2 PARAGRAPHS 4 LIBERTY: #256 "PLEASE! A BALANCE FOR LIBERTY!"

         So have you seen the recent news?  3.3 million workers in the United States of America filed unemployment claims in the one week that ended on March 21!  3.3 million lost jobs lost in one week alone!  As stated recently in this 2 Paragraphs series, yes, the Coronavirus presents us with serious situations.  But governments ordering businesses to close and people to stay home is decimating our economy and probably destroying more lives than they are saving!  Governments should not by fiat be able to decide which business is “essential” and which is not.  For example, a mattress store owner was complaining that his business had been closed as “non-essential,” but Costco was still open, where people could still purchase mattresses.  So government was arbitrarily assisting his competitor while running him out of business.  Sounds like a legitimate beef to me!  The Libertarian Way would be to “allow” the managers of stores to be able to establish precautions for the health of their employees and customers and advertise those precautions widely.  Then, in turn, customers would be able, armed with that information, to make intelligent decisions about when and under what circumstances to do business with the various stores.  The best results come from individual people making decisions based upon timely and accurate information, and this would result both in both safety and substantially fewer lost jobs.  So, once again, Liberty does a better job.  Yes, governments have a function, but one of them is an obligation to plan in advance for things like earthquakes, fires, hurricanes, pandemics and even the possible poisoning of our water systems – and boy did governments fail to be prepared for this pandemic!  So why trust governments to make your safety decisions?

Similarly, we all should understand how the private sector is equipped to respond much more quickly to distribution problems with products like testing equipment, masks and ventilators when government regulations are lifted.  So governments once again are the problem! The same thing is true regarding today’s shortage of nurses.  Since many state governments do not recognize the certification of nurses from other states, this has artificially restricted the supply.  And does anyone really think that a one-time gift of $1,200 to people who earned less than $75,000 in the year 2019 will go very far?  (We should also understand that this gift came from the $2.2 Trillion fund voted virtually unanimously by Congress, which is money that we don’t have and which will contribute substantially to our National Debt – much to the financial detriment of our children and grandchildren!)  Of course the health and safety of people are important.  But health and safety are also adversely affected by people losing their jobs, not having money to pay for food and other essentials like rent, and companies going out of business.  (Think homelessness and suicides, if nothing else.) A balance for Liberty would reduce the number and size of all of those adversities.  And one more thing: today the homeowner’s association where we live closed the swings that children use at our private park.  Why should a parent not be able to decide appropriate risks they would encounter when pushing their young child on a swing?  What if no one else is around, what if they wipe the touchable areas of the swings with a disinfectant – would that present a danger to the child?  Let the parents decide.  What if another child was swinging 15 feet away?  We need a balance because only individuals will have the added information necessary to make good decisions, instead of an associational government that only has a “one size fits all” edict!  Liberty promotes the goal of people being responsible for the decisions they make which, in turn, promotes making good decisions.  That is how our country was founded.  I hope you agree with me, and continue to vote for Liberty! 

Maybe you heard this one: “Our cleaning lady just called and told us that she would be working from home and will be sending us instructions on what to do.”

Judge Jim Gray (Ret.)

2012 Libertarian candidate for Vice President, along with

Governor Gary Johnson as the candidate for President

Please listen to our weekly radio show entitled “All Rise! The Libertarian Way with Judge Jim Gray” as we discuss timely issues, and show how they will be addressed more beneficially by employing Libertarian values and approaches.  You can hear it every Friday morning at 7 Pacific/10 Eastern by going to www.VoiceAmerica.com, clicking on the Variety Channel and then upon the word “live.”  You can also hear past shows on demand as well.  And, by the way, these 2 Paragraph columns are now on my website at www.JudgeJImGray.com, Facebook and LinkedIn at judgejimgray, Twitter at judgejamesgray, and wordpress at judgejimgray.wordpress.com  Please visit these sites for past editions, and do your part to spread the word about the importance of Liberty.  In addition, my new book entitled “2 Paragraphs 4 Liberty: Solutions that are Practical, Effective, Responsible, Libertarian, is now available at Amazon.com.   Please read and discuss it with friends, and send in a review.

