On the fourth of July 2010 I spent my night writing a post for this blog.
Why did I not spend my time consuming alcohol, watching fireworks explode, and wishing “America” a “happy birthday” along with many of my peers?
The answer to this question is complex, so complex in fact, that I have chosen to weave the core of that night’s blog post into an answer for this question.
The title of that post being “I Carry a Gun: Here’s How and Why”.
The core?
Well at first it was only a technical post about carrying a firearm (concealed), and self defense. As my writing efforts carried on, the research to support my ideas rapidly expanded – coincidentally parallel with the increasing amount of fireworks blasting off outside as the night wore on.
Long story short, I finished the majority of the post that night, but not all of it.
Why?
I had a deep sense that there was a lot more to this post than “guns” and self defense, and I knew better than to stay up all night trying to wrap it up. Upon reviewing it the following morning, I realized I was dead right.
The core of what I had written was not about guns and self defense, it was a declaration of independence.
An individual and direct response to the injustices and wrong doings of a deeply broken, and collapsing as we speak, union of the States of America.
The abomination that is the current federal government of the united States of America.
At the same time, there was a frustrated, if not angry over tone to the entire post. As such, I have decided to reorganize my thoughts into something more intellectually provoking, and at the same time perhaps, uplifting.
Sounds great on paper, but before doing so, let us examine why I have chosen and taken the time to do this, for if we don’t know why we are doing what we are doing … well, we don’t know a whole lot of anything.
I have made this decision – to write an individual declaration of independence – because the world is starved of leaders at present.
In fact, the world has been starved for leadership for some time now. Our saving grace has been the men (and women) that have come before us.
Men and women who were willing, able, and not afraid to rise to their potential, and push humanity forward.
…
Recently in an e-mail sent to me by Dr. Doug McGuff regarding his presentation at The 21 Convention this year, Doug mentioned the following
“Yours is the first generation that has been metabolically poisoned starting en utero which is why most college age guys look soft and estrogenic. It takes a powerful combo of diet and exercise to reverse a process that began in the womb.”
Translation: not only were my parents consuming what amounts to poison before and directly preceding my birth, but I was also raised from that day until about ~20 years of age, on that same poison.
Copious amounts of sugar, polyunsaturated fat, grains (and corresponding oils), legumes (and corresponding oils), heavily processed foods, and animal products nearly 100% sourced from animals raised on the same “poison”.
By the same token, I believe our generation is the first in the modern era to not only be raised from birth on “intellectual poison”, but also come from parents fed that same poison.
Consecutive generations raised without morality and guiding principles … on a foundation of shame, guilt, anti-individual, and anti-freedom propaganda.
We are now seeing the consequences of such a “society” revealing themselves. “Revealing” in the form of rapidly deteriorating economic health (domestically and abroad), and outright misery.
If it is accepted that misery and tyranny are the normal state of humanity throughout history, then I would go so far as to assume that misery precedes tyranny.
Tyranny to whom?
Tyranny can come in many forms. It can come from a king, from a totalitarian government … and even democracy (eg lynch mob).
Kings are a thing of the past. Dictatorships are failures as well.
What we have left for potential tyranny, is democracy.
Now, this is not a post meant to discuss democracy, I would only like to stress the point that you can not only be a slave or serf to an individual or select group of individuals, but you can also be the slave of everyone.
And with that said, everyone can be the slave of everyone.
This is perhaps the worst form of tyranny, where the individual is suppressed the most – where humanity is suppressed the most.
If this ever takes complete root in our culture, we are in for the next “dark age”. This is where collectivism finally collapses in on itself, and perpetuates exactly what it sets out to prevent – anarchy – and destroys what it set out to improve, “the collective good”.
All in good intention of course.
And as the saying goes, “the road to hell is paved with good intentions”.
…
What does any of this have to do with a declaration of independence?
Well my friends, I sincerely believe we are at a turning point in our history as a species.
We can choose to rise up as individuals, reach our peak potential, and change the world the best way we know how – or we can watch it crumble, and continue it’s slow descent into the normal state of humanity, misery and tyranny.
This decision lies primarily with men. Women have the same ability to act rationally and rightly, but it is not their inherent role to lead.
