F.
Paul Wilson, Repairman Jack, and More
by
Russell
Madden
Terrorism, 9/11, and
Freedom
by Russell
Madden
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short
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NOTE: Most of the
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Items
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For a
graphic
depicting the main
issues
involved in determining the proper relationship between persuasion
and force, go here. For
a list of key concepts and definitions of freedom,
go here.
For a PDF
of a
brochure
highlighting some of the essential elements of freedom, go here.
(Readers are free to print copies for distribution, providing that no
changes are made.)
A
slideshow, “Freedom, As If It
Mattered,”
is available on YouTube here or in HD here. The
slideshow is 6:16 in length. Available in 480p or 360p or 720p. A full
resolution version is available here.
The music used in the slideshow is available here
(as a 5 minute audio file).
For
a
color
brochure of my article, “Good Neighbors,” go here.
If you find value in my work, want actively
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2. "The New
Boogeymen." 1-29-04. The State exaggerates the extent of "terrorist
threats"
as an excuse for stealing our freedom. They refuse to consider the one
solution that would actually increase our security.
3. "My
Precious."
2-11-04. Despite the reality of its corrosive results, power is
the prize sought after by nearly everyone today. Perhaps such people
should pay more attention to the words and deeds of a handful of
Hobbits...
4. "Identify
Yourself." 3-15-04. If the State demands you provide it with
evidence of who
you are, should you be required to comply?
5. "Good
Cop,
Bad Cop." 3-24-04. The relationship between police and citizens
seems to
have changed from "service and protection" to "intimidation,
domination, and control." What does this say about freedom in America?
6. "Taking
Rights."
4-13-04. Is it possible for peaceful individuals ever to have
their fundamental rights "taken away" from them?
7. "Crossing
Jack."
4-16-04. In the new Repairman Jack novel, Crisscross, by F.
Paul
Wilson, Jack's "fix-its" entwine in ways that test the core of his
being.
8. "Teaching
Resentment." 5-04-04. The State's interference in the dissemination
of ideas
in our schools not only violates rights but exacerbates the very
problems it is supposed to resolve.
9. "I
Am Not
Responsible." 6-15-04. Politicians proclaim that none of us is
responsible when
we should be, yet we are supposed to be fully responsible in areas
where control belongs to others.
11. "Taking
Freedom Personally."
8-03-04. Few people get upset as their
freedom is robbed from them day-by-by. Passion is conspicuously absent
in a realm that should be intensely personal.
12. "Not So Bad."
8-10-04. People who excuse rights-violations by the State by
saying, "It's not so bad. It could be worse," are selling out their
lives -- and their liberty -- far too cheaply.
13. "The
Freedom
Quiz." 9-21-04. How much do you understand and practice freedom?
Take
this quiz and find out...
14. "The
Miracle of Voting." 10-26-04. Say the magic words, "We voted for
this," and the
impossible becomes reality...at least in the minds of too many
Americans.
15. "Thank
You,
America." 11-19-04. The citizens and politicians of America should
be
properly recognized for the full extent to which they support and
defend freedom.
16. “Rain
on Rocks.” 1-18-05. (Fiction) A mother/wife explores the nature of
bravery
in the face of oppression...and demonstrates how our actions often have
positive consequences of which we may never become aware.
17. "Money Is
Time." 2-15-05. People often tell us that "time is money." But what
is
even more important to realize is that when the State steals your
money, it is actually "stealing" your life.
18. "Conscripts."
2-18-05. (Fiction) (Sequel to "Rain on
Rocks.")
When you are denied the ability to act upon all your choices, you
treasure even more highly those values and actions that are
within your control.
20. "Getting
to the Bottom." 3-10-05. A hike to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
reveals
important lessons we, as a society, would do well to learn if we value
freedom.
22. “The
History of Rock and Roll.”
5-12-05. (Fiction) When a corporation
clones famous rock musicians and replaces their brains with computers,
do the Re-creations have rights? (And which band would you
re-create first?) NB: This story is available for purchase on Amazon.
23. "Infernal
Wisdom." 6-14-05. A review of F. Paul Wilson's, Infernal, a
Repairman Jack
novel. Jack and his brother, Tom, meet, at last...much to Jack's
dismay. (Reprinted in Prometheus, Summer, 2005.)
24. "My
Life: A Comic Adventure."
8-09-05. The two most powerful -- and
misunderstood -- words in human thought are "my life," as in, "My life
belongs to me," and all that such a claim implies.
25. "Freedom
Friendly Fiction."
10-27-05. Rarely are liberty-oriented
stories set in a contemporary society in which freedom is the default
position and largely in the background. My detective novel, Death Is Easy, may
be one of the first.
26. "Fuel
For
the Soul." 11-29-05. An analysis of Rand's main goal in writing her
classic
novel, Atlas Shrugged. [NB: This is the shorter, 4100 word
version of the
essay that is to appear in Ayn Rand's
Atlas Shrugged: A Philosophical and Literary Companion edited by
Edward Younkins (Ashgate Publishers, 2006).
