean air.
It is not the job of government to make sure that the air is clean. And it is a myth that the air would not be clean if the government did not establish air quality standards and mandate that they be followed.
13. Do not drink clean water.
It is not the job of government to make sure that drinking water is clean. And it is a myth that no drinking water would be clean if the government did not establish clean water standards and mandate that they be followed.
14. Do not visit National Parks.
It is not the job of government to designate National Parks. And it is a myth that there would be no large parks if the government did not designate them. But if the government is going to designate National Parks, then it should have user fees so that the ones who visit are the ones who pay for the privilege. Meanwhile, if the government is going to tax me for it against my will, then I am going to get my money’s worth. See Gary North’s "The National Parks: The Super-Rich’s Greatest Idea."
15. Do not visit public museums, zoos, and monuments.
It is not the job of government to operate museums, zoos, and monuments. And it is a myth that no museums, zoos, and monuments worth seeing would exist if the government did not operate them. There are probably thousands of museums, zoos, and monuments across the country that are privately owned. But if the government is going to operate museums, zoos, and monuments, then it should have user fees so that the ones who visit are the ones who pay for the privilege. Meanwhile, if the government is going to tax me for it against my will, then I am going to get my money’s worth.
16. Do not eat or use FDA inspected food and medicines.




It is not the job of government to inspect food or medicines or have an agriculture department or have anything to do with medicine. And it is a myth that no food or medicines would be inspected without the government inspecting them. Can Americans not even eat without government assistance?
17. Do not bring your kids to public playgrounds.
It is not the job of government to construct playgrounds. And it is a myth that kids would have no playgrounds if the government did not construct them. Many private developments now have playgrounds for the children of residents.
18. Do not walk or run on sidewalks.
It is not the job of government to construct or mandate or control sidewalks. I am looking out my office window at the sidewalk in front of my house as I type this and government is the last thing that comes to my mind. But for safety reasons, I don’t recommend that anyone run on the sidewalk.
19. Do not use public recreational facilities such as basketball and tennis courts.
It is not the job of government to construct recreational facilities. And it is a myth that recreational facilities would not exist if the government did not build them.
20. Do not seek shelter facilities or food in soup kitchens when you are homeless and hungry.
It is not the job of government to shelter the homeless or feed the poor in soup kitchens. And it is a myth that the homeless would not be sheltered or the poor fed if the government did not operate or fund shelters and soup kitchens. Ever heard of rescue missions? They have been taking care of the physical and spiritual needs of the down-and-out for decades.
21. Do not apply for educational or job training assistance when you lose your job.
It is not the job of government to provide educational or job training assistance when you lose your job. And it is a myth that no one would receive educational or job training assistance if the government did not provide it.
22. Do not apply for food stamps when you can’t feed your children.
It is not the job of government to issue food stamps to the poor. And it is a myth that the poor would go hungry if the government did not issue them food stamps. See my article "Food Stamp Politicians."
23. Do not use the judiciary system for any reason.
Good idea. Now, if only the government would quit charging people with victimless crimes and forcing them to use the judicial system.
24. Do not ask for an attorney when you are arrested and do not ask for one to be assigned to you by the court.
It is not the job of government to provide attorneys. And if the government would quit arresting people for victimless and made-up crimes, then few would need to ask for an attorney.
25. Do not apply for any Pell Grants.
It is not the job of government to provide Pell Grants or have anything to do with education. And it is a myth that no one would go to college without a Pell Grant. Americans went to college for hundreds of years before Pell Grants.
26. Do not use cures that were discovered by labs using federal dollars.
It is not the job of government to fund labs to discover cures for anything. And it is a myth that no cures would be discovered if the government did not fund labs. But regardless of who discovered them in the past, that is no reason not to use them now.
27. Do not fly on federally regulated airplanes.
It is not the job of government to regulate the airline industry or any other industry. And it is a myth that airlines would not be safe or operate as now without government regulations. I should also note that the federal government deregulated much of the airline industry beginning in 1979.