2 PARAGRAPHS 4 LIBERTY: #248 "RESPECT THE PROCESS!"

       Many people have complained that President Trump has wrongly set aside some of President Obama’s “good works” regarding things like DACA, which has kept people who were brought into our country as small children without complying with our immigration laws from being deported.  But the problem does not lie with Trump, it actually lies with Obama and Congress.  Why?  Because Mr. Obama issued Executive Orders for our laws not to be enforced for those young people.  So, that being the case, no one has a legitimate complaint when Trump similarly issues Executive Orders counteracting them.  However, if President Obama had respected the process and successfully attempted to have the immigration laws changed, President Trump would have been forced to follow suit.  (What’s good for goose also good for gander. . .)

        In other words, the process is critically important.  We don’t have dictators in our country who can rule by fiat.  The DACA issue to me is clear: we should keep those young people who have adapted well into our society here – and I believe most Americans would agree with that result.  So if I were in Congress, I would vote for the modification of our immigration laws to enact that result.  But this is yet another example of Congress abrogating its lawmaking responsibilities to a president.  Another huge example is Congress’ having passed the so-called War Powers Acts that have allowed presidents, in effect, to declare war on other nations or peoples.  No, Constitutionally only Congress can declare war!  Of course our laws still allow a president to respond to an immediate threat.  But otherwise it is meaningless for a country to be based upon the Rule of Law if its elected officials don’t respect the process– and these failings are laid at the feet of Congress!    

Quote for the week: “The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.”  George Bernard Shaw

Judge Jim Gray (Ret.)

2012 Libertarian candidate for Vice President, along with

Governor Gary Johnson as the candidate for President

Please listen to our weekly radio show entitled “All Rise! The Libertarian Way with Judge Jim Gray” as we discuss timely issues, and show how they will be addressed more beneficially by employing Libertarian values and approaches.  You can hear it every Friday morning at 7 Pacific/10 Eastern by going to www.VoiceAmerica.com, clicking on the Variety Channel and then upon the word “live.”  You can also hear past shows on demand as well.  And, by the way, these 2 Paragraph columns are now on my website at www.JudgeJImGray.com, Facebook and LinkedIn at judgejimgray, Twitter at judgejamesgray, and wordpress at judgejimgray.wordpress.com  Please visit these sites for past editions, and do your part to spread the word about the importance of Liberty.  In addition, my new book entitled “2 Paragraphs 4 Liberty: Solutions that are Practical, Effective, Responsible, Libertarian, is now available at Amazon.com.   Please read and discuss it with friends, and send in a review.

2 PARAGRAPHS 4 LIBERTY: #244 "YOU WILL BRUSH YOUR TEETH!"

  It has clinically been shown numerous times that brushing our teeth after every meal enhances our health.  Thus society would benefit if all of us would consistently do that, not to mention the cost savings to governmental programs like Social Security, Medicare and MediCal.  So how about Congress passing a law mandating this “Good Health Measure” for all of us!  Of course, we cannot have an effective law unless some sanctions are attached for non-compliance, so Congress should also create an enforcement agency.  Naturally, of course, the enforcement police would also need to have surveillance capability, because voluntary reporting would truly be suspect and ineffective.  Nevertheless, due to the substantial “benefits” that would accrue, the costs and intrusions would be justified – and, as long as we are law-abiding and brush our teeth regularly, what do we have to fear?

    Is this a good idea?  No!  But do you understand that this is the literal basis for many of our laws in today’s Nanny State?  If so, where are the protests?  Naturally the above proposal would have many nuances and complications.  For example, must we use toothpaste with fluoride?  What type of toothbrush is “acceptable?”  Does simply eating a banana at lunchtime constitute a “meal” that would require brushing? etc., etc. and etc.!  But since the intentions are good, we will simply have to abide with the problems.  And think of the other possibilities: Eat your Greens!  Purchase Healthcare Insurance!  Be an “educated” voter (i.e. vote for the candidates and issues favored by the current government then in power)!  Of course, all of these things are important, but they can best be accomplished by private programs of education and taking responsibility for one’s own actions and health – i.e. employing Libertarian Values!  And, just like our great country’s Founders were, we should always be hugely cautious of allowing governmental encroachments into our Liberties!  To them that was the most important function of government!  (The second was keeping us safe!)  So, yes, we should brush our teeth, but we should also keep the government out of our bathrooms!

