To Vote or Not to Vote

An old timer, a vet of WWII, called C-Span yesterday to make known his irritation with the 50% of the population who don't vote. But if you simply explore his scenario a little further, whether more or fewer people vote won't affect the outcome of the election in a significant way. Whether 1000 or ten million Americans vote, they're only two outcomes to most of the questions that were already pre-determined before any sheeple enter the voting booth. So the question becomes what difference does it make, especially where these hack candidates are concerned?

On the other hand, I get a vicarious joy at voting against referendums for bond measures and tax increases, so in terms of personal enjoyment, it's not a total waste of time.

Hess for Governor of Arizona

Kudos to Barry Hess for his performance in the AZ governor's debate. His presence in the debate forced the republocrat and demopublican to actually debate ideas like elimination of Arizona's state income tax.

Accordingly, I have no problem with libertarians who participate in state politics. Without a doubt, their efforts are educational, as I learned about libertarianism in large part because of the campaigns of Harry Browne. Nor do I have a problem with anarchists who want no part of the process. That's the beauty of self-ownership. You get to make up your own mind, and those people who don't like the way you think can go take a flying leap!

Nukes in North Korea

If a tree falls in the forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?

And if North Korea has nukes and no American knew it, would anyone care?

Are the same people with trembling voices who call C-Span even aware of which countries do and do not have nukes, or have had them in the past, or have the technical ability and wealth to easily recreate them again?

I'm fairly confident that Ecuadoran Indians or Albanian peasants don't give the subject a second thought. Good for them -- I'll follow their example.