Liberty

A Good Man With A Gun

Thank you to Derrick Perry And Matthew K. Semper Fi.

Yesterday in Traverse City, the unthinkable happened.

A man entered the Walmart on South Airport Rd a little before 5 and began attacking innocent people with a knife. Eleven were injured, six of them in critical condition, five in serious condition. According to a source close to Munson Medical Center, at least one victim may have passed away in the early hours of the morning. (As-yet unofficial)  Our prayers are with all the victims and their families during this horrific time.

But amid the chaos and horror, courage emerged.

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Debt, Beds, and Bureaucrats: The Real Healthcare Sickness

It is still and always will be evidence that government is simply–too big.

OK, fair points ..as produced by fear mongering Democrats.

Scales seems to believe I’ve spent five decades (yeah–he is being tongue-in-cheek)  at the pulpit preaching some Reagan-era economic gospel, and now, cue the red hats and Chinese manufacturing, the altar’s finally cracked. Nice imagery. But my friend.. let’s turn down the incense for a moment and get serious.  (It’s great discussion–that needs to happen however)

The video shared paints another emotionally charged picture—hospitals bought by private equity, loaded with debt, and discarded like yesterday’s newspapers. And it’s supposed to prove that capitalism—deregulated and unchained—is to blame for failing healthcare in urban OR rural areas.

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Still Missing the Fire (Truck) for the Flames

It is a higher power that creates such things as ..vultures

But I insist.

My friend Scales is a thoughtful writer, but in this case, he’s wielding a classic rhetorical sleight of hand—introducing a different frustration about private equity (fire truck manufacturing) to distract from my original argument: government-created scarcity is the true culprit in manufactured housing rent spikes.

Let’s talk about that fire truck video.

Yes, fire departments are paying more. Yes, trucks are expensive. But blaming that on private equity alone is like blaming a grocery store for high egg prices during a bird flu outbreak. It’s convenient—but wildly incomplete.

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Government Transparency and Gun Rights: A Win in Washtenaw County

Michigan Open Carry notches one in the win column.

Full disclosure: Michigan Open Carry, Inc.’s  (MOC) website is hosted by yours truly. I support its mission to normalize lawful open carry, ensure gun owners understand their rights, and demand adherence to the rule of law—especially by those sworn to uphold it.

Michigan Open Carry, Inc. Applauds Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Decision to Cease Illegal Preapplication Forms for Firearm Licenses

Michigan Open Carry, Inc. (MOC) is pleased to announce that the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) has discontinued the use of preapplication forms for License to Purchase (LTP) firearm applicants. This significant change comes after MOC obtained the forms through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request and subsequent legal action.

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Grand Traverse County, Clous, and The Nutty Left

The Irony of the "Chilling Effect" on display.

The bat guano crazy left won one this time.  And it’s not a good look on local government.

TRAVERSE CITY — Grand Traverse County has settled a long-running lawsuit involving former Commissioner Ron Clous for $100,000, according to plaintiff attorney Blake Ringsmuth.

The settlement of the case likely came from a desire to end the nuisance suit and get back to the work they were supposedly elected to do.  However, the core of the lawsuit against Commissioner Ron Clous revolves around the claim that his display of a rifle during a virtual meeting had a “chilling effect” on free speech. Yet, the ensuing legal action itself arguably exerts a chilling effect on expressive conduct, particularly when it pertains to constitutionally protected rights.

The “chilling effect” refers to the inhibition or discouragement of legitimate exercise of natural and legal rights by the threat of legal sanction. In this case, Clous’s action—while perhaps ill-advised (and maybe a little funny at the time), was a form of expressive conduct. The lawsuit, and the subsequent $100,000 settlement, could deter public officials from engaging in similar expressions, fearing legal repercussions.

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The Case Against Zoning Enabling in Michigan

How Did We Ever Survive Without Zoning?

So .. In Lansing, there is great ballyhoo about Lansing “returning zoning power to the local governments.”

All well and fine .. but

There was a time when homes were built by families with sweat, timber, and willpower. Before the advent of bureaucratic overreach, people lived in homes they designed, worked in businesses they created, and adapted their communities through mutual interest and common sense. Today, we’re told we cannot build like our parents did. We’re trapped in a maze of restrictive zoning laws enabled by the Michigan Zoning Enabling Act (MZEA) of 2006—a law that stifles private property rights, innovation, and natural development.

As a real estate agent working in Northern Michigan, I see firsthand the impact of these constraints. Buyers are fighting for affordability while sellers—who must often become buyers again—face a new market skewed by government-imposed scarcity. My goal is to ensure both sides find the best value, despite a system that increasingly works against them.

Private Property Is a Natural Right

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Teach A Man To Fish

Why Tariffs Matter More Than You Think

Big picture, long term.

Imagine you’re running a small fishing business. You’ve got nets, boats, a crew, and years of know-how passed down through generations. Then one day, imported fish starts showing up in your market — dirt cheap. Tastes okay. Looks the same. Your customers love the price. You can’t compete, so you cut costs. Maybe lay off a few folks. Eventually, you hang it up.

Now what?

Let’s zoom out. This isn’t just about fish — it’s about everything we make. Microchips, textiles, tools, technology, even baby formula. When goods from overseas flood the market at prices lower than domestic producers can match, it feels like a win for the consumer… at first.

But over time, we risk forgetting how to fish.

Wait — Isn’t That What Antitrust Law is For?

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Time To Light It Up Again

She is a tyrant.  Don’t forget this

Whitmer’s recent enactment of gun control measures are a step in the wrong direction. The legislation introduces universal background checks for all firearm purchases and mandates ‘safe storage requirements.’

While proponents argue these laws aim to enhance public safety, it’s far past time to examine their potential impact on law-abiding citizens. (The rest of us not currently holding the top three executive positions in MI State govt.) The universal background checks extend to private sales, raising concerns about the implications for responsible gun owners. Additionally, the safe storage mandates may impose challenges for individuals seeking immediate access to firearms for self-defense.

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