Copper Canyon

Copper Canyon, Mexico. It's gotta be one of the best places in the world, and it's not so far away.

Motorcycling in Mexico. These are dual-sport bikes which are legal for road use in the US. Most dual-sports are acceptable for mild to moderate trail use while being fully capable of travel on the interstate highways. On the other hand, an enduro bike is much more suited to this terrain, while not being at all suitable for the interstates, nor street legal in the US. They ARE street legal in Mexico, though.
I have an old Honda XR500R that would be perfect for this kind of riding. In fact, that's exactly what I use it for.

Hypermiling: tire inflation

One further comment I intended to add when I posted about hypermiling, but forgot: in the referenced article, overinflating tires is depicted to be extremely dangerous. In reality, overinflating by up to 20% is far less dangerous than the underinflated condition a huge percentage of people drive around on without even realizing it. In fact, a tire that is rated at 32 psi maximum is probably safer at 40 psi than it is at 32 psi, and is certainly safer than at 25 psi. The thing is, the lower the pressure in a tire, the more heat that tire builds up, and heat is the NUMBER ONE cause of tire failure. A tire that is inflated to 32 psi and then driven on the highway all day with a full load will probably heat up to a final pressure as high or higher than the same tire that is inflated to 40 psi.

Remember a few years ago when some Ford SUVs were crashing because of tire failure (and of course, the driver's lack of skill in dealing with it)? Ford successfully dumped the blame for that on Firestone (Ford has the money for more and better lawyers), but the real blame is just as much on Ford, because they specified 25 psi as the recommended tire pressure. Especially on a heavy vehicle, 25 psi is underinflation. So why did Ford specify 25 psi? So the vehicle would ride smoother.

Psychophant

Libertarian hard rockers from Phoenix, AZ!

This Is Poker Face

Poker Face are four freedom-loving guys from Allentown, PA doing their part by making great music with a message of freedom!

Million-Mile Chevy Pickup

Recent news stories told how Oresnik had just 1,200 miles to go before reaching the milestone in the 1991 Chevrolet Silverado that he bought with 41,000 miles on it in 1996 and used in his business, distributing seafood and steaks in the upper Midwest.

At the time, he was getting his latest oil change — the kind of regular maintenance he credits with helping to keep the truck going so long.

He said he's had the truck's oil changed more than 300 times. It's had so many changes that the oil pan drain plug had to be rethreaded several times, he said, and "you never hear of that."

Read more

Rebuilding a GM Delco CS144 alternator

Good info about one of the best automotive alternators.

Homebrew DC generator

I have built a few similar generators, have one working right now, and plan to build a diesel version soon.
They leave a lot to be desired for long-term use, but they have a lot going for them for some short-term applications, plus they're fun to build and experiment with. I plan to post more about these homebuilt DC generators in the near future.

More offgrid information

Million Man (and Woman) Freedom March

The campaign is not over! Those of us who believe in freedom need to continue to push forward, regardless of what the national media talking heads say There are too many of us to ignore!

Driving through an ambush

Victim of violence testifies before US Congress

There's more to the story, too. I remember reading about it. This woman was in the habit of carrying a concealed handgun, against Texas state law. That day, she left her gun behind in her vehicle, because her father asked her to, because he didn't want her to get in trouble with the law.
Had she brought her gun, her parents and many other people who died that day
would probably still be alive.

Democracy in action!

What can you say?

The Truth About AK-47 Firepower

A demonstration of the 7.62x39 cartridge (as fired in the AK-47 and SKS) compared to some common hunting rounds.

The 6 Cutest Animals That Can Still Destroy You

...The next time you settle in for a game of Hungry Hungry Hippos, take a moment to to reflect on the small fact that hippopotamuses kill more humans per year than any other animal in the entire continent of Africa. Only elephants are consistently larger than hippos, and only the Warner Brothers' Tasmanian Devil is more consistently aggressive.

...The late Steve Irwin, a man who used to tackle 12-foot crocodiles for fun and wave angry snakes filled with kill-you-before-your-next-heartbeat poison at a camera, considered a five-minute sequence where his camera team had to cross a river filled with hippos to be the single most dangerous moment ever filmed on his show...

*Warning: R for language!

Read more

OK, some of this is probably exaggerated, but the stuff about hippos is true. The late Peter Hathaway Capstick, an authority on deadly African animals, has written quite a bit about how dangerous hippos are.

