Whereas I understand that The United States of America is a nation founded upon principles that recognize the supremacy of God and the rule of law, and,
Whereas I understand the only form of government recognized as legitimate and lawful in the United States of America is a representative one, and,
Whereas a representative relationship relies upon a foundation of mutual consent, and,
Whereas I understand the appearance of consent can be achieved by silence and inaction, and,
Whereas I understand no one can be my representative without my consent, and,
Whereas I understand neither I nor anyone I know signed the US or Texas constitutions, it appears the governments of this nation rely upon deception to gain the right to govern, and,
Whereas I understand that public servants must provide a service to the public within the legislated framework within which public service is provided, and,
Whereas I understand that if they are unable to define the legislated framework they are also unable to claim to act with respect to it, and,
Whereas I understand a 'statute' is defined as “a legislated rule of society which has the force of law,' and,
Whereas I understand a 'society' is defined as 'a number of people joined by mutual consent to deliberate, determine and act for a common goal,' and
Whereas I understand statutes do not have the force of law over those who have not consented to be governed, and,
Whereas I understand that a principal has a duty to ensure that the people acting as their agents understand the source, nature and limits of their mandates, and,
Whereas I am desirous of living my life with love, compassion and truth, and,
Whereas the only people who can possibly expect me to follow them must have more love compassion and truth than I do, and,
Whereas due to the deception found in so many statutes and government institutions I can no longer believe that any government agent or principal acts with the truth, and
Whereas I could not find the word 'love' in any statute, bylaw or regulation and,
Whereas I cannot in good conscience support an organization that uses deception to cause people to register themselves, their offspring, their property and chattel, and,
Whereas I am desirous of following only those who are guided by love, compassion and truth, and,
Whereas I understand I give up certain benefits and legal rights by existing outside of society, and,
Whereas I understand I recapture Common Law rights by existing outside of society,
BE IT KNOWN TO ANY AND ALL, THAT ON THIS DAY JULY 4TH, 2008, I
Hat Bailey, A FREE SOVEREIGN HUMAN BEING, DO HEREBY STATE MY INTENT TO DENY CONSENT TO BE GOVERNED BY ANY AND ALL PARTIES.
ALL CONCERNED PARTIES HAVE TWENTY-ONE (21) DAYS TO DISPUTE, DISPROVE OR DENY ANY OF THE FACTS MENTIONED HEREIN. FAILURE TO DO SO INDICATES FULL AGREEMENT AND ACCEPTANCE.
No statutes will apply to me, for they are the product of a governing body from which I have withdrawn my consent.
I recognize no duty to pay taxes, for the collection of taxes is a function of government, and with my denial of consent I free myself completely from all governing bodies, agencies and institutions. A signed and witnessed copy of a Constructive Notice of Denial of Consent will follow this document in twenty-one (21) days.
I might also add that none of the supposed "authority figures" that I sent witnessed copies of this notice by registered mail replied or disputed, disproved or denied any of the above facts. If you or I failed to reply or contest any of their notices I guess you know what their assumption would be.
Thanks Christopher. My own declaration would be that I believe I alone own my life and body and whatever I produce with them, and I believe the same is true for all other humans. Therefore any coercion others use on me, or that I use on others, is morally wrong. I believe we need a new social system that can enable billions of humans to live in peace while living by this ethos.
My shunning of coercion against others is why I never vote in political elections.
i am as free as i think i am. i make few public declarations as they create and draw opposition. i have always had choices to make that required action to take and often not a lot of time. i have gotten good at research. lol. my greatest enemy has always been my engrained thinking, thought chains, cliches...often hearing myself think them is enough to change the too often one single word in it that is error. the caged bird without a door was a good visual for me. "mad as hell" makes one easy to steer...i like sun tzu and the old warriors and the owl & hawk. i watch, i listen and learn and as needed as i choose, i strike.
