americanus libertae

By R.C. Seely

ON SOCIAL MEDIA I’M openly critical of the reactionary expansion responses to the Coronavirus. If you argue for economic sanity you are viewed as heartless and putting profits over people. Let me summarize the situation, as I see it at least, and maybe you will see why.

In the fall of last year, a virus started in a part of China, little was known about it then. Little is known about it now.

About March of this year, the state governments started cracking down and closing up cities. The result so far has been a disaster to the US economy. We have around 20 million unemployed, that’s higher than the recession of 2008. I remember that time, it was not fun. And the recession is already here and only proves to get worse. If Tyson foods is right, we are seeing a “break of the food supply.”

As the “Stay at Home” movement caught fire, we have had to suffer the celebrities attempt to relate to the blue collar folks. Arnold Swartzeggar sitting in a hot tub smoking a cigar and Madonna in a tub of rose pellets telling everyone to stay home. Really relatable. If the economy tanks I think they will be fine. It’s a lot more difficult for those living paycheck-to
-paycheck.

Besides the idiocy of the Hollywood elite, there were also narc lines, so your neighbors can report you for going outside. How dare they go out and get fresh air and exercise!

Trump has said numerous dubious claims of ways to treat it and downplayed the situation at the err of his critics. One such controversy was the couple who took quinine and died. To be fair, the couple did take a version that used for cleaning and not safe for consumption. And why take advice from a non-medical expert on treatment.

Now we move on to the CDC, the home of the experts of medical science in the US. Supposedly. This is a group that has messed up so many times during with the Coronavirus. First they say no facemasks except for those who already have, then they retract that. They never could tell us if you build immunity but if the reports from Sweden are correct, immunity does build up and lock downs are necessary. The US has started testing for immunity but it’s not for free.

The worse thing they did was turn the medical community into liars. The gave them the perverse incentive of reporting every death or ailments as the Coronavirus. You don’t even have to test positive! This is extremely unethical. All so hospitals can get more Federal funding, at the same time, discouraging those with the virus to stay away.

With all this going on, it’s easy to see the inefficiencies in the government and how experts can be wrong. Some of it isn’t incompetent behavior but outright maliciousness and trying to advance their agendas. The progressive congressmen and congresswomen and senators have been pushing everything from Universal Basic Income to Medicare For All. Unemployment is doing major pay outs for those who qualify.

This is why they so many are keeping the people in what the late Dr. Micheal Crichton called “The State of Fear.” As long as everyone is in a panic, they will go along with whatever their leaders want. According to polls, the populace wants more government intervention. Thing to remember about polls is they are easily to manipulate. Normally the sample size is so small–only a few thousand–and they poll places that side with their view.

Despite what the supporters of quarantine may think, I’m not insensitive to the prospect of their family and friend’s untimely demise. I’m simply a realist. If the Coronavirus doesn’t kill them, they will die starvation or exposure from having no access to power or water. Bottom line the living need to make a living when this is all through. This is not the new normal, but temporary inconvenience. But if sanity does come back soon, the cure could be far worse than the disease.

By R.C. Seely

THE HILL, NYC MAYOR Bill de Blasio: “We need the federal government to take over the supply chain right now.”

According to The Hustle: “Late Sunday, Bill de Blasio, the mayor of New York City, said he would sign an executive order limiting restaurants and bars to take-out and delivery service only…

The Empire State’s not the only place forcing the issue. The governors of Illinois, Ohio, and Washington ordered all bars and restaurants in their states to close, too.”

