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David McElroy

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The so-called ‘social contract’ is a sham to control you

By David McElroy · July 12, 2011

I never agreed to be ruled by a state, yet philosophers and political scientists confidently speak of “the social contract” as though it’s something we voluntarily enter into. It’s a coercive fraud.

If a car dealer unilaterally parked a vehicle in your driveway and demanded that you started making payments for it — payments that he determined on a car that he chose for you — there’s little question that you would refuse.

“By what right do you make this choice for me?” you would ask. “What gives you the right to set the price and the terms? And why do you think I’m obligated to an arrangement I never agreed to?”

That’s exactly what states do, though. The idea of us all having a “social contract” with one another is supposed to make it legitimate and legal. It’s a justification that serves to keep you from demanding to be left alone.

I said something a couple of days ago about this so-called contract and I was planning to write something about it this week. But I just came across an article by Robert Higgs at the Independent Institute’s website that does a great job of showing what a sham this so-called contract is, so I’m going to ask that you read that instead. Would you sign this thing voluntarily?

Consent of the Governed?

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I just remembered this shot I got a couple of hour I just remembered this shot I got a couple of hours ago of the fading sunset while I was in the Publix parking lot on the way home. If you suddenly find yourself craving Arby’s or Wendy’s, blame the giant icons in the sky, not me. 😃 (BTW, this was with the iPhone’s 8X telephoto lens.) #nature #naturephotography #sunset #birmingham #alabama
I had just pulled into a parking lot Friday night I had just pulled into a parking lot Friday night and was watching traffic through the distortion of the gently falling rain on my car window when I realized that the abstract view I had matched the way I was feeling tonight, so I turned it into a brief abstract video to match my mood.
Get ready for the next great animated Christmas cl Get ready for the next great animated Christmas classic, featuring singing and dancing and danger from Alex, Oliver and Sam. Coming soon to a theater near you. (The funniest part is that if I cared about this as anything more than a Christmas joke, it strikes me as something that could be profitable with the right story development and the right animators.)
Here are a couple of views of the sunset I just wa Here are a couple of views of the sunset I just watched on my way home after showing houses. I didn’t have my camera with me, so these are just iPhone shots. #nature #naturephotography #sunset #birmingham #alabama
This is what it might look like if the cats and I This is what it might look like if the cats and I were cast in a Wes Anderson film.
This is one of the funniest things that ChatGPT ha This is one of the funniest things that ChatGPT has done for me. I asked it to create a movie poster showing what a movie poster would look like for a film starring me. I told it to use my previous writings (from my website) to come up with a title and subject matter. And this is what it came up with. I can’t stop laughing. Also, the software decided on its own to included Oliver. 😺
I just noticed in the past couple of days that the I just noticed in the past couple of days that there’s suddenly far more color in the leaves of the trees, which lets me know that winter isn’t far behind. I took these two photos on a chilly Sunday afternoon nine years ago this week. #nature #naturephotography #colorful #trees #autumn #birmingham #alabama
Some of you might be aware that my dog Lucy died o Some of you might be aware that my dog Lucy died of cancer last weekend. As I’ve been grieving the loss of this beautiful and loving girl, I put together a one-minute compilation of short videos of Lucy from her first two or three weeks with me in early 2016. She was several years old at the time, but living with me provided her first stable home. She was unsure of herself at first, but she quickly developed confidence as she discovered how much she was loved. #dog #dogs #dogstagram #dogsofinstagram #cute #cutedog #pets #petstagram #petsofinstagram #instadog #ilovedogs #birmingham #alabama
Tonight’s moon is apparently something called a be Tonight’s moon is apparently something called a beaver supermoon. I noticed as I was getting home from work that it was a bright yellowish-orange, so I snapped this a couple of miles from home. It’s not a great photo, but I was pretty happy with it for an iPhone shot on the side of the road. #nature #naturephotography #sky #colorful #clouds #sunset #birmingham #alabama #iphone17pro
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At 3 a.m., Alex is the only one of the cats still At 3 a.m., Alex is the only one of the cats still hanging out with me in the bedroom. Oliver and Sam are already asleep in the office. I really enjoy their company when one of more of them stays up with me in this way.
For a cat who was feral just 18 months ago, Sam to For a cat who was feral just 18 months ago, Sam tolerates my ridiculous photo and video sessions pretty well these days. He likes being inside where it’s warm and dry — and he seems to like living with his feline brothers — but I suspect he might prefer a bit more privacy from me at times. 😺
Oliver was asleep on the top level of the castle w Oliver was asleep on the top level of the castle when I went to tell the cats that I was going out for a few hours. It was dark when he briefly lifted his head to see what was going on. Alex was asleep on my desk and Sam was on the heated pad. So it’s quiet and peaceful there right now.
Sam has been lying in an office window Friday afte Sam has been lying in an office window Friday afternoon, but he’s now keeping his eye on Oliver, who’s above him on the fireplace mantle. Oliver is well-known for his sudden attacks on one of his brothers from this position when he gets bored.
When I pulled into the driveway just now, Alex was When I pulled into the driveway just now, Alex was in one of the front office windows and Oliver was in the other. The light over this window illuminated Alex pretty well, but Oliver was in relative darkness on the other side.
From the CritterCam: When I checked the camera lat From the CritterCam: When I checked the camera late Thursday afternoon to see what was going on at home, it appeared that Alex was alert and watching the neighborhood, but then he had a gigantic yawn and went back to sleep.
Early Thursday afternoon, Alex has been sleeping i Early Thursday afternoon, Alex has been sleeping in the warmth of a sunny window ledge in the office.
On a dark and rainy winter afternoon, Alex is slee On a dark and rainy winter afternoon, Alex is sleeping away the day in a cat bed on my desk.
Sam typically prefers to be petted only around his Sam typically prefers to be petted only around his head, but he seemed to want me to rub his side and his belly as he laid on the heated pad late Tuesday night. There’s no way he would have enjoyed that 18 months ago. He’s come a long way for a formerly feral boy.
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