For the uncut, 5700 word version, go here.]
27. "I Belong
to
Me." 2-08-06. At its most basic, freedom and morality are about who
"owns" you: you or other people. There is only -- and can be only --
one right answer.
28. "Repairman
Job." 3-23-06. In Harbingers, Repariman Jack echoes the
suffering of the Biblical Job
as he struggles to survive the relentless attention of the Adversary
and the Ally.
29. "Stay Out!"
7-07-06.
Immigration becomes a major issue only when people forget the proper
role of the State in their lives.
30. "Ends and
Means." 7-18-06. Not only do the "ends never justify the means,"
the use
of irrational, immoral "means" destroys the value of any "ends" one
might obtain.
31. "The
Ideal
and the Real." 7-25-06. Those who try to build a wall between what
is real and
what is ideal understand neither and undermine both.
32. "Principles
For Living." 7-31-06. The application of principles, i.e.,
guidelines for
living, must occur in a particular context. Pretending that the
introduction of coercion must not alter the choices one makes is
rationalistic, not rational.
33. "Statist
Libertarians." 1-04-07.
Is anyone who supports the existence of a government at any level the
moral equivalent of Hitler, Stalin, and Mao?
34. "In
Defense of Slavery." 2-27-07. Abolitionists call for "freedom" and
"equality," but perhaps the slaves and their masters have different
goals in mind?
35. "Respecting
Ideas." 3-22-07.
Modern notions of what constitutes "self-esteem" have delivered a
corrupted offspring that declares that even the most heinous ideas must
be "respected."
36. "Blood in
the
Water." 4-05-07. A review of Bloodline by F. Paul Wilson.
Repairman Jack is back on the job, and there's blood in the streets.
38. "Deniers." 8-17-07.
When
the issue is the existence or the extent of global warming and/or the
role of human impact on this phenomenon, heretics should be aware that
the "consensus" believes that burning at the stake is too good for
them.
39. "The
Most Obscene Thing on TV." 9-04-07. Imagine for a moment what the
most obscene thing is you have ever witnessed on television. Then
double it
in obscenity.
40. "It's Just
Freedom." 9-13-07.
It's bad enough when statists and collectivists treat freedom as
something that should be abandoned to assuage their hurt
feelings. It's even worse -- and far scarier -- when supposed defenders
of liberty engage in the same behavior.
41. "Holding
an Adult's Hand." 12-06-07.
Even private institutions are emulating the dependent relationship
between the State and its citizens. But no real adult wants to be
treated like a toddler.
42. "Agreeing
to Disagree." 1-10-08.
Ayn Rand had it right: the lowest in society seek to enchain the best
of us. To pretend that the destruction of freedom is nothing more
serious than a difference of opinion is to hand the murderers the gun
that will destroy you.
43. "Bastard
Children." 1-11-08.
Having children out-of-wedlock is not a badge-of-honor and does not
grant the mother of a bastard child a lien on the lives, property, and
freedom of other people.
44. “Patron
of
the Arts.” 2-04-08.
(Fiction) Alicia Rickhoff's husband, Sal, knew that he was a good man.
Whatever had happened during the war was done and gone. Retired from
the military and dedicated to the finer things in life, he was now a
cultural benefactor who deserved all the praise he received. If only he
could convince his wife... NB: This story is
available for purchase
on Amazon.
45. "Anarchic
Contradictions." 2-28-08. Libertarian anarchists seek a free
society. Unfortunately, the contradictions in their positions make
their quest Quixotic.
46. "Songs of
Freedom." 3-19-08.
Music appeals directly to our emotions. Here are some songs that will
appeal to those who seek emotional fuel in their difficult quest for
freedom.
47. “Cutting
Both Ways,” 5-02-08. (A review) In By the Sword, Repairman
Jack confronts a sword sharper — and more deadly — than any forged in
this world.
48. “Rejecting
Objectivism,” 1-13-09. Those who criticize the fundamentals of
Objectivism and freedom must accept the fundamentals of slavery and
tyranny.
49. “Bush Won,” 3-17-09.
Some people still believe that our unconstitutional invasion of another
country was justified.
50. “Bullseye,” 6-15-09.
A review of F. Paul Wilson's, Ground Zero,
a Repairman Jack novel. Jack finds himself at the bullseye of a
conspiracy designed to end the universe as we know it. (For a
computer-generated, audio version, go here.)
57. “Father to
the Man.” 10-28-10. A review of the third young adult Repairman
Jack novel, Secret Vengeance, by F. Paul Wilson.
58. “Good
Neighbors.” 11-02-10. Being a good neighbor is easy. So why do so
many people act like bad neighbors?
59. “Before the
Dawn.” 6-08-11. A review of The Dark at the End by F. Paul
Wilson (a Repairman Jack novel). The stage is set for the end of the
world as we know it.