28. Do not use any product that can trace its development back to NASA.
It is not the job of government to have a space agency or develop products. See my article "Not Even the Sky Is the Limit."
29. Do not watch the weather provided by the National Weather Service.
It is not the job of government to operate a weather service. And it is a myth that no one would know the weather if the government did not operate a weather service. But if the government is going to tax me for it against my will, then I am going to watch to my heart’s content.
30. Do not listen to severe weather warnings from the National Weather Service.
It is not the job of government to issue severe weather warnings. And it is a myth that no one would be warned about severe weather if the government did not do the warning. But if the government is going to tax me for it against my will, then I am going to listen to my heart’s content.
31. Do not listen to tsunami, hurricane, or earthquake alert systems.
It is not the job of government to issue alerts for tsunamis, hurricanes, or earthquakes. And it is a myth that no one would be alerted to tsunamis, hurricanes, or earthquakes if the government did not do the alerting. But if the government is going to tax me for it against my will, then I am going to listen to my heart’s content.
32. Do not apply for federal housing.
It is not the job of the government to provide housing or have anything to do with the housing industry. And it is a myth that the poor would have no housing if the government did not provide it. Government housing is a recent development in American history. And the vast majority of housing is privately owned.
33. Do not use the internet, which was developed by the military.
This is about as simplistic as saying that Al Gore created the Internet. No one who knew anything about the history of the Internet would make such a vague and crude statement.
34. Do not swim in clean rivers.
It is not the job of government to make sure that rivers are clean. And it is a myth that no rivers would be clean if the government did not establish river water standards and mandate that they be followed.
35. Do not allow your child to eat school lunches or breakfasts.
It is not the job of government to fund school lunches or breakfasts. And not everyone who eats breakfast or lunch at school has it paid for by the government.
36. Do not ask for FEMA assistance when everything you own gets wiped out by disaster.
It is not the job of government to provide anyone disaster assistance. And it is a myth that no one would receive assistance if the government did not provide it. The American people are a resourceful and generous people.
37. Do not ask the military to defend your life and home in the event of a foreign invasion.
The military is so busy fighting foreign wars and occupying foreign countries that Americans would be better off defending themselves.
38. Do not use your cell phone or home telephone.
What phones have to do with the government is beyond my comprehension.
39. Do not buy firearms that wouldn’t have been developed without the support of the US Government and military. That includes most of them.
How do we know that these firearms wouldn’t have been developed without the support of the U.S. government and military? But regardless of who developed them in the past, that is no reason not to use them now. How else will Americans be able to protect themselves from their government and military?




40. Do not eat USDA inspected produce and meat.
It is not the job of government to inspect produce and meat or have an agriculture department. And it is a myth that no produce or meat would be inspected without the government inspecting it. Can Americans not even eat without government assistance?
41. Do not apply for government grants to start your own business.
It is not the job of government to give grants to anyone to start a business. And it is a myth that no one would start a business if the government did not provide grants. Ever heard of venture capitalists? Ever heard of Steve Jobs or Michael Dell?
42. Do not apply to win a government contract.
Most government contracts should be eliminated. The United States had no income tax until 1913, but certainly had no trouble paying for government contracts before then
43. Do not buy any vehicle that has been inspected by government safety agencies.
It is not the job of government to inspect products or have safety agencies. Ever heard of Underwriters Laboratories? It is a private organization.
44. Do not buy any product that is protected from poisons, toxins, etc…by the Consumer Protection Agency.
It is not the job of government to protect products from poisons or toxins or have a Consumer Protection Agency. And it is a myth that products would be dangerous without government protection. There is no reason why private consumer protection agencies could not do the job.
45. Do not save your money in a bank that is FDIC insured.
It is not the job of government to be in the insurance business or have anything to do with banking.
46. Do not use Veterans benefits or military health care.
We have too many veterans because of our senseless foreign wars. And who would want to experience the horrors of military health care?
47. Do not use the G.I. Bill to go to college.
Again, we have too many veterans because of our senseless foreign wars. It is not the job of government to have anything to do with education.
48. Do not apply for unemployment benefits.
It is not the job of government to provide unemployment benefits. And it is a myth that no one would have unemployment insurance if the government did not provide it. Americans purchase on the free market health insurance, life insurance, cancer insurance, dental insurance, disability insurance, homeowners’ insurance, renters’ insurance, parcel-shipping insurance, and auto insurance. Why not unemployment insurance? See my "The Unemployment Racket."
49. Do not use any electricity from companies regulated by the Department of Energy.
It is not the job of government to regulate electricity companies or have a Department of Energy. And it is a myth that some people would not have electricity if the government did not provide it. Most electricity in the United States is provided by private companies.
50. Do not live in homes that are built to code.
It is not the job of government to establish building codes. And it is a myth that buildings would not be constructed safely if the government did not establish building codes.




