That's what these shootings are choreographed to do. The false flags have increased exponentially over the last few years and have become more and more blatant. CLEARLY, there is a concerted effort being waged to disarm law-abiding Americans by INTENTIONAL DECEPTION.

The battle for world domination includes the conquest of the US seats of power -- to deny this perpetual war is to shirk one's personal responsibility to be ever vigilant and actively defend and protect one's liberty, families and community, and a republican form of government predicated upon the inalienable natural-born rights of the individual.

Ah, yes, 'The List.' Every totalitarian regime has one (then more). I understand that 'Al Qaeda' is a synonym for 'the list.' Caesar had kill lists, so did Hitler, Stalin, Mao. Obama has one -- the Clinton's have two! Giving legitimacy to these lists bypasses the due process of law. No-fly lists are essentially hit lists -- can't charge the person with a crime but disempower him wherever and whenever possible.

This has certainly been my experience. Mark Twain said something similar: "Travel is lethal to prejudice."

Having eaten at another family's table with different race, religion, or culture, my unconscious biases often reveal themselves and dissipate from lack of foundation. I thoroughly enjoy talking with an individual who has taken his stand -- even if I may not agree with it, I respect a person who lives by principle and honor.

"The individual must subordinate himself to society's needs" -- and who speaks for society when the individual is subordinate? What are society's needs and who says? And who enforces 'society's' needs? This herd mentality is exactly what meat packers want.

Hanson's statistics are incomplete and do not account for millions of unemployed who are not counted 18 months after their unemployment benefits expire. I don't know what deficit numbers you are quoting but as far as deficit goes, well ;-), ALL the money in circulation is borrowed at interest, and the US money supply was increased dramatically (QE1,2,3,4,...) Real GDP is practically nil, and this credit bubble is being propped up to keep up appearances. But the next crash is likely coming -- and I would prefer that Trump be on the scene rather than the Clinton's. At least Trump knows how currencies work as well as international trade. Obama and Hillary are in the pockets of Wall Street -- always have been.

Very simply, find out where people put the responsibility for their lives. If they are not pointing to themselves, then chances are they have been disempowered and merely parrot the party line as justification for their 'sacrifice.' Those defending their liberty, property KNOW for what they fight -- those fighting to TAKE it do not.

I do not subscribe to the 'Fallen Man' allegory -- I more consider my life a process of coming to my feet as the 'Standing Man' -- the 'Stand' is what makes the 'Man.' I am with those that assert 'The good Lord helps those that help themselves.' The Responsible Man. ;-)

All partisans resemble that remark. ;-)

Collectivists love their schools, teachers, and guidance counselors. Individuals who don't quite fit into their plans, however, are a bit troublesome, requiring a bit more 'guidance,' 'counseling' and frequently school mandated psychotropic drugs. Forget about addressing the real needs of the student, force it down his throat if he can't stay awake for it. Test scores are the obvious clue that this system does not actually educate students -- they probably could have picked it all up at home, on the farm, or working as an intern or apprentice better than in a classroom.

Mike, I am trying to make a more conscious shift to promote the good, which far exceeds the bad. We've been harping on the hypocrisy and collectivism-creep for years, and you know what, the people are starting to 'show up', wake up, and light up.

Lies do not fulfill, they have no nutrient value, no life giving force -- hence, empty promises ultimately are revealed to be just that: empty.

I credit the Internet for allowing the world to bypass the broadcast propaganda and fueling the awakening of the world to itself. Trump is the Twitter president! He's bypassing a rigged system, going directly to the people. The 'revolution' is once again within the hearts and minds of the people. Frankly, I am looking forward to Trump saying, "You're fired!" to entire slews of unelected politicrats from public office.

Sorry for the stumping for Trump -- I have been watching the RNC speakers (when the talking heads will allow me - I didn't tune in to hear THEM) and I must say I found myself nodding in agreement with most of what I heard. Although, I am not an advocate of the police state, and some of this populist, nationalist rhetoric now about 'blue lives matter' is dangerously close to authoritarian statism (pick your flavor). But I think it appeases the establishment to know that 'security,' police, military, and defense spending is going to increase. Never-the-less, I guess I am showing a bit of hopefulness -- not the normal every day E Archer, I suppose. ;-)

jim k, you couldn't have said it half as "well" as Mike. ;-)

Mike's had a lot of practice honing it down to nearly bite-sized -- it's still a lot to swallow all at once though. For those of us with a 'refined' palette, it's a bitter herb.

But Mike, I would remind you that we are no more slaves than statutes are 'laws.' Sovereignty is conscious, responsible action -- I am no more a slave than I am willing to accept. Live free or die.

