Letter From an AGW

Guest Post by Eric Peters

I received an email from an armed government worker that I thought was interesting and so publish it  for that reason, along with my reply:

AGW writes: Sounds like someone may have gotten a speeding ticket recently. To the point, I suppose you’d consider the obviously paid-for rioters in LA as “peaceful.” I’m as much a Libertarian as you and so the caveat that I’m a cop, excuse me, an armed government worker, might strike you as odd. Oh and I’m also a retired Marine to boot!  Sorry again, I shouldn’t use the word “boot” lest it conjure up further images for you of jack-booted thugs. Not that I’m implying that you are one, but who might ever come to your aid should a lone buzz-cut he-she ever accost you while exiting your… Tesla… Prius? I just wonder if you’ve ever had to rely on anyone, say the police, for assistance? And another question: How would you categorize the rioters in LA? Would you call them “Peaceful Insurrectionists”?

 I sometimes find your articles informative, even a little interesting. Your Wednesday article, however, is slop so to further indicate that you’re probably going to incite more government educated readers to question who you think your readers are – likely another pig or two – I will end this retort with one more question: Do you live in LA?

My reply: Where to begin?

Let’s start with this business about “speeding” and “tickets.” I have not gotten one recently, chiefly because I employ effective countermeasures. But that is neither here nor there. What is relevant is that “speeding” is a contrived offense that – as such – entails no harm done and for that reason “ticketing” people (that is, forcing them to hand over money to the government) is criminal in that you are harming people who have not harmed anyone. The same goes for other such things. As for example the “ticket” my girlfriend got recently because her car’s government required ear tag – state “safety” inspection sticker – was out of date. Her car is in good working order. I know because I make sure that it is. But this dude with a government badge and gun followed her, “pulled her over” – that is, used the implied threat conveyed by his wig wag lights to coerce her to “pull over” – and handed her a “ticket” that cost her $100 plus court costs over … what, again?

You are enforcing the law, I know. That is not the same thing as doing the right (or wrong) thing and I hope you will give that some thought.

It does strike me as odd that you would claim to be a Libertarian and yet chose to work as a law enforcer; that is, a government enforcer. I hope you’ll give some thought to that as well. Peacekeeping is honorable work. But much of law enforcement has nothing to do with that and much that is at odds with it. This is self-evidently true. You are thus placed in the position of not enforcing the law – i.e., not doing your job – when you know that whatever “the law” says is not malum in se but merely malum prohibitum – or doing it just because it is “the law,” in which case you become a nihilist. I was just following orders. . .

This is the banality of evil Hannah Ahrendt wrote about.

You write “who might ever come to your aid should a lone buzz-cut he-she ever accost you while exiting your… Tesla… Prius??”

Well, I don’t drive a Tesla or a Prius – but that is beside the point. I do not ask for you to come to my aid because I do not require it. Note the italics. I believe in voluntary arrangements. You seem to believe in coercive ones. A plumber comes to my house if I call him and no one is forced to pay him. Think about that. Also: I live in a rural area and when seconds count, a cop is at least 15-30 minutes away. I look out for myself. I am not claiming to be a tough guy. I am saying I look out for myself. Mark the distinction. You appear to think us “civilians” are helpless and afraid; that we cower in fear and look upon cops as “heroes” who will save us. We don’t. No offense meant. We just consider you to be enforcers of the law who care about that – and your “safety” – primarily.

That’s why we feel uneasy when we see one of you in the rearview or anywhere else.

In closing, I do not consider rioters peaceful. Nor do I live in LA. I choose not to live in a city where it is a “crime” for decent people to be armed and to protect themselves against rioters and other actual criminals.

You are probably not a bad guy and mean well. I do not mean to insult you. I merely attempt to explain why so many people like me – who are not criminals in the proper sense because we don’t harm other people and are just trying to go about our peaceful business and want nothing more than to be left in peace – are leery when they see an armed government worker and do their best to avoid their presence as well as their attentions.

It’s something I hope you will think about.