"How bad do things have to get before you do something? Do they have to take away all your property? Do they have to license every activity that you want to engage in? Do they have to start throwing you on cattle cars before you say “now wait a minute, I don’t think this is a good idea.” How long is it going to be before you finally resist and say “No, I will not comply. Period!” Ask yourself now because sooner or later you are going to come to that line, and when they cross it, you’re going to say well now cross this line; ok now cross that line; ok now cross this line. Pretty soon you’re in a corner. Sooner or later you’ve got to stand your ground whether anybody else does or not. That is what liberty is all about."
by:
Michael Badnarik
(1954- ) American software engineer, political figure, and former radio talk show host
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Reader comments about this quote:
"all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed" (Declaration of Independence) With so few understanding what the most basic nobility of life is and / or, what constitutes freedom and liberty; those that cry: "now wait a minute, I don■t think this is a good idea." don't even have a clue what a good idea is. How many know and understand the simplest of concepts (compelled compliance, license, victimless crimes, larceny with impunity, what constitutes a foreign hegemony, etc.) that clearly spells-out unconstitutional tyranny and despotism? Certainly not many of the patrons of the statist theocracy that comment here - or - ask a neighbor.
 -- Mike, Norwalk     
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    Mike, A man after my own heart. I to go back to the Declaration often. I do my best to re-read it at least once a year and advise all to do likewise. You supply the quote which speak precisely to the issue. Thoreau's "quiet desperation" explains as well. We want to be free and left alone. Too many prey upon that bit of human nature as a route to power and/or dominance. Boiling frogs in a pot. Bring up the heat slowly and they won't mind or notice. Our only potential earthly salvation is that they will over reach as is now the case. March on!
     -- J. B. Wulff, Bristol, CT     
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    Take peoples freedom away all at once and they will revolt overnight, but just take a little at a time and they don't seem to notice it until too late.
     -- cal, lewisville, tx     
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    Michael Badnarik's Constitution Class: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbNIU2KEz4g
     -- J Carlton, Calgary     
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     -- Anonymous      
    The Constitution is ignored by all three branches of government. They interpret and twist the meanings and intentions of the constitution until they conform to their desires and they can enact any law or regulate anything they want. I'm sure when they want they can find some penumbra or emanation in the Constitution that would even support loading people onto cattle cars and stoking up the ovens. The social compact between the government and the people has been broken. There is no longer any moral obligation to obey the federal government's laws or regulations. There is only the pragmatic fear of getting caught that causes anyone to pay any attention to them at all. If there are tax cheats in the Congress and Administration who openly get away with it (and they are), the people will also cheat on their taxes if they can get away with it. The danger is that lawlessness breeds lawlessness. Property rights have no meaning when the government can steal your property. The right to life and liberty have no meaning when the government can take them with impunity. Ignoring natural law destroys nations, societies, and individuals and eventually leads to a dark age where only the law of the jungle, of might makes right, is left. The poor and the weak won't stand a chance and the left will have brought it about (with a little help from their faux-right cohorts).
     -- Ken, Allyn, WA     
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    There are no more lines left to cross - now is our time. Stop the words and intellectual rhetoric - it's action we need now! We have arrived at the tipping point.
     -- RBESRQ     
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    Mike and Ken have said it well.
     -- jim k, Austin,Tx     
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    I said, "No more," a long time ago, and I have no regrets. I could use some company. ;-) Ken, said very well.
     -- E Archer, NYC     
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    The wealthy hold in there hands the rescue of the common man.
     -- Ron, Salem     
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    As long as resistance is reasonably legal, do it legally. Only resist violently when violence is put upon you.
     -- AStudentPhilosopher, Utah     
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    There are 2 forms of government on this land. the present or de facto with amendments to the law never voted on by the sovereign citizens, and the de jure, our Republic, where by the enacting of the 16th amendment separated the people of this nation from the Republic. placing them into CORPORATE UNITED STATES. The main key is that the Declaration of Independence is the people's contract to his State. The constitution is the contract from the states to the federal government. While the bill of rights helps to illuminate the people's rights and freedoms. We have the ability, and the rights to once again join the De jure or Republic once again fulfilling our forefathers' dreams.
     -- Quisno, Caldwell     
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    All they need to start loading the cattle cars and stoking the ovens is the same mantra that the Nazis used, "for the good of the people." Come to think of it, the communists use the same raison d'etre. People will stand by and watch "As long as it isn't me or my family." But what will you do when they come knocking on your door in the middle of the night? Laugh now if you think its funny, but all you have to do is remember a short while back and recall how Janet Reno solved social problems with Ruby Ridge, Waco, and the little Cuban boy who was whisked off in the middle of the night by her jack-booted government thugs.
     -- Anonymous     
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     -- Anonymous      
     -- Doug B, Fort Plain, NY      
    " appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions " Declaration of Independence. To walk the length of the train as an independent, in noncompliance. " For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth. Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and no another; though my reins be consumed within me. Be ye afraid of the sword: for wrath bringeth the punishment of the sword, that ye may know there is a judgment. Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades or loose the bands of Orion ? Behold now behemoth, which I made with thee. He is the chief of the ways of God: he that made him can make his sword to approach unto him. " ( Job )
    You can remove the banner, but never remove those 13 Stars in heaven, that guide us in our right to rebel against tyranny. Brighter than the noon day sun. ( Acts 9:4, 26:13 ) Is our light of Liberty. " With a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor. Declaration of Independence.
    Semper Fi
     -- Ronw13, Yachats Or     
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    I hate being the bearer of bad news, but, do you really think that today's american people will fight for some concept that most don't even know let alone understand? Let me give just a couple of examples: When less than 3% of this country's population can hold sway over the supreme court and declare a victory for same sex marriage, when that same percentage can dictate to a private business to whom they must do business with, and the American people do nothing, do you still believe we will stand up for what is right and just?
    Earlier, someone mentioned how Janet Reno solved social problems so I won't reiterate. In truth I could go on & on but I think I made my point. I think one problem is a lack of knowledge, young people don't know anything about the Declaration of Independence or the Constitution because it is not stressed in school any longer.
     -- Warrdoc, Elk Grove,     
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    Warrdoc, said very well and very accurate. All I've heard for years from the occupying statist theocracy seminaries (government schools) is the Constitution is out of date / touch because it was written by a bunch of farmers, centuries ago (because human nature, law and justice have not changed in that time - only religion has changed - how does that make any difference in a government of law? IT DOESN'T). The theocracy's seminaries only teach the national establishment of religion's dogmas and how they are not supported by original intent of either the Declaration of Independence or the Constitution.
     -- Mike, Norwalk     
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    Yes, Warrdoc, perfect example. When did the rights of the gay populace trump the religious rights of others? I thought that businesses could legally refuse service to any one they wanted, as long as they did not have federal government contracts.

