Chapter Twelve

This chapter about what is happening as time goes on will start with the 2024 election to finish this edition of the book. We will see how history and this chapter evolve over the years. I have intentionally referenced dates and point out pauses in writing, so readers know the timeframe this is being written. The interesting times in which we live will continue shaping this philosophy. We should never stop being open to new ideas.

​The upcoming election has so many people worried that I feel it deserves more attention before publishing this edition. There have been big changes since writing about my profound disappointment in having to pick between the same old divisive presidential candidates. There was an assassination attempt on one as the other dropped out amid concerns about his cognitive decline. The one who survived being shot was humbled briefly before quickly returning to spewing his alienating rhetoric. The selected replacement for the one that dropped out reminds me of a song by The Who called, “Won’t Get Fooled Again”. The lyrics ring as true today as when they were written about how political power has had the same corrupting influence throughout history. “Meet the new boss, same as the old boss”. Looks like we could get fooled again regardless of who wins.

I have serious concerns about what either candidate will do if given power and how the losing side will react. We are not electing a king or dictator despite recent presidents acting like one or the other, especially during their first hundred days.

Wouldn’t it be great if the next president announced a hundred day Stop-and-Review period to hear from concerned citizens about what we want to happen instead of rushing to advance their agenda with dozens of Executive Orders? How many of us do you think would have to ask for that to happen since there is almost no chance of it happening otherwise?  

Please do not lose hope if the candidate you fear most wins. Let it be motivation for thinking about how we can move beyond picking the “lesser of two evils”. Consider the wisdom of limiting presidential powers that have expanded far beyond the Founder’s Original Intent. Reject mob mentalities that foment aggression out of frustration. Try to be gracious in victory or defeat. Forgo retribution in favor of reconciliation.  

Keep in mind that many voters wish there was a better option. It is completely understandable how some people could see either candidate as a threat to the freedoms they cherish most. This is a chance for the middle majority to be a voice of reason that brings thinkers from both sides together in support of freedom. We can’t let a few angry fringe fanatics drag the rest of us down with them into a hate-filled pit of despair. Simply supporting a candidate does not make one a fanatic, hate does.     

Now is the time to decide if we want to move toward more self-governance at the local level or keep heading toward more centralized control at the national and international level. Which path do you think has a better chance of promoting the individual liberties that collectively make us free people?

The votes were counted while waiting for a printed proof. Some changes needed to be made, so I am going to briefly touch on the results in this revised version. A comfortable victory made it clear enough who won that the count is uncontested. We seem to be on the path to a peaceful transfer of power. It is time to start thinking about how we can begin healing the deep divisions that still exist. Those on the winning side need to understand that the vote was much closer than it looks on red and blue maps. A minor voting shift could have switched enough swing states to reverse the results. The winning side should be gracious and promote reconciliation by setting an example for how to respectfully work together. This is a chance for conservatives to practice what has been preached about less intrusive government and freedom of the individual to exercise self-determination. Now is the time for thinkers across the political spectrum to stand united in support of freedom.  

Received 300 copies of the book several days ago. I think they look great and those who have read one seem to like it. My dog was so sick and in need of constant care that I really haven’t had a chance to promote it since they arrived. Bud crossed the Rainbow Bridge to heaven’s beautiful shore this morning November 21, 2024 to wait for me in the sweet by and by. Anyone who has lost a special dog they love dearly knows how I feel. The origin of referring to dogs as “Man’s Best Friend” comes from George Vest’s closing arguments in a court case. His touching words are well worth reading. Today is also World Philosophy Day, so I am going ease my pain by waxing philosophical on some topics related to Bud’s life and death.

Faith and philosophy often intertwine as we ponder the purpose of life and what comes next. Watching pets pass reminds us that our time and that of those we love is limited. Most of us believe we will be reunited with loved ones who go before us when it is our turn. Some say there will be no pets in heaven. How do they know? Nobody knows what heaven looks like. Jesus said we should ask for what we want. I have asked for Bud to be accepted into the perfect version of heaven I believe God is preparing for each of us. The belief that my request has already been honored comforts me in this time of mourning.