I would declare my independence from the government of the land I love. Thy violate nearly every word of our Constitution. By they, I mean our presidents, our congresses, and out supreme court. The first ten amendments are included. Most of the other amendments themselves are violations of the rights guaranteed in the document itself.
It would take pages to itemize even the most egregious of the violations; probably as many pages as are in the CFR. The Constitution has not been in effect for years. The uncco9nstityutional government that has replaced it therefore holds no sway over me. They can imprison me or execute me, but they cannot take my freedom from me.
Christopher, that scene from Network was one of the most prescient scenes ever created by the film industry. It encapsulates the despair of the modern world, especially. I find courage and strength only from God and His Son. My parent's generation, who endured the Great Depression and WW2, were indeed tough people. They did not plan on the chaos, they chose to endure. I lost an Uncle in WW2 in 1944. I lost a brother in Vietnam in 1968. The world can be a very difficult place. Standing our ground in our humanity is not remotely easy to do, I certainly know that at age 72. I belong to God, not to the world. I want to be a conduit for the immense love and mercy of God, as He knows what humans go through. Keep on, everyone, hold fast, ask for help, one single day at a time. Find the gifts God gave you and do not give up! Wendy
I am me and cannot be branded, pigeonholed, or defined. If you want to know who and what I am, let's get together and find out. Likewise for you. Treat me the way you would like me to treat you, because your behavior sets the precedent for how I'm allowed to treat you. You might prefer that your thoughts, words, and actions are privileged, but I will never let that happen. Your actions toward me necessarily and implicitly grant me the right to do the same to you, and if I so desire, I will exercise that right with a will. There's nothing you can do to harm me that will not harm yourself. There is nothing you can do to help and benefit me that will not help and benefit yourself. The parity and balance inherent in the universe guarantee it, but on top of that, I'll make fucking certain of it. Essential to this independence of mine is my love of honesty and every living being as precious. So, in loving, declaring, and affirming My independence, I love, declare and affirm yours.
The Network scene is sure pertinent Christopher and you certainly got to the crux of the matter.
My Dad who was in the 82nd Airborne and a Boxer always told me: When you get in a street fight or in the ring: "Let it all hang out". At 14 years old I asked him what does that means? And he responded: "Hold nothing back - come back victorious or on your shield". The WWII Generation was very tough having lived through the Depression then WWII and then the Korean War. Christopher you are only the 2nd person I have heard use that phrase!
Jefferson sure nailed it in the Declaration of Independence!
Some of my Grievances:
The intentional destroying of the USA under moronic Biden and the obvious reaction to bring in a fascist autocrat plutocrat dictator like Trump to clean it all up and destroy the Bill of Rights. Emperor Trump who likely will cause a depression and WWIII. Trump and Biden both are Cowardly and likely Blackmailed Traitor Prostitutes!
The Terrible Zionist Genocide and Holocaust of Gaza who are mostly defenseless (No Army - No Navy - No Air Force - No Artillery or USA financed Iron Dome) women and children. The intentional starvation of Gaza. All with US $ and military support. Cowards and Psychopaths!
Call for Terrible Wars to be fought by our children by chicken hawks who virtually all got deferments - Trump got 5.
The USA Department of Defense Covid and Bioweapon Jab and that murder and mayhem they caused and the loss of rights. The MSM and "stars" pushing of the most damaging narratives and trying to destroy real countermeasures like Ivermectin.
Politicians are obviously virtually all owned by one group of controllers or another and do their bidding NOT what is in the American peoples best interest.
The political left/right charade and theater including the MSM BS!
The blatant moronic coverup of the JFK Assassination, 911, Epstein reality, election fraud, etc.
The in your face LBQT stuff. Live your life but don't force it on anyone and definitely not children!
How the parasites are usually not prosecuted for the worst crimes but a hard working person is destroyed for a mistake.
The deliberate destruction of the water, air, food and the natural world by the parasites.
The outright lies to force us to go to war and to do many things.
The dumbing down of society.
The ridiculousness of "education".
