-or influence the behavior of others.

I have been a faithful voter over the past 25 or 30 years. Over the past 9 months or so, I have been shredding my ballot.

I am not part of the majority that controls politics in my local area. Ditto at the state and national level.

I don’t think I want to be. I’m not interested in using the force of government to control others.

Dividing people up into groups- then deciding via majority rule- who will get government approval to marry? Not interested.

Americans were never meant to agree on matters of a personal nature. This is why we have so many different churches here.

Should adults be able to smoke marijuana for fun? Should Joe’s Bar & Grill be able to allow people to smoke indoors?

I believe in freedom beyond my own personal choices, so I am OK with all that- but why should I be able to control others?

But many have fought and died to protect your right to vote?

“Let us never forget those who bravely gave their life blood or paid the ultimate price so we can have our freedom and the right to vote.”

It turns out “The Troops” were in no hurry to enable all adults to act on their right to vote.

US Military operations conducted in the 1940s, 50s & 60s didn’t get the job done.

It wasn’t until July of 1971 that 18 year old adults could take delivery on one of the freedoms we hear so much about.

If veterans fought for our right to vote- how come women were not allowed to vote at the end of WWI?

I did 20 years in the Marines- no part of that had anything to do with defending American rights and freedoms.

Both major parties promote the idea that “The Troops” are fighting to protect American rights and freedoms- as if the US Armed Forces function as some sort of giant civil rights organization.

I am fascinated by this concept.

Rather than repeating the phrase “Thanks for your service“- how about spending some time reaching for an honest understanding of US foreign policy.

The public policy issues that concern me are not going to change- no mater which major political party is in power.

The people who run both major parties & the conventions that nominate presidential candidates agree on the Drug War.

Ditto for the TV networks that host presidential debates & ask scripted questions of candidates.

Both major parties are OK with decades of ongoing, undeclared wars overseas.

Preserving a free society, free markets, free trade, private property rights, & a minimal bureaucracy where violent SWAT raids are used to go after adults who want to peacefully grow a marijuana plant in the back yard.

Democrats are A-OK with the violent SWAT raids too- they just talk less about personal responsibility, individual liberty, constitutional principles, smaller, limited government, free enterprise, private property rights, etc.

He got paid to say this-

Law enforcement resources should be used to go after individuals who are harming others- not for policing arbitrary pre-crime scenarios.

The issues-

War on Terror/ongoing, undeclared wars overseas, War on Drugs, a Homeland Security Dept. that can’t keep heroin & cocaine out of the US, suicides surging among US troops, prohibition for adults age 18 to 20, lies about jobs, clean energy, hemp, etc.-

It will all continue no mater which major party gathers the most votes.

Don’t take it from me:

Non-voting

Not Voting and Proud

Possibly of interest:

The Vote for Nobody Campaign

Photo- Foggy morning at Port Hadlock