    I was all for gay marriage at one time until I realized that it is just another pretext for litigation. Like we don't have enough frivolous lawsuits in our nation... have you ever been the target of a frivolous suit? Our business has been, and although we won and won the subsequent appeal, our legal fees were $95,000. Just to keep things status quo. So did we really win?
     -- H Rearden, Burr Ridge IL     
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    Good point, Rearden. By not keeping the proper spheres of jurisprudence within their own jurisdictions, commercial statutes are applied to individual citizens who are not within the commercial law's bounds. Commercial law is the law of contracts -- of paper. Common law is the law of people -- of flesh, of substance, not a paper representation of substance. The difference between real and fiat, de jure and de facto, etc..

    Licenses are only required for commercial activity under the commercial laws of the state -- 'rules' that the government may make up at its whim for the players of the game they run. ;-)

    If you are asking for a license, you are asking to join a 'fixed game' -- 'regulated' supposedly to evenly spread the winnings, but inevitably skimming a little of every transaction in the game makes the 'house' richer than any of the players. They sign their lives away at every turn for the commercial benefits of being in the club -- and assuming everyone else should be equally bound to the same rules, whether they have agreed to them or not. The problem is the rest of us aren't in the club, don't want to be in the club, and don't need to be in the club. We have our homes, families, communities, and our own clubs with their own rules and ideals.

