Are you out of your mind?
Some people (including my close relatives) have shown concern of this sort. I don't think I am insane. Neither does my therapist (which I've just begun seeing at my Mom's behest in order to assuage her fears). I would be glad to admit that I am abnormal. I have not met many people as openly imaginative or ambitious as I am. Maybe that makes me crazy compared to them. Maybe it merely makes me eccentric. Maybe I'm a genius. Maybe a loon. You're free to decide for yourself but I don't presently suffer from, or exhibit symptoms of, any clinical debilitating or destructive mental conditions. Neither have I ever been committed to any institution for treatment of insanity.
Are you serious about running?
Yes. I am truly willing to occupy the office of President. I would be glad to serve the people and increase freedom to the best of my ability.
Well do you really think you can win?
Yes. I admit that it will be amazing if I obtain more than a handful of votes. I "can" win. It is merely an extremely remote possibility.
If the possibility of you winning is so remote, why bother?
Even if I don't win (or worse, harm comes to me as a direct result of my opinions and outspokenness according to my right to free speech), I am eager to spark discussion. I wish to challenge assumptions and threaten complacency. I believe our nation is descending into a stagnant intellectual quagmire. If I can get people talking, thinking, discussing my ideas and others (even if these only happen on a small scale), I feel that I have made a productive impact and count the exercise as a success.
What qualifies you to lead?
Well if I receive sufficient votes, people placing their trust in me itself becomes sufficient qualification. If you're asking why people should place such trust in me, it's simply because I'm honest. I'm not here to bullshit. I'm not trying to say what people want to hear. I'm not doing this for money or power (even if those might be put into my charge). I am doing this to promote and improve freedom (both individual and communal). It's time people trust their leadership to "tell it like it is." It's time for government to serve the people rather than bleed them dry. I believe myself to be the best qualified person (that I know of so far) to guide us toward such change and improvement.
You've never held a job or had a girlfriend for more than two years. You don't have children or own a house. Without such long-term commitments and obligations, how can you possibly understand or represent the average citizen? How could you have the maturity, fortitude, sense of responsibility, and totality of perspective necessary to be President?
Those are good questions. Let me challenge your assumptions. Do married people with kids and a house all have maturity or broad perspective on life? What basis do you have to conclude a President (or candidate) needs to have first-hand experience with those situations in order to comprehend them? Even if that were the case, what makes you think a lifetime politician understands those responsibilities in the same way an average working-class family member does?
Let me interject that I'd have been glad to remain at the same job or with the same woman indefinitely if either had ever demonstrated a commitment to honesty and integrity that I could work with. I've made mistakes of my own of course. I'm only human. I've been lazy or a brat or even depressed sometimes and messed things up from my end, but my character has been pretty consistent and I don't see many of my past relationship failures as primarily my fault. When employers are consistently trying to take advantage of me and my co-workers in offensive ways, I get vocal and very critical and their response is often to get even worse or fire me to demonstrate their insecure power. When girlfriends lie, cheat, and steal, I move on. Blame it on me if you wish. Most of my jobs and romances have ended that way. I worked hard whenever I had sufficient morale and interest to do so. I have never been unfaithful to a girlfriend and most of mine have cheated on me while claiming that loyalty and monogamy were important to them. Maybe to you, I have always been too idealistic and too unrealistic. Are my standards too high? I feel that I'm pretty practical. There is much I can forgive but trust and forgiveness must be earned through a genuine and contrite spirit of willingness to change. Empty apologies and lies that lead to repeats of the same offenses waste my time. I don't have to put up with stubborn power-hungry selfish idiots as much as I already do. I could be more reclusive and introverted and pensive. I could just avoid everyone and everything more, constructing my own shelter from the pain the world would inflict upon me, but I'd much rather see and experience and feel all these things and focus on changing myself and everyone else for the better. People say I'm impatient. I'm at least patient enough to get along this far. All of this is simply my nature and I appreciate it as both strength and weakness. I'd love to have a good job, a wife, and kids someday. Cynically, those seem less likely than me becoming President. What a weird and wonderful world ours is!
