Do Disasters Stimulate The Economy?

Several State comedians said "The earthquake in Japan is great news! It will stimulate the economy!"

I am very offended, when a State comedian suggests that disasters stimulate the economy.

Suppose that were true, "Disasters stimulate the economy!" In that case, State thugs should evacuate a major city, bomb it to rubble, and then rebuild it. When you suggest that, a State comedian says "Now you're being silly."

State comedians also say "War stimulates the economy!" A more accurate explanation is "War increases profits for military contractors. They spend money lobbying. They hire economists to say 'War is good for the economy!'"

If there's more spending on war, there's less spending in the productive sector of the economy. If there's effort spent rebuilding after a disaster, that takes away from other productive uses.

It is obviously silly, when State comedians say "Disasters stimulate the economy!" If that were true, then bombing every major city to rubble would be GREAT for the economy.

Charile Sheen

Charlie Sheen was fired from his popular sitcom on CBS. The reaction to this incident is interesting.

Twenty years ago, a fired celebrity would be SOL. Without the mainstream media gatekeepers, a celebrity cannot connect with fans.

Now, the Internet changes things. Charlie Sheen can present his point of view uncensored, via the Internet. He isn't dependent on the mainstream media gatekeepers.

Charlie Sheen has a valid complaint. He says "I was fired for reasons unrelated to job performance. My sitcom had great ratings. Therefore, I was doing a great job." Anybody who was ever unfairly fired, can relate to Charlie Sheen's circumstances.

If you're a celebrity, you're a slave. You're a high-paid high-status slave. If a slave gets unruly, an example must be made. "Don't disrespect your boss. Don't disrespect the rules." is more important than actual performance.

A disgraced celebrity can turn to the Internet. They can still make a decent salary. It is possible, but harder, to build up a reputation self-publishing on the Internet.

There is an interesting conspiracy theory, regarding Charlie Sheen. Allegedly, Charlie Sheen supports the "9/11 Truth Movement", and he was fired for that reason. Also, drugs and prostitutes are State-forbidden conduct.

When Charlie Sheen is publicly discussed on the news, that takes away from more important issues. It's a distraction. People are talking about Charlie Sheen rather than "WTF? The economy sucks!"

Even if Charlie Sheen never gets another mainstream media job, he'll earn a decent living from live performances and self-publishing on the Internet. That's a big difference now compared to 20 years ago.

The Bitcoin Conspiracy Theory

Bitcoin is an alternative digital currency. It is gaining popularity.

Bitcoin is a fiat currency. New bitcoins are generated whenever someone generates a key with certain properties. Some people have set up servers to "mine" bitcoins. They search for suitable keys to generate new bitcoins. There is a limit on the total number of possible bitcoins.

You can trade bitcoins for gold or silver or State paper money.

Bitcoin is distributed. Each Bitcoin client contains an encrypted copy of the entire monetary base. Each Bitcoin client contains an encrypted copy of the full transaction history. Every time there is a transaction, it is shared among every client. The data is strong-encrypted. The P2P nature makes it hard for the State to shut down Bitcoin.

Do you see the flaws in Bitcoin?

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I read an interesting conspiracy theory regarding Bitcoin. Someone said "The guy who created Bitcoin actually works for the NSA."

I don't like Bitcoin. I don't see the attraction of using Bitcoin compared to gold and silver. Are State insiders promoting Bitcoin, as a distraction to using gold and silver?

If someone asked me, I'd accept payment in Bitcoin, only if I could convert it to gold or silver or State money.

Fewer than 1% of the population is running a Bicoin client. This makes it very easy for State thugs. They can check and see who's running a Bitcoin client, and add you to their "subversive persons" list.

For example, State thugs can keep track of who's running Tor. I heard of one guy who set up a Tor exit node. State thugs forced him to shut it down. They claimed someone used his Tor exit node for "downloading child pornography", making him legally responsible. I suspect most Tor nodes are run by the NSA. The NSA would have to be totally clueless, if they weren't controlling a large number of Tor nodes.

