“Uninstall the system”

Or, Confessions of a Disillusioned (Former) Libertarian (by the Brunette)

McAfee 1

A Mother’s day call to family back east involved several handsets, 9 family members, and lots of background noise. Hard to tell who I was talking with at times, and who was listening, amidst the hubbub. It was Mom, I think, who asked me what I thought of the current political circus. The lack of enthusiasm at their end felt palpable . . . possibly a few Bernie supporters there; the hushed silence among an often vocal group of left liberals seemed almost eerie, even a bit sad (hey, they’re family . . . what can I say. I love them, despite their politics, and I hope they’d say the same of me.)

I’ve not willingly paid much attention to politics for years. For a time, I was active with the LP (as Vin has been, also.) The people involved were great, but — well, politics is nasty business. Since I “dropped out” of the LP, I’ve considered myself an anarchist and still do, of the peace loving kind. But since I was asked point blank, I mentioned that I like what John McAfee has to say (“Who? Who’s he?”) and rather than letting our divergent views derail the friendly conversation, I offered to send them some links. Later.

Here (with some editing, since the original wasn’t written to be a blog post) is the email I sent them: (I’ll add some further thoughts of my own below.)

Hi folks,

It was fun to chat with you this afternoon . . .

Somehow, the subject of politics came up. Far as I could tell, no one sounds excited about the clownish crew of mainstream candidates this election cycle. It’s been years since I voted, I’m not even registered . . . but I do like the Libertarian candidate, John McAfee, very much. He’s smart as a whip, funny, refreshingly candid — although I liked Ron Paul, McAfee is the sort of firecracker in real life that Trump (IMO) is pretending to be — he’s a very colorful guy. 😉

So here are a few short videos, in case you might be interested in hearing what a Libertarian candidate has to say . . . if you prefer reading to videos, here’s a starting place. These are all short videos, many under two minutes — I could recommend longer ones, but it made sense to stick with short & sweet ones and give you a selection to choose from. Youtube will no doubt offer other suggestions. 🙂

Meet John McAfee: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBEISf-KBiI

Prejudice may get us all killed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E67l_p_CZRs

Every American is a libertarian: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1y-mSa9KG4

Trump’s wall: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJAqcuc9U4Q

We the people: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTj2lhFSYkA (7+ min.)

FBI request to Apple, dangerous nonsense: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJ7wyUkXPdE

On Libertarianism, & social security: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJ9ZRPmEE00

Of the powerful, by the powerful, for the powerful: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKjXHmWxqw0

I’m no longer an LP member, nor am I campaigning for McAfee, but I do like what he has to say — pro-freedom all the way, and he’s better (IMO) on libertarian principles than the LP itself. OTOH, neither Gary Johnson or Austin Petersen (other LP candidates) appeal to me much, though Gary Johnson is a nice guy . . . I heard him speak at an LP conference years ago. And he has experience as the governor of New Mexico — i.e., he’s more of a politician.

Anyway, that’s too many links, I’d be pleased if you click on one or two just to get the gist of what he has to say . . . who knows, you might like him. He’s also done some spoof/comical videos on Youtube (the red smoking jacket is a clue) and his naughty humor reminds me of the old 1950’s Playboy cartoons, which won’t appeal to everyone (I love them. 🙂 ) ADDED: He’s apparently a rather notorious prankster, but from what I’ve seen it’s WYSIWYG — when he’s earnest, he’s earnest . . . when he’s over the top, it’s pretty obvious. To those with eyes to see, and ears to hear. 🙂

It honestly never occurred to me before to send any such links, but in an all around rotten political climate, it’s worth looking at third parties if only as a protest vote. And the LP does have ballot access in all 50 states now, unlike the others (as I understand it.) At very least, if you’ve not paid much attention to the LP, perhaps you’ll understand why I was involved for a while. (Dad, too!)

I’m almost annoyed at John McAfee for getting me interested in the political drama again (holding my nose.) 🙁

Love to everyone!

*****

None of the folks have responded (not a surprise) and it seems a shame for that effort to be completely wasted, so Vin agreed I could share it here.