So who am I? I am a California kid. I'm a computer hacker, a motorcyclist, a digital samurai, a gun owner, a snowboarder, a drug user, a punk, a video game developer, an international fighting game competitor, a beer drinker, a billiards player, a movie lover, a science-fiction fan, an anime otaku, a conversationalist, a guitar player, a carpenter, a martial artist, a philosopher, a skateboarder, a rock climber, etc.. I used to serve fast food at Subway and In-N-Out Burger. I used to stock videos at Blockbuster. I like both kitties and puppies (especially pit bulls, dauchunds, and labradors). I like playing tennis and golf and watching baseball and hockey. I like pornography and making love all night. I used to be a born-again Christian. I nearly converted to Orthodox (Chasidic) Judaism. I have a lot of experiences and interests in common with all sorts of people I might come to represent. I think lifetime politicians are the ones you should accuse of being out-of-touch. Politicians are a wealthy ruling elite and they have deceived almost everyone into believing this arrangement is the only way things can work.
You're a white priviledged male just like the politicians you deride. How can you claim things will change if we simply keep electing white men (or boys) to power?
Please don't judge me by the color of my skin or the genitalia I possess. I know wealthy white men have caused a lot of problems in the past. I am not them and would not have made the decisions they did. I wish to stand on my own merit just as everyone should. Judge for yourself.
Fine. You're for real. How could you ever get enough attention?
E-mail. Instant Messaging. Internet Relay Chat. Text Messaging. Website Mirrors. Word-of-Mouth. People caring enough to communicate ideas through whatever means and medium they have at their disposal.
Why don't you come up with a logo or slogan or jingle?
That is not my job. I am not a marketer or a deceiver and I don't want to be. My role is to give the straight dope... to tell it like it is. If other people want to carry my torch, to take up the cause, to promote my campaign, then they are free to. I encourage anyone else to do what they want. I'm not a pall-bearer. I'm not a deceiver. I leave the marketing of logos and graphics and calculated appeal to others. That is who I am. My words speak for themselves. You are free to take it or leave it. This website is about conveying information and I hand-code all the HTML from scratch to do just that (or I did until my friend began helping me as I mention below). This site is not about glamour or stupid commercialism. I'm not selling a product. I'm advocating freedom from a base of intellectual superiority, so my website needs to plainly convey information. Esthetics that directly and obviously support that end are likely to be incorporated into my site but I'm not trying (or wanting) to advertise in any traditional sense. I am sickened by all commercials and I want to clearly distance myself from them. I live free and will die free one way or another. I fucking hate being told what to think, look like, do, and buy! Yeah, I'm profane. Yeah, I'm real. Would you rather have fake? The choice is yours.
6515fgT - Since I wrote the above answer, my best friend, John Satoshi Beppu-san, has read my site and he stayed up all last night adding a very nice mechanism for simple and clean selectable color schemes. You will find a drop-down selection entry at the top of each page which will enable you to choose from several more pleasant appearances than my original version. Thanks Beppu-san! I totally appreciate your generous esthetic and functional contribution to my bare-bones campaign site. =)
How can you use profanity and vulgarity while claiming to be taking this seriously?
Precisely because I wish to challenge your assumptions that everything needs to be calculatedly diplomatic and sterile to be effective. My strategy is not simple. I'm not just trying to offend people. Neither am I willing to do whatever it takes to win an election. I am myself. That's all I want to be. I'm trying hard not to temper my thoughts or words just to make them more appealing. I think this genuineness needs to permeate every facet of my campaign. Take offense at my jokes, ideas, or words if you wish. I believe I'm doing a good thing here and I'm both serious and playful with it all at the same time. It's a ridiculous and silly undertaking but it is one I feel well-suited for. Hopefully you agree or will come around to with enough patience, repetition, compassion, and even rebuke.
Why do you hyphenate "G-d" but then use profanity? Are all words acceptable or not?
