The Advocates for Self Government

by CiVL News

CiVL News: Apr 23, 2026, 6:05 AM PDT -- Siloed, Taxed, and Squeezed: The Fight for Financial and Intellectual Freedom

Here's your latest episode from the The Advocates for Self Government CiVL News Roundup produced by CiVL.com. This episode explores how expanding government control impacts personal wealth, information access, and state governance. It examines asset protection strategies, social media's algorithmic silos, and California's critical political crossroads. • Attorney Garrett Sutton discusses asset protection against wealth taxes and legal threats, emphasizing proactive structuring. • Ted Sutton highlights generational risks, noting small business owners and professionals are most vulnerable to changing economic rules. • John Locke, Friedrich Hayek, and Murray Rothbard's philosophies frame asset protection as a form of legal self-defense. • Writer Demi Pee-chell explains how social media algorithms create "algorithmic silos" that categorize users and control information flow. • Pee-chell details how these silos reinforce viewpoints or infuriate users, limiting exposure to diverse information. • Analyst Marc Joffe assesses California's future through the 2026 Billionaire Tax Act and the upcoming governor's race. • The Billionaire Tax Act proposes a one-time 5% excise tax on net worth over $1 billion, causing some job creators to relocate. • California's top Democratic gubernatorial candidates, backed by public-employee unions, signal a path toward more taxes and regulations. • Joffe compares California's potential trajectory to Massachusetts and New York, which saw economic decline after similar policies. Join CiVL and be part of building the future you want to live in. Be an early adopter. We're just getting started. Human respect, a core tenet of CiVL's vision, recognizes that the path to a flourishing civilization does not lie in more efficient forms of coercion, but in the widespread adoption of human respect as a primary value. By moving away from the "Conflict Machine" and toward a culture of voluntary cooperation, we align ourselves with the natural requirements for human well-being. We built CiVL News out of our passion for free and open access to information. Follow the topics you care about, and don't be subjected to algos! You're invited to build a hub with us for ideas that upgrade civilizations.

Apr 23, 2026

7:10

CiVL News: Apr 21, 2026, 6:05 AM PDT -- Potholes, Virtues, and the FTC's War on Your Bulk Discounts

Here's your latest episode from the The Advocates for Self Government CiVL News Roundup produced by CiVL.com. This episode explores government accountability, the practice of virtue, and bureaucratic overreach in economic policy. We examine how these themes impact individual experiences and broader societal well-being. • Christopher Cook details a blown tire incident in Rochester, NY, highlighting government-maintained road neglect and high crime rates. • Rochester's 2023-2024 murder rate was comparable to Compton, CA, and four times higher than NYC's, per RIT data. • Max Borders discusses seven virtues, including non-violence, as a solution to cultural issues like polarization and rising costs. • Borders quotes Thomas Jefferson on virtue and talent forming a natural aristocracy among men. • The Chrysalis Project, co-founded by Borders and James Harrigan, aims to cultivate gentlemen among men under thirty. • Daniel Mitchell analyzes an FTC lawsuit against Southern Glazer's Wine and Spirits regarding bulk discounts and the Robinson-Patman Act. • The FTC's action is seen as penalizing companies for offering lower consumer prices, potentially leading to higher costs. • An FTC witness admitted the agency could not identify any harmed customers or retailers in the Southern Glazer's case. Join CiVL and be part of building the future you want to live in. Be an early adopter. We're just getting started. Human respect, a core tenet of CiVL's vision, recognizes that the path to a flourishing civilization does not lie in more efficient forms of coercion, but in the widespread adoption of human respect as a primary value. By moving away from the "Conflict Machine" and toward a culture of voluntary cooperation, we align ourselves with the natural requirements for human well-being. We built CiVL News out of our passion for free and open access to information. Follow the topics you care about, and don't be subjected to algos! You're invited to build a hub with us for ideas that upgrade civilizations.