60. “The Cold,
Hard Truth.” 7-06-12. A review of Cold
City by F. Paul Wilson (a
Repairman Jack novel). How Jack became Repairman Jack.
61. “Your
Fondest Wish.” 7-22-12. This is for all those who abhor the very
notion of an armed citizen attempting to stop a spree killer.
64. “Ellie, Joel, and the Last of Us.” July
26,
2013. An analysis of the video game “The Last of Us," with special
focus on the controversial ending. (Available on Amazon.)
1. "Disabled
Thinking." 2-18-02. Rights are of no concern to those who believe
that
disabled people have special rights. (Published as "ADA's Disabled
Thinking.")
3. "Freedom,
By
George." 3-11-02. To pretend they are "free," most people today
must warp
their minds in a truly Orwellian fashion.
4. "Nigger-Nigger-Nigger."
3-18-02. Blurring the distinction between words and deeds has
reached levels that endanger basic freedoms. (Published as "Nigger
Nigger.")
5. "Bank on It."
3-25-02. Attempts to outlaw privacy in banking and money
"laundering" are primarily concerned with making you less free.
(Published as "The Looming Menace of Offshore Accounts.")
6. "Inmates
Running the Asylum."
4-01-02. A mother must choose between
smoking and visitations from her son. A case of children dictating to
their parents.
7. "Brothers
in
Blood." 4-15-02. Much of what we "learned" about history in
government
schools simply wasn't so. The reputation of one of the "greatest"
presidents is a case in point.
8. "Paint It
Black." 4-22-02. Understanding principles is the key to recognizing
how
the State systematically violates our rights. Paintball, pilots, and
play guns share a common denominator.
9. "I Are a
Student." 4-29-02. Educational "reform" in Philadelphia schools may
help in
the short run. Long term, however, a fundamentally corrupt system
cannot be "reformed." It can only be abandoned.
10. "'Rights'
In the Heartland."
5-06-02. The Heartland is hardly a model
of freedom to be emulated. Attitudes there towards self-defense starkly
reveal how poorly rights are understood. (Published as "Self-Defense in
the Heartland.")
11. "Cash Out."
5-20-02.
L.A. County is upset with the underground, cash-only economy: they
aren't getting their cut of the goods and are losing power. (Published
as "The War on Cash.")
13. "The
Crack
in Liberty." 6-24-02. A visit to Philadelphia and the Liberty Bell
reveals how
much liberty we have already lost.
14. "Rockefeller
vs the United States."
7-01-02. Far better to trust our nation's
cultural icons to private hands than those of the government. A
comparison between my experience visiting the Liberty Bell and Colonial
Williamsburg, VA.
15. "Constitutional
Suicide." 7-08-02. Those statists who spout the slogan, "The
Constitution
is not a suicide pact," are out to destroy what stands in their way.
(Reprinted in The Valley News [Santa Fe, NM], August, 2002.)
16. "Doctors
Shrugged." 7-22-02. Doctors are retiring from practice or starting
other
careers in ever greater numbers. Are they "shrugging" or is something
else going on...?
18. "One
For
the Books." 8-05-02. The State should never be involved in the
dissemination
of ideas, whether in schools or bestsellers. (Published as "Stupid
White Men and Textbook Censorship.")
20. "The New
Slavery." 8-26-02. Once in this country, people fought and died to
escape
slavery. Now, citizens clamor and plead to have the chains slapped on.
21. "Help
Me! Or
Else..." 9-02-02. Our society generally avoids laws that mandate
citizens
be Good Samaritans, but we're awash in laws that accomplish the same
goals more covertly.
22. "Unleashing
the Dogs." 9-02-02. The warped idea that we should attack someone
because
he "might" pose a threat sets the United States on a collision course
with half the world. (Published as "Iraq: Unleashing the Dogs.")
23. "The
One
True Religion." 9-16-02. On the anniversary of the World Trade
Center attacks,
it's clear that the real culprit was not Islam or any particular
religion. The true source of our problems goes much deeper and is far
more widespread that any such narrow concerns.
24. "Sacred
Ground." 9-23-02. Some people claim that the WTC site should remain
a
memorial, with no construction or commerce allowed there, because it is
"sacred ground." Unfortunately, such people do not understand what
truly makes a plot of land sacred.
25. "The
Politics of Hate." 9-30-02. There are many ways in which politics
intrude into every
aspect of life...but there is an alternative...
26. "Calling
the
NRA." 10-07-02. Asking for what you think you can get rather than
for
what you think is right betrays both your self and your values.
27. "Tribalism
Triumphant." 10-14-02. Some American Indians want to extort special
favors from
government in the name of their religion...and the State is happy to
comply.
28. "Lower
Education." 10-21-02. The trends in education over the past century
have
created a society of people who are both ignorant and unable to think
critically.
29. "Who Are
You?"
10-28-02. Not only are private businesses inordinately nosy when
it comes to asking for irrelevant information, now the Supreme Court
continues its quest to erase your ability to exercise your right to
anonymity.
