Lawyers, Guns, & Money

I was gambling in havana, I took a little risk
Send lawyers, guns, and money
Dad, get me out of this, hiyah!

An innocent bystander
Somehow I got stuck between a rock and a hard place
And I’m down on my luck
Yes, I’m down on my luck
Well, I’m down on my luck

I’m hiding in honduras, I’m a desperate man
Send lawyers, guns, and money
The shit has hit the fan

Send lawyers, guns, and money
Send lawyers, guns, and money

–Lawyers, Guns, and Money, Warren Zevon

Why ‘Lawyers, Guns and Money’? Once, while listening to the song, one of my favorites, I listened and heard the (admittedly less than deserving) cry for help against what was probably a brutal government. However, on second thought, it really could have been any government. When you are in trouble with the government, these are the things you need. Because, from time immemorial, these are the most basic, fundamental tools of power. And, if government is anything, it is the accumulation of power – monopolized, politicized and at scale.

Lawyers, guns and money are all essential to civilization (at least so far). We like to think our government’s lawyers (laws & lawmakers), guns (army & police), and money (currency & banks) are the goods guys and indispensable. The root of the problem is that the people who wield these tools in our name are not very interested in changing or improving them – they work for us just fine, thank you very much – and then doggedly use said tools to make sure any alternative arrangements die in the cradle. This blog is dedicated to seeking knowledge and improvements, if not alternatives, to these three pillars of power.