When I get depressed I can end up viewing the world as The Matrix. But when I am empowered, having taken my stand, I see simple utopia right here in my community. All the dreams of the social engineers to fill our cups are simply unnecessary. The USSA will NEVER happen -- there may be a few urban disasters, but the heart and soul of the free and responsible people of America is the silent foundation of this nation, and 'we' will continue and persevere always -- always!

I like "censorship is social blasphemy." ;-) What does that make Facebook, the "social blasphemy network" ? The "indolence, self-interest and cowardice" evidently apply...

Great examples, Mike!

Sorry, Hanson, but ... huh?

Power to the people! A tyrant may succeed for a while, but the energy required to maintain a monopoly of lies and weapons cannot stand without the cooperation of the people. It will not last. Let's just not go there, OK? ;-)

I would say that more and more is becoming compulsory... prohibitions abound.

Brilliant! Beccaria highlights the distinctions between a representative legislator and a ruling legislator. A legislator should concern himself with the general welfare, not special interests. A legislator should be trying to inspire the populace not command them. A legislator acting in accordance with reason would not be making laws that declare opposing viewpoints illegal -- they would not enact legislation that loads the populace with obligations that can never be paid in full.

Our election of representatives is not the transference of personal responsibility to the representatives. Identifying the 'responsible' as anything other than the people will ultimately end in their dependence and servitude.

It may be a wordy quote but contains the entire argument against gun control in a nutshell.

That would be nice, Mike. What a concept! Don't you wish there was a place somewhere on this green Earth where sovereigns united could settle and form a union based upon the inherent rights of humankind? Oh that's right, that's AMERICA -- not the "U.S." Around the globe, the Independence Movement is starting to spread again. Maybe there is still a chance? Are Americans actually waking up? It sure seems so...

I had to break out the dictionary again, Patrick Henry -- 'endogenous' vs. 'exogenous'. Either way, you are talking about a pile of compost -- some perhaps a little more 'steaming' than others. The distinction is whether what grows comes from within or is transplanted. Given that 'Knowledge is Power' and 'great power requires great responsibility,' knowledge without understanding and unconstrained by principle is dangerous. The allegory of the 'Fall of Man' highlights dangers and pitfalls from which there may be no return. But I am not a fatalist. I trust in the process of Life, from beginning to end. I know not about the life to come, if there is one in the 'hereafter.' If I pray, it is usually in thanks or an appeal for the courage to live up to the principles of honor and compassion. I hope to one day grow up to an old wise man. ;-) Until then, I recognize that I may be but a pile of compost, but I am also the farmer and get to reap what I sow.

I'm a Responsibilitarian. ;-) I am responsible for the condition and quality of my life. By extension, I hold others responsible for their lives. Our representatives have betrayed us by assuming responsibilities I have not given them. What is the check against the mob of those who do not take responsibility for the condition and quality of their lives? And who has empowered our representatives to 'solve' their problems?

So, if I understand you correctly, Mike, as far as natural law goes, you are not an anarchist, but in terms of statist theocratic 'statutory' law, you ARE an anarchist. ;-)

Not entirely ... history is that which the publisher and schools say it is. As a student of history, I did not agree with that. When I was growing up, I was frequently told, "Don't believe everything you read." I haven't heard anyone say that in decades...

Assuming the people DO consent to the Constitution of their republican government, how will that make the government stay within their bounds? As far as I can tell, the government seems to assume that it has been charged with checking itself. Where are the checks against a national central government that assumes powers never granted?

Plato kind of glosses over "compulsory bodily exercise" as not harmful to the body -- but what makes the exercise compulsory? That seems to me to be quite harmful to the body AND mind.

I attended several different schools in different states, public, Catholic, private. Keeping 'order' and instituting social control were primary tasks. Only in the private prep school were academics the key focus -- getting into a good college was the intent. Stifling variety is common, but there were certainly places where individuality could be expressed. The Catholics were not very tolerant of pointed questions about the 'faith,' and the public schools were busy trying to preserve order between the bussed in blacks and the neighborhood students. I skipped 7th grade and could have skipped 8th, too, but I would have been 12 years old in a public high school. Every day we'd come in to find out what new hoops we'd be told to jump through. I could hardly wait to grow up and get out of this prison -- only to find out that I had been educated in servitude, either to rule or to be ruled. ;-)

Eight years later, and the establishment globlists are still trying to foist their pawns on the electorate. Maybe after decades now of Americans actually waking up and saying 'enough is enough,' we are ready to embody the spirit of independence and self-determination that made America. Brexit and other independence movements are happening now. When the populace in general are self-sufficient, they are naturally prosperous. The older generations remember prosperity while witnessing the 'transformation' of America into debtor nation #1 with no end in sight. Let's just hope that you can't fool all of the people all of the time ...