30. "To
Chip
or Not to Chip." 11-04-02. Convenience is great, but how much are
we willing to pay
for it? The implantable VeriChip tests the boundaries between freedom
and convenience as the State looks on with barely veiled interest.
31. "Living
in the Real World."
11-11-02. What constitutes the "real
world" in politics and precisely who believes in a fantasy and who does
not? (Originally: "The Horse's Mouth.")
32. "Mr.
Russell's Neighborhood."
11-18-02. Perhaps if we were nicer to the
statists and collectivists seeking control, they would give up their
plans to take away our freedom. Sure, they would.
33. "Dollars
and Non-Sense." 11-25-02. Apparently the editors of The
TV Guide accept the lie that it only
makes "sense" that rich people can only justify their wealth by giving
it away to those who did not earn it.
34. "On
the
Borderline." 12-02-02. Many people who oppose freedom focus solely
on
borderline cases rather than acknowledge the reality of the freedom
that should exist under normal situations.
35. "When
a Gun Is Not a Gun."
12-09-02. When airport security screeners
treat candy and toys as weapons, their conceptual confusion poses a
threat to both our freedom and our lives.
36. "Radical
Reason." 12-16-02. When the use of reason is viewed as "radical,"
what does
that say about the state of our culture?
37. "Let It
Burn."
12-23-02. Cross-burning may be stupid and usually racist, but
freedom demands that a person has the right to be stupid and racist on
his own property or that of his friends. (Published as "Let the Crosses
Burn.")
38. "Invisible
Rights."12-30-02 Those who claim that we only have the rights
explicitly
mentioned in the Constitution are as bad as those who say we do not
have the rights that are directly mentioned there. (Published as
"Assault Weapons and Invisible Rights.")
39. "It's
Unbelievable." 1-13-03. Those who defend freedom face many hazards.
Not the
least among them are those who refuse to believe what the State is
capable of doing. (Published as "Hazard Pay for Freedom Fighters.")
40. "Bad
Economy."
1-27-03. In the inverted world of statism, the major evidence of
a bad economy is when government programs are cut. (Published as "Bad
Economy Good.")
41. "In
the
Arms of the State." 2-03-03. Should people be forced to die in
prison for keeping
what is morally -- if not legally -- theirs, i.e., their own money?
What should we do when the rule of law conflicts with what is right?
42. "Eager For
War." 2-10-03. Those pushing for war with Iraq have lots of
reasons...too bad none of them are good.
43. "You
Asked
For It." 2-24-03. The feds want to force businesses to pay for the
privilege of being regulated by the regulators. What if that same idea
worked for individuals?
44. "Learning
From the Past." 3-03-03. Maybe we should treat our enemies as did
Lincoln and FDR
and the rest. Or maybe not. (Published as"Learning From Past Wars.")
45. "Polite
Slavery." 3-10-03. When an advocate of involuntary servitude argues
for its
virtues, should the one he seeks to enslave remain calm and polite?
(Published as "The Polite Slave.")
47. "The
Statist Dictionary: Word Control."
3-17-03. Statists and collectivists
attempt to control us by controlling the language we use. (Published as
"The Statists' Dictionary: Word Control for Mind Control.")
48. "Rand on
War."
3-24-03. What Ayn Rand said about war, in general, and Vietnam,
in particular, echoes eerily with present-day concerns.
49. "Government
and Anarchy." 3-31-03. Is relying upon a properly limited
government or upon
private, competing defense agencies the better way to achieve and
preserve liberty?
50. "Avenging
Angels." 4-07-03. Many supporters of war view themselves as
righteous
warriors out to combat the evils of the world...and eager to force the
rest of us along regardless of our own desires. (Published as "Avenging
Angels of Western Civilization: Paroxysms and Orgasms of War.")
51. "Humor
Against the State." 4-14-03. Making fun of things can be a serious
business. When it
comes to fighting statism and collectivism, it's either laugh or start
crying.
52. "Wanting
Freedom." 4-21-03. Many people claim that they want to be free, but
is
liberty what they really desire?
53. "I
Don't Get
It." 4-28-03. The White House Gang told us they knew where
the Iraqis were
hiding their WMD's. Too bad we can't find them now... (Published as
"What Happened to the Weapons of Mass Destruction? I Don't Get It.")
55. "Legal
Counterfeiting." 5-19-03. While the State has long been known as a
legal
counterfeiter of money, dollars are not the only thing in our society
it fakes.
56. "The
Corruption of
Self-Interest." 6-02-03. Those who
justify actions of the State in war and domestically by an appeal to
"self-interest" carefully avoid the proper qualifier: rational
self-interest.
57. "The Best
and
the Worst." 6-09-03. In making excuses for a corrupt State, many
who profess
to believe in freedom help to enslave us all. (Published as "Suck-Ups
to the State.")
58. "Strike!" 6-16-03.
