by Runaway Slave | Jul 5, 2005 | Essays & Articles, Freedom, Law, Libertarian Curmudgeon, Liberty
There he was, Chairman Mao, in my mailbox. He wore a dark green proletarian pajama top. Orange and red glory rays blazed in a halo around his head. Rendered in colored ink, he gazed out calmly from the cover of TIME Magazine. His inscrutable, Giaconda smile made me...
by Runaway Slave | Jun 14, 2005 | Essays & Articles, Freedom, Law, Libertarian Curmudgeon, Liberty, Licensing, Politics
Never appeal to a man’s "better nature." He may not have one. Invoking his self-interest gives you more leverage. — Robert Heinlein It’s summer again in Florida. Weathermen are in their glory. Floridians are wondering how the patio doors will hold up...
by Runaway Slave | May 26, 2005 | Essays & Articles, Freedom, Law, Libertarian Curmudgeon, Licensing, Taxes
"Politicians are interested in people. Not that this is always a virtue. Fleas are interested in dogs." — P. J. O'Rourke A victory for fair play and the free market has put local politicians and bureaucrats in a tizzy. A jury has brought in a verdict...
by Runaway Slave | May 26, 2005 | Essays & Articles, History, Law, Libertarian Curmudgeon, Liberty
And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause to be killed as many as would not worship the image of the beast. And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a...
by Runaway Slave | Apr 15, 2005 | Essays & Articles, I.R.S., Income Tax, Law, Libertarian Curmudgeon, Politics, Taxes
"Just how far down the rabbit hole do you want to go? — Morpheus to Neo in The Matrix It’s April 15th. That’s the deadline for Americans, under threat of financial ruin, armed raids and imprisonment to reveal the intimate details of our fiscal affairs to the...
by Runaway Slave | Feb 1, 2005 | Essays & Articles, Law, Libertarian Curmudgeon, Politics, Rights
A rash of Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) lawsuits here in sunny Key West reminded me of the catfish lawyer joke sent to me by my brother-in-law, the attorney. Question: What’s the difference between an ADA lawyer and a catfish? Answer: One is a scum sucking...
by Runaway Slave | Jan 18, 2005 | Essays & Articles, Freedom, Identification, Law, Libertarian Curmudgeon, Politics, Rights, Terrorism
And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause to be killed as many as would not worship the image of the beast. And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a...
by Runaway Slave | Jan 5, 2005 | Charity, Essays & Articles, Law, Libertarian Curmudgeon, Socialism
There is nothing like a disaster of Biblical proportions to bring out the best in people and the worst in government organizations. Within a week of the Indonesian tsunami foreign bureaucrats in charge of using other people’s money for humanitarian aid were accusing...
