Glenn Beck takes a page out of Lemonade Freedom… but he has it all wrong.
UPDATE: 06/07/12 – Since this post was written, Mercury One has completely changed their Mission Statement. Therefore, some of the links in this article may not be functioning. I am not sure if their decision to change their Mission Statement had anything to do with this post, but it appears as though it did. Either way, after reading their updated Mission Statement, I still cannot support Glenn Beck’s Lemonade Stand Day for the same reasons mentioned below. I do not have any problem with standing up for the right to sell goods and services freely. That is what Lemonade Freedom is about. If Beck were to call for that, or if he was calling for donations to a charity to help the needy, or one that would support and defend victims of the state, or one that promotes the idea of liberty, then I would support it 100%. However, Beck’s charity is a far cry from any of those, and that is why I cannot support his initiative.
Lemonade Freedom is about much more than just lemonade and kids. Lemonade Freedom is about self-ownership, individual freedom, and the non-aggression principle. We encourage people to go out and exercise their right to self-ownership by participating in free and voluntary trade with others. I am a strong believer in Peace, Love, and Freedom. Not just for specific people in specific geographical locations, but instead, for everyone. We need to think outside of the borders and the flags that fly above us. We need to stop segregating people by borders, governments, flags, religions, beliefs, race, etc. We are all individuals. We are all humans. Mercury One seems to miss this important point by singling out specific governments and religions. I cannot support this.
Glenn Beck’s Lemonade Stand Day is scheduled for June 13th. I encourage everyone who can, to go out and sell lemonade on that day. As I mention in this article below, it is completely up to you how you choose to use your profits. If you want to save it, then save it. If you want to spend it, then spend it. If you want to donate it, then donate it. That is what freedom is about. If you decide to donate your profits, then I encourage you to donate to a charity that helps truly needy individuals, or one that helps victims of the state, or one that educates people about freedom
- If you want to donate to a charity that helps truly needy people, then I can vouch for St Joseph’s Social Service Center in Elizabeth, NJ.
- If you want to donate to an organization that actually helps people who are victims of the state, then The Freedom Center of Missouri, would be a good bet.
- There are also many great groups out there whose goals are to educate people about their rights, and empower them to be active in the protection and preservation of liberty. Some such groups are Students for Liberty, The Liberty Empowerment Project, Cop Block, Free Talk Live. Any of these donations would be a great investment in liberty.
Lemonade Freedom was started in 2011 in response to all of the kids’ lemonade stands that were being shut down by government bureaucrats and law enforcers. Today, Glenn Beck announced that he is tired of all of these crack downs on kids lemonade stands as well as other entrepreneurial endeavors initiated by kids. I think it is great that he is encouraging kids to go out and sell lemonade or baked goods. This is what I have been calling for, so obviously I support this idea. However, Glenn Beck has it all wrong.
Beck says proceeds will go to his very own charity organization, Mercury One. At first glance I thought it was a good idea. Beck wants to use the lemonade advertising proceeds to help others. Last year, on Lemonade Freedom Day 2011, we set up a stand in Elizabeth, NJ and donated the money we made to St Joesph’s Social Service Center. This is a center that helps poor and needy people, many of whom are homeless. We had a great time doing it, and we did what we could to help people who truly need it. And this is what Glenn Beck is trying to do, or is he?
After looking into the Mission Statements on his website, I am left with a different opinion. It starts off looking really good, covering issues such as Preparedness, Fighting Illness, Goodness, Youth Outreach, Education, etc. These are all very important issues, and there is definitely a need for charity in these areas. The site doesn’t go into any details as to what he is going to do in regards to those issues, or how the donations will be spent, but they are important issues to say the least. Some of the issues that his charity covers are “Faith”, “Israel”, and “Law Enforcement”.
Faith: Beck tries to paint a very broad picture of faith by mentioning “faith in a spouse, faith that the bridge we drive over will not collapse, faith that the food we eat will not poison us. Even atheism requires faith that there is no transcendent reality.” I disagree with this generalization all together. He is obviously trying to be inclusive here to everyone, but faith is a personal thing. Glenn Beck is a TV/Radio personality. Why would people turn to him for faith?
Israel: This is what Beck says about Israel:
An island of freedom and religious tolerance in a sea of oppression and constant threats of persecution, it is critical that Israel be supported not just by Christians and Jews, but anyone who holds dear the ideals of liberty, peace and courage.