I believe that all words and ideas are definitely acceptable to contemplate and vocalize. I have made a personal decision to reserve my respect and reverence only for "holy" things. I don't believe fuck, shit, cunt, dick, ass, etc. should be given the power, attention, and respect that they presently command. They're just words. In contrast, when I studied western religion intensely, I grew to appreciate the characteristic Jewish reverence for HaShem (literally, "The Name"). Orthodox Jews do not pronounce G-d's name nonchalantly. Some pronunciations are reserved for prayer while others are not even commonly known since they are only to be uttered in Yerushalayim in the tabernacle of G-d's presence. I believe this attitude is commendable. Reserving respect and appreciation for perfect purity and truth is a choice that resonates with me. I wish people would not try to pronounce YKVK like the J-Witnesses but I understand why they do it so I can't hold it against them. We choose what power and import words will have to us. I'd rather consciously revoke the power of "bad words" since they are mundane and don't deserve the emphasis they presently enjoy. It's true that pious Jews generally don't use profanity either so maybe my justification and explanation of the reason is inadequate. Please feel free to debate this topic. I can easily imagine changing my mind on this opinion in either of the directions mentioned.
Do you want donations or campaign contributions?
Nope. If anyone wants to spend their time or money to promote me, I encourage them to do so but I am not after money and do not wish to be concerned with advertising budgets or crap like that. This consistent attitude adds legitimacy to my message and is representative of my integrity and honor. I have never cared much for money. I have had sufficient food and shelter my whole life. Money has been easy-come and easy-go. All I've ever needed money for were tools and toys. Some things are clearly both, like computers and vehicles, while others are more one than the other, like arcade machines, snowboards, pool tables, routers, saws, drills, soldering irons, etc.. If I had more money, I could buy more tools and toys but I don't need a whole lot of those to be happy. I have more toys now than ever before in my life and I feel very happy and healthy. I care about freedom, not money. Maybe a good case can be made that money can be a useful tool to achieve freedom. I can see that but I'd rather distance myself from any accusation that I am just seeking fame and fortune or that my campaign can be waved away as an opportunistic stunt. If I take office and am given a salary, I want it to be the income of the average citizen. Freedom and productive change are worth way more to me than materialistic wealth. I care about people.
What drugs have you taken?
I have experimented with crack, cocaine, PCP, acid, mushrooms, marijuana, extacy, speed, and heroin. I haven't shot any of them into my bloodstream directly with a syringe. They have all been ingested orally via swallowing or inhalation. I might like to shoot up heroine or morphine someday though. I mostly steer clear of prescription medication because I'd rather take responsibility for my own health and mental state rather than deferring to a "medical expert" who is often blatantly just a legal drug pusher themself. I've also heard many horror stories about catastrophic reactions to prescribed medications (far more than with illegal stuff). ;) I have taken Allegra to relieve my spring seasonal allergies and it works well. It's just about time I get more of that in Tijuana. I've taken Nyquil and Tylenol some. I also consume alcohol and caffeine whenever I feel like it. I believe oxygen and food are drugs too. They all impact our biochemistry and metabolism in certain ways. Some people experience hallucinations from food poisoning. Take responsibility for what you put into your body. I have nothing to hide. I'm glad to admit that I intend to take more drugs when I have opportunity and inclination to do so (even if they're still illegal or considered bad to closed-minded people at that time). I'm also glad to delve into more details about my experiences if it feels worthwhile to do so. I did inhale all the above stuff. I'm proud of it. It's all made me who I am and I'd do it again. The government can shove their regulations right up each politician's ass.
Aren't you worried about being so candid?
Hardly. I think it's time for honorable people to take a stand and I'm willing and able to lead the charge. I believe myself to be a true patriot and freedom-fighter. I might suffer a lot as a result of my exercising the right to free speech that we claim to hold dear. If I am right and honest, I'm willing to die defending my freedom (and that of others). Governments and religious leaders cannot tell me who I am or what I must do. I do what I will. I am not afraid of them or their torture because my ideas are bulletproof. If my ideas have merit, they will outlive me regardless of my physical longevity. That is my proud legacy. If you care about freedom too, please register to vote and vote for me. Talk about my ideas with everyone you know. Refer them to this site. We can improve our world together whenever we choose to.