Lexophile for the Week: “Our mountains aren’t just funny, they’re Hill Areas!”  (Oh well. . .)

Judge Jim Gray (Ret.)

2012 Libertarian candidate for Vice President, along with

Governor Gary Johnson as the candidate for President

Please listen to our weekly radio show entitled “All Rise! The Libertarian Way with Judge Jim Gray” as we discuss timely issues, and show how they will be addressed more beneficially by employing Libertarian values and approaches.  You can hear it every Friday morning at 7 Pacific/10 Eastern by going to www.VoiceAmerica.com, clicking on the Variety Channel and then upon the word “live.”  You can also hear past shows on demand as well.  And, by the way, these 2 Paragraph columns are now on my website at www.JudgeJImGray.com, Facebook and LinkedIn at judgejimgray, Twitter at judgejamesgray, and wordpress at judgejimgray.wordpress.com  Please visit these sites for past editions, and do your part to spread the word about the importance of Liberty.  In addition, my new book entitled “2 Paragraphs 4 Liberty: Solutions that are Practical, Effective, Responsible, Libertarian, is now available at Amazon.com.   Please read and discuss it with friends, and send in a review.

2 PARAGRAPHS 4 LIBERTY: #241 "AN ANTIDOTE TO POLARIZATION"

      Our society is now more polarized than at any time of my life.  Why has that happened?  Two reasons come to mind.  Originally, when cable television news stations began to multiply I thought that it would be great because, with so many choices, all of us would be exposed to many more viewpoints – which would be healthy.  And boy was I wrong!  Instead, each station deciphered what the political leanings were of its target audience, and then expressly catered to what that audience wanted to hear.  So we are the good guys, and people who do not have our beliefs are scoundrels or worse.  A second reason is the gerrymandering of the congressional voting districts.  “I don’t care if you of the opposite party get a politically safe seat as long as I can get one too” has become the position of those drawing up voting districts.  And this has allowed many members of Congress to take some radical positions without being held accountable to the views of more moderate voters.  Both of these situations have allowed polarization to flourish.*

        And there is also a third reason as well.  Thomas Jefferson famously said that our country should have a bloody revolution each generation in an attempt to keep the vested interests at bay.  Fortunately our Constitution keeps the revolution from having to be bloody, but how long has it been?  Probably since the 1860s when the Republicans took over from the Whigs.  And how strong have the vested interests become in that time?  Strong enough for many people to believe that our institutions are no longer working.  “The Presidency doesn’t even try to represent all of the people,” “Congress is working against us,” and even “The Courts are only providing ‘justice’ to the wealthy” are conclusions that many people have reached.  And this situation has resulted in us being so polarized.  So what is the antidote?  Voting Libertarian!  It is not an exaggeration to say that Libertarians are the only mainstream political party in our country today.  We believe in financial and other responsibility at all levels of society, including personal, group, corporate and governmental.  And we are socially accepting with a “Live and Let Live” philosophy.  In addition, Libertarians are the only political party that does not seek to gain by being involved in government.  Thus we would strongly reduce the crony capitalism or corporate welfare that is rampant in our governments today.  So do you want an antidote for polarization, and to be proud of your votes at the same time?  Consider voting Libertarian.  

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*As an anecdote, in my research in composing a musical about our nation’s 1787 Constitutional Convention entitled “Convention: the Birth of America,” I learned that one of the delegates was named Elbridge Gerry, who later became the Governor of Massachusetts and was also the Vice President under James Madison.  But he also was so well known for his politics in drawing the boundaries of voting districts for political purposes that the practice soon took up his name, and it still does to this day.

