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Steve Campini's avatar

Spooner, another virtually unknown American hero that was destroyed by the state. The government can't handle competition.

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Tlasso's avatar

As always Joel you provide knowledge of something I never heard of nor thought about before. Well done and thanks for the history lesson.

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Alex's avatar

Great article! Spooner is awesome. And your description of Correo Argentino is a thing of beauty, the polar opposite of your actual experience, and picture, of the Argentina post office. Though a bit longish, I must give you my favorite Spooner quote; it's like he wrote it for the times in which we live:

The highwayman takes solely upon himself the responsibility, danger, and crime of his own act. He does not pretend that he has any rightful claim to your money, or that he intends to use it for your own benefit. He does not pretend to be anything but a robber. He has not acquired impudence enough to profess to be merely a "protector," and that he takes men's money against their will, merely to enable him to "protect" those infatuated travelers, who feel perfectly able to protect themselves, or do not appreciate his peculiar system of protection. He is too sensible a man to make such professions as these. Furthermore, having taken your money, he leaves you, as you wish him to do. He does not persist in following you on the road, against your will; assuming to be your rightful "sovereign," on account of the "protection" he affords you. He does not keep "protecting" you, by commanding you to bow down and serve him; by requiring you to do this, and forbidding you to do that; by robbing you of more money as often as he finds it for his interest or pleasure to do so; and by branding you as a rebel, a traitor, and an enemy to your country, and shooting you down without mercy, if you dispute his authority, or resist his demands. He is too much of a gentleman to be guilty of such impostures, and insults, and villainies as these. In short, he does not, in addition to robbing you, attempt to make you either his dupe or his slave.

-Lysander Spooner, No Treason. No. VI. The Constitution of No Authority (1870)

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Andre Louw's avatar

The state's ability to counterfeit without fear or favour lies at the heart of America's troubles. Print baby print.

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Mackinac's avatar

These little clarities add up Joel. Nice work.

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Richard Smith's avatar

Joel, my little town of 1200 people, used to have their local mail (in town) processed by its post office. Now it travels an hour and a half to Conn. to be processed. I believe one of the reasons is the head person in our district makes more money the more mail is processed in his facility. It appears to just go along with the stupidity of government and lack of "Common Sense". If the government ran a string of lemonade stands, they would never be open because they would say the lemonade was on back order, but we would keep paying the employees, irregardless. Pres. Trump's grenade throwing has awakened taxpayers, but the savings he supposedly is making happen he puts into another project which finds its way into the Elite 1%'s pockets. Pres.Trump, do you really think the Americans who elected you are that stupid? Probably they are, because they did elect you. They just wanted America to have pride and be great again, but your agenda is a Trump hotel on every corner like Mc'donalds . scott

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Agent22Smith's avatar

Thanks for the education...I'd never heard of Mr. Spooner. His tilting against the bureaucracy nearly 200 years ago proves that which does not change remains the same. One wonders why DOGE hasn't gone full-force after the USPS?

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Zoltan Vincze's avatar

While wandering around BA I kept my eye open for a post card to send back to Canada to a good friend who likes to collect them. On my last day, I finally found one... off to Correo Argentino... I felt a bit intimated standing in line knowing very little Spanish. The young man behind the counter quickly understood and I was able to post the card for the princely sum $12.00 CAD

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Steve L's avatar

“Given the choice, who in his right mind would opt for a coercive state monopoly over a voluntary market cornucopia? The TSA over Duty Free? Violence over voluntarism? The IRS over... well, keeping your own money?” I don’t know Joel? Have you ever heard of the American Democrat 🤔

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Terry Duree's avatar

Or Republican.

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JayCee's avatar

An appropriate ‘Spoonerism’ (Agreed a different as The Rev Spooner)

“You can be sure your Governumt mail will always get thorough, later than soon!”

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