Rich Paul’s letter from Jail: Libertarianism
Libertarianism is a political philosophy based on the idea that no person or group of people has the right to aggress against the Life, Liberty, Property or Pursuit of Happiness of another, either by force or by fraud. Libertarians know and accept that aggression cannot be eliminated from the world, and our philosophy does allow for the use of force in defense of self or others. The question which, for us, settles the issue of who is right or wrong in and violent conflict is a very simple one, probably familiar to readers from childhood: “Who started it?” The person who ‘initiated force’ is the person who is wrong, every time.
Simplicity is one of the great strengths of Libertarianism. It allows a person to understand the legal consequences of his actions without consulting high priced lawyers or studying huge tomes filled with their ever changing statutes. This is probably the reason that there are so few Libertarian lawyers. Simplicity is the enemy of any privileged class.
Some people believe that they should, in some cases, be permitted to do violence against people who do things they don’t like, even though these people are harming only themselves. They argue that a person who takes drugs, for example, might possibly someday do some sort of harm to someone else, so he should be punished before he has the chance. Of course, this belief is absurd. Punishing someone because they might someday aggress would require, if applied consistently, the punishment of every person, since any human might someday commit an act of aggression. The law, however, should punish only criminals, not potential criminals.
Still other people believe that a sufficiently large majority should be permitted to do violence against a sufficiently small minority, in the democratic tradition. The belief that numerical “might makes right” is the ‘moral’ basis of democracy. The idea that the majority is always right can be easily dispelled with a simple thought experiment. Imagine a true democracy which consists of 9 men and 1 woman on an island. The men vote that the woman must have sex with all of them. According to the democratic ideal, this is perfectly acceptable, since the men outnumber the poor girl, and should she refuse their demands, then she is a criminal. This is why Benjamin Franklin described democracy as “Two wolves and a sheep voting on what to have for dinner,” and why America was founded as a Democratic Republic, not a democracy. Sadly, modern America is closer to the democratic than the republican ideal. (Note: Please do not confuse these words with the political parties similarly named. The connections are lost in the mists of time.)
Libertarianism is, in my humble opinion, the only truly moral political philosophy. Whether it is expressed through a minimal State–like that specified by our Constitution–or through anarchy–private arrangements in the absence of any State–it is the only political philosophy which can bring peace and harmony to our society. If you would like to learn more about this philosophy, please check out the short youtube video “The Philosophy of Liberty,” the Free State Project, the Libertarian Party, or meet some real live Libertarians and the 4:20 rally which occurs every afternoon on the Keene Common, or the Night Cap which occurs every night around 11:00pm in the same place. You may also write to me at the address below:
Rich “420 Guy” Paul
C/O Cheshire County Jail
Cell Block ‘D’
825 Marlboro Street
Keene, NH 03431
The Latest Issue of the Free Keene Press is Online
Click Here for the online .pdf edition of the Free Keene Press.
We expanded to 4 pages with this issue. It is looking like the Free Keene Press will be putting out an independent quarterly publication for the Keene area starting with a release slated for the autumnal equinox. Keep an eye on freekeene.com for more information!
Ian Freeman’s Trial over a Parking Ticket
Filed under: Civil Disobedience, Jailed Activist, Police, Thuggery
The State does not like talking about the New Hampshire State Constitution as Ian Freeman disputes a parking violation in Keene District Court, Wednesday, April 28th, 2010.
Judge Lane presides over the trial as Ian attempts to understand the nature and cause of the proceedings and SamIam rides shotgun. Check it out!
March Issue of the Free Keene Press
Filed under: Announcement, News, The Free Keene Press
Thanks to BJ Wurts for the great letter about his trip to Keene.
The Free Keene Press is going to be looking to expand the amount of pages we have to fill. The next edition will be four pages instead of one. This means I am going to need more Keene-centric content and could use some help with that task. Currently I am paying for the printing costs out of pocket, with the cost going from $70 to $200, I will also need help paying for the printing costs. I am open to the idea of running some ads and pricing is negotiable.