The aggrandizing of the worst monsters possible: Netanyahu, P Diddy, Weinstein etc.
The government is set-up to cause the most harm to the most people and animals. Energy Vampires.
The government does not own us. They are our public servants we are not their servants.
Religious Wars.
The drugging, legal and illegal, of humanity by the Psychotics.
Ai Technocratic Control of humanity for the parasites benefit.
Off the top of my head, it seems that Freedom Of Association should be primary. Having that solves a great deal of personal, business and political issues right from the start. And once having lost it, any other perceived right is lost sooner or later, if not entirely at that instant.
To associate with, disassociate from, or refuse to associate with any PERSON or PERSONS; to form voluntary groups; and to create mutually acceptable agreements with any PERSON or within any group.
Is that roughly what you are looking for in terms of a right?
That is an interesting notion, and I would like to hear you explain further why you believe that to be the case.
For my part, ex ante, I believe something else is higher than association.
The expectation for many, at this point, is that I would say that the nonaggression principle is the primary (the right not to be aggressed against). But I have come to believe that that isn't it either.
I will be writing about this soon, but I now believe it has to be some sort of principle/right of CONSENT. My reasoning why it isn't the NAP is twofold:
1. There are things that are coercive force if you do not consent to them, but perfectly fine if you do: theft vs. borrowing something; rape vs. sex; assault vs. friendly sparring; etc. Thus, consent appears to be a higher-order unit of moral concern than force.
2. The NAP requires a ton of subsequent explanation to explain why other things that we know are wrong but don't seem at first blush like force are nonetheless under the umbrella of the NAP: non-violent theft, trespass, accidental damage to property, brainwashing, fraud, etc. It takes a lot of philosophical dancing to explain why those things are "force."
The reason why I think it has to be consent is because consent covers everything. I choose and consent to associate, engage in involuntary transactions, speak, etc., and only the actions of some external player can sever me from the enjoyment of my freedom to do so.
Stated as a principle/rule/commandment, it might look something like
Thou shalt not trespass the person, property, or freedom of another.
The definition of "trespass" is pretty much perfect for this role. It implies the violation of consent, and it includes activities that may not look (without separate explanation) like force.
If we wanted to add clarification, we could do a longer version:
(In the absence of consent that is voluntary, explicit, transparent, informed, and revocable), thou shalt not trespass (damage, steal, subjugate, encroach upon, or initiate coercive force against) the person, property, or freedom of another.
(I am still working on it…)
Stated as a right, this might be worded as the right
TO engage in any consensual activity that does not violate the consent of another.
This feels to me to be top-level, above either the NAP or the right of association. But as I said, I would like to hear your reasoning. I am sure it contains important insights!!
I like a lot about the NAP. I also like a lot about Natural Law. For me the moral component is important and both those lack acknowledgement of my faith. The Bill Of Rights and Declaration Of Independence do, to some degree, but the Faith of the Founding Fathers is not the same one i practice as they are clearly honoring their freemasonic luminary. And, full disclosure, most everyone i've seen promoting NAP or Natural Law are explicitly not Christian. This is problematic for me. Now i am left with no legitimate framework to claim fully.
I have read a tiny bit about the importance of Freedom Of Association and it struck a chord with me. The more i consider it, the more i like it because it covers so much all at once. Consent is important and touches a bit more specifically on the moral component of rights. I could get behind the idea of Consent as you mention it. It covers more specific possibilities, but could also fall under FoAssoc in a lot of ways. Having scrapped all the frameworks of which i am aware has taken me back to square one and i'm starting with that for the time being. It's really that simple because "i got nothing" as it were, except my Bible.
I'm also beginning to question the whole Freedom Of Speech thing. There are things [in my ideal society] that should be completely off limits. If you're talking about .... certain things ... i don't want you around and neither should decent folk. On the other hand, if persons lacking in moral character are talking about these things, then they can be easily identified and then summarily ejected with a quickness. Tolerance of depravity is NOT a virtue.