Your ideas sound nice in theory but they're so far removed from the reality of our situation that I am suffering from seemingly irreconcilable dissonance. It does not seem reasonable or rational to attempt to change so much so fast. How could you possibly implement anything you propose?
Excellent question and one which could not possibly be answered sufficiently in just a few paragraphs according to the format of this page... but I will give it a shot if you give me credit enough to know that any imaginary treatment or plan given here is not going to address every worthwhile concern thoroughly. That said, the first answer is that I don't need to single-handedly implement everything I propose. If my ideas and approach proves persuasive enough, I will have a lot of help from myriad intelligent, concerned, diligent, and enlightened people. Similarly, I (we) don't need to accomplish everything in order for real benefit to be felt. Just thinking and learning and causing others to do the same is a level of success to me.
Yeah, yeah, but you're being slippery. You're not being practical enough. Of course changing everyone's mentality, sense of responsibility, ownership, and involvement would help but you would be looked to for leadership. Again, how could you possibly implement anything you propose?
I would make the best decisions I could to realize each goal I have. I would research each issue as thoroughly as possible, strategize on varied approaches weighing relative merits with associated risks, and I'd attempt to implement each chosen plan with efficiency and expediency. I don't want to change everything so fast that I undermine my own goals. That would not be smart. Some people believe that any change is too risky to attempt. They don't want anyone to ever rock the boat. To them, any progress towards any of my goals would present unacceptable disruption. They are gripped by their fear of change and will resist even logical improvements merely for their unfamiliarity. If you want a more concrete answer, maybe you should ask a more specific question.
What do you think is a sensible order in which to implement your goals?
For each of my goals, I would ask everyone concerned and informed about the matter to contribute honestly to the discussion of reform and resolution. The first thing I would like to do is oust all lifetime politicians. I would ask normal honorable working-class people to come help me govern our nation. The people should rule themselves. This first step could take a great deal of time and be very difficult to implement but I believe it is possible. There would be lots of interviewing. Old-style politicians would be phased out gradually and according to their record for revoking freedoms as well as their willingness to reform and cooperate with the new direction we want to go.
The second goal would be to mandate publication of all government activity. The government should utilize the internet to provide common access to every single decision and government-related communication that tax dollars have purchased supposedly in the name of our common good. Universal accountability to the very public that the government is supposed to be serving is a high priority. I might need to establish policies and distribute the responsibility of enforcement but this should be relatively straightforward (even if tedious and time-consuming) as long as the right people are helping run things from the first stage above.
My third goal would be to abolish all the prohibitions on personal voluntary activities. This would mean legalizing drugs, gambling, prostitution, and anything similar. Anyone convicted of these offenses (without complications of violence) would be pardoned. The non-violent incarcerated offenders would be set free. Those remaining, with records of minimal violence that could plausibly be interpreted as self-defense, should also be reconsidered. Violence is a part of life and I'd want to do everything I can to help avoid blaming and punishing victims (i.e., non-initiators, non-aggressors, etc.).
Maybe next I'd open our borders gradually and see how that plays out. I'd consult experts on every side of every issue and exercise whatever caution seems appropriate for each situation. I'd slowly dismantle everything and I'd try to start from the top down. I'd want to leave taxation, education, unemployment, food stamps, etc. in place until the end. I want to relieve the burden of the working-class so I would leave all of the programs that our poor benefit from and rely upon in place longest. I would stop requiring vehicle registration early. I'd remove taxation on gasoline and cigarettes and any other products that our working people consume heavily. I would stop taxing the income of the poor first, then middle-class, then the wealthy.