Alexandra Cortez tweeted:
“This is not the time for half measures. We need to take dramatic action now to stave off the worst public health & economic affects. That includes making moves on paid leave, debt relief, waiving work req’s, guaranteeing healthcare, UBI (Universal Basic Income), detention relief…”

Illan Omar tweeted:
“UBI – Suspend mortgages/rent payments – REAL paid leave for all – Student debt cancellation These are not radical ideas given the scale of this crisis. Here are some of the steps other countries around the world affected are taking…”

The Independent reported California Governor Gavin Newsom statements:
“Governor Gavin Newsom said during a press conference on Tuesday he would consider implementing martial law if it was necessary to curb the novel virus…

“We have the ability to do martial law … if we feel the necessity,” he said. Issuing martial law would be an unprecedented move rarely used by officials in US history. If enacted, it would temporarily replace civil rule with military authority…

“The precedent for martial law in the US states “certain civil liberties may be suspended, such as the right to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures, freedom of association, and freedom of movement,” according to a legal journal.”

An Illinois governor is taking it even further, with a bill that not only restricts purchases of firearms, alcohol and the right to protest, but explicitly strips it’s citizens the possession of personal property.

Bernie Sanders took advantage of the moment to push for Medicare of All on social media.

When everyone is a panic about the Corona Virus, policies like these are a greater concern to me. Threats of government encroachment–forced quarantines, increasing the welfare state, gas rationing, Martial Law–all suggestions that have been floating around.

I agree with John McAfee, in his tweet:
“I am in the highest risk group for the Coronavirus. I am 74. If I believed, Even remotely, (And I have seen every statistic from the WHO, the CDC, Johns Hopkins, and others) That the Coronavirus was a threat, I would be concerned. But it is not. Stop buying the MSM’s story….

“Aren’t I afraid, going outside? We are safe in here.” No one is ever safe. Fear caused this entire country to accept: – no travel – no open businesses – no contacts with neighbors, friends – no approaching anyone closer than 3 feet – no standing outside feeling the sun Sane?”

This is cold and flu season, all of the precautions for the Corona Virus are the same and we should have been taking such precautions anyways. Hand washing, keeping personal space, Tylenol for fever, meds for the sore throat and drink lots of water.

I’ve taken to downplaying the problem, mostly because people are panicking. Not being alert, they are panicking!

This social distancing is a good idea. Keeping 6 feet away is not a bad idea during cold and flu season. But calling it “The Corona Apocalypse” is simply inflammatory and hoarding toilet paper is illogical. Or respirators that don’t do a thing to avoid infection! You should be stockpiling MREs. And I guarantee some of the people hoarding and panicking went into heavy debt and quit their jobs. That is insane! They will still have to live after all this crisis is done.

If you have been affected by the lay offs, there are resources for you. The President signed a $850 billion relief package, giving $1,000 to all US citizens. When that runs out, there is still unemployment. Many energy and internet providers will let you slide on your bills. Many places are hiring teams to sterilize their businesses of the Corona Virus. Hardware stores, grocery stores, repair shops and a few other businesses that are social necessities, are staying open, apply there.

Before get worked up and call to lock down your place of employment, remember the symptoms of the virus. Corona is a fever and a cough. One survivor said it was like “a mild sore throat.” This is what the result will be for most of us.

All the control freaks like Mayor de Blasio, Congresswoman Cortez, Governor Newsom and others are saying they need to take control. Why? In the major densely populated areas, California, New York, Washington state and the other coastal states–which were the worst hit with the outbreaks–have already taken logical containment steps, including non-essential businesses closing their downs. Many companies did this before the state or federal governments told them to.

Once we get such intrusive measures, what guarantee do we have that once they will removed at the end of this crisis? The government has a terrible track record in this area. Most of the progressive policies established during the Great Depression and World War II have been repealed but one big financial black hole remains. Social Security was never killed off as it supposed to be. It was never meant to be a permanent fixure but a temporary source of relief. These social welfare measures proposed during a crisis should not be considered, if they wouldn’t pass in time if peace. Don’t let fear push you into a horrible decision.

I don’t claim to know the end results of this Corona Virus episode, I only know that the choices we make and the choices our masters make have to be measured against the crisis of the time. Every state of emergency can’t be a valid rationale for suspend our rights. If we act like scared rabbits when a cry wolf is uttered, we miss the wolf that slipped into our lives.