The connection between the land and its people is thousands of years old and steeped with history, tradition, and holiness. With the hope of lasting peace and coexistence, Mercury One will defend Israel and the Israeli people against its numerous and determined enemies.
Here is something that is very important to point out. There is a big difference between individuals and government. By supporting Israel, you are supporting the government of Israel, not the people. This logic applies to all governments, not just Israel. Total U.S. aid to Israel is approximately one-third of the American foreign-aid budget, even though Israel comprises just .001 percent of the world’s population and already has one of the world’s higher per capita incomes. Need I remind you that this money was first taken from hard working US taxpayers, and yes, taxation is theft. Yet, Glen Beck seems to think that Israel needs more of your money.
Beck claims that “anyone who holds dear the ideals of liberty, peace and courage” should support Israel. This cannot be further from the truth. Supporting any government is in direct contradiction to the idea liberty. Don’t believe me? Have you seen the growing police state lately here in the US? Have you been watching our liberties being eroded away by the very government that is supposed to protect them? The NDAA, TSA, The PATRIOT Act. etc? And of course we can’t forget about the kids lemonade stands. Wasn’t this supposed to be the point of Glenn Beck’s lemonade event? Does Beck think that kids here in the US should be selling lemonade so that they can support the government of Israel?
Law Enforcement: Glenn Beck claims to be infuriated with the “Nanny State and its continuing expansion across nearly every aspect of American life”. He wants kids to stand up and fight this nanny state. He wants people to donate to his charity, which he claims is a good cause in this fight. One of the mission statements of his charity is this:
Are we sufficiently supporting those who protect us, our families and the freedoms we hold so dear? The military, law enforcement and civil servants sacrifice much for the betterment of our lives and communities.
It is vital that those who have given their time, talents, energy and, in some cases, bodies get the help and moral backing necessary to do their jobs. Families of military and law enforcement individuals also bear a heavy burden – the fear that their loved ones may not come home, the loneliness while deployed and monetary forfeitures.
Mercury One will financially and spiritually support these critical citizens, especially when they and their families are in times of great need when the ultimate sacrifice has been made.
Are we sufficiently supporting those who protect us, our families and the freedoms we hold so dear? The military, law enforcement and civil servants sacrifice much for the betterment of our lives and communities.
Glenn Beck’s charity supports the very people who enforce ridiculous laws such as shutting down kids’ lemonade stands and raiding farms for selling raw milk. Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, I know the argument. I have heard it many times before. “But they are just following orders“. Well they shouldn’t. They should do what is morally right. Every person is an individual. Each individual needs to do what is morally right. If that means that they have to disobey immoral orders, then that is what they need to do. Disobey bad laws. The Nazi soldiers were “just following orders”. Could you imagine how different history would have been if those individuals disobeyed immoral orders?
Glenn Beck is sick and tired of the nanny state. He is mad because kids’ lemonade stands are being shut down by government officials and law enforcers. He wants kids to go out and set up lemonade stands. He wants the proceeds to go to his charity, which will then go to the very law enforcers who are shutting down kids lemonade stands. Glenn Beck’s answer to the nanny state and the government meddling in our every day lives is to start a charity that supports… the nanny state and big government.
So, while Glenn Beck is calling for kids to go out and sell lemonade and baked goods in order to support foreign government, law enforcement and military, (pretty much what taxes are for now anyway), I have a better idea…
August 18th is Lemonade Freedom Day. Whether you are a kid or an adult, get out there and open up a lemonade stand in support of FREEDOM. Don’t ask for permission. Don’t get a permit or a license. Don’t pay taxes. Stop giving your money to the very people who violate your rights. Stop supporting them. Then, I ask you to do whatever you want with the proceeds. If you want to donate the proceeds to a charity, or a special cause, then do it. If you want to donate the proceeds to useful organization, the Freedom Center of Missouri would be a good bet. They are actually fighting against the nanny state. They are currently fighting on behalf of two girls in Missouri who had their Girl Scout cookie stand shut down. If you want to buy a new toy or save for something in the future then do it. Lemonade Freedom is not just about kids or lemonade. It is about freedom. It is about self-ownership. You own yourself. You own the fruits of your labor. Go out and do what you want to do with your earnings, and have fun sticking it to the state!
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