Many people strike to gain wealth at others' expense. Imagine if people
came to realize that freedom is worth striking for, too...
(Published as "Strikes and
Guns for the State.")
59. "America,
East."
6-23-03. U.S. efforts to disarm Iraqi citizens eerily echo the
actions of the State here in America, West. (Published as "Gun Control
in America East.")
60. "Anti-Privacy
Privacy." 6-30-03. The State pretends to protect our medical
privacy while
granting itself full access to the most intimate details of our lives.
61. "Extinguishing
the Flame." 7-07-03. The fire of freedom that once burned in
America is
flickering. How much longer before the last haven for liberty grows
dark?
62. "Values
and Virtues: Von Mises and
Rand." 7-14-03. Ayn Rand sought to rescue
the concepts of "selfishness" and "sacrifice" and "rights" from the
statists and the collectivists, from the mystics and the altruists. The
concept "values" has also been debased by the inclusion of goals,
objects, and actions that are inimical to life. Any such desires that
undermine life should be understood and labeled for what they are:
destruction.
63. "Wealth
and Responsibility."
7-21-03. Those who feel guilty about
their own wealth and advocate force to impose their views on others
understand neither wealth nor responsibility.
64. "The
Evil Freedom Culture." 8-04-03. Attacking the "gun culture" is, at
heart, a repudiation
of the freedom upon which our right to self-defense depends.
65. "Taxypayers'
Rights." 8-11-03. While the sentiments of tax reformers may be
good, these
activists do not really understand the principles involved nor the
contradictions of that which they seek.
66. "Voting
Fraud."
8-18-03. A gubernatorial recall and the introduction of
electronic voting have some people concerned. Too bad they totally
ignore the real fraud that plagues voting.
67. "Blackout...Or
Blank-Out?" 8-25-03. Even though 50 million people lost electric
power,
politicians are still incapable of seeing that freedom -- not control
-- is better at providing human needs.
69. "'We' Speaks."
9-15-03. The Prez gives a speech on the war in Iraq. But no
matter how many times he says "we," he does not speak for me.
(Published as "Onward Presidential Minions: 'We' Speaks.")
70. "For
the
Little Guy." Those who cry the loudest that they care the most
about
"the little guy" are the ones who are his greatest enemies.
71. "'Dangerous'
Knives." 10-06-03. Hysteria over unconfiscated knives on planes
hides the
reality that stealing citizens' means of self-defense does not make
them safer.
72. "Perfect
Security." 10-13-03. The French are planning a "perfectly secure"
national
identification card. How long before they -- and our own government --
institute chip implants when the "perfect security" of their cards
fails?
73. "A
Judgment
to Rush." 10-20-03. Radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh admits he is
addicted
to painkillers after the police begin an investigation. Honesty would
demand Limbaugh denounce the Drug War as an affront to freedom and
rights as he struggles to overcome his bad choices. But don't hold your
breath.
9. "One
Freedom."
Jan., 1998. The indivisibility of freedom. One cannot be partially
free. (Reprinted in The National Educator, 1998; El Diario
[Bolivia], 4-98; El Mundo, [Bolivia], 4-98; La Hora
[Guatemala], 5-07-98; The Social
Critic: Quarterly Journal Of Conservative Opinion, Vol. 3, #2,
Spring, 1998).
11. "For
the
Children." July, 1998. How the government destroys freedom by
appealing to the
needs of children. [Lead essay.] (Reprinted in Topicos De Actualidad,
#846
[Guatemala], Oct., 1998.)
12. "Subsidized
Education." Sept., 1999. Examining the problems in higher education
caused by
government subsidies. (A somewhat abridged version of this article
appeared in The Restoration, April, 1999.) (Reprinted in Spintech,
6-20-01.)
13. "Punishing
the Many." June, 2000. When those who have done no wrong have their
freedom
curtailed because of the misdeeds of others. (Reprinted in Spintech, 7-12-00.)
14. "Watering
the Tree." March, 2004. Despite the natural tendency to protect the
weak and
helpless, sometimes the best we can do for them is to leave them alone.
16. "Running
the Country." April 21, 2005. Politicians operate from the conceit
that it is they who run the country
rather than individuals who run their own lives. Sadly, most people
agree. (Published on the FEE website.)
14. "The
Perfect
Solution." 7-17-00. Ignoring reality and focusing on a false
"perfection" as
an excuse for state intervention. (Published as "The Perfect Solution
to Drunk Driving.")
15. "True
Terrorists." 7-24-00. Who better exhibits the characteristics of
terrorists:
common criminals or the State? (Published as "The Real Terrorists.")
16. "Costing
the Government." 7-31-00. Tax cuts "cost" the government nothing
and can never be
"too expensive." (Published as "Eat the Government.")
17. "Prospects
for Freedom." 8-07-00. In the tension between freedom and slavery,
which will
win out? (Published as "Computers and the Prospects for Freedom.")
20. "'It's Only
Money...'" 9-04-00. The money you earn represents part of your
life.