    No one needs a license (i.e. permission from the state) to marry - it's not within the jurisdiction of commercial law.
     -- E Archer, NYC     
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    Well said Archer. One caveat, or emphasis of what you said. At natural law - and its applied common law - the individual sovereign is capable of interfacing with other sovereigns or entities with out a third party declaring the action, ab initio, illegal while requiring the non-organic's permission to perform such illegal act. "Licenses are only required for commercial activity under the commercial laws of the state -- 'rules'" (Archer above) - ABSOLUTELY ! I am an individual sovereign with inalienable rights, the State (the inorganic phantasm, the representation of many - We The People, the ruling bureaucracy or whomever - with its religious canons, commercial edicts, law of contracts and law of people are expressions divided of what I can individually authorize, criminally define or most clearly - do myself.
     -- Mike, Norwalk     
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    That being said, a marriage contract which sets the terms of the agreement can be witnessed and notarized. Such a marriage contract is not restricted to one man and one woman. Nor does it make the state a party to the contract. Which begs the question: what are the terms in which the state recognizes a marriage? And why is the state in the marriage business at all any way? In fact, a state licensed 'marriage' meets the legal definition of a corporation, and thus, subject to the commercial regulation of the state.
     -- E Archer, NYC     
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    The quote is good, simple, and to the point. Sorry, I cant join in - to much damage is being done! THINK before you write, think empathy before you write, and think reality before you write. THINK about the world you live in not one you wish to live in. Make your comments appropriate to today and leave your egos at the door... when you read the great writers they hardly mention any of the adjectives use above. I'm sorry, it's just gone to far for me to comment - Enough is enough!
     -- Robert, Somewhere in Europe     
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    Robert, I live in today's world with you. Why can not the LGBT community fight as hard, spend as much time and money, as much influence and as much WHAT-EVER for the advancement of liberty, freedom, natural law, justice and inalienable rights as it does in making everybody equal in slavery? Enough is enough! ! ! What has gone to far for you to comment? I, and all the regular writers to this blog for years have had nothing against any one that wants to wed - no matter who that may be (of legal ability to consent, of course). Marriage is a religious relationship between individuals. In a land of freedom of religion, men and women, men and men, who-ever can enter into that religious ordinance (according to their religion). If there is inequality after that - ADDRESS THE INEQUALITY ! ! ! (don't create a national establishment of religion at the detriment of everyone else). I would say the same to you; " THINK before you write, think empathy before you write, and think reality before you write. THINK about the world you live in not one you wish to live in. Make your comments appropriate to today and leave your egos at the door..."
     -- Mike, Norwalk     
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    Archer, a license and a contract are 2 very different expressions at law. By way of extremely terse and incomplete example; A contract has 5 elements implemented between willing equals to which an obligation binds the subsequent agreement’s participants. One component of a contract is: If there be ANY aspect of an agreement that is unlawful or illegal, a contract becomes void or never existed (If you and I agree to rob a bank, no contract exists(ed) because robbing anything is illegal).

    A license is: “A  ⋯ privilege to do some particular act or series of acts ⋯ by competent authority ⋯, without such permission would be illegal, a trespass, a tort, or otherwise not allowable.” (Black’s Law Dictionary, 6th Edition) “The permission, by competent authority to do an act which without permission, would be illegal, a trespass, or a tort.” (People vs. Henderson, 218 NW.2d 2, 4). Marriage under license is considered illegal - no contract is possible because of the illegal atmosphere.

    Depending the legally applied philosophy of law, marriage may occur between 2 consenting adults by contract. Traditionally and by lawful definition, a marriage is a religious sacrament by covenant (a covenant is also different than a contract) - between a man and a woman.

    If, by an applied philosophy of law outside “the laws of nature and of nature’s God” (Declaration of Independence - the de jure States united’s lawful jurisprudence = a body politic where servants deal with individual sovereigns' inalienable rights and liberty), an inorganic phantasm / intangible hegemony that had ability and right to create law (outside nature’s existence, authority and definitions - where individuals are recognized as chattel instead of sovereigns) and declare that which was/is NOT natural to the demonic system to be illegal - marriage could be recognized through license. Under such unconstitutional demonic aberration, the carnal god (government, in toto aloof from We The People) could determine the religious sacrament to be illegal. A license could then be purchased from the demonic hegemony with all authority, power and right - competent authority, so that the agreeing parties could abide in the illegal / criminal scenario (marriage) without criminal prosecution.

    Because no one else made the association here, I will: “⋯  they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me. (Martin Niemöller). Even the Canadian truckers with a blinding light here comes into play. Without any real knowledge or cognitive feel for what individual sovereignty, inalienable rights, liberty or natural law is, looks like or means; AND, We The People’s acceptance of man’s inhumanity to man through compelled compliance, victimless crimes, government licenses and larceny with impunity (2nd plank of the communist manifesto, Social Security, police state confiscations and non-recognition of perfected allodium / absolute ownership) are unwittingly participating in the degradation and pain of our brothers, sisters and us (individually and in concert) - “How bad do things have to get before you do something?”


     -- Mike, Norwalk     
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