I should add, I’ve not paid as much attention to other LP candidates — I’m familiar with Gary Johnson from years past, but I’m afraid (like many others) he lost me with the “Nazi wedding cake” (as if there aren’t bakers who’d be happy to bake a cake for any paying customer) during the debate moderated by John Stossel. I thought Larken Rose was a bit harsh re: Austin Petersen, but (as Larken usually does) made excellent points. Darryl Perry is probably a great guy, I understand he’s popular with many Libertarians … but it’s only fair to admit that having listened to him talk for half an hour, probably his pithiest talking point was an Ernie Hancock quote: “Freedom is the answer. What’s the question?” However solid his ideas, I simply didn’t find Darryl compelling as a speaker or candidate, as a casual observer.

It’s nice to see some strong up and coming Libertarians, and perhaps a younger generation finds them exciting — that’s all good. However, it’s McAfee who has even a jaded old fart like me who burnt out on LP activism years ago paying attention.

McAfee 2

Talking about it recently, Vin and I sadly suspect the LP will go the Gary Johnson “safe and predictable” route. McAfee strikes me as the only candidate likely to draw many votes from the disenfranchised, or the large number of non-voters — as Rob Loggia points out, that’s some 60% of ‘We the People.’ To quote from Rob’s article:

It is simple: the kind of person that is anti-authoritarian and thinks people should be left alone are also much less likely to have an interest in politics, government or campaigns. We need to reach them in other ways.

He’s right. If they can get a thoroughly disillusioned, been-there-done-that former (once or twice) voter and former campaign volunteer like me to pay attention, well, anything’s possible.

Recently I’ve had numerous reasons to re-think political abstinence on the local level — ironically, the recent Malheur Wildlife Refuge fiasco (we wish the Bundy family and their supporters all the best) in Oregon drew my attention to a few local Las Vegas political figures it’s hard not to like: Michele Fiore gets the most press, of course, but there’s also John Moore (who I believe may be the highest ranking elected official to join the LP, sorry no link, I don’t have one bookmarked … this was going to be a QUICK blog post) and Shelly Shelton,– I who dislike F***book often visit her page there). Note, I am not endorsing anyone here or intending to/eligible to vote for any of them — but seeing them in action can be heartening. Even if I may disagree on some issues (I do), so what … they’d probably be happy to discuss those issues, unlike most politicians.

I think John McAfee is the only one I can say I’ve found nothing substantial to disagree with so far. (That may yet change.) He can pull your leg with a straight face, but you can sense it when he’s serious … when he speaks from the heart (and maybe sometimes aims from the hip), it’s hard to mistake the man’s passion. And I do suspect he’s right — not that I know the first thing about cyber-security — that the next world war won’t be fought the old-fashioned way, and the U.S. is woefully unprepared for it. At least, the vast majority of U.S. that ostensibly elect the bastards . . . and no one on the political Merry-go-round will spare a second thought for people who aren’t on it. Unless they’re big time campaign donors. There will be no space for “we the people” in their underground bunkers, or their exotic bug-out locations (except maybe as slaves), even if we wished to join them there — live free or die!

Please understand that I do NOT believe that voting will change anything. What MIGHT well change things, and quickly, is a groundswell of indignation — a cultural shift toward freedom, away from tyranny. Toward self-ownership and self-reliance, away from top down control and dependency. Toward personal responsibility, and away from pointing fingers. Toward finding common ground, and away from divide-and-conquer. Toward coherence, away from cacophony. Toward love, away from war. Toward constructive criticism of error, and away from perpetuation of terror.