Judge Jim Gray (Ret.)

2012 Libertarian candidate for Vice President, along with

Governor Gary Johnson as the candidate for President

Quote for the week: “We should judge our programs by their results, not their good intentions.” 

Please listen to our weekly radio show entitled “All Rise! The Libertarian Way with Judge Jim Gray” as we discuss timely issues, and show how they will be addressed more beneficially by employing Libertarian values and approaches.  You can hear it every Friday morning at 7 Pacific/10 Eastern by going to www.VoiceAmerica.com, clicking on the Variety Channel and then upon the word “live.”  You can also hear past shows on demand as well.  And, by the way, these 2 Paragraph columns are now on my website at www.JudgeJImGray.com, Facebook and LinkedIn at judgejimgray, Twitter at judgejamesgray, and wordpress at judgejimgray.wordpress.com  Please visit these sites for past editions, and do your part to spread the word about the importance of Liberty.  In addition, my new book entitled “2 Paragraphs 4 Liberty: Solutions that are Practical, Effective, Responsible, Libertarian, is now available at Amazon.com.   Please read and discuss it with friends, and send in a review.

2 PARAGRAPHS 4 LIBERTY: #233 "SUNSET LAWS FOR MORE EFFECTIVE GOVERNMENT!"

      When I ran for Vice President as a Libertarian in 2012, the issue that unfailingly gained the most traction among all of the people I spoke with was “Sunset Laws.”  So I almost always began my presentations with that issue.  Sunset laws would require that statutes, programs and even agencies be required to win a positive vote in Congress every five to seven years in order to continue to exist.  That would result in each of these parts of government making a presentation about what it had accomplished in that past period, how much it had cost and what we could project it would cost and accomplish in the future to justify its existence.

     This straightforward approach would allow Congress, and all of the rest of us, to see how much “bang for the buck” we were receiving, as well as to focus upon the many areas in government which are duplicated or even unnecessary.  Thus maybe the agency would continue to be funded, but some of its efforts and funding would be reduced because they weren’t productive.  And – what an amazing thought – some statutes, programs or even agencies could be discontinued!  Are you aware that the federal government still employs and funds many of the New Deal’s programs – often under a different title?  We can debate whether these approaches were appropriate back in the 1930s, but don’t you agree they should be re-evaluated and re-analyzed now after more than 80 years?  Milton Friedman once said that “Nothing is so permanent as a temporary government program.”  Sunset laws would change that reality.

Quote for the week: “No amount of experimentation can ever prove me right.  But a single experiment can prove me wrong.”  Albert Einstein

Judge Jim Gray (Ret.)

2012 Libertarian candidate for Vice President, along with

Governor Gary Johnson as the candidate for President

Please listen to our weekly radio show entitled “All Rise! The Libertarian Way with Judge Jim Gray” as we discuss timely issues, and show how they will be addressed more beneficially by employing Libertarian values and approaches.  You can hear it every Friday morning at 7 Pacific/10 Eastern by going to www.VoiceAmerica.com, clicking on the Variety Channel and then upon the word “live.”  You can also hear past shows on demand as well.  And, by the way, these 2 Paragraph columns are now on Facebook and LinkedIn at judgejimgray, Twitter at judgejamesgray, and wordpress at judgejimgray.wordpress.com.  Please visit these sites for past editions, and do your part to spread the word about the importance of Liberty.

2 PARAGRAPHS 4 LIBERTY: #224 "A DEATH PENALTY OBSCENITY!"

              I do not hide the fact that I am unalterably against the death penalty, arguing that, regardless of anyone’s philosophical beliefs, it simply doesn’t work.  Instead, it makes pawns of the victims, seldom gives them finality, and often requires them to relive the tragedy that occurred many years ago through retrials.  So now the present administration has announced – as the 2020 presidential election is getting into full swing – that it is reviving the federal death penalty.  “Hey I have an idea, let’s cater to our base in this election and get more votes by killing five people” is the message.  And, I hope every civilized person in our great country would agree, that is an obscenity!