"most everyone i've seen promoting NAP or Natural Law are explicitly not Christian."
—That might be a coincidence, or there might be other reasons. But I do not believe that natural law and Christianity are incompatible.
Indeed, God would not weave a moral law into the fabric of reality and then make it completely unintelligible. A real moral law (and that is the only kind God would make) would also be discoverable through reason, experience, emotion, intuition, etc. It wouldn't just be a "because I said so" morality. It would be a morality that makes sense. Otherwise, it's just cruel and tyrannical, and God is neither. So I believe most strongly that natural law is God's creation.
In a society that properly respects consent, people would be free to choose their mode of living and form of governance. An Amish community, for example, would certainly not tolerate depravity, even in the form of speech alone. And they should be free to live that sort of life if they wish.
I don't think they're incompatible. I just don't see anyone making the connections, which i find telling. It's assiduously avoided, or so it seems to me.
I have strongly considered and explored the Amish way of life. I think my modern way of life is too deeply ingrained to become a member of their society and to think differently is disingenuous if i am intellectually honest. It's also incredibly difficult to "get in" and i can understand why. Still, im sure they're doing it right.
I totally relate with that scene from Network. Being that I've felt that way for a long time, and unable to do anything, I now feel like the 'independent' played by Paul Newman in Cool Hand Luke. To better define what an independent is (not political), i would refer to the outline on Francis Bacon on his theory of idols.
"Idols of the Tribe: Stemming from the inherent limitations and biases of human nature.
Idols of the Cave: Arising from individual biases and perspectives.
Idols of the Forum: As described above, these are rooted in the ambiguities of language.
Idols of the Theatre: Derived from the influence of accepted philosophical systems and traditions."
The only entity that rules and guides my life, is my own personal Daemon. The highest law we have is agape- selfless love. I declare my life belongs to God, whom is above our dark material realm, which some have refered to as the Pleroma.
That makes me happy to hear. Bacon, in my opinion, was one of the greatest of all all time. I've studied a lot about him and was blown away by what parts I had discovered. I think you would really enjoy his viewpoints as some fits with yours. He was very revolutionary, albeit worked in secrecy.
Well I already did that on July the 4th 2008.
Notice of Understanding and Intent
Whereas I understand that The United States of America is a nation founded upon principles that recognize the supremacy of God and the rule of law, and,
Whereas I understand the only form of government recognized as legitimate and lawful in the United States of America is a representative one, and,
Whereas a representative relationship relies upon a foundation of mutual consent, and,
Whereas I understand the appearance of consent can be achieved by silence and inaction, and,
Whereas I understand no one can be my representative without my consent, and,
Whereas I understand neither I nor anyone I know signed the US or Texas constitutions, it appears the governments of this nation rely upon deception to gain the right to govern, and,
Whereas I understand that public servants must provide a service to the public within the legislated framework within which public service is provided, and,
Whereas I understand that if they are unable to define the legislated framework they are also unable to claim to act with respect to it, and,
Whereas I understand a 'statute' is defined as “a legislated rule of society which has the force of law,' and,
Whereas I understand a 'society' is defined as 'a number of people joined by mutual consent to deliberate, determine and act for a common goal,' and
Whereas I understand statutes do not have the force of law over those who have not consented to be governed, and,
Whereas I understand that a principal has a duty to ensure that the people acting as their agents understand the source, nature and limits of their mandates, and,
Whereas I am desirous of living my life with love, compassion and truth, and,
Whereas the only people who can possibly expect me to follow them must have more love compassion and truth than I do, and,
Whereas due to the deception found in so many statutes and government institutions I can no longer believe that any government agent or principal acts with the truth, and
Whereas I could not find the word 'love' in any statute, bylaw or regulation and,
Whereas I cannot in good conscience support an organization that uses deception to cause people to register themselves, their offspring, their property and chattel, and,
Whereas I am desirous of following only those who are guided by love, compassion and truth, and,
Whereas I understand I give up certain benefits and legal rights by existing outside of society, and,
Whereas I understand I recapture Common Law rights by existing outside of society,
BE IT KNOWN TO ANY AND ALL, THAT ON THIS DAY JULY 4TH, 2008, I
Hat Bailey, A FREE SOVEREIGN HUMAN BEING, DO HEREBY STATE MY INTENT TO DENY CONSENT TO BE GOVERNED BY ANY AND ALL PARTIES.