It is ours.
And this is me, as a young man, and a citizen of the State of Florida, leading, the best way I know how.
What follows is both a declaration of independence, as well as a list of actions I am willing to back my words with, in addition to a redress of grievances from the current (broken in every way) federal government of the united States of America.
A Declaration of Independence and a Petition for a Redress of Grievances from the current union of the States of America
I, Anthony Paul Johnson, was born free.
I have a natural right – protected, not created, under the current constitution of the united States of America – to my life, my liberty, and the pursuit of my own happiness.
I think freely and independently, and do not need anyone to do my thinking for me (I am mentally healthy).
I do not need anyone to live my life for me. It is best lived as I see fit, without intruding on the right of others to do the same.
I am my own person. I am free, and no one individual, or collective organization of any kind, owns me.
I am a citizen of the State of Florida and the united States of America – not a subject, not a serf, and not a slave – to any degree, and in any way, shape, or form.
I am willing to back up the right to my life, with my life, with my born freedom, with my mind, and with my reason.
More specifically, I declare the following.
I declare any form of forced military conscription or “draft” to be out of place in the free society that is the united State of America, unconstitutional by it’s supreme law, and therefore, illegal.
It is unconstitutional – and therefore illegal – because our country was founded on the premise that individuals have the right to their life, liberty, and pursuit of their own happiness.
It is impossible for a document that was founded to protect these rights to authorize any government to perform such action.
For if I, Anthony Paul Johnson, could be forcibly sent many thousands of miles from home, and my life endangered, on the whim of a politician, what kind of man am I?
What kind of citizen would I be?
No citizen at all. In fact, I would be a subject stripped of the right to his life, freedom, and pursuit of his own happiness.
Should the country I am a citizen of ever be under imminent threat of attack, I would immediately consider volunteering for the defense of my country. But I will never be forced to join the military, or watched my loved ones fall victim to the same force.
As such, if an illegal military draft is ever implemented in my life time, I will support and uphold the supreme law of the land over the whims of the latest politician, and ignore the draft, and aid my loved ones in doing so should they request help.
By the same token, if ignoring a military drafts fails, I will avoid attempts to be conscripted, and aid my loved ones in doing so, should they request my help.
Finally, should ignoring and avoiding military conscription fail, I will defend myself, and my loved ones, from any such force upon their lives and liberty.
Force will be met with force.
I am an able bodied young male, and I am equipped to defend myself from any individual under the impression that they have the legal and moral authority to force me, or my loved ones, into military servitude, and deprive me or my loved ones of our natural right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of our own happiness.
…
I, Anthony Paul Johnson, declare any attempt to force extraction of a private product from the result of my efforts and reason – my wealth – to be unconstitutional, and therefore illegal.
Unconstitutional because I have a right to my life, liberty, and the pursuit of my own happiness. This nation, and the corresponding supreme law under which it’s government is currently restrained, was created to protect these rights.
If I do not own the fruits of my labor, and the sweat of my brow … then I own nothing, as I would be little more than a serf at that point, working hard, and keeping only what I was allowed, at the barrel of a gun.
This is beyond disgusting, and has no place in the free society that is the united States of America.
Perhaps more disgusting, is the idea that not only I am only allowed to keep whatever portion of the result of my labor that others decide, but that I must use that remaining portion as others see fit.
The federal government of the united States of America has no authority to perform such action, other than it’s monopoly on force.
Should the State of Florida not move to nullify such federal efforts, I will ignore all unconstitutional (illegal) attempts in forcing me, or my loved ones, to purchase a private product (or pay corresponding fines for not purchasing such product).
If ignoring such actions does not prevail, I will avoid them.
If avoiding such actions fails, as a last resort and in the defense of my self or my loved ones, force will be met with force.
I am a young, able bodied, mentally and physically equipped male, ready and willing to perform such action.
Redress of Grievances
The wrong doings of the broken in every way federal government of the united States of America, are limitless. It is likely we as a people will never know the full extent of the damages done by such government, domestically, and abroad – especially those in the name of imperialism and empire, hiding under the guise of patriotism, democracy, and freedom, wrapped in a flag no less.