This guy kills me, the way he writes.

Optimus 8R

Here is an 8R being operated with the use of the optional pump. I have one of those pumps with mine too, but I never use it; I just operate mine the old-fashioned way.

New Coleman 533 backpack stove review

Notice the similarity of the model number to the previous video of the WWII era stove. It is pretty much the same stove, although it looks quite different.

WWII era Coleman 530 backpack stove

65 years old, yet it still works great. The new ones are still pretty much the same design although they look a little different.

Campstove montage

This is a cool video! It has it all: vintage camp stoves, heaters, lanterns, strange music, even gratuitous references to beer and sex!

Bugout Bag Stove

He is using one of the propane backpack stoves that I mentioned in my article here.

Hatz diesel generator

Hatz is a German company that makes great air-cooled diesel engines. One of these would be a good choice for a homestead genny. It would also be light enough to haul it where you need it, either for work or long-term camping.

Survival gear: The indespensable backpacking stove

I've always liked backpacking stoves.For me, they're basic equipment. Although I have and use larger, two (or more) burner camp stoves, I can make due with a good single-burner backpacking stove, and because of its compact size, it's more likely to be at hand when I need it.
Backpacking stoves are different things to different people. Most backpackers either use some kind of fuel cannister stove, or a super lightweight stove that burns alcohol (liquid or gelled) or fuel tablets. The super lightweights have their place, and were I embarking upon a long-distance trek I would probably use something like that. Also, such stoves, especially the tablet type, make good emergency survival stoves for a fanny pack or similar that is loaded with items intended to keep you alive for one or two days if, say, you are stuck in your vehicle during a blizzard.
I've used both tablet stoves and homebuilt alcohol stoves in the past, and they work fine for their intended purpose.

Butane cannister stoves I have no use for. They don't work in extremely cold weather, the cannisters are expensive and bulky, and you still have to pack the cannisters out and dispose of them when they are empty. On the other hand, they are convenient and both the stoves and their cannisters store well without degradation over time, so they may meet some people's needs perfectly.

Propane stoves are another matter. They are similar in design to the butane stoves, but they use cheap, standard 1 lb propane bottles that are available everywhere and used for a variety of different portable appliances. They are also refillable, with the proper adapter, from a standard 20 lb bulk tank; which makes them even cheaper. Just be aware that it's illegal to transport them after they've been refilled. I use refilled ones at base camp, and only transport new ones and empty ones. I also discard any that begin leaking through the valve, or show any signs of rust.

For a bug-out stove, a stove for living out of a rucksack for extended periods, or one to keep in the truck, the best are the pressurized, liquid fuel stoves. They are the most robust of the backpack stoves, and work on the same principle as the larger multi-burner camp stoves. The best of these can be used on a three-times-daily basis for years, with only minimal maintenance.

There are two broad classifications of this type of stove; those which must have air pumped into the tank for pressurization, and those which build pressure naturally as the fuel in the tank warms.
The various Coleman single-burner stoves are all of the first type, with a built-in air pump for pressurization and a replaceable "generator"; a tube which, through a combination of pressure drop across an orifice and absorbed heat (the tube passes through the flame), vaporizes the fuel before it reaches the burner. This is also how the larger two-burner Coleman camp stoves operate. It makes for clean, efficient burning and a flame that can be adjusted from a low simmer to hot enough to boil a quart of water in 3 minutes. The downside is the fuel must be top quality and absolutely clean. Even those stoves that are advertised to work on unleaded automotive gasoline, work much better on "white gas" camp fuel (Coleman fuel, etc.). Also, there are lots of parts that must be maintained in top condition, such as the pump, valve, all fittings, and the generator. The generator is replaceable, and will have to be replaced periodically. The pump, if not maintained, will eventually fail to operate; and no pump, no flame. The valve and fittings can get out of adjustment, causing leaks which flare up and can turn the stove into a bomb.

This is not as bad as it sounds, especially if the stove is being used regularly, because one just keeps a spare parts kit and deals with any minor issues as they present themselves. After all, the US military has been using these stoves since the start of WWII, and a nearly identical stove is still sold by Coleman. I have one I have been abusing since the 1980s, even using it to melt lead for bullet casting, and it is still kicking. They are cheap, too. The last time I checked, a new one could still be had for under $50; and I have seen used ones go for under $10 on Ebay.