Respecting one requires respecting the other.
21. "Tell Me
a
Story." 9-18-00. The Prometheus Awards reminds us that a good story
can
be the best way to promote freedom. (Published as "Freedom Stories.")
23. "'I Don't Know
How...'" 10-16-00. Ignorance is not an excuse to turn to the State
for
help. (Published as "Must Big Mama Do Your Homework?")
24. "Mother,
May I?"
10-30-00. Our rights have been reduced to privileges as the rule
of law has been replaced by the rule of men. (Published as "How Big
Mama Turned Rights into 'Privileges'.")
25. "The Naked
Truth." 11-06-00. Soon, the State will know everything about
you...whether
you like it or not. (Published as "Naked Surveillance.")
26. "The
Marching
Morons." 11-13-00. When stupidity is celebrated and used as a
weapon
against the rest of us. (Published as "Florida and the Marching
Morons.")
27. "Risky
Business." 11-20-00. Appeals to omniscience and the "precautionary
principle"
lead to more
risks.
36. "Zoned Out."
4-09-01. Local tyranny is often most easily seen in the
subjective enforcement of zoning laws.
37. "The
Little Things That Count."
5-20-01. The Supreme Court has opened the
door to police abuse by sanctioning arrest and jail for even small
transgressions. A prime example of the principle that "bad laws lead to
bad law enforcement." (Published as "Little Things: Harassment by Laws
and Law Enforcement.")
38. "You
Should Be Thankful." 6-11-01. Using the worst rather than the best
for your standard
does not help freedom. (Published as "Don't Thank the NRA.")
43. "Hoisting
the Flag." 7-30-01. Calls for a Constitutional amendment against
"flag
desecration" reveal too much about the ability of proponents to think
critically and the level of their commitment to freedom.
44. "Second
to
None." 8-06-01. Anti-self-defense groups are aghast at the notion
that
someone might want to respect the Second Amendment as much as the First.
45. "Gun
Control Cyclops." 8-20-01. Anti-self-defense advocates "see" only
with the eye of
emotion. They are blind to facts and reality.
46. “Media,
Effects, and Politics.”
8-27-01. An analysis of the strong and
weak media effects models and how politicians stick with the one that,
though discredited, supports their abuses of freedom. NB: This article
is
available for purchase
on Amazon.
48. "Attacking
Freedom." 9-17-01. September 11, 2001, will not soon be forgotten:
the day
terrorism gripped America and destroyed the World Trade Center.
49. "Your
Papers, Please."10-29-01. Renewed calls for mandatory national ID
cards in the
name of safety will only achieve the opposite.
50. "American
Fascism Revisited."
11-05-01. A reexamination of Ayn Rand's
1962 speech, "The Fascist New Frontier," and its application to
present-day society.
52. "Taliban
'R'
Us." 11-26-01. The Taliban provide an eerie reflection of ideas and
principles commonly held by American citizens.
53. "Calling
Out the Posse." 12-10-01. Demands for changing or eliminating the
Posse Comitatus
Act -- preventing military law enforcement -- are dangerous.
54. "Because
It's Important." 12-17-01. If the "importance" of an activity to
someone,
somewhere, somehow justifies State involvement, then no limit to State
power exists.
56. "Interesting
Times." 1-14-02. The State inverts what should be constant and
unchanging and what should be open to personal choice. (Published as
"Cursed by Interesting Times.")
57. "The
Limits
of Tragedy." 1-21-02. Some of the relatives of the 9-11-01 attacks
have
crossed the line from accepting charity to violating rights.
58. "The
Roots of the Problem." 1-28-02. On the twenty-fifth anniversary of
the television
miniseries, "Roots," many Blacks still do understand what freedom
means. (Published as "The Lessons of Roots.")
59. "Kettles
and
Pots." 2-11-02. Politicians have the amazing ability to issue moral
indictments while they engage in far worse acts of immorality.
(Published as "Politician Pot Calling the Enron Kettle Black.")
4. "Freedom
and Causality." How ideas of causality relate to liberty. Summa
Philosophiae, May,
1997. [Reprinted in The West Coast
Libertarian (British Columbia, Canada).
Jan./Feb., 1998.]
5. "'Imposing'
Freedom." Can you "force" someone to be free? Summa Philosophiae,
August,
1997. Conditions of morality. [Reprinted in The West Coast
Libertarian
(British Columbia, Canada). Dec., 1997.]
8. “The
Self: From Stimulus
to Cognition.” An academic analysis of theories of self in
communication. (68K). Summa Philosophiae, Jan., Feb., March,
1998 (Part I, II, III). (Printed
9-98, 11-98.) NB: This article is
available for purchase
on Amazon.
10. "The
'Self' Revisited." A reply to Michael Huemer's critique of "The
Self: From
Stimulus to Cognition." Summa Philosophiae, Jan., Feb., March,
1999 (Part I, II, III). (Printed
9-99.)
19. "Compassion."