ALL CONCERNED PARTIES HAVE TWENTY-ONE (21) DAYS TO DISPUTE, DISPROVE OR DENY ANY OF THE FACTS MENTIONED HEREIN. FAILURE TO DO SO INDICATES FULL AGREEMENT AND ACCEPTANCE.
No statutes will apply to me, for they are the product of a governing body from which I have withdrawn my consent.
I recognize no duty to pay taxes, for the collection of taxes is a function of government, and with my denial of consent I free myself completely from all governing bodies, agencies and institutions. A signed and witnessed copy of a Constructive Notice of Denial of Consent will follow this document in twenty-one (21) days.
Signed: ____________________________________________________
You are a badass, Hat.
Glad you noticed! LOL
🤣
Beautiful!
I might also add that none of the supposed "authority figures" that I sent witnessed copies of this notice by registered mail replied or disputed, disproved or denied any of the above facts. If you or I failed to reply or contest any of their notices I guess you know what their assumption would be.
Thanks Christopher. My own declaration would be that I believe I alone own my life and body and whatever I produce with them, and I believe the same is true for all other humans. Therefore any coercion others use on me, or that I use on others, is morally wrong. I believe we need a new social system that can enable billions of humans to live in peace while living by this ethos.
My shunning of coercion against others is why I never vote in political elections.
All of that, in some form or another, is essential to any such declaration.
tis an easy thing to say and harder to walk.
i am as free as i think i am. i make few public declarations as they create and draw opposition. i have always had choices to make that required action to take and often not a lot of time. i have gotten good at research. lol. my greatest enemy has always been my engrained thinking, thought chains, cliches...often hearing myself think them is enough to change the too often one single word in it that is error. the caged bird without a door was a good visual for me. "mad as hell" makes one easy to steer...i like sun tzu and the old warriors and the owl & hawk. i watch, i listen and learn and as needed as i choose, i strike.
"my greatest enemy has always been my engrained thinking"
🙏🏻🔥
I would declare my independence from the government of the land I love. Thy violate nearly every word of our Constitution. By they, I mean our presidents, our congresses, and out supreme court. The first ten amendments are included. Most of the other amendments themselves are violations of the rights guaranteed in the document itself.
It would take pages to itemize even the most egregious of the violations; probably as many pages as are in the CFR. The Constitution has not been in effect for years. The uncco9nstityutional government that has replaced it therefore holds no sway over me. They can imprison me or execute me, but they cannot take my freedom from me.
Love it.
A statement contrasting the land from the government is solid.
I would love to see your enumeration of grievances! https://christophercook.substack.com/p/grievances-human-race
Enumeration of grievances
1. They have created many laws, too many to have in mind, many contradictory to each other, many in violation of Constitutional protections.
2. They create laws that prohibit or overrule state and local jurisdiction
3. They refuse to create term limits, despite promises made while campaigning for office.
4. They have outsourced key responsibilities enumerated in the Constitution. Such as regulating currency to the Federal Reserve.
5. They inhibit consideration of new laws, allowing leading members to withhold debate on proposed legislation by minority parties.
6. They neglect the nomination and confirmation of judges for lower court vacancies for partisan political reasons, delaying timely hearing of cases.