Suppose that the Bitcoin encryption has a hidden flaw. It's open source. That doesn't mean there isn't a cleverly-hidden flaw in the encryption.

The NSA is more than 20 years ahead of the general public, regarding encryption tricks. They could have planted an exploitable flaw in the Bitcoin encryption.

Every Bitcoin client has a copy of the full monetary base and the full transaction history. This makes it very easy for State thugs to spy on Bitcoin users, especially if there's a backdoor decryption key.

State tax collectors can run a Bitcoin client, apply their secret encryption backdoor, and see who's a heavy Bitcoin user. It's very easy for State thugs to identify heavy Bitcoin users.

I don't like Bitcoin. It's inferior to gold and silver. You can get the same benefit as Bitcoin by making entries on a piece of paper, settling with physical gold and silver when necessary.

I haven't seen an "alternate monetary system" that's more attractive than gold and silver. Are State insiders intentionally promoting Bitcoin, knowing it has exploitable flaws?

Five Stages Of Freedom

There are five stages you go through, when cracking your pro-State brainwashing.

1. Denial

Here are some examples of denial:

The economy is getting better!

Inflation is low!

Ben Bernanke is doing a good job, managing the economy.

Taxation is not theft!

Government protects my freedom!

There's nothing wrong with the IRS.

There's nothing wrong with the Federal Reserve.

Most people haven't progressed past the "denial" stage. If you challenge them, they will get hostile and defensive.

If you're a brainwashed zombie pro-State troll, it's a lot like being a drug addict! It's hard to admit that nearly everything you know about economics and politics is a lie.

2. Anger

Many people get stuck here. They'll be obsessed over a specific Statist who injured them. It may be a policeman, bureaucrat, judge, politician, or abusive boss.

Many people commit "suicide by cop" when they're in the anger phase. Jared Lougner and Joe Stack got stuck at the "anger" phase.

If you violently resist when a State thug abuses you, then you're going to get killed. You're throwing your life away for nothing. However, if everyone resisted at the same time, the State would collapse.

It's a type of equilibrium. If almost nobody resists evil, then anyone who resists is eliminated. If everyone resists evil, then everyone is immediately freed.

3. Bargaining

In the bargaining phase, you think that you can somehow convince State thugs to leave you alone.

Here's some examples of people stuck in the bargaining phase.

If I say or do the right thing, then my abusive jerk boss will start appreciating me!

If only we vote for the right politicians, then things will get better!

If I say the magic words, then the judge will let me go!

If I file the right paperwork with the State, then I get my freedom back!

I'm going to get a fair trial!

If only we can get this law changed, then things will get better!

If I work hard, obey all the laws, and pay taxes, then everything will work out right!

If only we pass the right reforms, then the collapse can be averted!

If only judges and politicians respected the Constitution!

If you're fighting the State according to State rules, then you're stuck in the bargaining phase. If you think the current form of government can be reformed, then you're stuck in the bargaining phase.

Most "tax protesters" are stuck in the bargaining phase. For some bizarre reason, they expect to convince the judge. For some bizarre reason, they expect to get a fair trial.

I also never understood why some people believe "There's some magic paperwork I can file with the State to get my freedom back." It isn't that easy.

If you're campaigning for a specific politician, you're stuck in the bargaining phase. If you think your vote matters, you're stuck in the bargaining phase. If you're looking for legal technicalities against State evil, you're stuck in the bargaining phase.

4. Depression

In this stage, you realize it's all one big scam. The odds seem overwhelmingly stacked against you.

Here are some quotes from people stuck in the Depression phase.

I know that the IRS is evil. I report all my income because I don't want to be kidnapped/imprisoned.

It's hopeless. The police have virtually unlimited resources.

The mainstream media tell nothing but lies. How can I educate people about the truth in the face of such well-organized evil?

Most people react with hostility, when I challenge their pro-State brainwashing. Why bother trying?

