It Is Balloon!

[Coeurd’Alene J]

Did you use to go by the username "Hawkbowler"?

What happened to Hakwbowler and what happened to Moe Gibbs? I had a username on the old Seattle Times forum. Back then I had a mental disorder called "liberalism". I used to believe that government could stop the super rich and provide more wealth to the middle class. Now, I realize that government will always work for the ruling class. That's all it is. It's just people ruling over other people. Government is nothing more than a monopoly on the use of force. Some governments are more tyrannical than others. But, they are all immoral and all based on force. Regardless of the for the people by the people propaganda, there has never been consent to the rulers. The US Constitution was created by a small handful of wealthy landowners. It's not like they got everyone to sign off on it. Just like all governments, they are forced onto the people. In truth, the USA was much more free under colonial rule than it is now. There were barely any taxes or regulations under the crown. Now you pay tax at every turn and you need a license for everything including cutting hair.

I had my awakening shortly after the creation of Marinertalk. I made a few posts under my new handle Daniel Vogelbach, but I don't think I ever officially confirmed my former ST Forums identity. D-Trains did correctly identify me at one point. But, I don't think I acknowledged it. I was probably still making dumb liberal comments back then. But, it wasn't too long after the formation of Marinertalk that I started learning about voluntaryism, anarcho-capitalism, libertarianism, etc. At first, I hung on to statism, but over time I realized statism is a cult. I would love to be able to get people out of the cult. That's why I came back here to make some posts.

Two key tenants transformed my entire worldview

#1 You can't delegate rights you don't have. If you don't have the right to take money from your neighbor to pay for something you want, then you can't delegate that right to a "representative". Even if it's a great idea, e.g. building a fabulous school to teach an awesome curriculum to the kids or a bridge to connect two cities and create opportunities for commerce, you still can't force anyone to pay for it. You must convince them to donate money towards it. Force is always immoral. Human interaction should always be on a voluntary basis. There is the classic saying, "Socialism... ideas so good they have to be mandatory".

So, the take-away regarding tenant #1 is that all taxation is theft.


#2 Central banks are evil. They were always evil, but things came off the rails in 1971 when the US dollar left the gold standard. People don't really think that hard about inflation and what it actually is. The money is backed by nothing. They can print it whenever they want and give it to whoever they want. It's a total scam. The Federal Reserve is a privately owned corporation. The US Treasury has no treasure. They have a 31 Trillion dollar I.O.U to the Fed. People will bicker about all these meaningless issues. My favorite are the voter issues. Voter fraud. Voter discrimination. None of that has any bearing on anything. They are robbing you blind by devaluing the currency. Between inflation and taxation they are stealing over half of everyone's wealth. If we simply had this money back, imagine the society we could build. Do you really believe the government will spend your money smarter than you will? Of course not, they are stealing 90% of the revenue and giving you some bullshit "services" in return with the other 10%.


So, that's how I became a free market person. If I read some of my old posts from the ST Forums days I would be embarrassed. Half of them were probably going back and forth with Moe Gibbs on racism. Now, I see racism as a totally fabricated issue. Sure there are racists out there and some of them might make some awful comments. But, ultimately racism doesn't hold people back. What holds people back is "government" by way of the two points above. Politicians use the concept of racism to spur emotion and get the brainwashed liberals all fired up. It worked on me for years!

So, do you know who I am now? Or do you need more clues?

More clues! I don't remember identifying you. Trying to remember the libs on ST forum and can only think of Calabcoug at the moment.

Did you or do you live around Richland

[Sibelius Hindemith]

Who do you think he is, Richland Man?

[DanielVogelbach]

My location should be a pretty big clue. I went ahead and mentioned it when responding to D-Trains post about alcohol laws. I live in Texas.

Another clue: When the debate was whether or not Russell Wilson was "elite" I took the side that he was indeed in that category and went all in. One time I used some hyperbole and called him "The Michal Jordan of football". It was a classic post and really stirred the pot well.

If that doesn't remind anyone of my former ST Forms identity, then let me know. I have my next clue locked and loaded.

[Michael K.]

My location should be a pretty big clue. I went ahead and mentioned it when responding to D-Trains post about alcohol laws. I live in Texas.

Another clue: When the debate was whether or not Russell Wilson was "elite" I took the side that he was indeed in that category and went all in. One time I used some hyperbole and called him "The Michal Jordan of football". It was a classic post and really stirred the pot well.

If that doesn't remind anyone of my former ST Forms identity, then let me know. I have my next clue locked and loaded.

Well shit, I remember that conversation, and know that Hawkbowler was a part of it, but the "Michael Jordan" quote wasn't him. Dang it, I honestly can't remember the handle you used. I do remember you also had a lot of insight into CTE, correct? Sorry, not saying you suffered from it, but remember you actually using a phrase "brain jostling", and until then, I had never heard that.

Seafreak? Is that it?

[Sibelius Hindemith]

Seafreak is who i was thinking of, just couldn't pull the name up out of the recesses of my failing mind.

[Michael K.]

Seafreak is who i was thinking of, just couldn't pull the name up out of the recesses of my failing mind.

It actually came to me right after I hit Submit...so I went back in and edited it to add that part. I couldn't come up with it at first either.

[D-train]

Wow SeaFreak. I remember now. I think I merged you and HawkBowler into one for some reason.

[Sibelius Hindemith]

So how do you go from being a Seattle freak to identifying as an overweight professional baseball player?

[Donn Beach]

Balloon was part of a Chinese strategy to battle for near space
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/09/worl ... itary.html

[auroraave]

Wow, I totally rememebr seafreak and specifically that "Wilson is Jordan" convo and how it split the forum - there were posters like me (and I think Michael K was another) who were telling you to pump the breaks and acquire a little more data before annointing any Kings. We thought his ability in the pocket had not been proven - especially since his biggest weapon was the RPO - but you would not listen, wouldn't have any of it. Hands over ears and eyes to any other opinion - It was amusing.

You have a very specific POV on things - you took the exact same positioning on Disney and how they make movies - dismissing what I was telling - despite the fact I literally worked at Disney and know how they put films together and thier business model - and when I asked you questions - you would not answer them - refusal to answer is obviously a tactic used when you cannot defend your position with logic and reason - just like Wilson. You have a very specific behavioral pattern - those are both exquisite examples.

You should take advantage of this lesson to consider other POV's - be open to alternatives - crowning Wilson as the next Jordan looks pretty silly in the rear view now, doesn't it? How many other extreme positions have you taken over the years - only to come around later? I'm not judging you - simply pointing out your behavioral pattern - which you even admitted to. Consider moderation and being open to other ideas in the present rather than extremeism - makes for much more nuanced and enjoyable exchanges.