7. They have neglected border security allowing illegal migrants to have access to undocumented residency.
8. They have obstructed the administration of justice by refusing assent to laws establishing judicial powers.
9. They have not considered the removal of judges for dereliction of duties and judicial misconduct.
10. The have multiplied new offices, unaccountable to voters or elected officials.
11. They have allowed massive invasion of privacy by intelligence gatherers unaccountable to elected oversight
12. They have authorized a plethora of military adventurers, and stationed soldiers in multiple foreign countries.
13. They have authorized a huge standing army, posing a threat to world peace.
14. They have authorized many domestic military bases, a threat to domestic harmony.
15. They have allowed judicial interference to prompt administration of justice, allowing convicted prisoners from legislated capital punishment.
16. They have neglected oversight of treaties regulating international trade.
Excellent—thank you!!
Christopher, that scene from Network was one of the most prescient scenes ever created by the film industry. It encapsulates the despair of the modern world, especially. I find courage and strength only from God and His Son. My parent's generation, who endured the Great Depression and WW2, were indeed tough people. They did not plan on the chaos, they chose to endure. I lost an Uncle in WW2 in 1944. I lost a brother in Vietnam in 1968. The world can be a very difficult place. Standing our ground in our humanity is not remotely easy to do, I certainly know that at age 72. I belong to God, not to the world. I want to be a conduit for the immense love and mercy of God, as He knows what humans go through. Keep on, everyone, hold fast, ask for help, one single day at a time. Find the gifts God gave you and do not give up! Wendy
It's a weird world, but there is also a lot to be happy about. I try to focus on, and seek, the happy stuff.
Mine would be:
I am me and cannot be branded, pigeonholed, or defined. If you want to know who and what I am, let's get together and find out. Likewise for you. Treat me the way you would like me to treat you, because your behavior sets the precedent for how I'm allowed to treat you. You might prefer that your thoughts, words, and actions are privileged, but I will never let that happen. Your actions toward me necessarily and implicitly grant me the right to do the same to you, and if I so desire, I will exercise that right with a will. There's nothing you can do to harm me that will not harm yourself. There is nothing you can do to help and benefit me that will not help and benefit yourself. The parity and balance inherent in the universe guarantee it, but on top of that, I'll make fucking certain of it. Essential to this independence of mine is my love of honesty and every living being as precious. So, in loving, declaring, and affirming My independence, I love, declare and affirm yours.
How's that? 😁
The notion of reciprocity of treatment makes a lot of sense!!
The Network scene is sure pertinent Christopher and you certainly got to the crux of the matter.
My Dad who was in the 82nd Airborne and a Boxer always told me: When you get in a street fight or in the ring: "Let it all hang out". At 14 years old I asked him what does that means? And he responded: "Hold nothing back - come back victorious or on your shield". The WWII Generation was very tough having lived through the Depression then WWII and then the Korean War. Christopher you are only the 2nd person I have heard use that phrase!
Jefferson sure nailed it in the Declaration of Independence!
Some of my Grievances:
The intentional destroying of the USA under moronic Biden and the obvious reaction to bring in a fascist autocrat plutocrat dictator like Trump to clean it all up and destroy the Bill of Rights. Emperor Trump who likely will cause a depression and WWIII. Trump and Biden both are Cowardly and likely Blackmailed Traitor Prostitutes!
The Terrible Zionist Genocide and Holocaust of Gaza who are mostly defenseless (No Army - No Navy - No Air Force - No Artillery or USA financed Iron Dome) women and children. The intentional starvation of Gaza. All with US $ and military support. Cowards and Psychopaths!
Call for Terrible Wars to be fought by our children by chicken hawks who virtually all got deferments - Trump got 5.
The USA Department of Defense Covid and Bioweapon Jab and that murder and mayhem they caused and the loss of rights. The MSM and "stars" pushing of the most damaging narratives and trying to destroy real countermeasures like Ivermectin.
Politicians are obviously virtually all owned by one group of controllers or another and do their bidding NOT what is in the American peoples best interest.
The political left/right charade and theater including the MSM BS!