I'm going to be a good slave because there are no alternatives. I'd rather have limited freedom, than be in prison or murdered.

I'm still partially stuck in this phase. I know the State is one big scam. Except for blogging, I'm not doing anything freedom-oriented.

However, I have valid excuses for waiting. I'm still somewhat recovering from my illness. In a few years, there will be more time for anti-State beliefs to spread, and it will be less risky.

5. Acceptance

This is when you're fully cracked your pro-State brainwashing.

I accept that the current form of government has degenerated into one huge criminal conspiracy. I accept that collapse is inevitable.

I accept that the police have superior resources. If I'm careful, I may be able to pursue freedom without too much personal risk.

I accept that the police try to spy on nearly every group of people.

I accept that the Constitution is not a valid contract. The Constitution was written by insider lawyers seeking to consolidate and expand their power.

I accept that I probably won't get a fair trial, if I'm falsely accused of a crime.

I accept that voting is a fake choice. If there's a really attractive candidate on the ballot, I might waste an hour voting. I'm not holding my breath waiting for insiders to get their act together.

I accept that agorism is the best strategy for personal freedom that I've seen. I'm openminded to other possibilities.

It is a type of progression, when you crack your pro-State brainwashing. There aren't just false logical beliefs. There also are false emotional beliefs.

In addition to logical pro-State brainwashing, people are conditioned to think and act and feel like slaves. That's the reason there's so much hostility when you try to explain the truth to someone, rather than them saying "You're right! I never thought about it that way before! Taxation really is theft!"

It's very much like recovering from addiction, when you crack your pro-State brainwashing. Once you're fully aware of the truth, there's still a lot of work towards getting actual freedom.

Smart Dictators Use Gold

This story was interesting. Gaddafi's international bank accounts were frozen.

You shouldn't trust the State banking system. All it takes is a request by a State thug, and your State bank account is frozen.

However Gaddafi was smart. He has a huge pile of gold! He took physical delivery. If necessary, he can use this gold to pay his mercenaries for months!

State comedians denigrate gold at every opportunity. When the chips are down, smart dictators use gold.

However, a pile of gold is not infinitely useful. It's only good until it's used up!

Some smart insiders are converting their savings to gold and preparing for a SHTF scenario.

Is Barry Bonds' Perjury Trial Worth $0.16?

This story is interesting. Barry Bonds' perjury trial started.

According to that article, State prosecutors spent $10M-$50M on this trial. Using the $50M figure, dividing by 300M Americans, I personally paid $0.16 for this trial.

You might say "So what? $0.16 is negligible." If you multiply $0.16 by *ALL* the stupid and wasteful things government does, then it's a lot of money. "Steal $0.16 from each American and spend it on something stupid!" is only possible via the State violence/taxation monopoly.

State thugs are pursuing Barry Bonds to "set an example". This makes him a political prisoner. If you lie to State thugs, that's disrespecting them and a crime.

It's an asymmetric relationship, between the slave and his owners. State thugs are allowed to lie to you. Undercover police can pretend to be your friend and your customer, just so they can charge you with a crime. It's a serious offense to lie to State thugs.

This leads to the oft-quoted slogan "DON'T TALK TO THE POLICE! NO MATTER WHAT! EVEN IF YOU'RE SURE YOU'RE INNOCENT!" If you make a mistake during interrogations, and the police can prove you lied, then you're guilty of "lying to the police", even if they can't convict you of anything else. So many people have thought "I'm a good guy. I have nothing to fear.", and they wind up in jail.

Blagojevich and Martha Stewart were convicted for "lying to the police", even though the other charges against them couldn't stick. DON'T TALK TO THE POLICE!

I wonder if I could uphold "Don't talk to the police!" I'd be tempted to try to convince them that they're doing evil. I'd probably try to convince them that they're evil, without revealing details of my personal business. That might be stupid.

If I criticize the State, promote agorism, and practice agorism, then I will probably be falsely charged with a crime eventually.

