Author: Kent McManigal

It’s aggravating that New Mexico’s Supreme Court decided the petitions aimed at possibly holding the New Mexico governor accountable for her COVID overreach were “legally invalid.” Aggravating, but not surprising.

The U.S. government is probably relieved it can now blame the results of some of its past crimes and bungling — such as inflation and other economic disasters — on the Russian military invasion of Ukraine and most people will believe it. In fact, the same is likely true of every government in the world.

I do consider Putin to be the worst among a terrible group right now. He’s the last person who had the chance to do the right thing but chose to do the wrong thing instead. I know, however, he didn’t start committing his latest evil act on a whim. He was led — or possibly shoved — down a bad path by decades of unethical acts by other governments. You don’t get excused for committing evil even if you were provoked, though.

Whenever a government wants to go to war, you can be sure it is lying — to its population and to anyone who listens to its justifications. If anyone supports a war, they have been hoodwinked by the lies. Without lies, no ethical person would ever support war.

Throughout history the older generation has thought the younger generations are weak, frivolous, and self-centered. Just as that older generation’s elders thought the same of it, and so on to the beginnings of our species. It’s time to break the cycle with some reality.

Every time anything is criminalized it creates new criminals. That’s really the only thing it does. Anyone who doesn’t understand this correlation shouldn’t be in a position of power over the lives of others.

Beliefs are only truly incompatible when one of them includes the belief that it’s OK to force others to believe one particular thing. Or, more accurately, to force others to pretend they believe, since belief can’t be imposed. Any such belief discredits itself; no valid belief has to be forced on others.

Obedience is not something to be encouraged or celebrated; it’s one of the most dangerous human traits there is. Obedient people have caused far more problems than rebels. It’s not even close.

As I write this I am wrapping up my own adventure with COVID-19. It didn’t feel good, but it was nothing worth destroying the economy over. It was not worth any mandates, shutdowns, or other government overreaches.

Government would like you to believe it brought about this modern world’s peace, prosperity, and safety. Yet the truth is, when these things are the norm it’s in spite of political government, not because of it. Appreciate the heroes, not the freeloaders.