Think and Act Locally

This text explains the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), a system for organizing federal regulations. Regulations clarify statutes passed by Congress, providing the details for their implementation and enforcement. The CFR’s creation was prompted by the need for a centralized, accessible system to manage the growing number of regulations. Regulations have the force of law, but they cannot expand...

The provided text is an excerpt from a document explaining the United States Code (USC), a compilation of federal statutes organized into titles, subtitles, chapters, and sections. The excerpt details the historical development of the USC and its structure, highlighting the significance of codifying laws. It further explains the constitutional basis for many federal laws, focusing primarily on Con...

This PDF excerpt argues that the U.S. government, particularly the IRS, intentionally misleads citizens through deceptive language and omissions in official publications. The author contends that the government uses legal jargon and strategically omits crucial context to inflate its perceived authority, especially regarding taxation. Several examples of IRS statements are presented, each followed...

This article from “Constitutional Issues of Taxation.pdf” examines the constitutional limits of federal taxation in the United States. It explains the distinction between direct and indirect taxes, emphasizing the importance of apportionment for direct taxes and uniformity for indirect taxes. The article focuses heavily on the 16th Amendment and its impact on the interpretation of “income tax,” ar...

This PDF excerpt argues that the 14th Amendment created a new class of U.S. citizenship specifically for formerly enslaved people, distinct from the citizenship defined in the original Constitution. The author refutes several interpretations claiming broader application, asserting that the amendment’s purpose was not to fundamentally alter the meaning of citizenship for all Americans but to grant...

This legal text analyzes the historical development of citizenship in the United States, distinguishing between state Citizens, possessing inherent, God-given rights, and “citizens of the United States”, whose rights are granted by Congress. The document examines the 14th Amendment’s role in creating a second class of citizenship, focusing on its intent to grant federal citizenship to formerly ens...

The provided text excerpts from “Constitutions page.pdf” explore the nature and function of constitutions in the United States, particularly differentiating between state and federal constitutions. It emphasizes that constitutions define and limit governmental power, protecting pre-existing citizen rights, rather than creating them. The text details the amendment process, noting that not all const...

This excerpt from “The Law.pdf” explains the complexities of the American legal system, highlighting the differences between various types of law, such as common law, equity law, statutory law, and constitutional law. It emphasizes the importance of understanding the specific legal doctrines applicable to a given situation and warns against blindly trusting lawyers, urging readers to become more l...

The Virginia Declaration of Rights, adopted in 1776, asserts fundamental rights inherent to all people, including life, liberty, and property. It establishes the principle of popular sovereignty, declaring that power resides in the people and that government exists to serve their interests. The document advocates for separation of powers, free elections, and protections against governmental overre...

This 1996 self-published book argues that the U.S. federal income tax system is unconstitutional because requiring tax returns forces citizens to waive their Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. The author, Bill Conklin, details his numerous legal battles against the IRS, highlighting inconsistencies in the IRS’s claim that tax filing is “voluntary.” The book proposes a strategy of re...

This PDF excerpt from “Taxes and YOU.pdf” argues that many U.S. laws and government actions violate citizens’ rights. It contends Social Security and the U.N. participation infringe on liberties, while advocating for Second Amendment rights. The text further analyzes the complexities of federal and state laws, focusing on distinctions between civil and equity jurisdictions, and explores the nuance...

Irwin A. Schiff’s How An Economy Grows and Why It Doesn’t uses a cartoon format to explain basic economic principles. The book, published in 1985, utilizes a simple allegory of an island society to illustrate concepts like savings, capital, investment, consumer credit, and government intervention. Schiff argues that government interference often hinders economic growth. The illustrations clearly p...

This is a legal memorandum written by Tommy K. Cryer, a Louisiana attorney, to support his motion to dismiss tax evasion charges. Cryer argues that his income, derived solely from his legal practice, is not subject to federal income tax. His argument rests on the principle of strict construction of tax laws, asserting that the Internal Revenue Code doesn’t “plainly and clearly” tax his revenue. He...