Our
government is literally killing us with "kindness." The Free Radical,
Oct./Nov., 1999. (New Zealand).
(Published as "The Compassion Con.") Reprinted in Libertarians in
Action,
Sept., 2000.
27. “The
Myth of Animal Rights.” Animals have no free will, no use for
morality, and,
hence, no rights. Liberzine, 7-19-00. (Published as "Rats and
Rights.") Selected as "Column du
Jour," WorldNetDaily,
7-20-00. Reprinted in Laissez
Faire (Czech Republic), Summer, 2000. NB: This article is
available for purchase
on Amazon.
32. "The
Arrogance of Ignorance." Those who know the least about us and the
world are the
most eager to rule. Liberzine, 3-12-01. (Reprinted in Spintech,
5-20-01.)
4. "Bashing
Business." A review of The Business
of Commerce by James Chesher and Tibor
Machan. A moral defense of business. Laissez
Faire City Times, 5-01-00.
5. "The
Truth
About Writing." A review of Ayn Rand's The
Art of Fiction: A Guide to Writers and Readers. Laissez Faire
City Times,
6-19-00. (Published as, "The Art of
Fiction.")
7. "Jack
of
All Trades." A review of All the Rage by F. Paul Wilson.
Repairman Jack faces more than one
kind of demon... Laissez Faire City
Times, 1-22-01.
8. "The
Persuasive
Art." A review of Ayn Rand's The
Art of Nonfiction.Laissez Faire City Times, 4-16-01.
9. "Of
Parasites and Hosts." A review of Hosts by F. Paul Wilson.
Repairman Jack meets his sister. Laissez Faire City Times, 6-25-01.
10. "Objectivism
and Business." A review of Ayn Rand and
Business by Donna Greiner and Theodore
Kinni. Objectivist guidelines for conducting one's business. (Published
as "Ayn Rand and Business.") Laissez
Faire City Times, 12-03-01.
11. "Remembering
Rand." A review of Facets of Ayn
Rand: Memoirs by Mary Ann and Charles Sures.
When certain facets are ignored... (Published as "Facets of Ayn Rand:
Whitewashing by the Ayn Rand Institute.") Laissez
Faire City Times, 12-24-01.
15. "Crossing
Jack."
In the new Repairman Jack novel, Crisscross, by F. Paul Wilson,
Jack's "fix-its" entwine in ways
that test the core of his being. Atlas
Magazine, 4-16-04.
16. "Infernal
Wisdom." A review of F. Paul Wilson's, Infernal, a
Repairman Jack
novel. Jack and his brother, Tom, meet, at last...much to Jack's
dismay. Atlas
Magazine, 6-14-05. (Reprinted in Prometheus, Summer, 2005.)
17. "Repairman
Job."
In Harbingers,
Repariman Jack echoes the suffering of the Biblical Job as he struggles
to survive the relentless attention of the Adversary and the Ally. Atlas
Magazine, 3-23-06.
20. “Bullseye,” A
review of F. Paul Wilson's, Ground Zero,
a Repairman Jack novel. Jack finds himself at the bullseye of a
conspiracy designed to end the universe as we know it. (For a
computer-generated, audio version, go here.)
Atlas
Magazine, 6-15-09.
22. “The Truth Is.”
Review of the young adult Repairman Jack novel, Secret Circles,
by F. Paul Wilson.
23. “Fatal Endings.”
A review of Fatal Error by F. Paul Wilson. The universe is
unforgiving of those who blind themselves to the truth.
24. “Father to
the Man.” A review of the third young adult Repairman Jack novel, Secret
Vengeance, by F. Paul Wilson.
25. “Before the
Dawn.” A review of The Dark at the End by F. Paul Wilson (a
Repairman Jack novel). The stage is set for the end of the world as we
know it.
26. “The Cold,
Hard Truth.” A review of Cold
City by F. Paul Wilson (a
Repairman Jack novel). How Jack became Repairman Jack.
2. “A
Second Chance.”Vision, Fall, 1992. Is love worth
resurrection? Reprinted in Spintech
Literary
Supplement, 2-01-00. NB: This story
is
available for purchase
on Amazon.
3. “Man
of Destiny.”Final
Cause, Aug., 1997. When the free will of a pilot clashes with the
fate of a
prophet. NB: This story is
available for purchase
on Amazon.
4.“The
Greatest Good.”Final
Cause, March, 1998. When organ donation is no longer voluntary.
(54K)
Reprinted in The Daily Objectivist,
7-06-99. Reprinted in Spintech
Literary Supplement,
12-01-99. NB: This story is
available for purchase
on Amazon.
5. “Balloons.”Spintech
Literary
Supplement, 11-01-99. A child learns
about friendship. NB: This story is available for purchase on Amazon.
6. “Rain
on
Rocks.”Atlas,
1-18-05. A mother/wife explores the nature of
bravery in the face
of oppression...and demonstrates how our actions often have positive
consequences of which we may never become aware. NB: This story is
available for purchase
on Amazon.