One style I don't recommend for a primary stove, although they are popular, are the ones that use a separate fuel bottle, connected to the stove by a hose. They have several good things going for them, and a couple of bad things. The main problem with them is that hose, and its connections. The hose and its two connections get flexed every time the stove is used, and both connections get dis- and re-connected repeatedly. Eventually there is going to be a leak of pressurized fuel; it is inevitable. Worst-case, one of the connections can become completely disconnected and roll around, spewing burning fuel everywhere; or just explode outright. Do you want this happening in your tent, cabin or vehicle? I didn't think so.
I do have one. I loved it when I first got it. Then I used it daily for a few months, and it did eventually start leaking.

The second type of pressure stove builds pressure naturally, without pumping, using the principle of thermodynamics. Here's the way it works: You take the stove out of your pack. If it's already full of fuel, you just crack the filler cap to equalize pressure, then retighten it. If it's empty, of course you're gonna have to open it anyway to add fuel, so pressure equalization occurs naturally. Either way, make sure the cap is tight so it doesn't leak, then hold the tank in your hands for a minute. Maybe breathe on it a little, too. You are trying to raise its temperature a little, relative to ambient temperature. This will slightly pressurize the tank. After a minute or so, slightly crack the valve, watching for liquid fuel to flow into the burner. Once you see that fuel, light it. After it burns a minute or so, slowly begin opening the valve further. The hotter it burns, the more you can open the valve, feeding it more fuel until it is at a full roar.
You can start it faster by drawing a little fuel from the tank with the included medicine dropper, and squirting it into the burner to prime it. Some people actually fill the stove, deliberately spilling fuel all over the works, and just throw a match on it (outdoors on bare earth, of course, and with the cap tightly closed and the valve open) so it flares up, and by the time the flames recede it is well warmed and ready to cook. Very dramatic, and gets the job done. Also quite unnecessary, in my opinion. The point is, anyone with any imagination at all can get one of these operating, in any kind of weather, and even if the dropper has been lost.

They are also very reliable. Sure, they may require a bit of fiddling on occasion, but they have no generator and no pump... although some of them have an optional, detachable pump to absolutely eliminate the preheating phase as well as producing 50% more heat output than without the pump; but this pump is in no way necessary to the operation of the stove.

This style of stove has been produced all over the world for well over 100 years, and they have been made to burn kerosene, gasoline (both white and automotive), diesel fuel, and alcohol. Actually, I doubt there is any liquid fuel they can't be made to burn. Germany has produced many of them, as has Russia, China and many other countries; but probably the most popular and well known are those produced in Sweden. In fact, the design originated in Sweden in 1892; the inventor was Frans Wilhelm Lindqvist.

My personal favorite of all backpacking stoves is the Optimus 8R Hunter; it is of this design but, unlike most others, is contained within a steel box which not only holds everything within a small space, but also protects it from damage.

With an 8R and a bottle of fuel in your bugout bag or in your truck, you are always ready to cook something, make a hot drink, or make some water safe for drinking. In fact, if you are in your truck or jeep, or on a motorcycle, ATV, boat or whatever, you can always siphon some of the fuel from the vehicle to use in the stove, if necessary.

More about the 8R
Here is a review I found at Epinions.com:

A Swedish Workhorse, Well, a Pony
Jan 09 '04 (Updated Aug 09 '04)

Author's Product Rating
Product Rating: 4.0

Overall Quality:

Pros
Utterly reliable; almost maintenance free, no plastic to melt or wear out; minimum moving parts.

Cons
A smaller fuel tank, heavier overall weight, less heat output than modern canister stoves.

The Bottom Line
Though older in design and age, hardly anything in its class--even more advanced models in the market--will beat 8R for its utter reliability and simplicity.

Full Review
Optimus 8R is a time-proven stove. Along with M99 (with aluminium housing) that is a variation of 8R and 123 that share the same burner, 8R deserves the respect of the user who understands its working.

The usual complaints directed towards 8R are: 1) takes too long to boil a liter/quart of water; 2) does not produce a strong flame; 3) too heavy; 4) fuel tank too small, etc.