                If the current president had originally campaigned upon implementing the death penalty and had won the election and had then proceeded to re-establish it, I would have disagreed but would not have argued that the action was political.  But that is not what has happened.  And even if the president was of that belief, why wait until the upcoming election season?  No, it is inescapable that this life and death issue is being used simply in an effort to attract votes.  Can you imagine anything more corruptive to the American name, and to what we stand for?  So, please, hold this administration accountable for this decision!  Take it upon yourself to write to the White House, every member of Congress you can come up with, as well as the media, and stop this wrongly-conceived policy in its tracks, at least until after the 2020 election.  We will not use death to garner votes – at least not on my watch!

Motto for the week:  “Never grow a wishbone where a backbone ought to be.”

Judge Jim Gray (Ret.)

2012 Libertarian candidate for Vice President, along with

Governor Gary Johnson as the candidate for President

Please listen to our weekly radio show entitled “All Rise! The Libertarian Way with Judge Jim Gray” as we discuss timely issues, and show how they will be addressed more beneficially by employing Libertarian values and approaches.  You can hear it every Friday morning at 7 Pacific/10 Eastern by going to www.VoiceAmerica.com, clicking on the Variety Channel and then upon the word “live.”  You can also hear past shows as well.  And, by the way, these 2 Paragraph columns are now on Facebook and LinkedIn at judgejimgray, Twitter at judgejamesgray, and wordpress at judgejimgray.wordpress.com.  Please visit these sites for past editions, and do your part to spread the word about the importance of Liberty.

2 PARAGRAPHS 4 LIBERTY: #217 "WE THINK IN WORDS"

 We all think in words.  Thus if people do not understand the shades of meaning between two (or among three or more) different words, those people do not understand the concepts.  For example, I heard that there are more dialects in languages around the world that do not draw a distinction between the word “enemy” and the word “stranger.”  As a result, if I were to stumble out of the wilderness into your remote village, and you didn’t understand this distinction, I would automatically be your enemy.  Imagine how much needless violence, or at least lost opportunities, have occurred just from this situation alone!  Similarly, when we are driving our cars in the countryside and see the sign “Slow Traffic Keep Right,” what often goes through our minds?  “Oh, I’m not slow traffic, so I’ll stay in the fast lane.”  But if, instead, the sign were to say: “Left Lane Only For Passing,” our thoughts would more likely be: “Oh, I’m not passing, so I’ll move back to the right lane.”  Same intent, but different result.

                Other common but neglected differences in words that I find to be interesting and even fun are:

·         May vs. Can: permission as opposed to ability.

·         Imply vs. Infer: Speakers imply and listeners infer.  So many problems occur when the implications are different than the inferences.

·         Solution vs. Resolution:  Most human problems have no solutions.  If you want a solution, become a mathematician.  Human problems almost always are limited to resolutions, but they allow people to put those problems behind them and move on with their lives.  (I use this illustration often in my mediations.)

·         You’re welcome vs. No problem:  The former implies that the doer was happy to help; the latter implies that if it had been a problem, the doer wouldn’t have done the good deed.

·         Need vs. Want:  We want to be alive, but don’t need to be.  But we do need oxygen to be alive.  (Or, in a political context, a “need” is just a “want” that you should give me.)

·         Love vs. Like:  We can Like many things, but Love is special, and should be thought of in that fashion.  

·         Education vs. Indoctrination:  Upon reflection, that difference should be apparent.

·         Risk vs. Gamble:  Almost all things we do have some risks to them, but they can be controlled – think going for a swim.  Gambles cannot be controlled – think roulette.

·         Rule of Law vs. Rule of Man: The former strives to provide Equal Justice for All; the latter is often used to rewards one’s friends and punishes one’s enemies.

There are many more, and I think they’re both fun and important.  I hope you agree.

Judge Jim Gray (Ret.)