Having control of my time allowed me to work around Cindy’s schedule so one of us could always be there to help Bud in his time of need. Knowing our time together was coming to an end encouraged me to spend more time enjoying his company and reminiscing. I would hold my frail little Jack Russell and rub a velvety ear between my thumb and forefinger while singing this song to him that was in a commercial years ago. “You’re my buddy, my pal, my friend. It will be that way until the end. Wherever you go I want you to know. You’re my buddy, my pal, my friend.”  I am not sure he even knew who I was for a while, but he could feel love and return it. The balance of joy and suffering was gradually tipping toward the latter for years. Making the decision to end his suffering was one of the hardest things I ever did. I had prayed for Bud to pass in his sleep, so I didn’t have to decide. Some prayers go unanswered. Bud rested his head on my leg as the vet helped him pass peacefully while I wept. Holding his lifeless body felt so final. An empty, uneasy feeling in my gut lingers. I miss my buddy, my pal, my friend.      

The freedom to use our time making memories that matter is something we all want. Getting a paycheck from well-managed Public Resources would help us all have a little more control of our time. We could start shifting the workforce away from selling the best of our time in the prime of our life toward freelance work as independent contractors controlling our time. One of the downsides to traditional real jobs is that you must be there almost every day regardless of what is happening in your life. With automation and Artificial Intelligence able to do more of our jobs every day, we have a chance to free ourselves from having to be at work all the time. Many jobs requiring people to do them could be filled by independent contractors who work when they need or want to make extra money. This would give us the freedom to be with our pets and other loved ones in their time of need without the risk of losing a job. It would also free us to pursue happiness in other ways. We could spend more time making memories that matter while we still can.   

Delivering calendars and promoting the book yesterday took my mind off missing Bud until it was time to go home. Sadness settled in as the reality he would not be there hit me. I always looked forward to seeing him after being at sea or away for whatever reason. His aging face would light up as I petted him and asked if he missed me. It was obvious he had. Talking with Bud was a one-way conversation that allowed me to share feelings without judgement, just loving looks of gratitude for being together. He had a gift for empathy that was comforting. Time will ease the pain, but there will forever be a little piece of my heart hurting until we are reunited.

Bud’s hips weakened until he could hardly walk or get up when he fell. I would walk beside him so he could brace against my leg until that wasn’t working anymore. Looking in pet stores and online for things to help proved fruitless. Being somewhat of a hoarder offered the chance to come up with a solution. A three-foot piece of old PVC pipe with a T connector on one end was just what we needed. A long leash was passed down the T to the other end with a few inches of slack at the snap that attached to his shoulder harness. The loop end was secured around the T with a few half hitch knots, leaving enough slack to use the loop. This simple setup was stiff enough to give Bud the support he needed to walk further than he had in a long time. We even got to walk on the beach up until his last day. Holding the pipe below the T let it rest on my forearm so I could easily support and guide Bud as we walked. The vet said we should patent that idea since she had never seen it before.

There is a saying about necessity being the mother of invention. It is one thing to invent something and quite another to patent the idea. Experience on boats and with hurricanes has inspired some necessary inventions that should be patented. Talking with an attorney revealed how prohibitively expensive the patent process is. Writing in a published book about the invention to help Bud keep his legs under him is a way of staking my claim to the Rights for “Bud’s Legacy”. You are welcome to make your own, but I plan on pursuing a patent for production. Many of us have thought of things we think should be patented without having the time or treasure to follow through with getting a patent that might never produce income.

The upcoming administration is planning to establish a Department of Government Efficiency also known as DOGE. Cutting jobs will be part of the process. It is tempting to feel like the fishery managers who are trying to destroy my job deserve the same treatment. That is not a good way to think. It sucks having your means of providing for yourself taken away. Wishing that on anyone is wrong. I would like to see a hiring freeze with existing government employees given the option of using their talents in positive ways until they retire. Fishery managers could focus on making our fisheries great again. Some federal employees could assist in shifting governing powers to the state and local level where they might be able to find new jobs. Others could be reassigned as patent officials to help every American have a chance to patent ideas. Imagine the ingenuity we would unleash with monetary incentives that accompany owning the Rights to our inventions and intellectual property. These patents could create new economic opportunities that promote personal and public prosperity locally across America. Treating our government employees with respect rather than contempt could help all of us live better lives in the long run.