In the first place, 8R is designed to meet the needs of a single hiker. A single hiker rarely needs to boil a quart for himself--perhaps a pint at most. With the mini or midi pump, the stove puts out more than sufficient heat to boil a pint in less than 4 min. That is just enough for one person. The fuel tank will last about 45 min. at full blast. With a small MSR fuel bottle (11 oz.) and a full tank of gas, you have about 3 hours of total burning time at your disposal. That is almost 4 days' worth of fuel for one person in a warm season. A tankful of gas (4 oz.) will last for a day.

(UPDATE) A large BTU stove is useful, if you need to melt snow quickly, or boil a soupy meal that involves boiling a quantity of water. For regular cooking, such as frying hamburger patties, making omelettes and overeasies, or boiling rice, lower heat setting is required. Let me assure you: 8R (and 123) has a plenty of firepower to burn your food. You may even need the heat diffuser, in order to get your food done correctly. This is so, especially if you are using thin pots and pans. In order to assure the ability to control flame output, do stick with white gas only. If you use automobile gasoline, its higher octane makes 8R and 123 an on-off stove, not to mention the toxic fumes from the additives. It would be impossible to have a range of control for the flame output that is necessary to simmer (8/9/04).

Compared to the modern canister stoves, 8R surely is heavy, but throw in a canister or two, and weigh the whole setup, and there won't be too much difference. Those who carry 8R carry it not just because it is small, but it also gives a certain degree of emotional satisfaction besides its proven reliability.

While regular fuel canisters will have difficulty going in a very cold weather or at a high altitude, the humble 8R will perform with indifference. In order to make sure that your first 8R live up to its reputation, the user needs to understand the following points.

8R operates on self-pressurization generated by the burner heat. In order to get the maximum performance out of it, 1) make sure the fuel cap has supple and smooth seals (one large, one small). If the seals are not at optimum condition, your stove will lose the air pressure, and not put out a strong flame. Either replace the cap or make your own seals. Or, go to a hardware store's plumbing section, and get a few 3/4 inch outside diameter rubber washers. They can be also found in the individual bins section, as well. Some rubber items are susceptible to fuel, but get a few, and replace it as needed. They are lot cheaper than buying the new cap.

2) before each time you start 8R (123 or 99, or any stove operating on self-pressurization, for that matter), open the fuel cap to introduce air, so the fuel tank will have enough air to build up the pressure.

3) If the stove is exposed to the cold, windy weather, be aware that the cold wind does rob the heat from the fuel tank. The lowered temperature of the fuel tank would lower the internal pressure, and the size of the flame would diminish. This happens, when it operates without the help of the pump. This would not happen to Svea 123, because its burner sits right on top of the fuel tank, and the brass windshield, in full contact with the fuel tank, supplies the heat conduction from the burner directly to the fuel tank. 8R's fuel tank sits sideways to the burner, in comparison, connected by the fuel tube. It receives relatively less heat from the burner than Svea 123's fuel tank does. Just turn the stove, until you find the happy medium between the burner heat and cold wind that keeps the fuel tank hot. Or, remove the heat shield for added exposure to the burner heat.

4) For pre-owned 8Rs and 123s, often there is whitish deposit within the fuel tank and around the wick, and carbon deposit in the fuel passage that leads to the burner and burner stem. These serve as obstructions, and they need to be cleaned out. The most painless way to clean the brass is to put it in a plastic tub of household vinegar. It losens all carbon deposit and tarnish. Immerse the whole brass assembly for a few hours, and rinse with water and clean with a plastic brush. Then you might want to apply Brasso for the warm shine of the brass. Once you do this, you will be hooked to the stoves made with brass.

You've been forewarned.

5) Remove the fuel tank from the cradle, and remove the burner assembly from the fuel tank, along with the wick. Fill it 1/2 full with fuel, cap it, cover the hole left by now removed burner assembly with the thumb, and shake it vigorously. Drain out the fuel into a cup and see if there is any debris. Using a clean, filtered funnel, refill, shake, and drain. Repeat the process, until you see nothing in the cup. If you are at this point of disassembly, why not clean the inside of the fuel tank as well? Put the fuel tank in the tub of vinegar for a few hours. Let it fill completely with vinegar and let vinegar clean the inside of the fuel tank. A clean fuel tank produces pure blue flames, and clean fuel keeps the stove running unclogged. Reassemble the parts after you are sure the tank is devoid of any debris or water.