7. “Conscripts.”Atlas,
2-18-05. (Sequel to “Rain
on
Rocks.”)
When you are denied the ability to act upon all your choices, you
treasure even more highly those values and actions that are
within your control. NB: This story is available for purchase on Amazon.
8. “Purification.”Atlas,
4-21-05. (19,000 words.)
(Sequel to “Rain on
Rocks”
and “Conscripts.”)
The Ratters wanted only to do business. Becoming
ensnared in a civil war hardly suited their plans... NB: This story is
available for purchase
on Amazon.
9. “The
History of Rock and
Roll.”Atlas, 5-12-05. When a corporation clones famous
rock musicians and
replaces their brains with computers, do the Re-creations have rights?
(And which band would you re-create first?) NB: This story is
available for purchase
on Amazon.
10. “Patron
of
the Arts.”Atlas,
2-04-08.
(Fiction) Alicia Rickhoff's husband, Sal, knew that he was a good man.
Whatever had happened during the war was done and gone. Retired from
the military and dedicated to the finer things in life, he was now a
cultural benefactor who deserved all the praise he received. If only he
could convince his wife... NB: This story is
available for purchase
on Amazon.
11. “Family
Trees.” A humorous look at time travel and multiverses in which
David discovers that too much of a good thing — especially when family
is involved — can lead to unforeseen (and seriously unwanted)
consequences... NB: This story is
available for purchase
on Amazon.
2. Sample Chapters: The Integrative
Perspective: IP Introduction;IP
Chapter 1; IP Chapter 2 An
objective approach to communication. The foundations for "To Understand
and Be Understood."
10. "Courting
Disaster." Too many courts and justices have become unprincipled
tools of our political system.
11. "Getting
Gassed." When the State seeks to "help" with high gas and
electrical prices, watch your wallet.
12. "Terminal
Limits." Review of Term Limits by Vince Flynn. Perhaps this
author is on to something...
13. "Patriots
Day vs Earth Day." The attention paid to Earth Day and the
avoidance of
Patriots Day tells us too much about the state of our culture.
14. "Rampant
Discrimination Exposed!" A tongue-in-cheek analysis of the group
most
discriminated against in our society...and the ludicrous nature of most
claims of discrimination made by women and minorities.
15. "Presumed
Guilty." Prior restraint, burden of proof, and logic are all
issues in calls to ban cell phones in cars.
17. "Race
For
Freedom." In the wake of the World Trade Center attack, we face a
race between freedom and growing dictatorship.
18. "The
Greatest Generation." The World War II generation did many good
things. They
also did much that was wrong.
19. "The Remnant."
Statist and collectivists love concentrating people in small areas
while simultaneously destroying the conditions necessary for such
communities to work.
20. "Pushing
the Peanut." An effort to establish legal rights for a chimp is yet
another example of statist incrementalism and a direct assault on the
very meaning of rights.
21. "Wally's
World."
Attacks on Walmart hide assaults on self-determination, capitalism, and
success itself...
22. "Saving
Lives."
When cops on PSA's tell us they're giving us seat belt violation
tickets in order to "save lives" maybe we should be grateful...or not.
23. "Getting
Rights Right." By examining the origins and foundations necessary
for
the existence and exercise of full adult rights, we can better
understand how the concept of "rights" applies to children.
24. "Have
More
Sex. Now!" A call for Brits to have more children is yet one more
attempt by the State to intrude into the bedrooms of its citizens for
the "good of society."
25. "Return
to
Sender." The United States Post Office wants to create "smart"
stamps with embedded links to your identity. The policy won't control
criminals, but it will be another step in controlling citizens.
26. "A Good
Defense."
The president insists that a threat that "may" develop at some hazy
time in the future justifies an immediate attack. What might happen if
lovers of liberty took him at his word?
1. “Blood
and Water”: An alien soldier must choose
between bringing his
daughter to justice...and saving her from her own destructive choices.
NB: This story
is
available for purchase
on Amazon.
2. "The Book
Lords": In a society where books are licensed and being a Book
Lord is a capital offense punishable by death, a Gatekeeper struggles
to maintain the integrity of his office. (40K)
4. "The
Petitioner": A student seeking escape into another realm must
contend
with his own self-doubts and the criticisms of his teacher who
continually rejects his Petitions for transformation.
5. "R.A.T.
Ship
Captain": A Research and Trade Ship Captain finds the most
valuable commercial good of his career among the most unlikely of
aliens...and may lose it all because of a bureaucrat whose life he must
save. (84K)
6. “Repatriation”:
The prisoners of war longed for liberation and a life of freedom with
their rescuers...as long as they could avoid being sent home. NB: This
story
is
available for purchase
on Amazon.
7. ”The
Road to
New Hell”: When a down-on-his-luck pilot must choose between
success and friendship. NB: This
story is
available for purchase
on Amazon.
Published as “Star Diver: The Road to New Hell.”
