[jacquesm]

> reducing the power and scope of government at all levels

Well, you need some level of government

> by maintaining the weapons and skills necessary to effectively resist

That's for the most part an illusion that may give you some comfort but that will likely not be of much practical use if and when tshtf.

[LyndsySimon]

> Well, you need some level of government

While I disagree, let's start with whatever you believe should be reduced or eliminated. Let's work together to make that happen, and once that's done, we can look for the next area of agreement.

> That's for the most part an illusion that may give you some comfort but that will likely not be of much practical use if and when tshtf.

For an individual? Yeah, pretty much. That's what the third part of my statement was about.

[jacquesm]

Others having the right to do the same implies a government of sorts. The alternative is anarchy and I don't think you'd like it, and another problem is that groups would coalesce anyway and would take over a group of anarchists with relative easy because of their better organization.

We are where we are for a whole pile of very good reasons.