6) The wick's condition is critical to the operation of the stove, as with the fuel cap. Inspect, soak, and wash it in the fuel or mineral spirit. If badly worn, replace it with a new original, or fashion yourself a new one with cotton twine and wire. Just copy the format of the original. Soak the wick with fuel, and insert the head as far as it will go. A wet wick enters the tube easier than the dry one. Don't make it too thick, so it has trouble entering the tube. If you force it in, overly tight wick will interfere with the fuel flow. It will also overpressurize the fuel tank, and blow the gasket later. Make sure the inside the tube where the the wick is inserted is clean and shiny.

If you make it too thin, so that the wick slides in and out too easily, the air within the fuel tank will leak out through the air pockets within the wick strands, and the fuel tank will never develop the pressure. If you did not know this, you would think the stove is defective. Make the wick nice and tight, so that air stays in the tank and do the job of pressurizing the fuel, so that only the fuel travels through the fuel line.

If you want to make sure your home-made wick is not leaking air, follow the procedure below; you will need the Optimus' proprietary midi or mini pump: a)fill the fuel tank below the wick level, b) put the pump cap on, c) pump up with midi pump, e) open the valve. If the air leaks, you will hear intermittent bubbling sound from the jet. You will also see the air bubble coming out with fuel.

7) The spindle is tightened by a "stuffing box." It is the 10mm nut that keeps the spindle fixed to the burner control. Inside is the metal and graphite packing that keep the vaporized gas from leaking out. If it leaks, it will show the tiny flame. Tighten the nut a little with a wrench. If the nut is bottomed out, it needs a new graphite packing. The graphite packing comes within the maintenance kit that costs at least $10 plus shipping and handling. There is an alternative remedy to this. Check out the plumbing section at a hardware store, and get a packet of graphite packing. They come in two types: thin spaghetti shape and thicker rope form. The two together cost less than half the price of one maintenance kit. Get both kinds, and they will last almost a lifetime. These will also work for Optimus 111, 123, 99, and other stoves that require the heat resistant seal. After all, a stove is basically a system of hot gas plumbing, right?

8) Sometimes the previous owners tamper with the cleaning needle and do not put it in correctly in relation to the spindle. If this is the case, you will not be able to shut off the stove, once you started it. Do not close the lid on the burner in panic: it will only ruin the paint job. Do not fling it away, for it will only put a dent on the case. Pour a pot full of water over the burner, instead, and when the flame is out, quickly open the fuel cap. It will depressurize, and the fuel will not come out of the jet. All you need to do is to wipe it dry and reset the spindle and the cleaning needle.

Here is how: a) remove the burner; b) remove the jet, using the key provided; c) loosen the spindle nut (takes 10mm wrench); d) turn the spindle counterclockwise--you will see the needle rise out of the hole; e) remove the needle and turn the spindle clockwise as far as it will go; drop in the needle with its gear teeth facing the fuel tank; f) while adding a gentle pressure on the needle with a finger, slowly turn the spindle counterclockwise and count 4 teeth slipping the gear; then turn the spindle all the way clockwise; g) reinstall the jet, the burner, and tighten the nut: now the stove is ready to go.

If you want to speed up your 8R to reach the top performance pressure, remove the heat shield temporarily. That exposes the fuel tank to the greater heat absorption. Once the flame is well established, reinstall the heat shield, in order to avoid overheating.

In cold weather, in order to speed up the pressurization, squirt not more than 1/2 medicine dropper full of alcohol (use ONLY alcohol, nothing else!) at the bottom of the fuel tank on the side of the burner. Make sure the spindle is shut tightly. Then prime the burner as usual. This will heat and pressurize the tank. Then open up the spindle halfway (which is max. throttle) and observe the satisfying blue flame roar into life.

All this can be eliminated if you invest in a mini or midi pump. It is worth buying, though overpriced. As a matter of fact, I would recommend a pump for all 8R users. Just attach the pump to the post on the fuel cap, pump a few times, prime it with either alcohol or with white gas from the fuel tank (make sure to tighten back the fuel cap). Just before the flame dies down, open the spindle: Roar! Pump a few more times as needed (Because of this need for an extra item for a bigger flame, 8R gets only 4 stars in the overall rating). As with any other stoves, a wind shield is always a good thing to have.

If carrying extra bulk of windshield is too much, one may cut out a strip of aluminium flashing, 1 1/4 in. wide and 13 in. long. Bend it along the perimeter of the lower shell, opposite the fuel tank. Cut out a tiny slot for the key chain. It will now serve as a windblock a la mode of Enders 9061 stove. Only make sure the wind does not blow the flame over the fuel tank, and do not use it when it is not windy. The tank will overheat.