As such, I humbly request every living member of the federal government – past and present – that has ever voted for or taken such action as to officially support undeclared, unconstitutional, and therefore illegal war, to face trial for the crimes that support generated – including murder and genocide – and be punished as the courts see fit.
Everyone one of these individuals swore an oath to uphold the constitution, and the majority have failed, miserably. Their failure resulted in the deaths of millions of people world wide, and thousands of American men and women – in the past decade alone.
Among these individuals are current members of the legislative branch of government, and the person currently acting as President of the united States of America.
While the current chief administrator of our union did not start such illegal wars, he has continued them, and in some cases, amplified them further.
He swore an oath to uphold the constitution the day he took office, and in light of his decision to continue undeclared, unconstitutional, and therefore illegal war, has failed to uphold the constitution since the day he took office.
Illegal wars are certainly on the list of “things to take responsibility for” upon taking such an oath, and residing upon such office, and as such, he should be removed from office immediately along with various members of the legislative branch, and face trial for the crimes he has perpetuated and/or committed.
…
While the crimes of the federal government of my country are numerous and potentially indefinite, this would be a good start for a redress of grievances.
From this, further positive changes could spring.
Or perhaps, from the idea and education of what I have sincerely written above, positive changes could spring world wide, starting with individuals willing to stand up for what they believe in, and willing to reach their potential as men and women.
-Anthony ‘Dream’ Johnson
July 12th, 2010
Central Florida
You sound like a freeman rejecting his legal fiction “person” …the ALL CAPS corporation known as ANTHONY JOHNSON-the strawman, birthed by the corporation USA and signed into existence not by baby Anthony, but by the State registrar on your persons long form birth certificate. As a sovereign you are not subject to statutes, acts, or any other commercial laws.
your real name -Anthony Paul
……. allegedly of the clan Johnson
Dude… what?
never heard of the strawman huh, i may have opened a can of worms for you.
lots of info on the net now, not like when i started, you can start here….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c49q3PGof2w
jordan maxwell has lots of fascinating stuff, here you can hear him talk about the law of the sea…http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AxDfBpcjKgs
you can also check worldfreemansociety.org
Couple questions:
-Why do you spend so much time speaking against conscription when there is no real danger of reintroducing the draft?
-What are you referring to as genocide?
-You’re president on September 11th…course of action?
-Why do you spend so much time speaking against conscription when there is no real danger of reintroducing the draft?
>>>The “draft” is important to me on principle. In this sense, the possibility of military conscription in my lifetime is not relevant, the same way it’s not relevant whether I am “innocent” or not when a law enforcement officer is interested in entering my home.
“If your innocent why does it matter?”
It matters on principal. I have a right to my life, liberty, property, and privacy. It is the governments job to protect these rights.
By the same token, those rights cease to be protected when a government wants to force me from my home, family, and career, and ship me many thousands of miles away. Even if I happened to agree with the current political machine, my right to life would cease to exist. I would be the property of a collective organization, unlike those who currently serve in the military, voluntarily.
Even if the mainland united States were under attack, a military draft is the anti-thesis of a free society. Would we really be short of people willing to voluntarily defend their country in that situation? If we would be, there wouldn’t be much left to defend anyway.
Going further, why we don’t currently have a military draft in effect should be taken into consideration for why I chose to write about it first and more than any other topic in the post.
We don’t have a “draft” at the moment because
A. The united States government has not yet “officially” expanded the war into other areas of the middle east, namely Iran.
B. The government of the united States has not expanded global war elsewhere (eg North Korea).
C. Last I read, the US government employs tens of thousands of mercenaries world wide, with billions of dollars they don’t have.
This is perhaps the most sinister part. The money is created via the Federal Reserve, or borrowed from abroad. This is money that simply doesn’t exist, and is never going to be paid back. This, especially the Federal Reserve part, undermines our fiat currency, and brings us closer and closer to hyper inflation – we are already experiencing inflation.
Inflation in this sense is an underhand tax. We are paying for mercenaries, unknowingly, and unwillingly. We don’t have a say in it. The Fed prints it, we pay for it in a drop in the value of our currency.
