I really appreciate this piece! Very well written and to the point.

This part..."These policies raise a fundamental question: Who owns your life? If you need permission to plant a garden, catch a fish, teach a skill, or camp in the woods, then the answer is clearly not you." reminds me of a short video that really changed how I look at all this. It's a video you can find if you look hard for it (no surprise) called "The Story of Your Enslavement", by Stefan Molyneux. It describes this so well. We're the livestock and the government is the farmer. I think this paradigm must at least be studied, as it explains a lot.

Well done, LibertyPen. I looked at your picture and thought, "Yeah...This guy would fit right in with my group of friends." Haha...

After the Rev War my ancestor, who served in the colonial army, was paid by a land grant. No taxes. No fees. No permissions. He could build the house he wanted, plant the crops he wanted, and sell them as he pleased. He represented the most free moment for individuals in American history. What the H happened? Insanity of the busy body control freaks took over.

Hey, LibertyPen, you need a permit for writing that.
Just kidding around.
With what could prove to be prophetic though.

BUT voting is real easy. You can even have someone else do it for you.