51. Do not run for public office. Politicians are paid with taxpayer dollars.
Who would want to get elected to office and rub shoulders with the dregs of society? The United States had no income tax until 1913, but certainly had no trouble paying politicians before then.
52. Do not ask for help from the FBI, S.W.A.T, the bomb squad, Homeland Security, State troopers, etc…
Don’t worry, we won’t. We want to say as far away from these elements of the police state that we possibly can.
53. Do not apply for any government job whatsoever as all state and federal employees are paid with tax dollars.
Most state and federal jobs should be eliminated. The United States had no income tax until 1913, but certainly had no trouble paying government workers before then.
54. Do not use public libraries.
It is not the job of the government to provide libraries. And it is a myth that there would be no libraries if the government did not provide them. Have you been in a public library lately? I see a more people doing web surfing and checking out movies than I see checking out books.
55. Do not use the US Postal Service.
It is constitutional for the government to have a U.S. Postal Service. However, if people were allowed to compete with the Post Office on mail delivery without fear of going to jail because of the postal monopoly, then few people would use the Post Office. The Postal Service is supposed to be funded by the services it provides. If it is not taking in enough money to cover its costs, then it needs to raise its prices.
56. Do not visit the National Archives.
The United States had no income tax until 1913, but certainly had no trouble archiving documents before then. But if the government is going to maintain an archive, then it should have user fees so that the ones who visit are the ones who pay for the privilege.
57. Do not visit Presidential Libraries.
Presidential libraries are privately funded and do not belong in this list.
58. Do not use airports that are secured by the federal government.
It is not job of government to secure airports or have anything to do with aviation. And it is a myth that airline travel would not be safe without the groping hands of the TSA.
59. Do not apply for loans from any bank that is FDIC insured.
It is not the job of government to be in the insurance business or have anything to do with banking.
60. Do not ask the government to help you clean up after a tornado.
It is not the job of government to help anyone clean up after a tornado. And it is a myth that no one would get help cleaning up after a tornado if the government did not provide the help. The American people are a resourceful and generous people.
61. Do not ask the Department of Agriculture to provide a subsidy to help you run your farm.
It is not the job of government to subsidize agriculture or have an agriculture department.
62. Do not take walks in National Forests.
It is not the job of government to designate National Forests. And it is a myth that there would be no protected forests if the government did not protect them. But if the government is going to designate National Forests, then it should have user fees so that the ones who visit are the ones who pay for the privilege. Meanwhile, if the government is going to tax me for it against my will, then I am going to get my money’s worth.




