[Lnc-business] FYI - Also shared on Facebook

[Caryn Ann Harlos]

Much respect Arvin. Thank you.

-Caryn Ann

On Sun, May 21, 2017 at 11:54 AM, Arvin Vohra <votevohra at gmail.com> wrote:

> Yesterday, I discussed my views on the military at the Libertarian Party
> of Rhode Island state convention. Here's what I presented.
>
> There are some parts of the military that do something useful. Those parts
> should be handled by the free market, and would be improved if they were
> handled by the free market.
>
> The Coast Guard rescues people. It's a good thing to do. However, they are
> also the largest part of the war on drugs, in terms of the value of the
> assets that they steal from businesses.
>
> Groups like AAA and various insurance companies are able to provide
> roadside assistance on the millions of miles of roads. These private sector
> services work reliably, and don't squander effort and resources on things
> as ludicrous as the War on Drugs. Would people be able to afford to pay for
> a AAA of the sea? My thought is if you have the money for a boat, you
> probably have the money for rescue insurance.
>
> The Navy protects shipping lanes. Again, a good thing to do. But it does
> so at an astronomical expense, with firepower levels disproportionately
> greater than any current or expected threat of piracy or impressment. Could
> the several multibillion dollar shipping companies find a way to pay for
> that? I think so. If not, the other option would be for companies to
> produce things domestically. Instead of outsourcing production overseas,
> having the shipments sent back to the U.S., with protection paid for by our
> tax dollars, companies would have to do a proper risk-reward calculation.
> It might increase domestic production (note that the U.S. is a net importer
> of physical goods).
>
> But then there are things that no one should be doing, at all. All U.S.
> involvement in foreign civil wars should end. All U.S. foreign military
> bases should be shut down today, and the troops should be brought home. We
> should immediately leave NATO, and let Europe pay for its own defense.
> Whatever supposed "influence" we are buying at the cost of such huge
> military spending is not worth it, and it is not working.
>
> NATO is allowing Europe to become socialist, as they don't have to be
> financially responsible enough to pay for their own defense. It is forcing
> us to become socialist, since we have to pay unacceptable taxes to fund
> that defense.
>
> Finally, the issue of culpability came up. I pointed out that good
> intentions don't erase bad actions done by the individual, or by the
> collective that they voluntarily support, but that those bad actions
> similarly don't erase the good intentions. Larry Sharpe
> <https://www.facebook.com/neosage?fref=mentions> pointed out that
> according to law and custom, culpability is what separates crimes like
> murder 1, 2, 3, manslaughter, etc., and that the intent had to be weighed
> very, very heavily. I found myself agreeing with Larry's perspective on
> this. I also agreed with his position on not behaving as Americans did with
> Vietnam vets, which lead to an entirely lost generation. Instead of
> converting vets into a powerful force for freedom, it simply hurt them for
> the sake of hurting them.
>
> On reflection, I am forced to recognize that while opposing military
> worship, which is often used to manipulate people into immoral acts, is
> right, and fighting the military industrial complex is right, and fighting
> military policy that creates enemies and reduces safety is right, and
> provoking people to reexamine their world view is right, creating
> collateral damage is wrong. I have no intention of being the kind of leader
> who can challenge the views of others, but cannot challenge his own.
>
> Words can hurt brutally. That's why I use them against the state, and the
> worship of the state. But they should be used carefully for that same
> reason. During the last week, I failed to be careful enough with those
> words. While they helped some people, they also hurt a lot of people. To
> those who were hurt by my words, I apologize to you, specifically, for both
> what I said, and for the impact it had.
>
> I know it will be a long time before many of you who have been involved in
> the military will be able to trust me again, if ever. I'll do my best to
> earn your trust the only way I know how to earn trust. I'll speak to you
> honestly. I'll fight for your freedoms with every weapon I have. My aim
> with a weapon is frankly laughable, but my words can do some damage.
>
> Whether you end up trusting me again or not, I will be fighting with you,
> against the state, for our shared goal of liberty.
>
> In Liberty,
>
> Arvin Vohra <https://www.facebook.com/VohraEducation/?fref=mentions>
>
>
> --
> Arvin Vohra
>
> www.VoteVohra.com
> VoteVohra at gmail.com
> (301) 320-3634
>
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>
>


-- 
*In Liberty,*
*Caryn Ann Harlos*
Region 1 Representative, Libertarian National Committee (Alaska, Arizona,
Colorado, Hawaii, Kansas, Montana, Utah, Wyoming, Washington) - Caryn.Ann.
Harlos at LP.org <Caryn.Ann.Harlos at LP.org>
Communications Director, Libertarian Party of Colorado
<http://www.lpcolorado.org>
Colorado State Coordinator, Libertarian Party Radical Caucus
<http://www.lpradicalcaucus.org>
Chair, LP Historical Preservation Committee

A haiku to the Statement of Principles:
*We defend your rights*
*And oppose the use of force*
*Taxation is theft*
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