So, ready to get your blood pressure up? If not, then don't read this.

You know, I was living in Northern Idaho at the time of the Randy Weaver debacle. I think that was a turning point in my life, because it was then that I learned to NOT TRUST THE GOVERNMENT. For a few days, all we knew is that a fire-fight had happened, and that some people had died. The government tried to paint Weaver and his family as horrible racists, nutcases living on the mountain planning revolt, what have you. And then we found out why Weaver was there. We found out what had actually happened. We found out that the Feds had shot Weaver's son and dog, touching off the shitstorm. We found out that the Feds had shot Weaver's wife while she was holding their baby in her arms.

The Feds had one fact right. Weaver was a nutcase. But he was a nutcase who lived on a mountain in Northern Idaho, trying to stay away from the rest of the world. He wasn't planning a revolt. He wasn't trying to overthrow the government. He was a guy who had screwed up earlier in life, and just wanted to be left alone.

My friends and I joke around about paranoia. "Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean that people aren't out to get you", we laugh. But go read that link. Go check out what happened to the Sherburnes. And tell me that we don't have to worry about the damn government ruining our lives.

Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean that people aren't out to get you.