Another useful modification is to get a length of fiberglass rope gasket for the woodstove door and make wicks for priming. First measure the proper length, and tie the ends of the rope with metal wire, so that it will not unravel, when cut. Make two of about 2 1/2 in. Put one in the priming cup and bend it in a circle; put the other one under the fuel tank between it and the burner. Whenever you prime the stove, squirt 1/2 medicine dropper full of alcohol (use ONLY alcohol!) into the wick under the tank, and one full dropper full into the doughnut of the wick in the cup. The wick under the tank will enhance the priming action by heating the fuel and air quickly in a cold weather--alcohol burns longer with a wick. The stove reaches the full pressure almost immediately, and puts out the full flame.

I have equipped all of my 8Rs, 123s, and 111s with these modifications, by the way. Once you have tuned or modified it this way, 8R requires very little maintenance. 8R will serve you reliably, as long as you know its character.

The new 8R performs as well as the older ones, but if I may, I would recommend that you get the older 8Rs. Ebay seems to be the best source, besides your local garage sale. They were made better than the new ones sold by Brunton. As the inflation shaved the profit, Optimus had to simplify the process, and a few corners were cut. The older ones have more aesthetic appeal with better quality components. But I must add that the new ones' performance has not diminished in any sense. You decide.

Whutcha waitin' fur? Get out thar!

Recommended:
Yes

Youtube HF ham radio meetup on the air

Youtube HF amateur radio net

What Ron Paul was saying in 1997

by Ron Paul, Dr. October 20, 1997

October 20, 1997

A cursory reading of the Constitution makes it clear that there was never meant to be a federal police force. The Constitution, the highest law of the land, explicitly defines the role of federal government and correctly reserves the authority, power and responsibility for police activities to local government. Why? Because it is at that level where potential abuses can be minimized by a watchful citizenry.

Even an "FBI" style of federal agency, limited only to being a resource for investigations, was not accepted until this century. Yet today, fueled by the federal government's misdirected and misapplied war on drugs, the hysteria surrounding radical environmentalism, and the aggressive dictates of the nanny state, we have witnessed the massive buildup of a virtual army of armed regulators prowling the states. This buildup is the direct result of the sacrifice of individual responsibility and the concept of local control by many Americans.

The enforcement of the interventionist, welfare-warfare state requires a growing army of thriving bureaucrats. With special interests demanding favors, federal office-holders can only meet those demands by abusing the rights of those who produce wealth and cherish liberty. The resentment of those being abused is then directed at the government agents who come to collect, even though those agents are merely the front-men for the special interests and their elected puppets. As resentment toward these agents increases and becomes more hostile, the natural consequence has been for the bureaucrats - the intruders upon liberty - to arm themselves as protection against the angry victims of government abuse.

Thanks to a recent article by Joseph Farah, director of the Western Journalism Center of Sacramento, CA, the surge in the number of armed federal bureaucrats has been brought to our attention. Farah points out that in 1996 alone, at least 2,439 new federal agents were authorized to carry firearms. This brings the total up to nearly 60,000. Farah points out that these increases were not only in agencies like the FBI, but include the EPA, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife department, and the Army Corps of Engineers.

According to Farah, even the Bureau of Land Management wants to be armed. Farah logically asks, "When will the (National Endowment for the Arts) have its armed art cops?" This is a dangerous, and ironic, trend. Ironic in that the proliferation of guns for bureaucrats is being so firmly - though admittedly stealthily - pushed by the same antigun politicians who publicly work to disarm every law-abiding American citizen in the name of safety. Which begs the question, "Safety for whom?"

On one level I agree whole-heartily with the anti-gun activists. We desperately need gun control: we need to control the bureaucrats, disarm them, and then abolish their agencies. There is no constitutional basis for the EPA, and certainly no constitutional reason for allowing EPA agents to pack pistols as they declare every inch of your property a protected "wetland."

Force and intimidation are the preferred tools of tyrants, though not just intimidation with government guns. The threat of imprisonment and fear of harassment by government agents strikes terror into the hearts of millions of Americans. Four days after Paula Jones refused a settlement in her celebrated suit against the president, she received notice that she and her husband would be audited for their 1995 taxes. Since 1994 is the current "year" for which the IRS is conducting audits of returns, the government claim that the action is unrelated to the suit is suspect, to say the least.

