Getting Them To Look

Larken Rose

Most Americans would rather die of intellectual thirst than have to question what they've always believed.

August 2, 2008 - In the little town where I grew up, I expect that most people by now have heard of my "adventures" with the IRS, at least to some degree.  I know there has been plenty of gossip, no doubt based 99% upon false assumptions and baseless assertions (just like everywhere else).  Yet even there, almost no one has shown any interest in reading what actually happened, as laid out in detail in my new book, Kicking the Dragon.

Why is that?  Well, if they just didn't care at all, that would be one thing, but since I KNOW that people have been talking about it, that can't be it.  Why jabber and gossip about something, and then avoid finding out what you're talking about?  Simple:  Because most people don't want to endanger their preconceived notions by seeing what the FACTS actually are.

"Oh, he's that guy who wouldn't pay his taxes, and went to jail for tax evasion, right?"  No, and no, but that's a very comfortable belief to hold.  It's a lot more comfortable than finding out what really DID happen.  And my own little adventure isn't at all unique in that way.  Whether it was Waco, or 9/11, or the (misnamed) Civil War, or how the U.S. government treated the American Indians, or your everyday example of police abuse, or a zillion other things, people WANT there to be some pleasant, simple explanation which doesn't upset their world view, and they are willing to shut their eyes to all sorts of contrary evidence in order to maintain their illusions.

My case is pretty puny and insignificant on the grand scale of things, but it makes an outstanding example of "conventional wisdom versus evidence," because it is so thoroughly documented.  I challenge anyone who reads the book to afterwards say, "Yeah, I don't see anything suspicious about any of that."  No one honestly could.  In fact, I'm happy to report that a lot of people who knew little or nothing about the issue or my own little story, have since told me, after reading the book, how they were truly stunned to learn how our government actually behaves.

But most people avoid being stunned, shocked and offended by using the time-honored method of intentionally remaining uninformed.  People don't WANT opposing views, and if they inadvertently get exposed to some, they want a quick and easy excuse to dismiss them out of hand, without actually thinking about it, or even looking at the evidence.  And that right there is the main problem that pro- freedom folk face:  getting the common man to even LOOK at things that don't already match his beliefs and assumptions.

And believe me, that's no small task.  One person who knows just a little about my case declared, to my face, after looking at the outside of the book and handing it back to me, "I already know all I..."  --  I had to finish the sentence:  "all you WANT to know about it?"  The person walked away.  Wow.  They know me personally, are friendly with me, know I spent a year in prison for doing something I believed in, and yet went out of their way to NOT FIND OUT what actually happened.  Why do you suppose that is?

The ignoramuses of the world have a weapon that no amount of evidence, logic, words and images can overcome:  "willful blindness."  It took me a long time to come to grips with the gruesome truth of the matter: these people aren't clueless by accident; they are clueless by CHOICE.  You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink.  And it's clear that most Americans would rather die of intellectual thirst than have to question what they've always believed.

So the good news is, Kicking the Dragon seems to make a real impact on the people who actually read it, even if they knew little or nothing about me or the issue beforehand.  The bad news is, most people aren't going to read it, unless they are bribed and/or tortured into doing so.  I'm not sure what to do about that.  Any former federal thugs out there who could contribute some of their water-boarding skills to the effort?

STUMBLE IT!

More Good Stuff:

Articles by Larken Rose — Political philosophy of a man passionately interested in the freedom of his fellow man, moving intellectually from conservatism through libertarianism to anarchism.  Read the latest indictments against our tyrannical ruling elites.

How To Be A Successful Tyrant — Eradicate the self-determination and self-ownership of others and replace their free will with your will.  If you have an innate “love of dominion” and believe you can run other's lives better than they can, this book will show you how.

Kicking The Dragon — A chronicle of a modern-day witch-hunt.  The disturbing facts of the case pull back the façade of “due process” and the “rule of law” to reveal the United States government for what it has become:  a gang of lawless criminals interested only in preserving their own power.

ONLINE STORE — Interesting stuff you can download.  No need to sniff all over the web  -  the best stuff is right here.

Theft By Deception — This is a startling revelation for income tax professionals, income tax enforcers and administrators, and the average American who expects nothing less than truthfulness in taxation.

Would You Have Signed the Declaration of Independence? — Provide your causes that impel you to a repudiation of 'business as usual' and clearly state your demand that we reinstate and enforce government of law and liberty under the Constitution.