What I am looking for as far as content is:
- Articles in general
- Photographs with caption or brief context description
- Re-printable art
- Opinion pieces
- Comics, puzzles
- Press releases for events around Keene
In terms of the articles I would like to see:
- Taxes
- City Council watch type report
- Events around the Keene area like Pumpkin Fest
- Social needs and services and a critique thereof, both public and private
- Important Cheshire county news stories
And much more of course. I plan on keeping an open mind as to what gets printed. You can submit an item for consideration by sending an email to press@freekeene.com.
And just to clarify things: By submitting you give the Free Keene Press permission to reprint and edit your item as we see fit. You will not be compensated. You will be credited and if your item is edited a note will be made. Please limit profanity. More than likely if an edit is made it will be for length.
If you have questions please feel free to email the above address.
January Issue of the Free Keene Press
Click on the Press link to the right or click here to see the pdf.
Happy New Year!
Click read on for an excerpt from the January issue of the Free Keene Press Read more
Brandon said “No” and was Punished
Brandon Durham of Keene found the morning of October 19, 2009 a little chilly. He was walking to the courthouse wearing a hooded sweatshirt and found that putting the hood up kept his head warmer. He entered the City Hall building and proceeded up the stairs and through the security checkpoint. Brandon then entered the courtroom and took a seat while he waited for the judge to enter the room and process the days docket.
A bailiff approached Brandon and asked him to remove his hood.
Brandon forgot he even had it on and declined when asked to remove it.
Ryan Maddox arrested by Sheriffs, Released
UPDATE!! Ryan Maddox is released after being arraigned this afternoon! He has a curfew now and another court case for “Hindering the Prosecution” of our neighbor lady.
The Sheriffs had an utter disregard for safety and speed off while turning the car and ended up running over the foot of Jesse O’Keene.
Video: Free Keene Blogger JJ Helps With Arrest Of Pharmacy Robbery Suspect – WMUR
See the video here on WMUR’s site. Here’s the text of the report:
KEENE, N.H. — Two witnesses helped police track down and arrest a man charged with robbing a Keene pharmacy at knifepoint.
Police said a man robbed the Apothecary Pharmacy at about 5 p.m. on Monday. Police said he left with painkillers and was spotted by at least two men nearby.
“Basically, he came right out the door and was running, so I followed him into the alleyway,” said witness James Schlessinger.
Schlessinger openly carries a gun and said he wasn’t concerned about the possibility of the man having a weapon.
“I was armed and I wasn’t so scared because his attention wasn’t so much on other people as it was running away,” Schlessinger said. Read more
Afternoon Justice
By James B Schlessinger Jr.
I was about to sit down and eat my freshly prepared meal when I heard a lady outside yell, “he has a knife.” I turned to the door and a moment later a woman was standing at the entrance announcing, “don’t come outside there is a guy with a knife.”
I exited the Subway and noticed crowd gathered somewhat semi-circle around the entrance of the next door shop, The Apothecary. I started to walk toward the door and a man in a mask burst out of the door. He was carrying a large kitchen knife and what looked like a tan wastebasket or bag. He ran straight to the alleyway next to the shop, I followed him down the length of the alley and into a parking lot. He had dropped his mask mid-way through the alley and his face was clearly visible bearing a distinct grey facial hair pattern. I saw him heading for a waiting vehicle and watched him climb in the front passenger seat of the SUV which contained a driver and perhaps one more in the back. I memorized the license plate and headed back to the shop.
Free Keene Fest after-party at Westmoreland Jail
With 4 Keene area activists in jail and the Fall Free Keene planned for tomorrow, why not take the show on the road and stop by the Cheshire County Department of Corrections located in Westmoreland, NH?
Want to have a party? Bring a party!
Want to have music? Bring Music!
ect…
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