63. Do not ask for taxpayer dollars for your oil company.
It is not the job of government to transfer taxpayer money to oil companies or any other company.
64. Do not ask the federal government to bail your company out during recessions.
It is not the job of government to bail out any company during a recession or otherwise.
65. Do not seek medical care from places that use federal dollars.
It is not the job of government to spend federal dollars on medical care or have anything to do with medicine.
66. Do not use Medicaid.
It is not the job of government to pay for medical care or have anything to do with medicine. And it is a myth that the poor would not have access to medical care unless the government paid for it.
67. Do not use WIC.
It is not the job of the government to have welfare programs. And it is a myth that low-income women and their infants and children would go hungry if the government did not give them welfare.
68. Do not use electricity generated by Hoover Dam.
It is not the job of government to construct dams or generate electricity. Electricity generated by the Hoover Dam is paid for by those who use it. And it is a myth that some people would not have electricity if the government did not provide it. Most electricity in the United States is provided by private companies.
69. Do not use electricity or any service provided by the Tennessee Valley Authority.
It is not the job of government to generate electricity, provide any service by the TVA, or even have a TVA. It is a myth that some people would not have electricity if the government did not provide it. Most electricity in the United States is provided by private companies.
70. Do not ask the Army Corps of Engineers to rebuild levees when they break.
It is not the job of the government to build levees. It is a myth that no levees would be built or rebuilt if the government did not do the work.
71. Do not let the Coast Guard save you from drowning when your boat capsizes at sea.
Don’t worry, it won’t. The Coast Guard is too busy fighting the war on drugs.
72. Do not ask the government to help evacuate you when all hell breaks loose in the country you are in.
It is not the job of government to help evacuate anyone. Travel to other countries should be at one’s own risk. But if the U.S. government would stop making enemies around the world, the people in other countries might be more inclined to protect Americans.
73. Do not visit historic landmarks.




It is not the job of government to designate historic landmarks. And it is a myth that there would be no historic landmarks if the government did not designate them.
74. Do not visit fisheries.
It is not the job of the government to have anything to do with the fish industry or any other industry.
75. Do not expect to see animals that are federally protected because of the Endangered Species List.
It is not the job of the government to protect endangered species. And it is a myth that endangered species would die out if the government did not protect them.
76. Do not expect plows to clear roads of snow and ice so your kids can go to school and so you can get to work.
It is not the job of government to build roads in the first place. And it is a myth that no roads would be cleared if the government did not clear them.
77. Do not hunt or camp on federal land.
The federal government shouldn’t own any land outside of Washington DC that is not a military base. See my "This Land Is Not Your Land."
78. Do not work anywhere that has a safe workplace because of government regulations.
It is not the job of the government to institute workplace regulations. It is a myth that workplaces are only safe because of government regulations.
79. Do not use public transportation.
The New York City subway system was originally privately owned just as all "public" transportation should be and would be if governments did not regulate taxis and buses.
80. Do not drink water from public water fountains.
It is not the job of government to provide water fountains. And it is a myth that there would be no water fountains if the government did not provide them. Go into any Wal-Mart and get a drink if you’re thirsty.
81. Do not whine when someone copies your work and sells it as their own. Government enforces copyright laws.




Copyrights are constitutional, but someone copying my work and selling it as his own is fraud. We don’t need copyright laws to prevent that. The United States had no income tax until 1913, but certainly had no trouble enforcing copyright laws before then. On patents and copyrights, see the work of Stephan Kinsella. See also Against Intellectual Monopoly by Michele Boldrin and David K. Levine.
82. Do not expect to own your home, car, or boat. Government organizes and keeps all titles.
It is not the job of government to organize and keep titles. It is a myth that this could not be done without the help of government.
83. Do not expect convicted felons to remain off the streets.
Convicted felons roam the streets now. So what is your point?
84. Do not eat in restaurants that are regulated by food quality and safety standards.
It is not the job of government to regulate food quality and safety standards. It is a myth that restaurants are only safe to eat in because of government safety standards.
85. Do not seek help from the US Embassy if you need assistance in a foreign nation. The United States had no income tax until 1913, but certainly had no trouble paying for ambassadors to foreign countries before then. And again, the government could institute user fees so that the ones who need help are the ones who pay for the help.
86. Do not apply for a passport to travel outside of the United States.
Why should the government require me to get a passport in the first place? This is a recent innovation.
87. Do not apply for a patent when you invent something.
Applying for a patent costs thousands of dollars so it seems as if those who use the patent system are the ones paying for the privilege. Patents are constitutional, but the positive effect of patents on innovation is dubious. On patents and copyrights, see the work of Stephan Kinsella. See also Against Intellectual Monopoly by Michele Boldrin and David K. Levine.
88. Do not adopt a child through your local, state, or federal governments.
It is not the job of government to have anything to do with the adoption of children. And the adoption tax credit should not be refundable.
89. Do not use elevators that have been inspected by federal or state safety regulators.
It is not the job of government to inspect the safety of elevators. It is a myth that elevators are only safe because of inspection by government safety regulators.
90. Do not use any resource that was discovered by the USGS.
The USGS is the United States Geologic Service. It is not the job of government to discover resources. It is a myth that resources would not be discovered without government assistance.
91. Do not ask for energy assistance from the government.
It is not the job of the government to provide energy assistance. It is a myth that the poor would suffer without energy assistance from the government. Many energy providers solicit money from their customers to help provide energy assistance to the poor.
92. Do not move to any other developed nation, because the taxes are much higher.
And so are the services. I didn’t think it mattered how high the taxes were as long as commensurate government services were provided?
93. Do not go to a beach that is kept clean by the state.
It is not the job of government to keep beaches clean. It is a myth that beaches are only kept clean because the government cleans them.