Energy production will be one of the next president’s top priorities. Now is the time for us to think about how we can ensure our Public Resources will be used in ways that produce public profit paychecks for all of us. Our federal employees in jeopardy of losing their jobs would have an incentive to help us come up with ways to manage our Public Resources so they can keep getting a paycheck along with everyone else. Losing a job does not have to be as financially devastating as it is now.

Getting a public profit paycheck would have given me the freedom to spend more time with Bud before his time was up. These paychecks might not pay all the bills or fund vacations and life’s luxuries, but they could help us meet our basic needs. I would have loved to spend all day with Bud every day for his last month or two when he needed me most. Spending that time with Bud would have also given me more time to write this book and do things around the house that get put off when paying the bills takes priority. Have you ever been in a situation like this where extra income would make it easier to follow your heart?

Time is taking the sting out of Bud’s passing as grief is replaced with fond memories. The regret and remorse I felt about deciding to end Bud’s suffering is fading with hindsight making it clear the right decision was made. Bud had several health issues causing him pain and he stopped eating all but small bites of the most tempting treats. His last meal was some turkey from a Thanksgiving dinner we had early in his honor to give thanks for the time we had together. Letting Bud die a slow painful death just so I could have a few more days with him would have been cruel and selfish. He was the best Bud ever and deserved better. I love and miss my Bud. He will always have a special place in my heart until the end of my time.

Life goes on no matter what is happening in our lives. We must keep on going too. Some people are worried about what the next administration will do. Others are optimistic. Many are not sure what to expect. I think we should respectfully make a few realistic requests most reasonable people can support.

The DOGE seems like a good place for Stop-and-Review to be implemented in our federal government. An official website should be set up to share information and give us a way to offer ideas. Polling can show where We the People stand on various issues and influence outcomes. Would you support this?

Seeing many on the left fearful federal powers will be abused and most on the right saying they want to limit federal powers; it seems as if most of us should support reining in federal powers. We should follow Constitutional guidelines for delegating most governing authority to local governments and individuals. This should include personal autonomy and local control of our Public Resources. Would you support this?

Immigration and deportations are controversial topics we should consider compassionately. The border should be closed to all illegal crossings as we continue allowing legal immigration. Deportations should focus on those who have committed crimes in America or have violent criminal records. Obviously, those on terror watch lists should also be deported. Families and law-abiding refugees who were basically invited here should be given a chance to stay in sanctuary cities and other communities willing to welcome them. Sending people back to a nightmare nation they risked everything to flee will cause unimaginable hardships and even death for many deportees. Innocent people simply trying to escape crushing poverty and political corruption should not be treated the same as criminals and terrorists. We should have mercy on the misled and downtrodden looking for a better life. Would you support this?

The key to any or all these reasonable requests being honored is for enough of us to publicly stand united in peaceful support of them. If we stay divided and can’t agree on anything or just remain silent, those with the most extreme views and loudest voices will control the outcome for all of us. Now is the time for those of us in the middle majority to stand united in support of practical solutions that promote freedom. Many of those who identify with a political party are also part of the middle majority. There is a small minority on the political fringes who will blindly support whatever their leaders demand. Do you want them dictating how the rest of us will be governed? Please don’t let fear or apathy keep you quiet and submissive. We only need to speak up to stay free and see liberating policies put in place. Being realistic, reasonable, and respectful is the best way to be heard. Doing nothing will give us what we deserve.

One party will soon have complete control of the US House, Senate, and Presidency. The margins are razor thin in Congress and almost half of voters voted against the President Elect. We are a divided country that needs to find a way to get along before we fall. The political pendulum has been swinging further left and right with every election for decades. It is time for the middle majority to grab the pendulum of power and stop the madness before it tears our country apart. We need to be a voice of reason that helps heal our divisions by offering common-sense solutions that promote peace, prosperity, and liberty for all. Would you rather be part of healing our nation or tearing it apart? Now is the time for those of us who love America and freedom to peacefully fight for what is right.   

There never seems to be enough time to do everything. I was working on a series of connected stories for this edition of the book that are going to be put on hold for now to make time for these final thoughts before printing the 2025 version.