Intellectual arguments are just fine, but engaging in them — rather than winning new allies — tends to splinter an otherwise cohesive group. If the LP wants to be a debate society, so be it, it’s not my affair. If it aims to be a political party to compete with the R’s and D’s, it would seem tragic if the LP can’t come together now, while the mainstream parties increasingly appear becoming hopelessly fractured … again, not my affair. Except I live in this country and have no plans to leave, so it IS my concern what sort of government we’ll have, whether I like the idea or not. I’m rooting for McAfee (in case you hadn’t guessed.) 😉

Opening eyes, reaching hearts and minds, bypassing entrenched beliefs and convictions creatively — that’s where the McAfee team seems to be going, in fresh and surprising ways. It’s not politics as usual, and that’s a welcome change. While it lasts. It’s been fun to watch so far, from a safe distance.

Is McAfee wanting to play the modern day Hercules, cleaning out the Aegean stables of American politics? I can only wish him luck! Godspeed, Sir John. 🙂 I’ll keep the popcorn on standby . . .

McAfee16 store

PS: An ironic sort of postscript: I went searching for an image of a M16 bumpersticker I saw not so long ago at the McAfee 2016 store . . . “no products were found matching your selection.” I guess they’re out of stock . . . definitely not politics as usual. LOL. Can’t even BUY one right now. That’s pretty funny . . . and probably also, on the right track. Love it. 😀

 

9 Comments to ““Uninstall the system””

  1. MamaLiberty Says:

    Yes, Cat… what you said. But I still don’t want anybody for “president,” regardless of how wonderful they are (or how many people think they are), and don’t intend to encourage any of them.

    I’m actually sort of glad the LP has kept itself marginalized with their endless debate and pointless capitulation to main stream politics. Gary Johnson? AGAIN? Spare me.

    I may “vote” in the local election for sheriff, however. We’ve been good friends for years, but every time I speak with him I have to remind myself that he IS a politician, after all.

  2. Brunette Says:

    Mama dear! I’m philosophically opposed to the idea of voting. It’s not that I WANT a president (or congress, senate, etc. etc.) but that we WILL be stuck with one, like it or not. And a Libertarian — even if it’s not McAfee — would be preferable, or for that matter even some other third party candidate, to another Clinton or Bush or Obama.

    Someone will likely call me out and tell me I’ve got to vote for John … no, I don’t. 😉 Lots of people DO vote, and don’t necessarily take the time to research their options. It’s possible that I can do his campaign more good with a blog post like this, than by casting one paltry vote (does ANYONE trust those voting machines, anyway?)

    Yes, a good sheriff is a perfect example of why local politics matter. If he’s a friend of yours, it’s darn near certain he’s a good one! LOL 🙂

    Lastly, the thing I like most about McAfee is not that he’s wonderful, but he’s oh so human. And freely admits it. It’s a liberating message, that it’s OK to be human. 🙂

  3. MamaLiberty Says:

    Of course, Cat. I understand that, but the bottom line is that as long as any of us are willing to accept the idea of even this very human person as a “ruler” of any kind, we will continue to have rulers at every level. And that ultimately includes the local sheriff, the major difference being that a sheriff can’t start world war 3 and doesn’t have his finger on the nuclear trigger. But the sheriff may very well be part of the gun confiscation and other attempts to keep the tax cattle from resisting the rulers… and I suspect that the GOOD sheriffs will not be tolerated long either. So, it seems wise to support and encourage the good ones for as long as possible.

    But it won’t matter a whole lot as long as most people continue to demand “safety” instead of liberty, and for someone else to be responsible (and pay for) their choices and actions. They’ll “vote” for those who promise to deliver that, and ignore the real consequences.

    In any case, good luck and have fun with your campaign stuff. 🙂

  4. Vince Says:

    I like McAfee’s comment concerning Trump’s wall. “What madman wants to build a wall between our nation and a nation of the finest tunnel builders on the planet.”

  5. Vin's Brunette Says:

    Yeah, I loved that line too, Vince! Oh, and on that subject, then there’s this: https://solari.com/blog/mexico-agrees-to-pay-for-donald-trumps-border-wall/

    🙂

  6. olde reb Says:

    “Uninstall the system.” you say ?

    First, we must understand how the ‘system’ works. Without this information we are fighting with shadows.