In this sense, a draft has been avoided, as without tens of thousands of mercenaries being paid for by the devaluing our dollar, there would have been a draft years ago.
…
All in all, I wanted to make it clear in this post that I am serious when I say that I will take all steps necessary to ignore, avoid, and if necessary, violently resist any individual enforcing illegal military conscription.
A bit long winded, but I believe this addresses your question.
-What are you referring to as genocide?
>>>>> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraq_War
Documented deaths exceed 100,000. The highest estimate is around 1.4 million dead – and that’s just the people of Iraq.
Perhaps more important for our discussion, the war with the state of Iraq was undeclared by the congress, making it unconstitutional, and illegal by our own law. What’s more, Iraq had absolutely nothing to do with September 11th. This was a war of aggression, that has now become perpetual, and has no end in sight. It has cost us hundreds of billions of dollars, that never existed, and will never exist. It has accelerated the economic collapse of the united States.
-You’re president on September 11th…course of action?
>>>I would do what Ron Paul voted for – go after the criminals and outlaws that were behind the crime – not carelessly stir up a middle eastern bees nest of perpetual, unconstitutional, illegal war that resulted in the deaths of thousands of Americans and millions of people native to the region.
Anthony,
You said:
“I have a right to my life, liberty, property, and privacy. It is the governments job to protect these rights.”
I don’t believe the authors of the Constitution believed personal privacy to be a fundamental right, as “privacy” is found no where in the document. A person is protected from unreasonable searches and from testifying against themselves. But the fact that these narrow distinctions are outlined makes me think they did not intend the government to protect personal privacy in a broader sense. The Supreme Court has ruled in favor or personal privacy in some circumstances . . . I guess they felt privacy was “implied” in the Constitution. Who knows?
I, personally, am not convinced personal privacy is an absolute right that can be reasonably ensured in a civil society.
joe
I believe I have a natural right to my life, and my body. No one owns me, but me.
If I have a right to my body, I have a right to own private property.
If I have a right to own private property, I have the right to the privacy of that (private) property.
The government can choose to protect that privacy (as was was originally intended by the founders) or it can choose to protect the privacy (secrecy) of government.
I choose the former, unalienable, non democratic option, and stand behind that the same as I stand behind the immorality and illegal nature of the draft, and attempted force on my wealth and life to purchase a private product as described in the post.
Hope this helps.
-Anthony
ps- the judicial branch of government is equally capable of tyranny as any other branch, collective organization, or individual for that matter.
Very thought-provoking; I enjoyed this post.
However, your response to Drew’s question about 9/11, though quite patriotic, is tunnel-visioned to the extreme. I also do not support these illegal wars and never have, but even just chasing the perpetrators would damage America in the long run. The way to beat terrorism is to act in a way that does not engender, well, terrorism. As I am sure you know, we as a country have been in the middle east for decades giving them plenty of reasons to hate us. Sending troops to chase Al-Qaeda around the middle east could not possibly do anything but give them more reasons. I would argue that a better use of funds would be to amp up preventative measures so as to stop further attacks.
I really liked the part on the draft. Also, the bit about taxation was thought-provoking, though, due to ideological differences, I do not 100% agree.
Thanks for yet another well-written post.
“However, your response to Drew’s question about 9/11, though quite patriotic, is tunnel-visioned to the extreme.”
Outlaws who commit crimes (such as mass murder) should be punished, should they not?
In addition, is force in retaliation of force not rational and justified?
As such, how would going after the individuals responsible for the September 11th attacks not be the right course of action?
This of course differs dramatically from the course of action actually taken immediately following 9/11.
You claim it could result in even more terrorism, but I don’t see how it could create any less than doing nothing at all would invite.
This is akin to a mentally insane individual attacking you with a machete, and then stepping aside and asking him not to do so again.
It will just invite more, as the person is well beyond reason at that point.
So, yes, we shouldn’t stir up trouble (as we certainly have), but neither should we ignore reality.
In this sense, I don’t believe the US should leave the middle east and “forget it ever happened”, but leave immediately and hope for the best, while preparing for the worst.
As for taxation, I’d be interested to hear your differences with what I wrote.
thanks for joining the discussion
-Anthony