By R.C. Seely

LAST WEEK I GOT into a little bit of a Twitter war with Stefan Molyneux and his followers. It all started when I replied to a post he made about Tulsa Gabbard. The exchange went something like this:

It began with Stefan tweeting this comment:

“Wow Tulsi Gabbard is 38!

No kids yet, second marriage.

I hope she thinks about having kids…

Door is closing fast!

Ambition only can’t keep you company is your old age...“

My response was:

“What the hell is wrong with you? A couple deciding to have children is a very personal thing and frankly none of your fucking business.”

Admittedly my reply was blunt but I stand behind it. Molyneux’s comment was downright rude. Apparently he and his followers thought differently.

For his lame defense, Molyneux claimed his comment was being critical about the Overpopulation theory. Funny since it didn’t even remotely imply that. Later he had a similar comment about Julianne Hough, on a subject that had nothing to do with the environment.

“Julianne Hough is 31.

No kids kinda, ‘woo woo.’

Having kids grounds you in ways nothing else can.

It’s ‘woo woo’ vs ‘womb womb.’…”

His tweet this time was in response to a story that Julianne had an unconventional energy treatment that  reported to look like a exorcism. This is hardly an advocacy of greenism by Hough. So how will he twist it to justify is obsession with ovulation?

The response from his lemmings was also a little baffling. Many accused me of pushing to censor Molyneux. Okay, at what point did I suggest that? I never even intimated that. I was simply expressing my opinion that his comment is well, creepy. I don’t necessarily disagree with his points. Children can be a blessing but only if you want them. Or does he think everyone should have children? He obviously has distain for Tulsa and Hough with how he talks down to them, why would he want them to spawn?

I’m not alone in this view that Molyneux’s obsessed with this. Admittedly many of his critics in the comments were progressive women, there were a few conservative women who were creeped out too. Since he limits the number of comments available to view, it’s hard to tell just how many there were.

Part of Molyneux’s logic is based in the Norman Rockwellian ideology that couples can only be fulfilled with children. He probably also believes that you should have a child if you relationship is breaking down. No, that’s not fair to the couple and certainly isn’t fair to the child.

In the age of dick pics and sexual harassment, women are more likely than ever to support feminism. This is particularly true within parts of the liberty movement, where many are feeling marginalized. This doesn’t mean that radical feminism needs to be embraced, but it would serve Molyneux better to not show his own metaphoric dick pic again. With his obsession I’m not going to hold my breath.

TO THE FOLLOWERS AND readers, I apologise for my absence. Last year I was doing much better and started the year with a new post almost every week. My absence has been due to a major life change. I met the love of my life and next summer we are getting married. I have been busy with her and getting prepared for our life together. I still have the same resolve to make this world a better place in my small way. I thank you for your support in the past and look forward to it in the future. Freedom on my friends.

By R.C. Seely

THERE’S AN APP FOR THAT, became a common joke after the smart phone became a common piece of technology but it’s no longer a joke. If you check it out there real is app for just about every service or need, and most major corporations have one along with a website now. Many are for ordinary everyday needs; grocery shopping, getting coffee, navigation, real estate needs and jobs.

Career builder and other job hunting have made the task much easier then going from place to place or relying on word of mouth. Now in the ages of apps, it’s easier still since you don’t have to even search the internet for webpage, it’s right there as an app. Linkin has two different apps, one for your general profile and another just for job searching.

Target, Walmart, The Home Depot, Costco are only a sample of the large retailers that have apps to make finding the products simpler. You can also view the weekly ads from the app.

Apps for fast food, restaurants and coffee places make life even that much easier; not only posting the menu but allowing you to order. You can have your cold drinks and hot food ready and waiting for pick up as soon as you arrive.

Besides job searching and consumable products, there are numerous apps for something very valuable–information. Not only do most major news outlets have apps but there are also apps that offer trivia, government data and other specific data. Science, history, whatever you would like to know at your figure tips and without having to continue searching for it. The website that I use for this blog–WordPress–has an app.

