Tweet
Just reading the last replies on the Gasahol thread got me to reflecting on the "big picture" --OH NO!
Harry Brown wrote a book in 1973 about retaining your freedom in the face of all the different pressures to give it up, a little here, at little there with no end.
Humans in one-on-one or personal interactions sometimes behave in wonderfully selfless ways. Unfortunately that doesn't apply when individuals are separated from the troubles caused other people by their actions.
What Harry points out is that various groups and agencies and unfortunately also individuals are continuously pressuring each of us to "do what is right," which in the end is what they want you to do, and it is almost always in conflict with your personal interest. They will take your time, your money, maybe your soul, and sometimes your life.
He points out that governments historically follow a down-hill path as they mature and that the best way to handle that as an individual is to stay out of the way of the landslide. He basically advocates just taking advantage of all the loopholes, complexity, and inefficiency of the government when you can do it without overt risk.
I have found that just keeping Harry's ideas in view over say the last 10 years have considerably improved and simplified my life. I still pick and choose when to apply the principle but it sure is good to keep in mind.
As for the oil drilling connection, it is this: It probably isn't the regulations, thought that may be part of it, but rather that the big guys just find it in their self interest to go after the big deposits that happen to be elsewhere.
DC
Harry Brown wrote a book in 1973 about retaining your freedom in the face of all the different pressures to give it up, a little here, at little there with no end.
Humans in one-on-one or personal interactions sometimes behave in wonderfully selfless ways. Unfortunately that doesn't apply when individuals are separated from the troubles caused other people by their actions.
What Harry points out is that various groups and agencies and unfortunately also individuals are continuously pressuring each of us to "do what is right," which in the end is what they want you to do, and it is almost always in conflict with your personal interest. They will take your time, your money, maybe your soul, and sometimes your life.
He points out that governments historically follow a down-hill path as they mature and that the best way to handle that as an individual is to stay out of the way of the landslide. He basically advocates just taking advantage of all the loopholes, complexity, and inefficiency of the government when you can do it without overt risk.
I have found that just keeping Harry's ideas in view over say the last 10 years have considerably improved and simplified my life. I still pick and choose when to apply the principle but it sure is good to keep in mind.
As for the oil drilling connection, it is this: It probably isn't the regulations, thought that may be part of it, but rather that the big guys just find it in their self interest to go after the big deposits that happen to be elsewhere.
DC