It is very disappointing to see this President follow in his predecessor’s footsteps by squandering another chance to unite us. There are some controversial policies many of us wish would be handled differently. I believe we should ask for what we want rather than just saying no or blindly going along. I propose we ask the President and Congress to begin a Stop-and -Review period between the 2026 and 2028 elections. We could have a pledge for candidates to sign agreeing to our request if they want our vote. This is an idea that should appeal to thinkers of all political persuasions. We need to stop following politicians and start leading our Public Servants toward freedom.

Recent events in fishery management offer us an opportunity to ask for something reasonable and see what happens when enough people stand united on an issue. You have read about how similar the rift is between recreational and commercial fishermen to what we see between republicans and democrats. I have consistently tried to get independent thinkers on both sides of these different groups to find some common ground that allows us to stand united on at least one issue. We may have finally found that issue for fishermen and I hope it will set an example for people with different political views. We don’t have to agree on everything to work together on something most reasonable people can support.

The North Carolina Legislature was considering House Bill 442 that would open the flounder and snapper fisheries in state waters. There was a last-minute backroom deal between some sportsmen and politicians for an amendment to ban most shrimping in state waters that poisoned the already flawed Bill and caused it to stall in committee after strong bipartisan opposition from legislators, fishermen, and concerned citizens. Standing united in opposition to something seems to be much easier than coming up with real solutions that can get the same level of support. We need to start thinking for ourselves rather than trusting corporate politicians to think for us.

Stopping the bad Bill also meant flounder and snapper would remain illegal to eat most of the time. It is important to understand the problem before trying to find a solution. Fishery managers use hard rebuilding deadlines set by politicians as an excuse to practically close flounder and snapper fisheries for years with no end to the wasteful closures in sight. They use questionable assumptions in questionable equations to declare recreational fishermen are killing millions of flounder and snapper during their complete closures to justify allocating most of our shared quotas for those fish to projected dead discards, so seasons never fully reopen as most of the quotas are dedicated to waste during repeated prolonged closures. In the case of Red Snapper, 5 MILLION pounds of quota is allocated to dead discards annually while recreational and commercial fishermen get less than 10% of that combined as harvestable quota during dangerously short derby fisheries. This is the kind of questionable leadership we get when politicians think for us.

Commercial and recreational fisheries both get a share of quota for most species. Dead discard deductions are taken off the top before quotas are split. There are far more recreational fishermen which is why they are blamed for most dead discards. Some elitist sportsmen on the recreational fringes are doing everything in their power to get rid of commercial fishermen so they can have all the fish. Those sportsmen have been pushing the flounder closures for both sectors to create animosity between user groups. They insist it is better for most fish to be repeatedly targeted and discarded until slowly dying from multiple wounds than for us to eat them. They claim a fish’s value multiplies every time it is discarded by law or just for fun.

I believe seafood should be eaten rather than wasted. There should be limits on how much can be harvested to avoid overfishing. We should kill what we keep quickly and use it wisely. Illegal or unwanted fish should be released without handling them any more than necessary, so they have the best chance of survival. This is one of several reasons most size limits are counterproductive. Holding a struggling fish firm enough to measure it wipes off protective slime while damaging the gills and other vital organs. In the case of flounder, ever-increasing size limits force fishermen to only target the female breeding stock as runts and naturally smaller males are mostly discarded. Those little runts weaken the entire gene pool. We would be better off keeping some of every size fish instead of discarding everything that isn’t big enough or too big in some cases. Size limit laws have become so complicated you need an updated app to keep up with them and avoid getting a ticket or worse.     

I want to see future generations have the freedom to fish for fun, food, or income. I want to see our fisheries thriving at historically high levels as we sustainably support higher harvest levels to meet growing recreational and consumer demands. The course we are on is not sustainable for fish or fishermen. Environmental degradation is negatively impacting spawning success for many species. The only viable solution I see that will benefit everyone and the resource is to help nature overcome habitat-related spawning obstacles by incubating fertilized eggs from a variety of local specimens in regional hatcheries to release healthy hatchlings by the billions. Natural Selection will ensure only the strongest survive to live wild and free.  

