TDV Week in Review August 18, 2013

August 18, 2013 / Redmond W /

What's More Stressful Than Moving?

Moving is bad enough. But having to get rid of everything you own as you leave your former home is worse. The last month of my life has been a frantic and stressful attempt to divest myself of two rental houses full of my stuff as I prepare to skip out on the USSA for Santiago, Chile to help with the Galt's Gulch project.

I've done it a few times in my life: completely rid myself of all my furniture, appliances and books. Hopped on a plane with my laptop and a couple bags of clothes to start over somewhere entirely new. The other times it was for a new career, a change of scenery and relationships or all of the above. This time it may well save my liberty and maybe my life.

I've learned not to bother collecting books, especially in this part of the digital age when you can easily collect a library by clicking on linnks and fit the whole thing in your cell phone. But I also play piano and foolishly insist on having an acoustic piano wherever I live. Pianos are heavy, costly to move and just a pain in the ass to get rid of on short notice. The last used piano I bought is the nicest one I've ever owned. And it's still sitting in my house with no definite place to go as of yet. That's sort of a problem since my time left to get rid of everything and clear out and hand over the keys grows worryingly short.

If you've ever tried to sell anything on Craig's List, then you know that people will email and call you just brimming with excitement about the items you've put up for fire sale prices or for free. And then they'll never, ever show up. I can't complain too much. I've done the same a time or two myself when I was contacting dozens of sellers at a time in search of a particular item. Still, it really sucks. Especially when you don't have a new residence into which to move and you really got to get rid of everything.

Yep, definitely even more stressful than merely changing houses. It's freeing to de-clutter one's life…but right now it also hurts to be cutting ties to Minneapolis. I liked this city immediately upon arriving…felt immediately at home…and I've only come to appreciate it more in the two years I've been here. It's big enough to provide a good urban experience, but not too big to intimidate. It's pretty and pleasant and downright cozy. But like the pretty, pleasant and cozy statist girls I keep meeting, I have to say goodbye to Minneapolis for a better arrangement more in keeping with my principles and priorities.

As much as I hate to leave, I'm also relieved to be getting out of the US. And of course I'm beyond thrilled to be heading to Galt's Gulch, Chile. I won't kid you. Getting prepared to go has resulted in one of the very most stressful months of my life. I'm not exaggerating even a little bit. I know, however, that it will be more than worth it once I'm there.

If you're dreading the idea of picking up and moving, trust me I can sympathize. Do it at your own pace. But don't let your fears stop you. With the way things are going politically and economically in the US, this could be the most important decisions you ever make in your life. Take that first step by clicking here.

Regards

Gary Gibson
Editor, The Dollar Vigilante

Before we get to the review let’s have a look at what you missed in this week’s TDV Dispatch. First, in my “Memory Hole” I confronted the morality of drug laws. Next, Jeff Berwick discussed “unschooling” and his thoughts on contemporary education. Ed Bugos joined us as he does each week with his “TDV Portfolio: Review & Outlook”. Next up, TDV Prague’s group moderator Charlie Bluehawk gave us a quick rundown on his adopted home.

In “Other News from TEOTMSAWKI and TDV Related Tidbits”, Jeff took us on another mind-blowing tour of the absurd affronts to your liberty around the globe.

Last, we profiled entrepreneur and proponent of the Austrian school, Peter Schiff.

If you’re interested in receiving articles like these, consider our weekly subscriber-only publications, like our Issue, Dispatches, and TDV Homegrown, please subscribe here.

Here’s what we wrote about this week…

MONDAY, August 12

The State of the State: How Mexico's New Currency Laws Will Backfire

Jim Karger and James Guzman take a look at how Mexico’s new currency laws are very much like the ones many left behind in the USSA.

“Every TDVer we know who has chosen Mexico as a place to flee the police states of the United States and Canada utters one common theme: "I will never go back." Yes, it really is that much better here. Government in Mexico exists to be sure, but has been slow to acquire the desire and sophistication to put its boot heel on the neck of its citizens.

Yet, as Mexico becomes more First World, so has its government. While light years behind the USSA in intrusiveness, Mexico is following briskly in the footsteps of its northern neighbor.”

TUESDAY, August 13

Mr. Obama, Tear Down this Government

Jeff Berwick contrasts the fall of the Berlin wall and a plea for the US government to similarly fall.

“The US government has now grown into something more emblematic of tyranny and misery than the Berlin Wall ever was. Not everyone today realizes this, but it will be clear across the board to the generations that look back at this era.

The Berlin Wall started as just a wire fence in 1961, but over the years it "bulked up" to its infamous, concrete, sophisticated version. In a similar manner the US government has bulked up over time, but mostly in the last few years since the Bush administration pulled off the biggest false flag scare tactic ever and pushed through the so-called Patriot Act. Since then the US government expanded its scope from merely stealing from its subjects with taxes and a central bank and interfering with their business via regulations and prohibition to militarizing its local police, spying on all electronic communications and giving itself the right to disappear citizens without trial.”

Wednesday, August 14

Are People Literally Starting to Worship Obama as a God?

Gary Gibson on the deification of Obama.

"But the history of slavery, racism, disenfranchisement, cultural tendency toward religiosity and the disastrous effects of institutional welfare have mingled to produce the conditions that led to that little black boy praying to his brown messiah. Obama isn't the symbol of a post-racial world or the realization of a collective dream. He's the perfect face for the US state to put on as it continues to grow and commit ever more atrocious acts. Rendition, torture, mass murder, imperialism, total surveillance police state…This man can do it all and remain blameless in the hearts of his followers.”

Thursday, August 15

Commemoration of a Canard

Christopher P. Casey notes the 42^nd anniversary of Richard Nixon’s “new economic policy”.

"In the spirit of commemoration, we cannot allow the 42^nd anniversary of Nixon’s speech go without comment. Addressing the nation to “outline a new economic policy”, he failed to disappoint: wage and price controls were instituted, the automobile industry was browbeaten into reducing prices, and a 10% tariff was assessed on all imports. All this before Nixon announced his grandest exploit – the termination of US commitments to exchange gold for dollars with foreign governments.

Previously, the Federal Reserve’s ability to issue new money was limited by the threat of depleting the government’s gold reserves. Printing too many dollars led foreign governments to start favoring gold over holding depreciating US dollars. Nixon’s actions (which proved not to be temporary) ended the last vestige of a gold standard, erased all limits on the unchecked printing of money, and effectively ended the world’s currency system (known as Bretton Woods) in place since World War II.”

FRIDAY, August 16

Feedback Friday – August 16, 2013

In this week’s Feedback Friday: Kanada with a K, the libertarian community, and more.