I don't think of this approach as stealing from the rich to give to the poor. To me, my plan is to stop the rich from enslaving the poor. We've all heard that the rich are just getting richer and the poor are getting poorer here. Some statistics are suggesting that the poor are not even keeping up with inflation while the rich are gaining wealth at an incredibly increasing rate. This is not a sustainable trend once our poor become wholly dependent on the benevolence of the rich or the hand-outs of the government for basic subsistence needs of food and shelter. I would do whatever I could to support the neediest people most effectively by dismantling all other government programs first. I think we need to avoid subjecting the core of our population to abject poverty since that will effectively enslave them to the ruling elite of politicians and corporate executives. How's that for a plan?
Are you single?
Yes. I am looking for one or more intelligent freedom-loving sexy female companions. I am not much concerned with age or appearance. As long as she loves herself and appreciates her own inner and outward beauty, I'm confident I can grow to as well. Monogamy is negotiable. Honesty is not. She must have good character and I will love her passionately and forever. If you fit this bill or know someone who does, please contact me so that she and I might have a chance to get to know each other more intimately. =)
Are you a pacifist?
Hell no. Sometimes a rabid dog must be killed before it causes significant harm (or any more than it has already caused). Some animals and people only understand violence. They cannot be reasoned with. They commit violence and must receive it before they will change. I recognize violence as a tool. I am willing to kill people if they are actively attempting to enslave me, rob my freedoms, and kill me. I would rather appeal to their intellects whenever possible but weapons and force can be used righteously. I don't wish to initiate force. I wish to fight back. I wield defensive force with honor. I won't simply "turn the other cheek" (according to the commonly mistaken literal interpretation of that verse). I'll hit back if it seems I should. If your life is worthwhile, worth anything at all, don't just throw it away. Fight to live free. Fight hard.
Are you a socialist or a communist or a humanitarian or something?
I'm probably closest to a libertarian or an anarchist. I think most people thrive when they are free but we need to remain watchful for those who would enslave others, deprive freedoms, and oppress thought. It's time to stake a claim to "the land of the free" which has been a diminishingly truthful moniker as a result of all the manufactured terror we are saturated by. I know most people think of something like murderous mayhem when the word "anarchy" is used. I don't see it like that at all. I imagine peace to be far more likely than devastation because most people are generally good already (i.e., it's a misconception that people only behave as well as they do because of laws or fear of punishment). I like the ideal of anarchy where there is no hierarchy at all but I feel that, to realistically get there or even get at all closer, we need voluntary hierarchy based on honesty rather than manipulation. Running for President is not a very anarchistic thing for me to do since I would be accepting significant governing authority in order to first slow and stop government growth, and then to begin dismantling it in a strategic manner. As an end-goal, it might prove better to leave a small remnant of government which handles foreign relations and punishes only murder, rape, and theft as opposed to eradicating all government entirely. I'm not sure whether some minimal voluntary hierarchy or none at all will ultimately be better but they might as well be the same considering how far away from both we are presently (and are constantly getting farther from). I imagine I'd prefer anarchy but I'd be willing to lead as well as I'm able as long as people wanted me to and it still felt productive to me.
I guess a problem most modern greedy people see with anarchy is the communal sharing part. They can't comprehend that it is all voluntary. They can only imagine being forced to share and then they think it must be authoritarian communism or something. It's true that they would not be able to hang on to their exclusively greedy world-view and simultaneously become a voluntarily accepted member of such a sharing society. I don't want to force them to either. Please know that I want you to be free to hang on to your greed, especially if it is all that you know and all that you are capable of understanding, as long as you don't enslave or make decisions for other people. I don't mind if you are greedy as long as your craving for money or power stops short of harming or stealing from others.
If you'd like a descriptive popular culture reference, I highly recommend seeing the movie V for Vendetta and reading A for Anarchy. Both have influenced me significantly and I can't recommend them enough.
Are you available for interview?
Yep. Please contact me if you'd like to arrange a time to conduct some sort of interrogation. =) I don't have much money to afford travel but interviews via telephone or online should be easy to accommodate. My roommate has a webcam somewhere too so maybe we could video-conference given sufficient preparation and configuration time. Let me know what you have in mind.
Why are you coming from left-field? Why don't you start smaller with a local office or something?