Apr 21, 2026

4:14

CiVL News: Apr 16, 2026, 6:05 AM PDT -- Sticky Dots, Free Speech, and the Case Against Democracy

Here's your latest episode from the The Advocates for Self Government CiVL News Roundup produced by CiVL.com. This episode explores the digital future of political outreach, a rapper's free speech victory, and historical examples of voluntary self-governance. We examine how these stories challenge conventional political narratives and highlight the power of individual action. • The Advocates for Self-Government is modernizing Operation Politically Homeless, a decades-old outreach tool, for online engagement. • The World's Smallest Political Quiz, central to Operation Politically Homeless, has been taken nearly 30 million times online since 1995. • Rapper Afroman won a defamation lawsuit against police after writing an album criticizing a raid on his home. • Matt Kibbe interviewed Afroman about his legal victory and its implications for artistic freedom and government accountability. • David Yay-klee of The Advocates challenges the assumption that liberal democracy is the only viable form of self-governance. • Yay-klee argues that historical examples like the Republic of Cospaia and Brehon Ireland demonstrate long-lasting voluntary self-governance. • The Republic of Cospaia operated without a central government for approximately 200 years. • Brehon Ireland's system of customary law governed society without a centralized state for an extended period. Join CiVL and be part of building the future you want to live in. Be an early adopter. We're just getting started. Human respect, a core tenet of CiVL's vision, recognizes that the path to a flourishing civilization does not lie in more efficient forms of coercion, but in the widespread adoption of human respect as a primary value. By moving away from the "Conflict Machine" and toward a culture of voluntary cooperation, we align ourselves with the natural requirements for human well-being. We built CiVL News out of our passion for free and open access to information. Follow the topics you care about, and don't be subjected to algos! You're invited to build a hub with us for ideas that upgrade civilizations.

Apr 16, 2026

5:47

CiVL News: Apr 14, 2026, 6:05 AM PDT -- Pension Debt, AI Power Grabs, and the Currency of Self-Governance

Here's your latest episode from the The Advocates for Self Government CiVL News Roundup produced by CiVL.com. California faces a growing public pension crisis as lawmakers propose expanding benefits despite a $200 billion unfunded debt. Constitutional attorney Marc Friedman warns that current AI regulation proposals risk regulatory capture, benefiting large corporations over the public. • California's public pension debt exceeds $200 billion, with lawmakers proposing measures to expand benefits. • Assembly Bill 1383 would roll back Public Employees' Pension Reform Act protections, lowering the retirement age and allowing increased benefits. • CalPERS estimates AB 1383 would add at least $9 billion in costs over 20 years, with the Reason Foundation projecting over $14 billion in 30 years. • Marc Friedman argues AI regulation, as currently conceived, risks entrenching large corporations through regulatory capture. • Friedman notes AI is already embedded in critical systems like medical diagnostics and financial underwriting. • He contends that existing laws, such as fraud and consumer protection statutes, can address AI harms without new regulations. • Economist Peter Schiff's 2014 predictions from "The Real Crash" are revisited, highlighting his accurate forecast of the 2008 housing collapse. Join CiVL and be part of building the future you want to live in. Be an early adopter. We're just getting started. Human respect, a core tenet of CiVL's vision, recognizes that the path to a flourishing civilization does not lie in more efficient forms of coercion, but in the widespread adoption of human respect as a primary value. By moving away from the "Conflict Machine" and toward a culture of voluntary cooperation, we align ourselves with the natural requirements for human well-being. We built CiVL News out of our passion for free and open access to information. Follow the topics you care about, and don't be subjected to algos! You're invited to build a hub with us for ideas that upgrade civilizations.

Apr 14, 2026

6:42

CiVL News: Apr 9, 2026, 6:05 AM PDT -- Casinos, Consent, and the Three-Sided Immigration Debate

Here's your latest episode from the The Advocates for Self Government CiVL News Roundup produced by CiVL.com. This episode explores a philosophical framework for peaceful coexistence, a historical case study of a principality that eliminated income tax through casino revenue, and new survey data on immigration policy. • Christopher Cook presents the Common Respect Protocol, a voluntary framework for polycentric jurisdictional ecosystems. • The CRP is based on individual consent, justified force only in response to violations, and the fallacy of requiring one system for coexistence. • Cook's framework allows individuals to establish polities, affiliate with existing structures, exit unwanted governance, or remain ungoverned. • Cláudia Ah-sen-sao Nunes details how 19th-century Monaco avoided bankruptcy by establishing a luxury casino. • Monaco's casino revenues funded infrastructure and allowed Prince Charles III to abolish all direct taxes by 1869. • Nunes references John Stuart Mill's "On Liberty" to discuss state intervention in activities like gambling. • The Advocates for Self Government conducted a 10-question poll (Jan 14 - Mar 8, 2026) with 1,233 respondents on political philosophy. • The survey offered conservative, progressive, and libertarian answers, scoring respondents on a Nolan-style chart. • Results showed 55.2% conservative, 19.2% progressive, 17.8% libertarian, and 7.8% moderate. • A key finding was the divergence between self-identification (26% libertarian, 25% conservative) and policy answers (55% conservative). • Conservative answers consistently supported strong federal enforcement on immigration, treating the border as a security issue. • The survey designers argue that standard two-option polls fail to capture the nuances of public opinion on immigration. Join CiVL and be part of building the future you want to live in. Be an early adopter. We're just getting started. Human respect, a core tenet of CiVL's vision, recognizes that the path to a flourishing civilization does not lie in more efficient forms of coercion, but in the widespread adoption of human respect as a primary value. By moving away from the "Conflict Machine" and toward a culture of voluntary cooperation, we align ourselves with the natural requirements for human well-being. We built CiVL News out of our passion for free and open access to information. Follow the topics you care about, and don't be subjected to algos! You're invited to build a hub with us for ideas that upgrade civilizations.