There are apps for your business no matter what the stage; crowd funding sites like GoFundMe or IndieGoGo, photo editing and document editing are all available in the app store. As are sources of information from business experts and the upcoming business or technology trends.

Real estate, apartments and hotels finding online services are also available at the app store. Enter the zip code or city you plan on moving to at Zillow or ApartmentFinder and it will bring you the available places according to your search. With hotels there are the Hilton and Marriott that you can rent a room with. If you’re planning a weekend in Vegas the MGM has its own app, which even includes having a digital key on your phone.

By R.C. Seely

LABOR DAY, FOR MANY IT’S a three-day weekend, the last big hooray for the summer. The last big barbeque, maybe go to the lake with the family. But do you really know why we celebrate Labor Day? It’s a celebration of organized labor, or unionized labor. Isn’t that wonderful.

Actually if you’re a consumer advocate, like me, you will generally be opposed to unionization and with good cause. Labor unions have a bad history, much of it with many acts of violence against their employers and property.

The first national labor day celebration was in 1909, but states had been commemorating the since 1885. Many nations observe their own labor days and more than 80 celebrate Internation Workers’ Day. This is a holiday established by a pan-national organization of socialist and communist leaders to observe an act of union violence after the Haymarket affair. While the events at Haymarket square started off a peaceful protest, as is common with unions it ended in violence–a bombing in this case, being hurdled at police.

Studies have shown that while union violence does occur in other nations, the United States is the leader in union violence. Although the federal union movement has never openly advocated violence, violence has been systematically used by the Western Federation of Miners and the International Association of Bridge Structural Iron Workers.

Union violence was very common during the industrial revolution, with Carnegie Steel suffering the worst. With the attempted assassination of Carnegie’s business partner Henry Clay Frick (although bringing in Frick was a mistake, so this could be considered righting a mistake) and the protests at the plant.

The violence has continued on in the United States until a series of assaults in the 1980s and 90s. In 1986, protests by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1547, turned violent against the non-union workers; assaulting them, spitting at them, sabotaging equipment and shooting guns towards them. The Alaska Supreme Court ruled against the union saying they committed “ongoing acts of intimidation, violence, [and] destruction of property.” In 1990, The New York Daily News delivery trucks were pelted with sticks and stones, at times burned and the drivers beaten. This was on the first day of a strike at The New York Daily News. The strikers also damaged the newsstands burned copies of the paper. It was alleged that 700 acts were perpatrated but 229 were confirmed by police. In 1993, a non-union contractor, Eddie York was murdered for crossed a United Mine Workers picket line. In 1997, teamsters Orestes Espinosa, Angel Mielgo, Werner Haechler, Benigno Rojas, and Adrian Paez violently assaulted and stabbed UPS worker Rod Carter for refusing to go on strike. This was after receiving a threatening phone call traced to the teamsters president.

Union supporters use the flimsy excuse that this all this is acceptable because they “being exploited.” Your employer offers you a job, you don’t have to take it. Advocates of collective bargaining claim that employers put non-compete agreement in you contracts, so what? Don’t go work for that company. I’ve turned down jobs because I didn’t like the terms. Where is the exploitation?

They also might claim that the employer has all the power and the courts behind them. After all the have the Hobbs act to protect their property. Of course then again, the union anarchists have the Enmons case, on their side with validates says they can destroy property if it’s associated with their union priorities.

Today President Donald Trump was blasted for his comments against current Richard Trumka, president of the United States’ largest federation of labor unions. Saying via Twitter:

“Some of the things [Trumka] said were so against [sic] the working men and women of our country, and the success of the U.S. itself, that it is easy to see why unions are doing so poorly.”

