I have a question for the anti-CD contingent.
What would you do to bring the absurdity of the current situation (obey your masters or else) to a broader public view?
and what has the current set of CD done? Which freedoms have these brave heroes been fighting for? My right to use a camera in court? Maybe I could dig a garden on public ground?
What, if any, broader public view has been gained other than the other CD activists that follow this stuff? Here's an answer...none.
Gee, I'd say I hate to break it to you but then I'd be lying, but...
Today I was able to get one of my statist co-workers to realize that he's been living in a dreamworld, in part due to the actions of SamIAm. Also today, another co-worker of mine decided it was time to look a bit further into the FSP and the idea of liberty in general, once again, due to the additional coverage that the people practicing CD have created. Like it or not, news travels and people talk about it. Once the fire of liberty has been lit in someone's mind, all it takes is some encouragement to grow bigger and burn hotter.
You might not agree with CD, and that's OK. But to dismiss it's effectiveness as a tool for bringing awareness to the issues, ESPECIALLY when it's over something as trivial as digging a garden, having a couch in your yard, or filming in a public place only emphasizes the abuses we've been allowing ourselves to be subjected to for far too long. After all, if it's silly to protest not being able to do those 'trivial' things, how absurd is it that the 'authorities' get so bent out of shape over it that they need to physically assault, injure, kidnap, and lie over them?
All the hours in jail, all the hours in court, all the hours videotaping goofy arrests for one person. Wow congratulations. Only, what, another few hundred thousand to go before something that looks like change happens?
I've turned individuals around as well, without getting myself thrown in jail. What good did it do? Nothing.
Go ahead and do CD, I'm fine with you doing what you want. However I will dismiss it because when the big news is "someone got thrown in jail for a camera in court" or "someone got arrested over a garden" I have to question what effect it might be having.
Be happy about that one person, but keep in mind that one person probably won't be willing to get thrown in jail, or they might actually *gasp* want to do the whole politics thing. If they choose to go the political route, don't do what so many other CD activists in NH do and shit all over them and tell them they are wasting their time. I compare the NHLA to the CD people and the only group that seems to be making any advances is the NHLA, no matter how small they may be.
Finally, yes I agree that the couch, garden, all the stuff really, is stupid for the government people to get all bent out of shape over. It's fun to watch them freak out trying to figure out what to do. However they do have unlimited time, money and manpower and I just don't think any CD movement can stack up to it. I got a bad taste in my mouth from the CD activists in NH telling me I was "stupid" or wasting my time because I preferred the political route. After that experience I got really turned off to NH. I also got turned off to politics so I guess there's a point for the CD crowd.