I'm Marc Stevens, I'm a consultant, writer and host of a weekly radio show called The No State Project, my website is http://marcstevens.net. I've been helping people to defend against government attacks since the late 1990's, teaching people on three continents how to effectively defend themselves. I've helped with just about every victimless crime, from traffic, taxes and drug charges, the latest drug charges kicked out are here http://marcstevens.net/featured/joe-gets-drug-charge-kicked-prosecution-not-prove-jurisdiction.html.
We have been so successful getting tickets dismissed on three continents by using the Socratic Method to challenge political sacred cows, such as the law applies to you because you're physically in Arizona, or wherever.
I'm glad to be here and look forward to rational discussion, something I can't seem to get on reddit. I'm as passionate about veganism as I am about anarchism and getting to a world without governments and ruling classes. Still don't know which generates more anger from people though, probably veganism.
Animals are friends, not food.
You probably eat a ton of bacteria. In fact, if you don't eat the by-product of bacteria (K2, menaquinone 7 through 11 chains), you're in for some significant osteoporosis later in life. Bacteria don't likely suffer in any meaningful way, but they're "animals." The same is likely true of insects: I doubt they're really capable of suffering in any meaningful way.
People like Ayn Rand thought the same of deer, and even dolphins. That strikes me as a much more specious claim.
The capacity for thought determines whether I care about an animal's suffering. Certainly, the cetaceans and other primates are worthy of more respect and kindness than lower animals are. Are they worthy of our political organization when even other humans cannot be treated with respect? I don't think so.
First, human and human+ deserve our allegiance, even if they kill the lower animals.
The proof of this is simple: bacteria and lab-grown-meat without a brain is not afforded any form of "legal right." If this strikes you as "wrong," I believe your goal structure is likely to be quite perverse. After all, any resources allocated to alleviating animal suffering are resources that could have been allocated to abolishing the prison industrial complex, and setting innocent people free from cages.
It's good to see you here Marc! Listening to NSP as I type.
Have you heard of @barrycooper? He's a former narcotics officer who now gives great advice to people who face drug charges. Check out his Steemit profile, maybe you both could learn a lot from each other.
I have, interviewed him on my radio show about 5 years ago.
hey @marcstevens! I'm only somewhat familiar with you and your work, and perhaps you answer this question in your FAQ (if you have one) on your website - Why did you create the NSP - instead of just joining the FSP? (Free State Project in NH, for those not familiar.) I'm guessing you must fundamentally disagree w/ them on at least one of their stances? If so - what are your specific reasons?
Also, you said, "look forward to rational discussion, something I can't seem to get on reddit. " I hear that. Wow. (I mean, if you're looking to bash your head off a concrete wall, just head to r/politics and go against the intellectual grain.) But, that said - I'm guessing you've been to r/libertarian and r/anarcho_capitalism? Are people there not even that receptive to you - or are you finding it a bit too much of an echo chamber?
Anyway - happy to see you here! Welcome!
Thanks, I used No State Project for the name of the radio show because I didn't plan on doing a show, I was offered the opportunity out of the blue and needed a name, so that's what initially hit me. I thought "Free State" was a contradiction, so I was already considered the "no state guy" by other radio show hosts, so it just fit. I never joined because I do disagree with using the political process and I didn't want to move back to the North East. I grew up on Long Island, I'm never living in the North East again. I like living in the Phoenix area, the sun comes out.
I'm also not one for joining organizations anyway. Also, you got it, most of my experience was with anarcho-cap on reddit. Wow, they just come off as angry republicans. Some were receptive, but overall it is awful there. They use the same stupid logical fallacies as politicians and completely ignore the evidence I post. I post evidence where a drug charge is kicked out and they still claim "It doesn't work."
Glad you're on here, Marc! Love your show! Strongly disagree with you about political relinquishment! Strongly agree with you about everything else political (so far), except veganism (if you consider that political). I don't hold really strong opinions on veganism. I'm in Kurzweil's camp on that one, so it's a mix of agreement and disagreement, while favoring a near-term trend toward lab-grown meat that doesn't suffer. Also favor eating "as low on the food chain as is comfortable." Then again, if Americans don't need cows, cows might go extinct, because Americans have a tendency to be "as ignorant as possible, given the life-or-death constraints," and tend to displace what they do not use.
that was my drug charge. how can they not see that as evidence when the judge dismissed the case because of YOUR motion YOU wrote lol.... derpy...
Just guessing here but if the FSP still intends to forcefully tax people or assume any other right that a mere mortal doesn't have or would be considered a criminal for doing, then it's not that different to all the other states that violate the basic concept of self-ownership.
Welcome to Steemit, @marcstevens!
Thanks, nice to post and not be immediately downvoted.
I haven't eaten a steak since 1987 - welcome aboard!
I'm coming up on a year as a vegan, can't believe I put it off so long. My daughter went vegan and she was able to influence one of her friends and her mother to go vegan. A few of my anarchist friends have also.
Yay Vegan!!
It's possible that talking about Flat Earth generates more anger than talking about Veganism.
I can't believe that crap has taken off, some people I know sent me links about it. They wanted me to have a promoter of that come one the show because he's an anarchist. That's not happening and I can't understand how people buy into that.
I don't have a problem with your veganism as long as you don't have a problem with my meat-eating. Humans are designed by evolution to be omnivores. (We eat a lot of bugs and fish, for optimal health.)
Of course, your veganism doesn't make me mad. That would be absurd.
Hey man! Really glad that you joined steemit! I didnt know that you were Vegan. I havent eaten meat since 2006. I just posted an article about human rights having the same inherent rights as humans.
Check it out: https://steemit.com/life/@stickman/do-non-humans-possess-the-same-inherent-rights-that-humans-do
Your thoughts?
https://steemit.com/taxationistheft/@mrdeleted/taxationistheft#comments
Marc is the man. He was absolutely critical in helping me get all charges from a police cannabis raid on my home dismissed entirely. the world needs more of what hes bringin to the table.
Copy and paste something here so we can peruse it at our leisure?