NO ONE is willing to publicly identify themselves?? Oh man, well at least I’ve got a new interim mission now, to convince current and would-be shruggers of the importance of openness! That’s now the focus. Your pal, John Reale 
(As I’ve said before, I’ll never “out” anyone who speaks to me. The choice to retain your privacy is yours to make.)
UPDATE (March 5th, 2009, 9:30 PM EST): Hot damn, I’ve got two other people who’ve signed! Thanks folks. I was actually wondering if anyone else would sign for a bit there, and it’s nice to not be flapping in the breeze totally by myself.
John-
I’m just a simple hillbilly from arkansas. ex-military (gunners mate and aerographers mate.), ex-dishwasher, ex-cook, ex-salesman. ex-parts delivery driver, ex-lumber mill worker, sheetmetal fabricator, history, science and art teacher(elementary lever), gardener, and over all a beligerant to the collectivists.
level, nor lever. I homeschool.
matt, commenting up a storm! Thanks for the thoughts. I think you’re wrong to ascribe too much bad faith to those who aren’t yet consciously against collectivism, though. As the saying goes, “Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity”. Lots of people just don’t know any better; they think (because they’ve been taught) that the only options are to steal or be stolen from. That doesn’t make them any less guilty, but I do think they’ll be far easier to convince now that they’re starting to see we’re serious. Similarly, no evil cabal is required to make the U.N. dangerous, just ordinary human venality and bad systemic incentives. Fight the good fight, friend, but only against those who need to be fought. The rest just need convincing, and while the truth seems so obvious sometimes, I think it’s our fault that we haven’t been convincing enough.
As an ex-Born Again Christian, I appreciate the Christ reference. =) I posted my name, which isn’t my legal name yet, but I’ll be starting the paperwork soon. I was hesitant at first, because essentially what you are championing here is democracy, and I’m not convinced that democracy — or “kleptocracy,” as Basil Venitis calls it — is a viable political system. I’m with you now, but only because I couldn’t come up with a better alternative. =P The closest thing I could find was the Martian system dreamed up by Kim Stanley Robinson, with all government positions populated compulsorily by lottery every two years. But I’m not wild about that one, either.
So here I am.
Salmongirl73—I don’t think it would be a democracy due to the fact that rational men live by a code that doesn’t permit a democracy. Democracy is mob-rule. Where 50% + 1 vote can steal from you. Rational men live by the maxim of trade. Anything that can be consumed can be traded, and anything that is produced can be consumed.
How much would you pay me for ink? I can make my own ink with black walunts. Now if you need the ink and I was the only supplier are you going to steal it from me by force or guilt, or will you buy it from me at the price I set because I produced the ink with my own effort(and that is the true price) or will you go into competition and make your own ink?
Rational men will not steal the ink, because in turn they can be stolen from. They will either buy it at the price I set or they will make it themselves.
John,
Since 2005 I have given up on fighting those that wish not to see the facts. Everyday, a co-worker will tell me that I was right about things that were coming (already hear) down the line. I started this strugle in 2002. Here it is 2009 and the only thing I have came up with is an old concept. That is the policy of being selfish. If I don’t know how to take care of myself how can I take care of others.
I wouldn’t say I was championing democracy — if I were, I’d be shrugging my shoulders and saying “Well, this is the will of the people, I guess”.
The government is overreaching (I have a gift for understatement). What limits government? Its constitution, its traditions and customs, its constituents, and, ultimately, force. The constitution and tradition and custom are no longer providing a meaningful constraint. Persuasion of the constituency is the better route (by FAR) of the two remaining to reinstate the barriers that have eroded.
I am a recent arrival to this sight and as such I’m reading and learning as I go. My moniker is American Sharecropper, it’s one I chose for a specific reason and use when commenting on news sites such as The Economist, BusinessWeek, WSJ, WashingtonPost, etc.
My name is Matthew Cummings, I’m a humble Systems Analyst from Tucson Arizona and I openly preach my belief system to any and all interested parties.
As to the previous comments by salmongirl73 and matt (just to add my two cents), I would be happy with a Constitutional Republic as our founders had intended. A good example of a Democracy degenerating into anarchy was the fall Roman empire in it’s latter years. As matt suggested, a Democracy is mob rule. I explain it as “Two wolves and a sheep voting on what to eat for lunch”.
Our Constitution was designed to limit the government, to protect the minority from the abuses of the majority. Having said that, I feel compelled to restate the definition of the word “minority” as the collectivist definition ties it to shallow properties such as skin color or gender. My definition is straight from a favorite Ayn Rand quote “there is no smaller minority than the individual”.
Hello John (and the rest),
I am a mechanical designer and antique tractor enthusiast from Vermontville, MI. My love for antique farm machinery stems from admiration of all those inventive giants and industrialists before me who dared to give the world their new ideas. Ideas that eventually were cannibalized or banned. This forum was a sight for sore eyes. I’ve engaged folks in debate with limited success for the past few years. Its goal is one I share: How best to use rational thought to advance the cause of creating a free society. My world has consisted of attempting to convince the infinite number of uninterested unconvinceables why freedom would benefit their life. As a result…well hell, there has been no measurable results. Now here sits a bitter yet hopeful country boy. Even more hopeful because of what I’ve read on this site. Even with my questionable writing skills, maybe I can contribute. Unlike the “Howard Roarks”, I have a problem noticing the parasitical world around me. However, I would remove myself from participating (therefore contributing to its destruction) if I knew how. Excuse my screen moniker. I hope to learn and help your cause. My name is Ethan Berry and I am very pleased to make your acquaintance.
There are so many voices out here, thus so few signers. I started to sign but figured I’d wait for m’hubby. Should we sign separately? I am alias galtjohngalt at the 912 project (Glenn Beck) and I started my own voice at Blogger called Galt Line. I so completely understand your frustration and pondering. I have had about zilch response to my posts at either place.
There are problems to be dealt with like, what if I am employed by a leftie who won’t be going Galt anytme soon. Do I just up and quit? Then what? I have no skill with which to barter. I’m a musician, ex-homeschool mom, and I write. So, I’m not a producer, per se. If I were a shop owner, how would I pay my rent for the period of the strike? This is where I see community being important, and going public. A fund would be needed for keeping that business owner afloat. To ask people to give up their businesses completely is way too extreme for now.
Another thought: truckers are core to this country’s economic survival. I would love to see some of those guys hop on the Galt line. Ah well, keep on truckin’ until we build up some momentum.
Until then, individually, we can shrink the economy in small ways, pulling out investments and giving up the life of Riley, as has been already posted here. Gardening is an okay idea but I have nothing against the farmer and honestly, WE NEED THEM. There’s a thing we call winter around here.