Cases like this make it all the more important to emphasize that I am specifically a voluntaryist:
AP source: Hanged Census worker had ‘fed’ on chest.
A U.S. Census worker found hanged from a tree near a Kentucky cemetery had the word “fed” scrawled on his chest, a law enforcement official said Wednesday, and the FBI is investigating whether he was a victim of anti-government sentiment.
I’m sure the many adversaries of small-government advocates are going to have a field day over this one. John Markley recently wrote about the potential aftermath–i.e. media hysteria–over the shooting of an abortion protestor, and I’m worried that the media will likewise use this to tar activists of a certain stripe. But mostly–what the hell is wrong with people? Why do people think it’s appropriate to solve ideological conflicts by killing?
In high school I had my colorful opinions, published in the school paper, opposed thoughtfully and eloquently–that is, by anonymous vandalism of my house. I suppose it is a human tendency to resort to ad hominem insults and force instead of civilized debate, but it’s hardly a comforting thought. Of course, these are small-scale, private actors; the idea of such mindless, destructive, anonymized hatred consolidated by government power is almost unbearable to consider. Make no mistake, giving people unlimited power doesn’t mitigate these antisocial tendencies.
This problem has been around for a while.
But back to this census worker–no matter how you look at it, this is hardly a blow for defeating The State. He isn’t even a petty war criminal, at least not much more than you or I are for paying taxes. (I think this might be interpreted as segueing into a call for assassination. I’m not, not really. I’m a voluntaryist!) I’m sure he was annoying, but so is a telemarketer, and it’s not as though killing one will lead to an end to Big Business.
If the killing of this census worker is in earnest–not, say some sort of hoax to make advocates of small government look crazy–I can offer nothing but condemnation. A U.S. census worker’s profession may technically be a criminal and intrusive one, but it pales in comparison to that of the director of the CIA, or any of a number of abusive cops; besides, it stretches the notion of “self defense” past credulity. (There are bureaucrats everywhere who are sucking up your tax dollars. Does that justify shooting up public schools to defend yourself from their thievery?) This is an obscene, cowardly parody of authentic protest.
Cheryl Cline hails from that hotbed of libertarian activism popularly known as the San Francisco Bay Area. She is a guest editor at 
Cheryl:
Thanks for your post. Violence against the state only increases it’s power. In the beginning of the film “The Fifth Element” with Bruce Willis, Mila Jojovich, and Chris Tucker (in the only role he was EVER good in), there is a giant fireball heading for earth. Earth’s space defence forces fire nuclear warheads at the fireball, which only increases the size of said fireball. The fireball was pure evil, of course, and when you fight evil with violence, the evil only grows.
I still didn’t like his voice.
Census worker likely stumbled across a Meth lab or someone’s pot fields. Yay War on Drugs!
“the death of the 51-year-old part-time schoolteacher”, Geez, the guy was at worst a peasant trying to earn a few shillings on the side. Many of the peeps who do the census gig are on fixed income, etc.
Thanks a lot for posting this, Cheryl!
I would not be shocked if The Chef is right about this one. Most rural areas are loaded with pot groves and meth labs, I cannot imagine that rural Kentucky is any different.
Obviously, I am not for killing (or even tar-and-feathering) census workers. I do think that generally it is a better idea to let the state initiate violence against us and then showcase that violence so that we can begin to tear down that government-is-good meme that we are taught all of our lives in their initiatory school system.
At this point we cannot compete with violence done by states, anyway, so why play their game and lose? We should make them play our game.