"Lying to the police" or "lying to Congress" or "lying to a grand jury" isn't really a crime. The State's authority isn't legitimate. Therefore, it isn't really a crime to lie to them. It isn't a crime to lie to a bully. It isn't a crime to lie to someone who's threatening you with violence.

Unfortunately, most people don't know the State is a scam. They will support prosecuting people who lie to State thugs.

Did Barry Bonds use steroids? Did he lie about it? He probably did. That isn't a crime. It should be a civil matter between him and MLB. Otherwise, it's none of the government's business.

The lesson is "If you lie to us, then we will ruin you." This is entirely a politically-motivated trial. Barry Bonds is a high-status slave. He's still a slave. By ruining a high-ranking slave, that helps keeps the other slaves in line.

Lehman Brothers lied and committed accounting fraud. Nobody was prosecuted. Banksters committed fraud and perjury in "foreclosuregate". Nobody was prosecuted. The Barry Bonds trial is a circus. It's a distraction from the trillions of dollars the banksters stole.

Suppose you say "WTF? You're prosecuting me but not other people." The judge will say "The fact that other people are not prosecuted does not excuse your criminal conduct."

There are two justice systems, one for insiders and one for everyone else. The banksters steal and lie and get away with it. Barry Bonds is harshly punished for a non-crime. The Barry Bonds trial is a distraction from more serious issues.

Will Bradley Manning Ever Get Out Of Prison?

This story was interesting. P.J. Crowleyworked for the State department. He said "Bradley Manning was mistreated. That was a mistake." He was "forced to resign".

That's amusing. When an insider tells a forbidden truth, he isn't fired. He's "forced to resign". It would be nice to see someone with the balls to say "I'm not resigning. If you want to fire me, then go ahead and fire me." Unfortunately, most insiders are spineless cowards. Even after being "forced to resign", he'll get a cushy job somewhere else. The incentive is for him to not rock the boat and ruin the gravy train.

It is offensive, that insiders are fired whenever they say a forbidden truth. "Bradley Manning was tortured. It makes us look bad." is pretty obvious. Insiders had two choices:

1. Sentence Bradley Manning to a couple years in prison, but otherwise treat him decently.
2. Torture him.
   

Solitary confinement is a type of torture. After awhile, it wears you down. Bradley Manning may be forcibly drugged. Based on my experience, psychiatric drugs have severe negative effects and also a "truth serum" effect.

Bradley Manning's captors are treating him as less than human.

Bradley Manning's biggest mistake was signing up for the military. His father talked him into it.

Bradley Manning doesn't get a jury trial. It's a military trial, with generals as judges. How can Bradley Manning get a fair trial, when the prosecutor and judge are both soldiers? Almost every criminal trial has this defect. Both the prosecutor and judge work for the State.

The Guantanamo Bay detainees have the same problem. It's going to be a farce of a trial, instead of a fair trial. Bradley Manning's defense is "This is evidence of crime! I leaked it because my bosses were covering up crime!" That won't work when the judge is a parasite/psychopath general. Bradley Manning doesn't get the opportunity to argue "jury nullification" in front of a civilian jury. He doesn't even get the farce of "due process" that most criminals get.

The point of torture is punishment and to set an example. If Bradley Manning were tortured with no public disclosure, there's no point. With high-profile torture, that sets an example for other leakers and others who would disobey orders.

According to natural law, Bradley Manning isn't a criminal. He's a hero. He didn't "leak State secrets". He leaked evidence of criminal activity. The State has no legitimate claim to any property, including "secrets". Insiders use secrecy to control the slaves. Insiders use secrecy to cover up crime.

By torturing Bradley Manning, he's been turned into a folk hero. Once he gets out of prison, he'll be a high-profile and credible critic of the State and war.

Therefore, State thugs can never release Bradley Manning. If they do release him, he's going to be publicly criticizing them. Therefore, they must keep him in prison for the rest of his life.