94. Do not use money printed by the US Treasury.
We have no choice because of government legal tender laws.
95. Do not complain when millions more illegal immigrants cross the border because there are no more border patrol agents.
If the government would stop the drug war, end welfare, stop forcing schools to provide a free public education to children who are not American citizens, end birthright citizenship, and stop forcing hospitals to provide health care to those with no ability to pay, then the illegal immigrant problem would vanish.
96. Do not attend a state university.
It is not the job of state governments to provide education or have anything to do with education. And it is a myth that no one would be educated without government schools. There are a multitude of private colleges in existence. But if states have provisions in their constitutions to operate universities, then those who attend them should pay the full cost of their tuition.
97. Do not see any doctor that is licensed through the state.
It is not the job of government to license doctors or have anything to do with medicine.
98. Do not use any water from municipal water systems.
It is not the job of government to provide water. It is a myth that no one would have running water if the government did not provide it. Some water systems are privately owned, as they all could be and should be.
99. Do not complain when diseases and viruses, that were once fought around the globe by the US government and CDC, reach your house.
It is not the job of government to fight disease or have anything to do with medicine. And it is a myth that no diseases would be conquered if the government did not fight them.
100. Do not work for any company that is required to pay its workers a livable wage, provide them sick days, vacation days, and benefits.
It is not the job of government to require companies to pay certain wages or provide sick days, vacation days, or benefits. And just look at all the benefits that some companies offer that have nothing to do with government regulations. Wages and benefits should depend on a free labor market, not government decree.
101. Do not expect to be able to vote on election days. Government provides voting booths, election day officials, and voting machines which are paid for with taxes.
What difference would it make if no one voted for police statist A over police statist B? The United States had no income tax until 1913, but certainly had no trouble funding elections before then.
102. Do not ride trains. The railroad was built with government financial assistance.
It is not the job of government to finance railroad construction or have anything to do with the railroad industry. And it is a myth that no one could ride trains unless the government funded them. See Thomas DiLorenzo’s The Role of Private Transportation in America’s 19th-Century "Internal Improvements" Debate.
The author concludes: "Without taxes, our lifestyles would be totally different and much harder. America would be a third world country. The less we pay, the less we get in return."
Pay up or die. That is the mentality of "102 Things NOT To Do If You Hate Taxes." Without government oversight, businesses would do nothing but rip off their customers, poison their customers, endanger their customers, and kill their customers. Without government oversight, the air would be unfit to breath, rivers would all be contaminated, food would be poisonous, and drinking water would be full of toxic chemicals. Without government oversight, the poor would starve to death, there would be no transportation, no infrastructure, disease would be everywhere, only the rich would have access to health care, there would be no zoos, parks, forests, or museums, garbage would pile up in the streets, criminals and illegal immigrants would roam wild, no one would go to school, fires would burn out of control, and no product or workplace would be safe.
Pay up or die. Civilization depends on it.


February 20, 2012
Copyright © 2012 by LewRockwell.com. Permission to reprint in whole or in part is gladly granted, provided full credit is given.