I'm a panarchist, but if the only two choices were anarchy or any form of totalitarianism, be it called socialism, fascism, corporatism, communism, theocracy, monarchy or democracy, I'll take my chances with anarchy. At least then, the violations of my rights will not be legal and without impunity.

Al Gore's not a scientist. He's just a guy with a lot to gain by selling climate change. It's actually comforting to know that deep down, he's a capitalist just trying to increase his bottom line. When push comes to shove, we're all just trying to do what benefits us the most. Some of us just choose to do it through the free market and voluntary cooperation while others prefer to use the power of government to steal it for them.

False fact is an oxymoron.

I give Logan's comment five stars. The founders of this country had very little nice to say about democracy. It is telling enough that the word "democracy" is not found a single time in the Declaration of Independence, The Articles of Confederation or the US Constitution. ...and Mike's billions of stars? That's funny! I can't believe I'm actually giving Carl Sagan five stars, but hey, even a clack that's broken is right twice a day.

Sometimes, our rulers accidentally speak the truth. We are led to believe that government exists for the sake of peace, liberty and justice, but in truth, the REAL purpose of government IS to rein in the rights of the people. The ruling class has not changed for thousands of years. They still exist to bend the common man to their whims and consume the products of our labor. Disguise government any way you please. Cloak it in the vestments which suit your beliefs. Paint it with grand and beautiful colors, but underneath, it will always remain nothing more than an institution with the legalized privilege of violating the rights of its serfs.

Yes, George. We'll pay no attention to the man behind the curtain. "I felt sorry for a country that elected George Bush, until I saw a country that elected John McCain." It doesn't stop until we decide it's important enough to stop. Stop voting for the Republocrats. Vote for a third party candidate, or yourself, or Mickey Mouse, or none of the above. Anyone except a member of the current ruling classes.

Regardless of anyone's opinion on the positive or negative consequences of the vices of others, neither they, nor the individuals in government have the right to use coercive force to prohibit the possession, free trade, exercise or use thereof.

Oh, I get it. So government really IS good for us?

Individuals should live by positive goals. Governments, on the other hand, should only exist to reactively defend each individual's rights of life, liberty and property necessary toward the attainment of those goals.

Alexander Hamilton speaking against unconstitutional acts? Wasn't he the one who gave us our first unconstitutional central bank?

A pretty ironic quote considering the source. Of course, politics is all about saying one thing and doing another.

jim k, austin, I thought he covered criminals under the headings Military and Policemen. No one wants to get rid of all guns, in fact that would be impossible. They just want guns in the hands of the "right" people. I'm sorry, but being defenseless against the "right" people scares the Hell out of me.

Totalitarian governments always fear armed peasants.

Perhaps it's our nation's trained professionals against whom I want to defend myself.

...because, as you know, government is good and responsible, and you're not. Everyone should watch "Innocents Betrayed" produced by the JPFO.

The degree to which our "constitutional" US government violates our rights of life, liberty and property is all the evidence necessary for us to not put our faith in written constitutions. Defending rights will always be a personal responsibility.

I see this quote used out of context by collectivists. It is important to remember, Ben was advocating cooperative defense of individual liberty.

This quote goes to the heart of Bastiat's book, "The Law." It goes well with another Franklin quote, "Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for dinner." Democracy must always be bound by the rule of law in that it may never be used to violate the minority's rights to life, liberty or property. It should never be used as a means to legitimize murder, theft, slavery or fraud.

Ben's one of my heroes, so I feel bad giving him a thumbs down on this one. But, even the smartest people have their Achilles heel. Ben must not have been able to see the temptation to inflate associated with paper money which is not possible with honest, hard money. I'm sure if he could see the mess central banking has put us in now, he'd feel differently.

I like the "working for himself" part. To me that doesn't automatically infer selfishness, only the freedom to choose whether or not and with whom he will be charitable. A man who is taxed by government is not free. He is enslaved, and the fruits of his labor are not his own.

Living in south Florida gives me the opportunity to meet a lot of people from New York and New Jersey. I believe that living with others, packed in like sardines, has had a very negative affect on them. I'm with Waffler on this one, but make mine a 20' sloop and a little breeze.

It's not the number of people with which one lives that makes the difference, the degree of oppression grows with the size, scope, and power of government. Of course, if the form of oppression you live under calls itself democracy, then those two are one and the same. Cooperation with other individuals has obvious benefits, but only when one is still free to act as an individual and his cooperation is voluntary and without the initiation of force.

Waffler, isn't conformity a form of slavery and oppression? I love "The Law" by Bastiat. It does a better job of nailing the problems of political power than any other book I've read. You can read it here on Liberty-tree or at Bastiat.org .

I know lots of folks who can tell you sports statistics all day, but don't even know their elected representatives. We're easily distracted and politicians know it, which is one way they get away with the things they do.

I love Spooner's, "No Treason." It's a must read for lovers of freedom and justice.