First, because I don't respond well to authority. If I held some local office, I would have to obey and endure all kinds of garbage from higher authorities. Secondly, I believe someone like me stands a good chance of captivating widespread imagination. I can be a charismatic agitator and provokateur. If a major segment of our population treated me curiously and engaged my ideas, my campaign could catch on as a real worthwhile movement. As hard as it may be for you to believe, I might actually stand a better chance of shooting straight for the top right away than climbing some agonizing political ladder from the bottom. If a significant portion of the disenfranchised public (apathetic youth, eccentrics, etc.) felt a powerful kinship with me, a profound recognization that I'd be the first candidate ever that they could really get behind so they should all register to vote and start participating... and maybe all the moderates in the middle too who are always suffering oscillations between each "lesser of two evils" proposition could see the rationale of my approach, my election could seriously happen. Do you really blame me for being too ambitious?
Why don't you write a book to reach more people?
I might. I'm not inclined to just yet because having a book to sell would cloud my message. I don't want to sell. I want to cause people to think freely. According to my estimation of information distribution mechanisms, a free website is better aligned with my goals than having a published book for sale.
How will you ever get on Comedy Central's "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" or "The Colbert Report" if you don't have a book to promote?
I'm hoping they will be able to look past that and ask me to come on their shows anyway. ;) Maybe they could just promote their own books in the space where they'd mention mine. Maybe Stephen would put me on notice next to Michael Adams because I don't support Bush (who is neither a great nor the greatest President) so I must hate America in the mind of his parodic character. Maybe my stance on taxes would win me some points with him though too. I'm sure it would be funny and fun to have his powerful intellect and quick wit focused on making me uncomfortable or trying to corral me into saying things I don't believe. I consider The Daily Show, The Colbert Report, and South Park to be the most relevant shows to me today and I'd love to be made fun of by each as I respect all of them very much for fighting for freedom in public as I wish to (except my specialty is not humor). You might be interested to know that my nickname, Pip (which is short for my full name, Philip), was inspired by a South Park character. My fraternity brothers (of Alpha Epsilon Pi, Zeta Tau chapter, which is the national Jewish fraternity) at the University of California at Irvine humiliated me in good fun by making me recite "My Christian name is Philip but my friends call me Pip 'cause they don't like me" in falsetto whenever they touched my pledge-pin. I had to say it like Pip on South Park did and I must have said that sentence hundreds of times as my wonderful brothers loved to play "musical pins" just as I grew to once I had become initiated. I have proudly gone by Pip since then... and my friends still don't like me. ;)
I have no problem with voluntary humiliation. Some groups employ commendably dynamic respect for individuals' rights to accept or reject traditions and rituals.
Everything sounded good until you mentioned you are a fraternity member. What explanation can you give?
I didn't rush until my fourth year of college and only then because I was getting into Judaism and met a high-school friend at a Hillel Sader who was accompanied by many of his cool fraternity brothers. When I say "cool", I mean more "nice nerdy guys" than "suave keg-standing towel-whipping jocks." In my experience, AEPi is anomolous as a fraternity because it is full of smart, thoughtful, and creative guys. It challenged my assumptions of what a fraternity could offer to a weirdo like me... and I am forever thankful that it did. I am proud to be a Pi.
