By Matthew Hayward In the face of growing governmental overreach and the erosion of personal liberties, there are those who choose to stand firm, refusing to compromise their principles. I am one of those individuals. Despite the passage of time and the pressure of conformity, I have chosen to maintain my stand against invasive security measures at airports, specifically the Transportation Security Administration's (TSA) body scanners. But my stand extends beyond the airport security lines. It reaches into the heart of our society, where the battle for our freedoms is being waged daily. The Early Days of Opt-Out Protests When the TSA first introduced body scanners, there was a significant public outcry. Privacy concerns, health risks, questions about effectiveness, and legal issues led to widespread protests. One of the most notable was " National Opt-Out Day ," which called for a day of protest against the scanners on the busiest travel day of the year. The early days of...

By Matthew Hayward In the words of Martin Luther King Jr., "He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetrate it. He who accepts evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it." This powerful statement resonates deeply with the principles of civil libertarianism, which champions individual rights and limited government. It serves as a stark reminder that our silence and inaction can inadvertently contribute to the perpetuation of evil. The TSA: A Case of Unwitting Complicity Consider the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Established in the aftermath of 9/11, the TSA was tasked with ensuring the safety of travelers. However, in the process, it has often been accused of infringing upon individual rights with invasive searches and questionable practices. One of the most egregious examples of this was the use of full-body scanners that displayed explicit images of passengers' bodies. There were instances where ...

By Matthew Hayward In our  first entry of this series , "The Tipping Point: When Civil Disobedience Teeters on the Brink of Violent Resistance," we delved into COVID-19 lockdown measures, an instance illuminating the delicate balance society often treads between civil disobedience and violent resistance. In Minneapolis, the summer of 2020 was a sweltering cauldron of frustration, fear, and fury. The killing of George Floyd by police sparked an outcry and an inferno. Protestors packed streets and squares, demanding justice and systemic reform. Among the sea of protesters, a significant subset embarked on a path of destruction. The Twin Cities bore the brunt of this rage. As dusk descended on May 28, anarchy took hold. Buildings were engulfed in flames, stores ravaged by looting, and the city's infrastructure creaked under unprecedented strain. The Minneapolis third precinct police station, a symbolic focal point, was overpowered and set ablaze. This wasn't the work of ...

By Matthew Hayward COVID-19 initiated a wave of change, reshaping our societal norms with a magnitude comparable to an earthquake. First came the lockdowns. Unforeseen overreaches materialized swiftly, from closing vast forests and public beaches to dramatic scenes such as coastguards chasing a lone paddle border – an absurd spectacle of the new normal. With the onset of social distancing, establishments began operating under a limited capacity, albeit inconsistently enforced. Large stores were allowed to partially open, while small businesses, the backbone of many local economies, faced complete closure. The logic behind shutting hair salons while keeping marijuana shops open eluded many. An example that illustrates this paradox is the case of Slide Water Park in Washington State. This 40-acre outdoor park was forced to shutter, while literally across the street, the state park on Lake Chelan was teeming with visitors, defying any semblance of social distancing. The state government...

By Matthew Hayward  Have you ever wondered what could change if the only thing that shifted was the number of people who lost hope? It's an intriguing, somewhat melancholic thought. As we find ourselves caught in the ebbs and flows of life, it's easy to feel overwhelmed, to lose faith, to question the state of the world and our place in it. During these times, music often becomes our refuge, our silent companion that understands our turmoil. One such powerful piece is "LIBERTY OR DEATH" by JULIO ACOSTA, a song that remarkably still echoes with relevancy and raw emotion, even over ten years after its release. Whether you're a fan of rap or not, I urge you to listen. There's something universal in its verses, a collective sentiment that transcends genres and personal preferences. And yes, while there may be a sprinkle of profanity, its essence lies far beyond those few words. If this song doesn't stir something within you, if you find it hard to connect to i...

 By Matthew Hayward Throughout history, countless examples of governments and other entities have attempted to exert control over populations. The results have often been disastrous, whether through gun control laws, censorship, or other means. Here are just a few historical examples that demonstrate control's dangers. The Armenian Genocide: During World War I, the Ottoman Empire carried out a genocide against its Armenian population. The government disarmed Armenians and other minority groups before the massacre, making it easier for the government to carry out the genocide. Black Slavery: For centuries, slave owners in the United States and other countries used force and control to maintain their power over enslaved people. Slaves were often denied the right to bear arms or any other means of defending themselves, making it easier for their oppressors to maintain control. Soviet Terror Famine: In the 1930s, the Soviet government carried out a famine, (in a country I cannot mentio...

By Matthew Hayward Story #1 In the late 1800s, the town of Port Townsend, Washington, was plagued by corrupt officials who abused their power and stole from the people they were supposed to serve. Frustrated and outraged, a group of citizens known as the Port Townsend Regulators decided to take matters into their own hands. They saw themselves as defenders of justice and the common good, standing up to a corrupt government that had lost its way. Too many people in Port Townsend and beyond, the Regulators were heroes who stood up to tyranny and fought for what was right. They were seen as fearless defenders of the people willing to risk their own safety to stand up to government corruption and abuse. The Regulators were praised for their courage, sense of justice, and willingness to take action when others would not. The Regulators' most famous act was the burning down of the Jefferson County Courthouse and Jail in 1889. This dramatic action was a symbol of the Regulators' deter...

By Matthew Hayward  The government must cease attacking the liberties of the American people and Washingtonians.  The direct and indirect use of force to coerce and threaten people's livelihoods, attacking our liberties and pursuit of happiness, is becoming an act of war against the people. Non-compliance is an appropriate response; it is both justified and a position worthy of self-defense. "As long as it is admitted that the law may be diverted from its true purpose — that it may violate property instead of protecting it — then everyone will want to participate in making the law, either to protect himself against plunder or to use it for plunder."

By Matthew Hayward We as a society generally agree to certain acceptable regulations and inconveniences. Most Americans will even tolerate greater restrictions on our Freedom in the name of goodwill, or public safety, even if we aren't convinced they are reasonable or make sense. People start to resist at some point, usually around the time our personal well-being and finances are being dramatically impacted. This resistance is not out of ideological bias or interest in the conflict but merely an attempt at self-preservation.  Most business owners have tried to comply with the health department regulations, regulations intended to protect workers and the public from COVID-19. As time has passed, we have learned that while the State claims to be basing restrictions on science, they seem to be arbitrarily deciding who they will work with to create "safe start" guidelines. If you are a large box store, you will have very few restrictions and can remain open. If you are a sma...