A letter in response to an angry voter

Hi Doug.

After our conversation yesterday I felt impressed to explain a little bit more about my thoughts on why I have decided not to vote in today's election. I always enjoy talking to you about things because essentially throughout the last 10 or so years I have known you I have learned a lot from yours and Cheri's ideas and beliefs, and because I know you are someone who understands much about the world and the people in it. I respect, love and cherish the experiences you and your family have brought into my life. I couldn't have asked for a better friend than your son Colton, as he has been a light in my sometimes dark life. With that I'll try to make this quick and coherent.

1. My vote will not make a difference. Whether Obama or McCain takes the crown will not be determined on behalf of my vote tomorrow. I have a better chance of being elected president than being the one vote that would swing the election.

2. Voting is the least productive way of "change" or having my voice heard. And when a politician talks about change what he's really describing is enforcing the ideas of the few upon the many. It would be more effective to become wealthy and influence a congressman to see things my way if I really wanted change. As I said to you today, change does not happen from the top down, but rather the opposite in fact. It is the insignificant, little people that force change to occur for good in the everyday lives of Americans. Mahatma Ghandi, Rosa Parks, Joseph Smith. America has lost its way because America has lost its freedom. Not the freedom to send its children to public school, or freedom to rent DVDs, or freedom to choose between red or blue; but the freedom to rule over itself. America has become an indolent child because of the state. As government grows bigger it grows stronger in its influence and the individual grows weaker in his/her ability to make his/her own decisions about his/her life. For some that may be a blessing but I believe the loss of self governance is essentially slavery. The loss of personal agency is contrary to the plan of happiness.

3. What will voting achieve? For me? Nothing. But a lot for government. It gives them a mandate to enact a new law, create a new division, create an unnecessary tentacle. The reality is if McCain wins government will get bigger and more intrusive. If Obama wins, government will get bigger and more intrusive. The air I breathe, the water I drink, the size of my toilet tank, the water pressure in my shower, how my doctor treats my illness, what my children study in grade school, how fast I can drive my car, and what I can drink before I drive it are all regulated by federal law. Every decision associated with my life has some law attached to it thanks to my government.

4. War is an inevitable part of big government. America is an empire, with hundreds of military bases around the world. This footing has been gained by force under the watch of Republican and Democrat presidents and administrations alike. American bullets and bombs have probably killed millions under the banner of freedom and democracy. American arrogance has killed a million more in its desire to establish a more secure influence around the world and now into space. What a fucking disgrace to be called an American in the light of these truths. I believe the war in Iraq is the beginning of endless war with an endless list of justifications from an endless list of professional liars. We pay these people to lie to us.

5. The role of government is not to make any decisions for me or my family, but to protect my god-given rights to life, liberty, and personal property. Government itself has no innate power or privilege to do anything. Its only source of authority and power is from the people who have created it. In turn, the people who have created the government can only give government power that they, themselves, have in the first place. If I cannot lawfully take from my neighbor or force upon him whatever I want, then neither can government.

6. The constitution throughout history is always ignored by presidents, by congress, by judges and lawyers, and by cops. The one official document that provides prosperity for all, the document that provides the things that originally made America great has been called "quaint" and "just a goddam piece of paper" by both presidents on the left and right, the same quaint goddam piece of paper those presidents, congressmen, judges, lawyers and cops swore to uphold and defend. The constitution is ignored because it truly outlines freedom for the people, not power for government, but freedom from tyrannical government which oversteps its authority. Neither Obama nor McCain have made much of a fuss about the importance of the constitution which tells me that neither candidate believes that the constitution is important in shaping their roles as commander in chief. If they won't play by the rules then neither will I.

7. Income taxes. I know that those who reject the legality of income taxes are seen as fringe, as lunatics, and called unpatriotic in their duty to "pay their share." To this I admit wholeheartedly that I am proud to be on the side of those who resist the income tax. Money collected from the income tax barely pays the interest on the national debt which is owed to the federal reserve. THe federal reserve is not a US bank. It is a private bank. THe fed prints money without anything to back it up. This causes inflation. Inflation causes recessions, not the free market. THe free market encourages competition, which benefits the people. Our monetary policy is nothing more than a counterfeiting scheme that will eventually lead to the financial ruin of our country. Neither candidate has addressed this either. I wonder why?

8. What do Obama and McCain want? Well naturally, to implement their ideas on the rest of America of course. Why? Well why does any person take the charge to lead? Because they believe their ideology, their religion, their plan, or their bullshit dream is what's best for everybody else. Why should I be subjected to the whims of anyone, good for me or not. Government is the spectacle of a few men molding mankind according to their whims, thanks to the prestige of fraud.

9. I believe in liberty. The instinct of all man is toward liberty, the freedom to do whatever he desires as long as that whatever does not infringe on the same freedom of others. I don't want to be told what to do. Government not only tells but forces me to do what it wants. This is satanical.

I feel like I could go on forever. But what would be the point? I guess I just wanted you to know I have considered many viewpoints in the political realm too. I have no faith in government's ability to choose a better path for me than I could for myself. It deserves no reverence, no special praise. It has only screwed up every assignment we gave it. Government hinders mans true ability to practice charity. Government only knows how to plunder. Theft, even for a good reason, is wrong and that is essentially what government does. It steals from those who have and gives to those who don't, or won't. It is sad to think that we really only get all hysterical around election day. Soon it will pass, people will forget who they voted for and why. The business in washington will continue as usual and as planned. Wars will end and begin again. Middle America will grow weaker as the dollar continues to buy less and less (inflation, or as they say 'water in the whiskey') Oil companies, defense contractors, banks, insurance corporations and etc will amass more influence under a new president who will find he is powerless against the machine of a leviathan, whose cogs are lubricated by the sweat of me and you. But I have hope. I have hope in the truth. It is out there, taunting us to find it, usually in the most unlikely of places.

BRian