Please bear in mind that, even though I may be disparaging toward jocks, I know they're not a worthless homogenous group either. Of course some athletes are highly honorable, sensitive, intelligent, strategic, etc. but there is a large contingent that exemplifies the brutish domineering tribal mentality of wanton oppressors, bullies, bigots, and torturers. Similarly, I don't think there's anything necessarily wrong with being suave, doing keg-stands, or enjoying some healthy camaraderie which might manifest in towel-whipping. It's a general example of the mindlessness that regularly accompanies United Statesian addiction to beer-guzzling, obese, masses cheering for blood by living vicariously through similarly large (and relatively finesseless) athletes and soldiers who are also self-assured of their collective superiority. It may be worth noting that I recognize my own self-assuredness regarding intellectual superiority but it contrasts starkly with the mentioned form because mine is individualistic in nature. I don't want the support of a huge dumb unanimous group and wouldn't be encouraged by that. I don't think I'm valuable primarily because of where I was born, my national or state citizenship, the groups I have held membership in, or the brand names I own, but rather, I'm valuable because I remain proud to consciously cultivate a distinct identity (apart from all of my experiences and circumstances). This can probably go on forever but maybe I should make clear that I don't universally despise obesity either (or Christians or United Statesian Football fans or all politicians and lawyers etc.). I'm making generalizations, recognizing trends, and primarily hating harmful actions and unaccountable groups, while still trying to respect the unique individuals beneath them. It takes more courage to stand alone than to huddle with a herd but the more of us that decide to do it, the more we'll form a new stronger smarter group of concerned collaborators and creators (i.e., in G-d's image).
What makes you so authoritative?
I'd prefer to call myself zealous, fervent, or having strong conviction, but what makes me that way is my life experiences and consistent open-mindedness. I argue passionately for what I believe in and I am glad to change my mind whenever I find a better way. A lot of people have tunnel-vision and have never developed the mental capacity to keep more than a couple things in their mind at once so they can't conceive of comprehending intricate systems and new modes of thought. They fear complexity, diversity, and change. They're so terrified by their own imagination that they don't even permit themselves to recognize that very reality. Now, I'm not trying to write everyone like that off (even if I regularly appear abrasively arrogant or condescending). I only wish to write off all those who are unwaveringly dedicated to the enslavement and abuse of others. Anyone else should be getting a mental poke in the right direction.
Why are you so idealistic?
I don't see myself as that much more idealistic than existing leaders. I just choose to focus on different (smarter?) ideals. Our current government holds the ideals of greed for money and power and control. I guess, by extension, our general populace holds the same ideals and aspires to become masters themselves. People are comfortable being slaves in some ways, especially because they stand a chance of transcending their predicament (discovering sunken treasure, striking oil, panning for gold, winning the lottery, hitting the jackpot, inventing something valuable, becoming a star, buying the right land or stocks, etc.). Our nation is serving those empty ends idealistically right now. Our present leaders can be expected to behave in continued sinister and self-serving fashion. If you are really complaining about me, it is because you are just as idealistic that things are already as they should be. I strongly disagree... yet I am glad to defend your right to hold different ideals as long as they don't trounce my freedoms.
But things aren't that bad! The average citizen is comfortable, complacent, and happy. Why would anyone see the need for dramatic change you're claiming is necessary?
I believe lots of people are pretending to be comfortable because they are so fucking scared. We have been increasingly manipulated by fear and terror for too long. For the people who really are comfortable and happy, what was the price? Hundreds of thousands of people have been slain who posed no immediate threat to our way-of-life. How much homeland freedom has been sacrificed for security? People who are willing to give up freedom for security deserve neither. Maybe the typical fears are justified but I think not. I believe deception and propaganda are winning for now but that conscious people can wake others up. Of course lots of average United Statesians enjoy a wonderful quality-of-life. Even if things are getting progressively worse, it may remain true that this is the best place to live so they let go of more freedom and responsibility saying "Things could be worse." Who cares if the government unjustly slaughters or imprisons or tortures people of a different religion or in another city or because they were outspoken in criticism? As long as it doesn't affect me directly, I'm content to just look the other way or keep my head buried in the sand or whatever. The price of freedom is eternal vigilance and the destoyers and enemies of freedom are those same inept average comfortable citizens you mention. I'm trying to strike their hearts. They appear as sheep and zombies governed by fear. Maybe they are so blind that they'll all fear my ideas of increasing freedom too. Their stupidity is dispicable and unbearable. If lots of people start treating Republicans and Democrats as idiots with their old-fashioned laws and fears and expectation that government will always save the day, maybe it will appeal to the average citizen's pride and desire not to be considered a fool. Maybe you should stop worrying about what everyone else currently thinks, or is going to think, and just make up your own mind. Do you alone really believe things aren't bad or they aren't getting worse or that the government will never come to terribly harm you or anyone you love or that freedom is not worth fighting for? Stop worrying about the masses and take even a tiny bit of personal responsibility for your own decisions and freedom!