Even if it is coincidental, do not try to convince the American people. Most Americans, justifiably cynical and untrusting toward the federal government, know the evidence exists that since the 1970's both Republican and Democratic administrations have not hesitated to intimidate their political enemies with IRS audits and regulatory harassment. Though the average IRS agent does not carry a gun, the threat of incarceration and seizure of property is backed up by many guns. All government power is ultimately gun power, and serves the interests of those who despise or do not comprehend the principles of liberty.

I tend to agree with Charlton Heston, who recently said that the Constitution's Second Amendment is the most important. Without the ability to protect themselves and their property, discussion of any other rights is only so much talk.

A gun in the hand of a law-abiding citizen serves as a very real, very important deterrent to an arrogant and aggressive government. Guns in the hands of the bureaucrats do the opposite. The founders of this country fully understood this fact, it's a shame our generation has ignored it.

"Taxes never create prosperity." -Dr. Ron Paul

by Ron Paul, Dr. October 23, 2006

Whenever tax cuts are discussed in Washington, the media and most politicians use the phrase, “cost to government.” “How much will this tax cut cost the government?” we are asked, as though some crime is being contemplated when we consider reducing taxes. The American people have every right to fund the federal government at whatever level they deem acceptable, and if they choose-- through their elected representatives-- to reduce that funding level, they are not somehow injuring the government. If Congresses passes a new law that results in you paying $1000 less in taxes next year, have you taken something from the government that rightfully belongs to it? Or has the government simply taken less from you?

You don’t cost the government money, the government costs you money!

Of course it’s reasonable to demand that politicians cut spending when they cut taxes. That’s the definition of real fiscal conservatism: government should not take too much from the private economy in taxes, but neither should it spend too much and run up deficits. That’s why I vote against the wasteful appropriations bills that relentlessly increase federal spending year after year.

I reject the notion that tax cuts harm the economy. The economy suffers when government takes money from your paycheck that you otherwise would spend, save, or invest. Taxes never create prosperity. Private-sector innovation and productivity are the engines that drive our economy, regardless of what politicians tell us.

Tax reduction is my first priority in Congress. The reality is that most working Americans lose about half of their incomes to federal, state, and local taxes. “Tax Freedom Day,” representing the portion of the year you must work to pay for government at all levels, is roughly June 1^st for most Americans. Imagine all of your hard work this year between January and the end of May going to the government!

One tax in particular should be eliminated as soon as possible-- the tax on Social Security benefits. Those benefits were never taxed between the 1930s and 1984. Treating them as taxable income represents nothing more than a trick to reduce Social Security benefits by stealth. I supported legislation that successfully repealed a 1993 tax increase on benefits, and my own bill, HR 180, would go further and eliminate all taxes on Social Security. Our seniors paid taxes throughout their working lives to fund the Social Security system, and it is immoral to tax them again on their benefits.

Various other taxes also must be reduced. Capital gains taxes are terribly counterproductive, punishing those who save and invest. Payroll taxes impose a tremendous compliance burden on businesses, especially smaller entrepreneurs who cannot hire an accounting department. Federal gas taxes should be slashed to provide taxpayers relief at the pump. Most importantly, federal spending must be dramatically reduced so that all Americans can go back to working for themselves instead of working to pay their taxes.
Link

Dr. Ron Paul on Taxes

by Ron Paul, Dr. July 3, 2006

On the fourth day of July, in 1776, a small group of men, representing 13 colonies in the far-off Americas, boldly told the most powerful nation on earth that they were free.

They declared, in terms that still are radical today, that all men are created equal, and endowed with certain inalienable rights that government neither grants nor can take away.

In the Declaration of Independence, the founding fathers sought to demonstrate to the world that they were rejecting a tyrannical king. They listed the “injuries and usurpations” that contain the philosophical basis for our Constitution and Bill of Rights.

One point of consternation to our founding fathers was that the king had been “imposing Taxes on us without our Consent.” But 230 years later, taxation with representation has not worked out much better.

Indeed, one has to wonder how Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin would react to the current state of affairs. After all, they were outraged by mere import tariffs of a few pennies on the dollar. Today, the average American pays roughly 50 percent of their income in direct and indirect taxes.

