III

 "Heeeeeey!  You have a III in your header!  You're racist!!!!"

So, yes, I have a III in my header.  Yes, it means 3%, and  yes, I consider myself a "threeper".  You may notice this blog was created many, many years ago.  During that time, I was an avid reader of the Sipsey Street Irregulars, run by the late Mike Vanderboegh.  He was the man who coined the 3%, based on the 3% of colonists who fought against the British during the revolution.  You can, in fact, click on his blog over there in the left nav, scroll on back into history and see exactly what his intent was when he started talking about the 3%. The original colonists fighting in the 1770's weren't worried about slavery (mostly, they were indeed products of their time), and the founding of this country wasn't about being able to own slaves.  Nowhere do you see mentions of "we're rebelling because King George is telling us to free our slaves".  In fact, in my opinion the founding documents were designed to allow for the eventual downfall of slavery, though there were headwinds from slave owning states during the founding.

So recently, the III symbol has been coopted by some asshole racists.  So has the "OK" symbol (though I see a lot of chatter that it was really a Reddit hoax that got out of control).  I can't help that, and honestly, if we abandon every symbol that some backwards, jerkoff white supremacists coopt, we're going to run out of symbols shortly.  So it stays up there. It stays up there as a sign that I'm woke to the ideas of true liberty, personal sovereignty, personal accountability, and self reliance.  That I abhor any idea or law, whether from the left, right, or center, that tells me what I must do without also demonstrating that it is Constitutional and doesn't trample on personal freedoms.  And that I will, God willing, resist any attempts to take those liberties by force.

If you don't like that, you don't have to read any further, I wish you good day.

 Gallup Poll: Fewer Than Half Likely to Comply With COVID-19 Lockdown

Just a quick reminder, the only way the system works is if you willingly comply.  Government is by consent - when enough people do not consent, a law (or "emergency order", also known as a Government Fiat) has no basis and can not be enforced effectively.

With regards to a national mask order, or a national lockdown, I fail to see the Constitutionality.  I fail to see the authority by which a tyrant 3000 miles away can rule my life better than local government, which at least I have the chance to affect more directly with my vote.

Local governments have a far better chance of evaluating their numbers, understanding the will of their people, and implementing restrictions that are "reasonable" to handle their locality.  Should one be implemented, I will consider it my duty and right, protected by the First Amendment, to use my lack of compliance as political speech.  

For now, I will wear a mask indoors out of civic duty, as I find that to be reasonable and believe in protecting myself in an enclosed environment.  I will continue to refuse to wear one outdoors, where the ventilation and crowding is scarce.  Lockdowns do nothing but bankrupt people and businesses.

"Which is better - to be ruled by one tyrant three thousand miles away or by three thousand tyrants one mile away?" - Mather Byles

So NOW is finally the time to get Portland under control?

Oregon governor finally activates National Guard to counter violent riots in Portland

Does anyone else find this timing to be suspect?  More than three or four months of riots, and just after the election is "over" and everyone has put in their votes, NOW you decide to get tough on rioters, get tough on ANTIFA, effectively stop everything you've been happily blaming on President Trump for the last four years.  

Color me skeptical.