The blatant moronic coverup of the JFK Assassination, 911, Epstein reality, election fraud, etc.
The in your face LBQT stuff. Live your life but don't force it on anyone and definitely not children!
How the parasites are usually not prosecuted for the worst crimes but a hard working person is destroyed for a mistake.
The deliberate destruction of the water, air, food and the natural world by the parasites.
The outright lies to force us to go to war and to do many things.
The dumbing down of society.
The ridiculousness of "education".
The aggrandizing of the worst monsters possible: Netanyahu, P Diddy, Weinstein etc.
The government is set-up to cause the most harm to the most people and animals. Energy Vampires.
The government does not own us. They are our public servants we are not their servants.
Religious Wars.
The drugging, legal and illegal, of humanity by the Psychotics.
Ai Technocratic Control of humanity for the parasites benefit.
"Christopher you are only the 2nd person I have heard use that phrase!"
—Thank you for placing me in the good company of your father.
Thank you for adding your list of grievances!
It is only government that declares you are not independent.
That is a good point.
A ship is safe in harbor, but that's not what ships are for. —William Shedd
For all sad words of tongue and pen, The saddest are these, 'It might have been'. —John Whittier
To put one brick upon another,
Add a third and then a forth,
Leaves no time to wonder whether,
What you do has any worth.
But to sit with bricks around you,
While the winds of monsoons bawl,
Weighing what you should or can do,
Leaves no doubt of it at all. —Philip Larken
It matters not how strait the gate, How charged with punishments the scroll. I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul. —William Henley
https://substack.com/@tritorch/note/c-111328488
🔥❤️🔥
Off the top of my head, it seems that Freedom Of Association should be primary. Having that solves a great deal of personal, business and political issues right from the start. And once having lost it, any other perceived right is lost sooner or later, if not entirely at that instant.
In my "Human Constitution," I phrased it like this:
(https://christophercook.substack.com/p/human-constitution)
I. ASSOCIATION
To associate with, disassociate from, or refuse to associate with any PERSON or PERSONS; to form voluntary groups; and to create mutually acceptable agreements with any PERSON or within any group.
Is that roughly what you are looking for in terms of a right?
That will suffice. The question is whether that is the primary right from which all the others derive?
That is an interesting notion, and I would like to hear you explain further why you believe that to be the case.
For my part, ex ante, I believe something else is higher than association.
The expectation for many, at this point, is that I would say that the nonaggression principle is the primary (the right not to be aggressed against). But I have come to believe that that isn't it either.
I will be writing about this soon, but I now believe it has to be some sort of principle/right of CONSENT. My reasoning why it isn't the NAP is twofold:
1. There are things that are coercive force if you do not consent to them, but perfectly fine if you do: theft vs. borrowing something; rape vs. sex; assault vs. friendly sparring; etc. Thus, consent appears to be a higher-order unit of moral concern than force.
2. The NAP requires a ton of subsequent explanation to explain why other things that we know are wrong but don't seem at first blush like force are nonetheless under the umbrella of the NAP: non-violent theft, trespass, accidental damage to property, brainwashing, fraud, etc. It takes a lot of philosophical dancing to explain why those things are "force."
The reason why I think it has to be consent is because consent covers everything. I choose and consent to associate, engage in involuntary transactions, speak, etc., and only the actions of some external player can sever me from the enjoyment of my freedom to do so.
Stated as a principle/rule/commandment, it might look something like
Thou shalt not trespass the person, property, or freedom of another.
The definition of "trespass" is pretty much perfect for this role. It implies the violation of consent, and it includes activities that may not look (without separate explanation) like force.
If we wanted to add clarification, we could do a longer version:
(In the absence of consent that is voluntary, explicit, transparent, informed, and revocable), thou shalt not trespass (damage, steal, subjugate, encroach upon, or initiate coercive force against) the person, property, or freedom of another.
(I am still working on it…)
Stated as a right, this might be worded as the right
TO engage in any consensual activity that does not violate the consent of another.