The rift between Trump and Trumka started with the negotiations of NAFTA and the impact on jobs. Will more be outsourced under the Trump administration? Doubtful. The current administration is a nationalist after all. More than likely Trumka is just another Obama zealot mourning the loss of their god king. Even though Trumka has said he will ,”keep trying to find areas where we can work with him.”

But should Trumka should be concerned about unions though? Yes, there membership has drastically plunged since the 1970s where it was about 25% to less than 11% in 2017. But their image–as defender of the downtrodden–is unfortunately still intact with 61% approval rating, according to Gallup polling.

The political power of unions hasn’t lessen either and unions are still the one of, if not the largest financial contributors to political causes and the Democratic party.

Unions try to portray themselves as heroes, protectors against this big bad capitalist system. Protectors of national jobs, not just here in the US but in many nations, keeping out those “damn foreign workers.” When you start to look a little closer you see what they really are, bullies plain and simple.

R.C. Seely is the founder of americanuslibertae.com and ALTV. He has also written books on pop culture his newest–Confused Yet?: Understanding the Utterly Incomprehensible–soon to be released.

By R.C. Seely

WE HAVE ALL SEEN the eHarmony ads on TV, featuring the doctor (who looks too much like the late Don Knotts to be credible for me) saying that he guarantees that he can find you a romantic match. Yeah right! Then there is match.com that makes similar promises. Uh-huh. And the list continues on forever, of online sites dedicated to getting you married or the very least a sexual liason (that’s a more classy way of saying a “hook up” for younger readers unfamiliar with the term).

Finding someone for an hour online is easy, for a lifetime is a far bigger challenge and dating sites don’t make it easier. This is from my own personal experience so admittedly this is subjective, but I do feel that dating sites are a scam. That’s not something I casually through out their either but being a consumer advocate, it’s my duty to give my personal in matters where I do have experience. If you’re serious about dating, don’t join a dating site it’s simply not worth it.

There are many reasons why they don’t work and most have to do with human behavior that isn’t as predictable as we’ve been lead to believe. If it were the site developers would have foreseen the issues and employed countermeasures. The biggest problem is that many simply don’t seem to know how to act appropriately online. Many either come on too strong, get too easily offended because they have to deal with too many coming on too strong, are unwilling to take a chance or have too high of standards.

That’s why so many stay single and because of such complications get frustrated and opt for staying single. That’s another reason why so many stay single: attitude. They are hyper vigilant–which isn’t a bad thing itself, you should be cautious when talking and meeting people online–but this vigilance has become extreme trust issues in far too many. It makes them incapable of even taking a risk on another person. So why even bother joining a dating site?

The last major concern with dating sites is proximity to others. Some simply don’t have the time or energy to attempt a relationship with someone on the other side of the country, or even a foreign country. That’s a commitment before the commitment. Plus if your stimulation is touch there’s no way to get close unless one or both of you move. If your interest isn’t an hour or two away, it can be a challenge for many.

There are people who dating sites do work well for, sadly I would wager they are more extroverted and don’t really need the help. These are the extrovert who can control themselves online, I should say. The ones that can have civil discussion in Facebook pages or other social media sites.

That’s where I honestly had the best luck with online dating, Facebook. But it’s even more important not to come on too strong on such sites, since even the singles sites there are less about dating and more about meeting new people. If they are not interested in dating, respect those boundaries or suffer the consequences.

Facebook is where I met the woman I’m currently seeing. It was on a singles page and neither one of us was really looking anything at that moment and it just sort of happened. The page wasn’t a dating site, but a social networking one. This is how life in general seems to work, don’t fixate on the problem too much, just be patient and let it happen.

So the best piece of advice I can give: don’t let frustrated of being single make you join a dating site. Try any other option. Find out what’s going on in your community, move to another larger town or city, just do yourself a favor and don’t waste your time or money. Swipe left.

R.C. Seely is the founder of americanuslibertae.com and ALTV. He has also written books on pop culture with new book–Confused Yet?: Understanding the Utterly Incomprehensible, due to be released.