Why don't you go live in another country if you think this one is so bad?
First, because I have just as much right to live here, while trying to change things, as you do. Secondly, because I have hope of changing your mind and teaching you not to come up with such stupid reactionary arguments. Let's assume, for the sake of argument, that the United States is the best country on the planet today (which I'm mildly inclined to agree with anyway). Let's also assume that the U.S. is better than it has ever been throughout history (which I would disagree with in some important ways). Accepting both of those as true for the moment, does it logically follow that the U.S. cannot get better still? Is there any reasonable stance that says we should not think about changing, or should not actually act on thoughts and try to change, our situation for the better? If you believe that you are doomed to be forever too stupid to think for yourself, you have been lied to. You may have chosen to believe that lie so far, especially due to your fear of complexity and the unknown and terror and change, but you still have the potential to grow and think whenever you're ready to. In spite of your fear, I am free to think of a better way and work towards it. I am challenging you to do the same, however difficult and painful and scary it might be for you.
Our country is supposed to be the "land of the free" and the "home of the brave." I'm not seeing it. Do you know what the words "free" and "brave" mean? Do you think you are a good proud patriotic United States of American by giving all the responsibility of our country and future over to wealthy politicians and corporations? Maybe things are "good" or "great" right now according to your definition. Maybe you are afraid of "free thinkers" like me who are getting louder all around you, calling you a coward because you believe in the modern equivalent of a flat-earth theory. That is very threatening to your pride and your comfort. So will you try to kill us for thinking and facing the reality that change is inevitable and that we can direct it towards good? Will you try to say that people who want more freedom somehow deserve to live in "the land of the free" any less than you? Don't choose to be such an idiot. If free thinkers are a threat to your so-called "land of the free", that proves the truth that you are living in, and maintaining, the "land of the lie." Wake up!
Do you realize how brilliant your plan is?
No. I can't always be ultra-courageous and confident. I lose heart sometimes. I must admit, it is increasingly difficult to maintain enthusiasm for what I'm attempting when the people who know me best are so concerned and worried and pessimistic and relatively unimaginative. They seem convinced that my plan is so obviously "impossible" that I must need therapy and psychiatry and prescription medication. I can't be thinking clearly or realistically to campaign for President. I must not be sufficiently grounded. They think I need to get busy with work and worry and stress so that I can stop thinking so big. I'm weathering that storm as well as I can but it feels bitterly ironic that everyone worried that I'm mentally unstable and might be heading for a severe depression are the very ones depressing me with their worries. Please e-mail me encouragement or new ideas if you have any to offer. I crave them. =) Please just feel free to share your honest opinion, whatever it may be. As disappointing as constant discouragement may be to handle, I'd rather face that reality if it is all that is available to me.
After thinking about the above more, I've returned to a more calm, peaceful, and harmonious state-of-mind again. I have remembered that I don't need to worry about whether I will be able to maintain a certain degree of intensity indefinitely. Neither should I be concerned if my passion escalates. I have simply been making the best decisions I could at every juncture. I need to give myself license to lose interest on my own and be discouraged by external influences however that happens. Conversely, it is also totally cool if I get more frustrated and fired-up again or if like-minded people choose to bolster my spirits and resolve with their own resonant sentiments and encouragement. I should accept it as just fine if sometimes I let my campaign languish for a bit or if I decide to pour even more time and attention into it. Both should be considered natural and healthy and I wish to be at peace with either possibility.
What do you look like?
You will find some links to pictures of me from 2005 at the bottom of Pip.LBox.Org. Here are my favorite pictures of me racing my motorcycle (Nitemare) and reading a GNU/Linux magazine. I intend to start a photo section here in my Presidential campaign site next time I have new digital pictures available to share. I'm also planning to post some audio files when I find time to.