This feels to me to be top-level, above either the NAP or the right of association. But as I said, I would like to hear your reasoning. I am sure it contains important insights!!
I like a lot about the NAP. I also like a lot about Natural Law. For me the moral component is important and both those lack acknowledgement of my faith. The Bill Of Rights and Declaration Of Independence do, to some degree, but the Faith of the Founding Fathers is not the same one i practice as they are clearly honoring their freemasonic luminary. And, full disclosure, most everyone i've seen promoting NAP or Natural Law are explicitly not Christian. This is problematic for me. Now i am left with no legitimate framework to claim fully.
I have read a tiny bit about the importance of Freedom Of Association and it struck a chord with me. The more i consider it, the more i like it because it covers so much all at once. Consent is important and touches a bit more specifically on the moral component of rights. I could get behind the idea of Consent as you mention it. It covers more specific possibilities, but could also fall under FoAssoc in a lot of ways. Having scrapped all the frameworks of which i am aware has taken me back to square one and i'm starting with that for the time being. It's really that simple because "i got nothing" as it were, except my Bible.
I'm also beginning to question the whole Freedom Of Speech thing. There are things [in my ideal society] that should be completely off limits. If you're talking about .... certain things ... i don't want you around and neither should decent folk. On the other hand, if persons lacking in moral character are talking about these things, then they can be easily identified and then summarily ejected with a quickness. Tolerance of depravity is NOT a virtue.
"most everyone i've seen promoting NAP or Natural Law are explicitly not Christian."
—That might be a coincidence, or there might be other reasons. But I do not believe that natural law and Christianity are incompatible.
Indeed, God would not weave a moral law into the fabric of reality and then make it completely unintelligible. A real moral law (and that is the only kind God would make) would also be discoverable through reason, experience, emotion, intuition, etc. It wouldn't just be a "because I said so" morality. It would be a morality that makes sense. Otherwise, it's just cruel and tyrannical, and God is neither. So I believe most strongly that natural law is God's creation.
In a society that properly respects consent, people would be free to choose their mode of living and form of governance. An Amish community, for example, would certainly not tolerate depravity, even in the form of speech alone. And they should be free to live that sort of life if they wish.
I don't think they're incompatible. I just don't see anyone making the connections, which i find telling. It's assiduously avoided, or so it seems to me.
I have strongly considered and explored the Amish way of life. I think my modern way of life is too deeply ingrained to become a member of their society and to think differently is disingenuous if i am intellectually honest. It's also incredibly difficult to "get in" and i can understand why. Still, im sure they're doing it right.
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Does this count?
Dear AnyOne, I Am Not in Your Jurisdiction (article): https://amaterasusolar.substack.com/p/dear-anyone-i-am-not-in-your-jurisdiction
Yeah, that counts!
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I totally relate with that scene from Network. Being that I've felt that way for a long time, and unable to do anything, I now feel like the 'independent' played by Paul Newman in Cool Hand Luke. To better define what an independent is (not political), i would refer to the outline on Francis Bacon on his theory of idols.
"Idols of the Tribe: Stemming from the inherent limitations and biases of human nature.
Idols of the Cave: Arising from individual biases and perspectives.
Idols of the Forum: As described above, these are rooted in the ambiguities of language.
Idols of the Theatre: Derived from the influence of accepted philosophical systems and traditions."
The only entity that rules and guides my life, is my own personal Daemon. The highest law we have is agape- selfless love. I declare my life belongs to God, whom is above our dark material realm, which some have refered to as the Pleroma.
I hadn't heard of Francis Bacon's theory of idols. I just did a bit more looking at it. Fascinating!
That makes me happy to hear. Bacon, in my opinion, was one of the greatest of all all time. I've studied a lot about him and was blown away by what parts I had discovered. I think you would really enjoy his viewpoints as some fits with yours. He was very revolutionary, albeit worked in secrecy.
I like what I have seen so far!
Same!