As relaxing as yesterday was, spending time with Deb and just kicking back, I still managed to get a few things done. I added to and turned our compost, swapped an empty LP tank for a full one, replaced batteries in a couple of solar lights, swept out the bed of my truck and, as I mentioned, put an edge on a few of my sharp-and-pointy tools.
Among other things.
My plan for today was to do less than that but more than nothing. While Deb and I walked along the road yesterday, I saw a few promising downed trees and branches, small ones, at the edge of the woods across from us. There was no reason not to harvest them for the day or two of firewood they could provide, so I did that this morning.
It was easy work. I brought only the DeWalt electric chainsaw to the task, which handled its business just fine. None of the trunks and limbs were large enough to require more — even the biggest chunks shouldn’t need to be split.
You may notice in the photos that what I cut isn’t very substantial, some not much more than thumb-sized. The reason I grabbed it for our stacks is simple — it all burns. Good firewood, like this hickory and black locust, is good firewood, and sticks like that will be useful for creating a bed of coals or just feeding a lay.
Time well spent today.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.–That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, –That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.-
Declaration of Independence, 1776
Edward J. Markey represents the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States Senate. He’s held that office for 11 years, before which he spent 38 years in the US House of Representatives, which definitely earns him the title, “career politician.”
He’s a Democrat.
Maybe you’ve heard of him. Maybe not. But the time has come to make him famous.
Ed Markey needs to be exposed and vilified for the treasonous, Constitution-shredding leftist bastard he is. His record supports those accusations — you can’t survive for almost 50 years as a Democrat in Congress without strutting your anti-American bona fides — but he deserves now to be renowned for his hatred of this country.
On January 16th, he introduced “The Preventing Private Paramilitary Activity Act.” In a statement issued that day, he said this:
“Three years ago, white supremacists affiliated with paramilitary organizations stormed the U.S. Capitol, shattering windows, walls, and the families of five U.S. Capitol police officers. Private paramilitary actors, such as the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers, pose a serious threat to democracy and the rule of law, and we must create new prohibitions on their unauthorized activities that interfere with the exercise of people’s constitutional rights. The forces of bigotry, hatred, and violent extremism must be stopped for the sake of our democracy.”
“There are currently no federal laws that address paramilitary activity or protect millions of Americans whose rights are threatened by this type of violent anti-democratic intimidation.”
If that doesn’t have you rolling your eyes, just wait. This is an excerpt from a statement by Maryland Democrat Representative Jamie Raskin, who introduced the measure in the House:
“Patrolling neighborhoods, impeding law enforcement, and storming the U.S. Capitol, private paramilitary groups like the Oath Keepers, the Three Percenters, and the Proud Boys are using political violence to intimidate our people and threaten democratic government and the rule of law. Our legislation makes the obvious but essential clarification that these domestic extremists’ paramilitary operations are in no way protected by our Constitution. I’m grateful to Senator Markey for his partnership on this critical effort to protect the rule of law, deter insurrection, and defend our democracy.”
So who, then, are these progressive scumbags going after? In their perverse, reimagined America, they invent scary-sounding names for their targets. White supremacists. Insurrectionists. Paramilitary organizations. Domestic extremists. Homegrown terrorists.
Allow me to translate: Traditional Americans. Conservatives. Gun owners. Militias. MAGs. Preppers. Americans who understand Liberty, stand on the Constitution, cherish Founding Principles, and know that the Tree of Liberty is much more than a quaint metaphor.
Now let’s take a look at what “The Preventing Private Paramilitary Activity Act” proposes to do. Citizens could not lawfully:
- Publically patrol, drill, or engage in techniques capable of causing bodily injury or death;
- Interfere with, interrupt, or attempt to interfere with or interrupt government operations or a government proceeding;
- Interfere with or intimidate another person in that person’s exercise of any right under the Constitution of the United States;
- Assume the functions of a law enforcement officer, peace officer, or public official, whether or not acting under color of law, and thereby assert authority or purport to assert authority over another person without the consent of that person; or
- Train to engage in any activity described above.
For what it’s worth, the legislation defines “private paramilitary activity” as:
“…any group of 3 or more persons associating under a command structure for the purpose of functioning in public or training to function in public as a combat, combat support, law enforcement, or security services unit.”
The bill touches all the totalitarian bases. It’s positively breathtaking in its elitist, hold-on-to-power-at-all-costs grenading of Founding and foundation.
The ultimate irony, perhaps, is that Markey himself drew his first breaths just eight miles from the birthplace of Liberty he seeks to destroy — Lexington Green, where private militia (not recognized by the State) mustered to fight back against the tyranny he now represents.
Clearly, “The Preventing Private Paramilitary Activity Act” violates constitutionally protected birthrights, notably the right to free assembly and the right to keep and bear arms. It makes it unlawful for a neighborhood, a community or a group of like-minded citizens to organize to defend itself, rather than being dependent on State agents for protection.
By this legislative definition, every church security detail is a private paramilitary operation, its members subject to punishment under the proposed law. Ditto participants in every active-shooter drill not conducted by the State, along with students in all the tactical training classes you’ve taken.
And if you don’t see a sinister linkage between this bill and Democrats’ free-for-all at the border, you’re just not looking.
The Declaration of Independence made the case that the People have a right to revolution. Indeed, we have a right to insurrection, to move against “absolute Despotism,” to storm the bastions of power and “alter or abolish” a regime when tyrants act without “the consent of the governed.”
Making that argument to the State today, of course, would be pointless. After all, we live in post-Constitution America. But it’s a code that we, the People, must live by.
Will “The Preventing Private Paramilitary Activity Act” pass in Congress? I doubt it. The point, however, isn’t that it has a snowball’s chance in hell of becoming law anytime soon — it’s that there’s sufficient anti-American sentiment in DC that a bill like this would even be proposed.
For now, let’s give Edward J. Markey the reputation he deserves. Make the son of a bitch famous.
All four of these images are of today’s sunset. Stiff winds made for rapidly moving clouds and a kaleidoscope of color.
Take care of yourselves, Patriots. Stay calm. Stay sharp. Stay free.
#WiseUp #LibertyOrDeath
#LetsGoBrandon #FJB