In fact, most Texans will not start working for themselves for another week. Texans, like most Americans, work from January until early July just to pay their federal income taxes, state and local taxes, and the enormous costs of regulation. Only about half the year is spent working to pay for food, clothing, shelter, or education.

It is easy to simply blame faceless bureaucrats and politicians for our current state of affairs, and they do bear much of the blame. But blame also rests with those who expect Washington DC to solve every problem under the sun. If the public demanded that Congress abide by the Constitution and pass only constitutional spending bills, politicians would have no choice but to respond.

Everybody seems to agree that government waste is rampant and spending should be cut—but not when it comes to their communities or pet projects. So members of Congress have every incentive to support spending bills and adopt a go-along, get-along attitude. This leads to the famous compromises, but the bill eventually comes due on April 15^th.

Our basic problem is that we have lost sight of the simple premise that guided the actions of our founding fathers. That premise? The government that governs least is the government that governs best.

When we cut the size of government, our taxes will fall. When we reduce the power of the federal bureaucracy, the cost of government will plummet. And when we firmly fix our eyes, undistracted, on the principles of liberty, Americans truly will be free. That should be our new declaration.

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Dr. Ron Paul on Property Taxes

Dr. Paul wrote this in 2006, before he was even considering running for President:

by Ron Paul, Dr. August 7, 2006

In recent weeks I’ve written about how inflation is alive and well, especially when it comes to the cost of housing, energy, gas, and education. But perhaps the most worrisome type of inflation comes in the form of steadily rising property taxes.

Property taxes keep going up for most Texans, and people living on fixed incomes are especially concerned. They often find their homes being reassessed every year at values far beyond what they originally paid. So an annual property tax bill that once was a manageable $500 or $700 might now be $1500 or $2000.

Of course Texas tax laws are made in Austin, not Washington. Assessments are made at the county level. And the Texas legislature recently passed HB1, which does provide some real property tax relief over the next three years.

But as a Texas taxpayer myself, I would like the state legislature to consider an additional proposal.

Specifically, end the practice of annual assessments. Properties should be reassessed for tax purposes only when sold or ownership is otherwise transferred. The current system is terrifying for seniors forced to pay more and more each year, with no idea where they will find the money. And unlike other bills, property taxes must be paid or else one’s home can be taken away. My office hears from seniors who may have no choice but to leave Texas altogether because they cannot live with the uncertainty of arbitrary property tax increases. They literally fear losing their homes.

At the federal level, Congress can act now to provide relief to those paying high property taxes. Although property taxes are deductible on your federal tax return, the current rules require taxpayers to itemize to take the deduction. Many people have a hard time paying $2,000 or $3,000 in property taxes, but they don’t have enough other itemized deductions to exceed the standard deduction.

I introduced HR 5860 to address this problem. This legislation creates an “above the line deduction” on the first page of your 1040, meaning you can deduct every penny of your property taxes without itemizing and still enjoy the full value of your standard deduction. Even taxpayers using 1040A or 1040EZ forms can take the deduction. This means average and lower income taxpayers can take the same deduction for their property taxes that high-income taxpayers with complex deductions now enjoy.

Property taxes are only one piece of the puzzle. Overall, most Americans hand over at least 40% of every dollar they make to government at some level. The appetite for your tax dollars—whether at the federal, state, or local level—will continue to grow year after year unless we begin to rethink the proper role for government in our lives. If you think you’ve been squeezed for every last drop of taxes, demand that both your representatives in the statehouse and Washington do something to address spiraling property taxes.

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No Taxes On Tips: Dr. Ron Paul

"It is an outrage that waiters, waitresses, and other service-sector employees have to pay taxes on the tips they earn. The IRS makes an estimate of how much service-sector workers will make in tips, and taxes them on it even if the taxpayer did not actually earn as much as the IRS' estimate!
Tips provide a substantial portion of the income of many service-sector employees, many of whom are young people just trying to make a few extra dollars to get through school, or single parents often balancing two jobs while trying to make enough to raise a family. This tax amounts to nothing more than the federal government punishing these employees for working hard and doing their jobs well."
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"I share our Founders’ belief that in a free society each citizen must have the right to keep and bear arms. They ratified the Second Amendment knowing that this right is the guardian of every other right, and they all would be horrified by the proliferation of unconstitutional legislation that prevents law-abiding Americans from exercising this right."

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