2012 Libertarian candidate for Vice President, along with

Governor Gary Johnson as the candidate for President

  Quote for the week:  “We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us.”  (And speaking of traveling, I will be on vacation for the next two weeks, so there will be an interruption in our series.)  And, BTW, last week I recommended people boycott the movie “Long Shot,” but this week I recommend people see the movie “A Dog’s Purpose.”  It was wonderful, and much redeeming social value!

Please listen to our weekly radio show entitled “All Rise!  The Libertarian Way with Judge Jim Gray” as we discuss these and other timely issues, and show how they will be addressed more beneficially by employing Libertarian values and approaches.  You can hear it every Friday morning at 7 Pacific/10 Eastern by going to www.VoiceAmerica.com, clicking on the Variety Channel and then upon the word “live.”  You can also hear past shows as well.  And, by the way, these 2 Paragraph columns are now on Facebook and LinkedIn at judgejimgray, Twitter at judgejamesgray, and wordpress at judgejimgray.wordpress.com.  Please visit these sites for past editions, and do your part to spread the word about the importance of Liberty.

2 PARAGRAPHS 4 LIBERTY: #183 “A FAILURE OF DUTY”

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      A while ago a long-time good friend of mine gave me the book Lone Survivor: The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and the Lost Heroes of Seal Team 10, by Marcus Luttrell and Patrick Robinson (Little, Brown and Company, 2007).  As many of you know, this book describes the killing of three Navy Seal Team members and the severe wounding of one more (Author Marcus Luttrell) by somewhere between 30 and 50 Taliban fighters in Afghanistan in late June of 2005.  And, as a preface, the book discusses the ordeals that all Navy Seals go through in training, where a large percentage of the aspirants “voluntarily” drop out because the demands are so onerous.  So I expect that no one can read this book without sharing my opinion that Navy Seals are among the truly best and most dedicated fighting forces in the history of the world of combat!  These gallant warriors quietly and simply follow orders and place their lives on the line on an increasingly regular basis.  And they are, and should be recognized as, our heroes.

       However, that means that our nation’s political leaders should never call upon the talents, lives and devotion of these heroes unless it is truly in our national interest.  But in this critical task, I believe our leaders have often failed us all.  Were our “military police actions” in places like Vietnam, Korea, Panama, Iraq and Afghanistan really necessary to protect our National Security or National Interests?  Our Constitution provides some strong protections in this matter.  Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution expressly delegates the power to declare War only to Congress.  But there have been no declarations of war since 1941, which began our involvement in World War II.  Instead Congress has reneged in its duties by passing various “War Powers Acts,” and other enabling legislation which purportedly allowed the sitting President to do whatever he (or, hopefully soon, she) thinks best to protect our nation.  But that is not the same thing.   Except when immediate action is needed, the protection for our courageous military warriors is for Congress to debate whether there is such a threat, from whom and where, and when we will  know that the threat is abated – and then publicly to vote on it!   That means that, not only must Congress take direct responsibility for our involvement, it also strongly increases the chances that our nation will continue to support that involvement once the vote is taken.  However, in that regard, I firmly believe that at least our invasion of Iraq (which was the biggest foreign policy mistake in my lifetime) would not have passed that test.  Maybe not even Vietnam.  And, although Afghanistan would have passed it after the attack on September 11, 2001, it almost certainly would have limited our troops to going into Afghanistan, finding Osama bin Laden and his cohorts, annihilating them and then withdrawing from that country – along with the warning that we would return and do so again if they remained a threat.  But Heroes like those in Seal Team 10 should never have been put into the position they found themselves in Afghanistan, because our nation’s political “leaders” failed their Constitutional duty to them – and to us!    

--> Judge Jim Gray (Ret.)

--> 2012 Libertarian candidate for Vice President, along with Governor

--> Gary Johnson as the candidate for President

A Lexophile: “No matter how much you push the envelope, it’ll still be stationery.”

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By the way, these columns are now on Facebook and LinkedIn at judgejimgray, Twitter at judgejamesgray, and wordpress at judgejimgray@wordpress.com.  Please visit these sites for past editions, and do your part to spread the word about the importance of Liberty!