Two ways I am trying to defeat HB-442 is by sending a letter to Governor Stein offering alternative solutions and giving out postcards addressed to his office that concerned citizens can send to show your support. You can read the letter and request postcards on the website’s Seafood Blog page. Postcards are an easy way to support something reasonable. We have the power to gently guide our elected officials when enough of us stand united in support of solutions that benefit everyone. We don’t need to scream or act a fool to be heard. Being reasonable and respectful is much more likely to work when enough people peacefully speak with one voice. Bigger issues and higher offices require more of us to stand united. This is a chance for you to help change the course of fishery management history toward sustainability and responsibility. There is a level of public support that will convince the Governor to listen to us. Let’s see if we can reach that level together.
           
Before printing this edition, let’s touch on a few stories in the news recently. First, a peace agreement between Hamas and Isreal was reached today Oct. 9, 2025. The remaining hostages will be released, and fighting will stop as surrounding nations help rebuild the devastated region. This is great news for everyone involved and all of humanity. The President deserves credit for his efforts to help secure peace in the Middle East.
           
People have strong opinions one way or the other about most Presidents, especially this one. Many of us in the middle majority have legitimate concerns about every President while wondering how so many people can wholeheartedly support any of them despite their obvious flaws. That kind of unwavering support seems to stem from a feeling of being disrespected by the other side. A couple of recent disrespectful actions by this President have not been helpful. Completely demolishing the historic East Wing of The People’s House without our approval is a highly disrespectful move that upsets some on all sides. Suing taxpayers for 230 million dollars is another stunning example of disrespect. This kind of disconnect from the reality of public perception fans the growing flames of discontent.       
           
The politically motivated killing of Charlie Kirk was a tragedy made much worse by hateful celebrations of his death. A bright spot was Charlie’s wife forgiving the killer and saying she will not call for his execution because she does not want his blood on her hands. She set a wonderful Christlike example of grace and mercy we should all aspire to follow.    
           
We are in the midst of a government shutdown because politicians will not pass a budget on time, much less a balanced budget. They just keep on adding to the trillions of dollars in national debt with no apparent concern for the coming ramifications. Millions of federal workers will go without pay until the shutdown ends as members of Congress responsible for this mess keep getting a paycheck. Some politicians are even saying there should be no back pay for most furloughed workers and mass layoffs could be coming. Federal workers are our employees that deserve to be treated better than this. I would never treat anyone working directly for me with such disrespect. Would you? Two solutions that could help avoid this situation in the future would be to stop paying politicians during government shutdowns and require Congress to pass a balanced budget every year before any other legislation can be considered. Term limits would also help in many ways.  
           
ICE raids are another disturbing story in the news. You have already read about how I think we should compassionately deal with people in our country illegally. I saw a simple solution today that could solve the shutdown and deportation problem. Stop giving non-citizens welfare benefits. This would remove a reason some politicians refuse to end the shutdown, and many non-citizens would self-deport without incentives to stay. We don’t have to drag half-dressed families out of their homes in the middle of night to deport them. We should show some human decency and focus on deporting criminals.
           
The impacts and intentions of tariffs are concerning. Prices of imported goods like some of the bait we use for fishing have skyrocketed. One of the stated goals with these tariffs is to convince foreign corporations to make their products in America. Subsidies and tax breaks will be given to those corporations if they hire people to do the work that could be automated. Most politicians want us to sell so much of our time trying to pay bills and taxes that we don’t pay attention to what they are doing. There was talk of a rebate check for citizens from a portion of tariffs we pay. That talk has stopped while we pay higher prices and politicians spend all the money. I would like to see a fund set up with tariff revenue to help local communities build automated facilities that produce necessary products such as medicine and computer chips. There will still be some jobs for people at these facilities, and residents can get paid something with a share of the profits. Would you rather work for foreign overlords at a repetitive job that should be automated or get a paycheck from automated community owned industries?
           
Nuclear power is being promoted to meet increasing technological demands on the electric grid. There is some discussion about putting nuclear power plants on military bases. That sounds safer than having them in less secure places that could be easy terrorist targets. Secure nuclear power plants should be run at optimum efficiency all the time with excess power used to produce hydrogen gas when electricity demands are low. We can help fund the military with clean energy profits.
           
Our 37+ TRILLION DOLLAR National Debt deserves more attention. The 1.2 trillion dollars we pay in annual interest on that debt translates to $6,000 per adult. Public Resources are collateral for our debt since we went off the Gold Standard. Doesn’t it make sense to start managing our Public Resources to pay off the debt and produce income for ourselves? Do you think adding trillions of dollars to the debt every year is sustainable?
           