Apr 9, 2026

6:18

CiVL News: Apr 7, 2026, 6:06 AM PDT -- Moral Philosophy and Government Transparency Shape Political Discourse

Here's your latest episode from the The Advocates for Self Government CiVL News Roundup produced by CiVL.com. This episode explores moral philosophy, government transparency, and an ancient Roman challenge, examining the relationship between stated principles and actions. It delves into virtue, accountability, and the individual's role in the greater good. • Barry Brownstein discusses how intentions influence actions, citing responses to Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack on Israel. • Brownstein references C.S. Lewis's "The Screwtape Letters" to explain how malice can be directed at immediate neighbors while benevolence is imaginary. • Brendan O'Neill notes that "For Palestine" declarations often serve as a proclamation of one's decency and cultural in-group fitness. • Matt Kibbe and Mike Benz discuss newly released classified Jeffrey Epstein documents, revealing a "web of collusion and deception." • These documents link the military, individuals like Bill Gates, and the public health apparatus involved in the COVID-19 pandemic response. • Representative Thomas Massie's efforts led to the release of these documents, providing transparency and a first step toward reform. • Daniel Klein examines Marcus Tullius Cicero's 44 BC claim that what is morally right is always what is best for the individual actor. • Cicero's "On Duties" states that what is morally wrong can never be expedient, even if it seems to secure an advantage. • Klein explains Cicero's position that the morally best alternative is always best for the individual, even in extreme sacrifices. • Cicero argues that the action best for an individual always promotes the good of all humankind. • Klein acknowledges that while a general correspondence between individual and universal good is accepted, Cicero's absolute claim is debatable. • Cicero's challenge remains relevant for those in moral and political discourse, including classical liberals. Join CiVL and be part of building the future you want to live in. Be an early adopter. We're just getting started. Human respect, a core tenet of CiVL's vision, recognizes that the path to a flourishing civilization does not lie in more efficient forms of coercion, but in the widespread adoption of human respect as a primary value. By moving away from the "Conflict Machine" and toward a culture of voluntary cooperation, we align ourselves with the natural requirements for human well-being. We built CiVL News out of our passion for free and open access to information. Follow the topics you care about, and don't be subjected to algos! You're invited to build a hub with us for ideas that upgrade civilizations.

Apr 7, 2026

5:03

CiVL News: Apr 2, 2026, 11:15 AM PDT -- Wealth Taxes, Serial Power, and the Philosophy of Leaving Others Alone

Here's your latest episode from the The Advocates for Self Government CiVL News Roundup produced by CiVL.com. This episode examines how power protects those who abuse it, from historical figures to modern political and economic decisions. It also explores philosophical underpinnings of self-governance and the importance of founding principles. • Gilles de Rais, a French nobleman, was history's first recorded serial killer, highlighting how power enables impunity. • Howard Schultz moved from Seattle to Miami after Washington state passed a 9.9% wealth tax on high earners. • Max Borders emphasizes the Declaration of Independence's "Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness" as foundational principles. • A philosophical look at self-governance suggests that controlling others stems from personal insecurity and a lack of self-trust. • Britain faces economic stagnation with high taxes, high debt, and modest 1.5% growth, normalizing underperformance. Join CiVL and be part of building the future you want to live in. Be an early adopter. We're just getting started. Human respect, a core tenet of CiVL's vision, recognizes that the path to a flourishing civilization does not lie in more efficient forms of coercion, but in the widespread adoption of human respect as a primary value. By moving away from the "Conflict Machine" and toward a culture of voluntary cooperation, we align ourselves with the natural requirements for human well-being. We built CiVL News out of our passion for free and open access to information. Follow the topics you care about, and don't be subjected to algos! You're invited to build a hub with us for ideas that upgrade civilizations.

Apr 2, 2026

7:22