The Frugal Libertarian

Everything I know about economics tells me that things are not going to get better in this country anytime soon.  The Commander-n-Thief and Congress are doing everything they can to prevent the growth of the private sector and now that their unsustainable  stimulus plans are starting to wear off, we are starting to see the growth of the public sector slow.  Someday the powers -that- be may start to understand that spending money you don’t have is not good for an individual or a government.  Until then, it may be time to tighten up that belt even more.

Here are some of my newest low-cost recipes: (all prices are for my local Walmart.  I don’t include price if it is a pantry item I buy in bulk at Sam’s or when on sale)

Black Beans and Rice: will feed 4 people and will probably have left-overs

1 jar Sliced Peppercinis   $1.85

1 lb Black Beans  $1.15

Rice

Shredded Cheddar Cheese

Soak beans overnight as directed.  Combine beans and Peppercinis in a crock pot.  Cook on high for 8hrs.  Prepare however much rice you prefer.  Serve beans over rice and top with cheese. This can also be made with chicken instead of black beans, but of course that is more expensive.

7-Grain Whole Wheat Bread

1 cup plain yogurt ( $1.97 for 4 cups)

1/3 cup warm water

3 tbsp honey

3 tbsp dry milk

1 veg. oil

2 tbsp salt

1 egg

1 cup whole wheat flour

2 1/2 cups bread flour

3/4 cup 7-grain cereal

1 tbsp yeast

Add ingredients to bread machine, set on dough cycle.  When cycle is done, divide dough into two loaves and place in greased loaf pans.  Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.

Whole Wheat Banana Bread (great way to use those old bananas)

1/2 cup butter

1/2 cup sugar

2 eggs

3-4 bananas

1 tsp Vanilla

2 cups whole wheat flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

Preheat oven at 350.  Put butter and sugar in blender.  Mix on high.  Add eggs, bananas and vanilla to blender.  Mix on high for 30 seconds.  In separate bowl mix flour, baking soda, and salt.  Mix everything together.  Pour in greased loaf pan and bake for 60 minutes.

There is more liberty activism going on today than I can remember at any other time in my life.  Some people are choosing to work in the system, such as the Liberty Restoration Project here in Kansas City and others are choosing to work outside of the system, such as those at FreeKeene.  I think both are valuable to the liberty movement.

Libertarians and anarchist, it seems, by their nature are individualistic.  Many of us march to the beat of our own drum.  The chances of the liberty movement having a unified strategy for achieving liberty is very unlikely.  But, it may be time to have an outline of a strategy so that each type of activism can be working towards the same goal.  To this end, I have come up with the first six steps to achieve a stateless society.  Our activism, whichever form we choose, should be reflective of the desire to complete these steps.

1. Introduce people to the idea that aggression(initiation of force), whether done by an individual, or a group, is morally wrong.
2. Convince people that have come to believe that aggression is wrong that the government is aggression.
3. Introduce people to the idea that the is a better way, that aggression is not only immoral, but impractical.
4. Introduce the ideas of non-cooperation with government’s aggression.
5. Begin widespread non-cooperation with government’s aggression.
6. Begin competing successfully in the sectors where government now has a monopoly, such as protective services, fire serices, postal services, education and infrastructure.

A majority of the activism that is occurring at this time is working towards achieving steps 1-4.  I believe steps 5 and 6 can only be achieved once we been successful with the first four steps on a massive scale.  That does not mean that I don’t think we can have some successes involving steps 5 and 6.  I actually believe that small successes with step 5 and 6 will actually make steps 1-4 easier.

Any activism, whether it is within the system or outside of the system, that helps achieve these steps should be supported, whether or not it is the activism you yourself would choose to do.  I may not choose to attempt to get a ballot initiative passed, but if through working to pass a ballot initiative the ideas of non-aggression are introduced to people, I will support that effort.  I may not choose to openly perform civil disobedience, but if through that civil disobedience people are convinced that the government is aggression, then I will support that effort.

I believe that the conditions are right for a peaceful revolution and that we are at the beginning of our journey towards true liberty.   So choose your activism and take the steps towards a stateless society.

The city of Philadelphia is sending letters to bloggers demanding $300 for a business license.

For the past three years, Marilyn Bess has operated MS Philly Organic, a small, low-traffic blog that features occasional posts about green living, out of her Manayunk home. Between her blog and infrequent contributions to ehow.com, over the last few years she says she’s made about $50. To Bess, her website is a hobby. To the city of Philadelphia, it’s a potential moneymaker, and the city wants its cut.

In May, the city sent Bess a letter demanding that she pay $300, the price of a business privilege license.

Read the rest here.