Healthcare is in the news with some Affordable Care Act subsidies about to expire. Simply allowing insurance to be sold across state lines would lower prices. Imagine if we ended the unwinnable war on drugs and used that enforcement money along with new tax revenue from legal drug sales to help fund some kind of National Health Insurance that replaces the ACA. There are ways we can secure affordable world-class healthcare for all within Constitutional guidelines without raising taxes.
           
Polls show about half the country wants us to move more toward socialism. I have serious concerns along with many others about where funding to expand social welfare programs would come from. We can’t keep adding more debt and taxes are already too high. We need to have honest discussions about how we can better use our tax dollars to fund programs that promote freedom and the general welfare of citizens. We also need to consider other options for generating new revenue from Public Resources to reduce taxes and produce Public Profit Paychecks that free us to spend more time pursuing happiness.                

The news is showing a story about expanding the war on drugs in Venezuela beyond blowing up boats suspected of carrying drugs. Those targeted boats look a lot like many of the fishing boats we see offshore. A friend was fishing in a popular area off the NC coast when he was mistakenly targeted by warships doing military exercises. Shells landed close enough to almost capsize his boat. He frantically called on the radio to stop the bombing before a devastating direct hit. The military said they thought he was their target and apologized for the mistake. Mistakes happen. I have long thought military exercises should be done at least 20 miles further offshore to avoid deadly mistakes by staying away from most fishing boats and established shipping lanes. It would make even more sense to practice just inside our 200 mile offshore border with international waters for patrol purposes. Back to the drug war escalation that already includes CIA actions in Venezuela with threats of attacks on land. We should ask ourselves if fighting the war on drugs is worth starting real wars. The only thing this expanded war will do is change who delivers the drugs and maybe what kind they are. The war on drugs and freedom are at odds. We need to pick one or the other. I pick freedom.

We really need to think about how we deal with drugs. Most people struggling with addiction have some kind of physical or emotional pain they are trying to treat. We will never get rid of all drugs without a complete crackdown on freedom. Is it worth waging war just to make some drugs harder to get?

The National Guard is being deployed to cities across America to protect ICE agents and fight crime. This verges on another violation of the Posse Comitatus Act that prevents politicians from using the military against American citizens. The Coast Guard is a branch of the military that is used against citizens regularly. We were detained by the Coast Guard a few years ago in a dangerous position on Cape Lookout shoals as they tried to figure out what fishery laws they were supposed to be enforcing. The boarding group was armed with weapons of war as the Cutter crew watched from safer waters with a mounted 50-caliber machine gun ensuring we stayed put. Thankfully we were close enough to have a cell signal and looked up the disputed opening date to prove we were legal. They let us go after that without ever getting confirmation on their end about the Red Snapper season opening that day. The boarding crew was respectful to us and frustrated with the bureaucracy.  

Sending the National Guard to cities that do not want them there is a recipe for disaster as it pushes the boundaries of State’s Rights. Members of the National Guard are put in the precarious position of following Presidential orders without violating the Constitution they swore to uphold and defend. There is most certainly some uncertainty about the laws they are expected to enforce and what level of force is acceptable. We need to respect the Rights of state and local governments to enforce their own laws. Federal immigration laws should be judiciously enforced so military might is never necessary.       

The midterm elections will be held in 2026. Every seat in the House of Representatives will be up for grabs. We could change the course of political history by electing one unaffiliated Public Servant who will represent us in Congress based on our advice and supermajority consent. The House is currently divided almost evenly along party lines. One independent seat could be a swing vote that wields the power of an entire political party. We could stop the chaos and promote civility.  

Politicians in NC have gerrymandered the district I live in to help the party in power win another seat in Congress. This is happening across America with politicians using voters as pawns to gain more power. Redistricting gives us a chance to elect independent Public Servants to represent us in new seats without incumbents to beat. Just winning one seat would be transformative. Winning in several of the new districts could break up the two-party political stronghold forever. Imagine the influence we would have if citizens from each of the districts we win started coordinating our message in Congress.