    I conclude the foreign policy (and much domestic policy) of the United States comes from Wall Street. WS controls the actions of the IMF and WB. Those two financial forces have impoverished the third world, are working on Europe, and have stated the United States is their “ultimate goal.” Ref. GLOBALIZATION OF POVERTY by Michel Chossudovsky.

    The WB and IMF utilize the CIA and US military for the economic benefit of Wall Street. Ref. ECONOMIC HIT MAN by John Perkins. The CIA was created to benefit WS and received funds from WS for projects that defied the goals of government. Ref. DEVIL’S CHESSBOARD by David Talbot. Government attempts to control the CIA are ridiculed. Ref. Congressional testimony by Oliver North.

    The CIA/IMF/WB have funded and established every tyrant in the entire world. When a CIA asset declares their national interest as a priority before WS interests, they are labeled communist, abusive of indigenous people, terrorists, or some such rot, and must be eliminated. Ref. Castro, Hussein, ben Laden, Gaddafi, Noriega, Somoza, Assad, the list is endless.

    The CFR was established by WS for the consolidation of industrial control by interlocking board of director to eliminate competition. Total control of occupational endeavors for mutual economic gain is the objective. Ref. TRAGEDY AND HOPE by Carroll Quigley. Six groups now control the world. The media is but one of the industries within the six groups. The higher cost of goods and services is paid by the consumer.

    Documentation of the CIA importation of drugs is legion. Ref. COMPROMISED by Terry Reed; CRIMES OF PATRIOTS by Jonathan Kwitney; DARK ALLIANCE by Gary Webb.

    War-mongering is for the benefit of WS. Pearl Harbor was a deliberately formulated and provoked attack anticipated by FDR/WS. Ref. DAY OF DECEIT by John Stennett. Lyndon lied about Tonkin Bay to escalate the Vietnam war.

    Ike’s Peace talk in Paris was thwarted by the CIA countermanding the grounding of U-2 flights, of their sabotaging the Power’s airplane, and by their unprecedented over-flight of the USSR. Ref. VIETNAM AND JFK by Fletcher Prouty. JFK’s back channel contacts with Moscow for peace, and his declaration to shatter the CIA into a thousand pieces for sabotaging their own Bay of Pigs invasion, contributed to his killing. JFK AND THE UNSPEAKABLE by James Douglas; PLAUSIBLE DENIAL by Mark Lane. RMN closed the Colorado CIA school used to train Tibetans to invade China. The CIA countered with a deliberately bungled Watergate scandal and erased exculpatory recording that vindicated him. Carter’s firing of 500 CIA agents and torpedoing of a nuclear aircraft carrier led to OCTOBER SURPRISE (directed by the CIA) authored by Barbara Honegger to make sure he was not reelected.

    Trade treaties (negotiated in secrecy) abrogate national sovereignty and consolidate control in Wall Street.

    It is submitted the above perfidy is funded in major part from the embezzling by the Federal Reserve system. Ref. https://www.scribd.com/doc/153024003/Amended-Complaint-Federal-Reserve-whistleblower. The Federal Reserve is operating as a government contractor (as defined by the Supreme Court and is accused of being owned by WS) and not as a government agent. A contractor has no government immunity. Only Congress can investigate the Fed but WS is the source of congressional prosperity.

    Until Wall Street is recognized as the force creating chaos throughout the world, there will be no change. Without change, you can look forward to the United States following the pattern of Greece and Haiti. Get ready for austerity.

    What are you doing to inform society of the Wall Street involvement ?

    (The above book citations are representative only.)

  7. Brunette Says:

    “Uninstall the system” is a slogan of the McAfee/Weiss campaign — I just happen to like it, and thought it an appropriate title for the post.

    That’s quite a heavy duty reading assignment! I have no doubt they’re all great books, and I’ll keep them in mind for the next time we have a rainy six months. 😉

  8. “Uninstall the system” | The Price of Liberty Says:

    […] Read the rest at Vin Suprynowicz blog here. […]

  9. Winston Smith Says:

    Well said, Old Reb. Might also mention “Creature of Jekyll Island” by G. Edward Griffin for a little more Fed history.