When I was about 12 or 13 years old I got my first job. I was as excited as could be! I was well on my way to buying all the video games, comics, and skateboarding gear I could ever want. I was a paperboy. I delivered newspapers all around my neighborhood. To me, this was really hard work. But it was well worth it. I was going to get my first paycheck from my first job and paint the town red.
I knew how much to expect. The math wasn't too hard for me at that age. I made what was then minimum wage, and I worked X hours. So I knew that once I got my check, I could give it to my dad and he would give me cash that I could use to go buy the new video game I wanted, and still have money left over for comics, and a movie ticket.
The day came! I got my check in the mail. One of those crazy envelopes with the perforated sides. I can't stress how cool it was. Not only was this my first paycheck, but it was also the first time I had ever been mailed something so... different. I cracked it open and looked at the total. It was less than I had expected. But how can this be?! I did the math! The math was sound! "Dad! They didn't pay me enough!" My dad took the check from me and looked at the stub. Laughing, he explained that they did pay me what they said they would, but that taxes were taken from the check. I was furious! "Well, I want my money back, they didn't ask for it." I'm sure you can figure where the story goes from there.
I decided right then and there that I could never approve of that behavior. Taking money from people, stealing money from people is just plain wrong. Even I knew that and I was a kid... My dad didn't seem to mind, which confused the hell out of me. But this isn't a post about taxes, really. I just thought I'd let you know where my dislike for government started.
I listened to a lot of punk rock back then, and it was through that scene and the music that I learned about anarchy. What a concept! No rulers! I liked it! I started scribbling anarchy signs everywhere. My desk at school, my skateboard, my skate spots, my furniture in my bedroom, my clothes. Anarchy signs everywhere.
I eventually grew out of the graffiti phase, and stopped putting those everywhere. But I never stopped believing. I really never did. I firmly believe with all of my heart that we do not need rulers. That we (not just me, everyone) should be left to live out our lives peacefully and without the interference of force or fraud.
Keep in mind, anarchy isn't about living without rules or laws, but living without rulers. It is the way nature works. It is natural. Order from chaos. A school of fish swim together not because they're afraid of getting a traffic ticket, but because it is what works. Same with a flock of geese flying in a V pattern. People can work that way too. Rulers and government are supposed to be here to protect us from force, fraud and coercion, but their very existence is one of force, fraud and coercion. As far as I'm concerned, we would have less of those things if we were to rid ourselves of Monarchy (the rule of one) and Oligarchy (the rule of many) and instead embrace Anarchy (the rule of none).
In fact, I feel so strongly about it, that I have posted hundreds of anarchy pictures in my lifetime. And if a picture is worth a thousand words, that's a lot of anarchy promotion!
That's the way I see it.
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| Let the party begin! |
The day came! I got my check in the mail. One of those crazy envelopes with the perforated sides. I can't stress how cool it was. Not only was this my first paycheck, but it was also the first time I had ever been mailed something so... different. I cracked it open and looked at the total. It was less than I had expected. But how can this be?! I did the math! The math was sound! "Dad! They didn't pay me enough!" My dad took the check from me and looked at the stub. Laughing, he explained that they did pay me what they said they would, but that taxes were taken from the check. I was furious! "Well, I want my money back, they didn't ask for it." I'm sure you can figure where the story goes from there.
I decided right then and there that I could never approve of that behavior. Taking money from people, stealing money from people is just plain wrong. Even I knew that and I was a kid... My dad didn't seem to mind, which confused the hell out of me. But this isn't a post about taxes, really. I just thought I'd let you know where my dislike for government started.
I listened to a lot of punk rock back then, and it was through that scene and the music that I learned about anarchy. What a concept! No rulers! I liked it! I started scribbling anarchy signs everywhere. My desk at school, my skateboard, my skate spots, my furniture in my bedroom, my clothes. Anarchy signs everywhere.
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| Mine usually looked like the one on the top-left. |
Keep in mind, anarchy isn't about living without rules or laws, but living without rulers. It is the way nature works. It is natural. Order from chaos. A school of fish swim together not because they're afraid of getting a traffic ticket, but because it is what works. Same with a flock of geese flying in a V pattern. People can work that way too. Rulers and government are supposed to be here to protect us from force, fraud and coercion, but their very existence is one of force, fraud and coercion. As far as I'm concerned, we would have less of those things if we were to rid ourselves of Monarchy (the rule of one) and Oligarchy (the rule of many) and instead embrace Anarchy (the rule of none).
In fact, I feel so strongly about it, that I have posted hundreds of anarchy pictures in my lifetime. And if a picture is worth a thousand words, that's a lot of anarchy promotion!
That's the way I see it.
This is great! It took me a bit longer to decide all of these things for myself, but not as long as it takes most. If ever. Thank you for sharing this on my page!
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