Would you be willing to vote for an independent candidate if they agreed to set up a constituent polling website where we would guide their votes with ours? Does this idea sound plausible to you? Do you have any ideas that would help? Would we be better off electing traditional politicians from the two predominant political parties rather than trying something different? Can you think of a better time in recent memory for independent voters to break free from politics as usual?   

Midterm elections historically have lower turnout than Presidential elections. This makes it easier to elect people outside of traditional candidates. The fastest growing voter block is registered independents, and we are still stuck picking from two partisan politicians most times. Now is the time for us to offer our own independent candidates in elections across ballots from state and local up to the US House. We don’t have to settle on voting for the lesser of two evils anymore.   

One of the biggest private employers in America just announced mass layoffs of workers that will be replaced with automation and Artificial Intelligence. We will see more of this in the coming years. Do you think your job is safe? Is the idea of managing our Public Resources to produce Public Profit Paychecks starting to sound better? Do you think those workers about to be laid off would like to know they had some income no matter what happens? Do you think furloughed federal employees wish they had another reliable source of income to help pay their bills until politicians decide to pay them again? Most of us live paycheck to paycheck without the luxury of having easily accessible money to tap in hard times. Retirement accounts don’t usually let you touch your money until politicians say so without hefty fines and penalties. I can’t stress enough how much potential there is for our Public Resources to produce much of the power needed for new technology that will replace many of our jobs. We can all profit from producing this power if that is our goal and we try to make it happen.       

Got a quote for printing the book this year. They will cost around $7 apiece for 300. Selling calendars and books is my way of using the talent God gave me and free market to fund this fight for freedom. There are no corporate sponsors or big donors, just individuals like you buying some calendars and books every year. The more that is sold, the more time can be spent advocating for freedom. Please consider helping with a purchase for yourself and as gifts for lovers of liberty in your life. You can even pay whatever you want for a book and calendar combo on Venmo @naturalart7. Just send a payment along with your mailing address. Other payment and quantity options are available on the website. Your support is greatly appreciated.       

Thank you for your time and thoughtful consideration of the ideas in this freedom philosophy. Please follow Chris McCaffity on facebook and visit the website to see calendar photos and updates on the book. www.affpbook.com
 
The printing quote included two more pages that I am going to use for a personal note. First, I’d like to thank you for reading the entire book. My writing style is not for everyone and many of the topics are hard to think about. You are one of the thinkers mentioned throughout this book. Thinkers are often independent-minded and skeptical of people like me trying to convince them we should do something different. I am not a fan of change but understand it is the only constant in life. The best we can do is try to make changes that improve our lives. We are at a crossroads in civilization that could lead to a self-governing Golden Age of freedom and happiness or back to the Dark Ages of authoritarian control and punishment for thinking differently than those in power. Being free and happy sounds good to me.

It is completely understandable why you would not want to get involved beyond reading this book. Please consider giving a copy to another thinker you know and talk about some of the ideas with them. Shifting public opinion can bring change quickly. We need the silent middle majority of reasonable people to start engaging in polite discussions to counter divisive partisan rhetoric coming from the hardcore fringes. We can offer solutions that blend the best ideas from all sides to set an example for solving problems while promoting freedom. I really think managing our Public Resources to produce power and profit for ourselves is a concept most reasonable people across party lines would be willing to consider. This could open the door to finding other solutions that improve all our lives.

We must find a way of getting along regardless of our differences before we all hate each other over some nonsense. Respect for each other’s personal freedom to practice self-determination is a great place to start healing old wounds and earning our own respect. We can’t set up a Police State to save everyone from something somebody else thinks is bad for them. Maybe we can do that, but we absolutely should not. The police should be Peacekeepers rather than Moral Enforcers. We can self-police for the most part just by respecting each other. Those who can’t control themselves and disrespect the Natural Rights of another human being can be quickly apprehended and exiled with our Peacekeepers free to focus on real crime.  

Please keep questioning everything and trusting your natural instincts that are usually right.

​Thanks again for investing some of your time in reading about this freedom philosophy. I hope you enjoyed it and found it worthy of your time. You are welcome to join me in discussions on the website or facebook. Simply thinking and talking can help us keep our freedom and pass it on to future generations. Staying silent gives the vocal fringes more power.