The provided text is from Irwin Schiff’s book, The Federal Mafia, which argues that the U.S. income tax system is unconstitutional and operates on deception. Schiff claims the government illegally imposes and collects income taxes, violating citizens’ rights. The book details Schiff’s personal legal battles with the IRS and offers strategies for tax resistance. It includes numerous legal citations...

Volume III of Thoughts on Building Strong Towns is a collection of essays from various authors within the Strong Towns movement. The essays explore the unsustainable nature of conventional urban development, advocating for incremental, locally-driven approaches. Recurring themes include the importance of walkability, the flaws of “Smart Growth,” and the need to shift from large-scale projects to s...

This document is a toolkit for local leaders to navigate the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and build stronger, more resilient communities. It’s structured in three phases: an immediate response focusing on community stabilization, a mid-term recovery focusing on adaptation and innovation, and a long-term vision focused on building financially strong towns. The toolkit emphasizes bottom-up ap...

This text comprises excerpts from Tom Woods’ book, Your Facebook Friends Are Wrong About Gender, featuring interviews with several experts. The book argues against the prevailing transgender ideology, asserting that it lacks scientific basis and harms children and women. Woods presents interviews with a child psychiatrist, a filmmaker documenting detransitioners, and other experts who share concer...

This ebook compiles excerpts from the Tom Woods Show podcast, exploring the future of policing in America. It argues for a radical shift away from the state’s monopoly on policing, advocating for privatization and community-based solutions. Several chapters examine the historical context of public policing, revealing its often-corrupt and politically motivated origins. Case studies of successful p...

This collection of excerpts critiques the societal response to the COVID-19 pandemic, specifically focusing on the widespread lockdowns. Multiple authors, including economists and historians, argue that the lockdowns were an overreaction, causing more harm than good by damaging the economy and mental health while failing to significantly reduce mortality rates. They highlight the disproportionate...

This text excerpts chapters from Tom Woods’ book arguing against the conventional wisdom that America’s healthcare problems stem from capitalism. Woods contends that government intervention, including Medicare and the Affordable Care Act, has inflated costs and reduced quality by distorting market incentives. He features interviews with physicians who support his views, describing alternative, mor...

This ebook compiles transcripts from Tom Woods’ podcast, featuring discussions on gun control. The arguments presented challenge conventional narratives, emphasizing the effectiveness of armed self-defense in schools and questioning the efficacy of stricter gun laws. Experts like Larry Correia and Larry Pratt advocate for concealed carry permits for teachers and responsible gun ownership, citing s...

This ebook compiles transcripts from The Tom Woods Show, featuring interviews with several university professors who faced backlash for their views. The professors’ experiences highlight the challenges of expressing dissenting opinions within academia, particularly regarding topics such as gender identity, postmodernism, and the limitations of contemporary feminism. Recurring themes include the si...

This excerpt from “The Pentagon vs. the Economy” argues that excessive military spending harms the U.S. economy. The author uses Frédéric Bastiat’s concept of “what is seen and what is not seen” to illustrate how military spending diverts resources from productive sectors. It contends that this leads to inflated costs, inefficient production, and a misallocation of scientific talent. The text furt...

This book compiles excerpts from a libertarian author’s daily emails, focusing primarily on critiques of leftist ideologies and policies. The author challenges common narratives, such as labor unions’ role in creating the weekend and the supposed motives behind the American Revolution. He recounts personal anecdotes and interactions with those holding opposing viewpoints, using these encounters to...

This ebook, “Our Enemy, the Fed,” argues that the Federal Reserve System (the Fed), the U.S. central bank, is harmful to the American economy. The author contends the Fed’s manipulation of the money supply has caused instability, decreased the dollar’s value, and fostered unsustainable economic booms and busts. Evidence from historical economic data is presented to challenge the commonly held beli...