The Redondan People Will Not Submit

The imminent British smoking ban has one thing going for it. It's fostering friendly relations between the people of Southampton and the tiny Caribbean island of Redonda.

The Wellington Arms in Southampton is set to transform itself from a public house into the official embassy for a tiny Caribbean island.

If it is successful, the pub would be classified as "foreign soil", allowing smokers a haven from the smoking laws covering the rest of the UK.

In theory it would then also be allowed to serve cheaper drinks because the pub would be exempt from VAT.

Earlier this month, the pub was named as the official consulate in Britain for the island of Redonda, which lies 35 miles south west of Antigua in the Caribbean.

The title of "King of Redonda" is hotly disputed, with at least nine known claimants, but the current ruler is King Robert the Bald, who was crowned in 1998 and lives on Antigua.

Now, there don't appear to be any actual Redondans. But that's no reason not to drink to Redondan liberty.

Apply to be part of the Redondan royal navy for just $35 here.

Via The Bitch Girls.

Comments

gorgonzola's foil | June 27, 2007, 2:35pm | #

Redonda ranks a semi-official embassy beyond Barbados and Antigua's?

Whatever. Give me the Rongovian Embassy to the USA:
http://www.rongo.com/

Pro Libertate | June 27, 2007, 2:36pm | #

Brilliant!

Matt J | June 27, 2007, 2:43pm | #

All hail Redonda!

Terry | June 27, 2007, 2:46pm | #

Why can't us libertarians do this? Either find an island(or make one?) and become a country?
The libertarian militia would as be at the ready, which now, would include a navy...
Where can we establish our own country?
And if not, why don't we establish a pub as an embassy?
Think guys and gals, think.

Dan T. | June 27, 2007, 3:02pm | #

Why can't us libertarians do this? Either find an island(or make one?) and become a country?
The libertarian militia would as be at the ready, which now, would include a navy...
Where can we establish our own country?
And if not, why don't we establish a pub as an embassy?
Think guys and gals, think.

I'm trying my best not to troll today, but I think the answer is really that libertarianism works better in theory than it does in practice.

I've noted here many times that most libertarians (including nearly all the Reason staffers, according to their bios), choose to live in cities such as LA, NYC, and Washington - places that are known for high taxes and a lot of rules.

I guess we'd mostly agree that the ideal living situation would involve all the benefits of the city (culture, economic opportunity, etc) without the price (taxes and rules). But that just doesn't seem to be the way it's ever going to be.

tomWright | June 27, 2007, 3:03pm | #

What we need is a piece of property that we can rent out to some country, or countries, too poor to afford their own embassy.

We rent it out to them cheap, sign on as resident caretakers, give the ambassadors each a room in back and a parking space, and oila! we have a free spot in North America.

thoreau | June 27, 2007, 3:03pm | #

Dan, if you're going to troll somebody, troll Terry. He's on the official list of trolls, so it's OK.

JW | June 27, 2007, 3:05pm | #

[Rufus T. Firefly] You're a brave man. Go and break through the lines. And remember, while you're out there risking your life and limb through shot and shell, we'll be in be in here thinking what a sucker you are. [/Rufus T. Firefly]

Stevo Darkly | June 27, 2007, 3:06pm | #

I'd heard rumors that Dan T. was making lots of thoughtful and constructive comments today and had to see it for myself.

Praises be!

Speaking of thoughtful and constructive comments, I got nothing, myself. Except to observe that Redonda may be small, but the Redondan people cannot be pushed around. To the best of my knowledge, they have never lost a war.

Josh | June 27, 2007, 3:10pm | #

But what about the official embassy of the Donderan Republic?

mike | June 27, 2007, 3:15pm | #

Dear Reason staffers,

Since you represent the majority of all libertarians in the US, and I count myself among them, I have two requests for you.

1) Please stop picking crazy "big L" people to run for office on our ticket.

2) Please move out of the big cities to eliminate Dan T.'s straw man about the half dozen of you who live in DC. I understand that will be difficult since you all make your living by writing about the goings-on in said big cities, but see what you can do. I heard something on the news about a series of tubes and a bridge that could make it possible for you to do your job from a remote island in Alaska.

Sincerely,
Mike
libertarian #14507

B.P. | June 27, 2007, 3:33pm | #

If I sign up for the Redondan royal navy, am I effectively renouncing my U.S. citizenship?

Terry | June 27, 2007, 3:59pm | #

"thoreau | June 27, 2007, 3:03pm | #
Dan, if you're going to troll somebody, troll Terry. He's on the official list of trolls, so it's OK."

First of all schmuck thoreau where is the "official list of trolls"?
Why are you calling me a troll? Jealous because I offer constructive insights shit for brians thoreau?
I am in Hollywood, CA where are you? Lets settle this man to man even though your no man but a spinless cockroach.

tomWright | June 27, 2007, 4:04pm | #

Mike,

Re: 1) But only crazy "big L" people are willing to run on our ticket. The sane ones keep quiet and have escape routes planned thought the Caymans, Netherland Antilles and similar places.

Re: 2) But then Dan T. could point out the failures of libertarianism in that it had no connection to a thriving, working economy or culture as displayed in the big cities, that it was as irrelevant to modern society as the mechanistic-worker paradigm or socialism.

You can not win with a troll, if, indeed, it is a troll.

thoreau | June 27, 2007, 4:15pm | #

Terry, your clumsy attempts to incite violence (in multiple threads) mean you're either a troll or an agent provacateur on a sting operation.

highnumber | June 27, 2007, 4:17pm | #

Fight!

Fight!

Fight!


To be serious, Terry:

I'm not sure where they keep it, but I think some of the commenters actually have collaborated on an official list of trolls. They would put you on it because your comments are invariably one of two things, neither of which is ever constructive:

1. "Libertarian Militia! Let's storm the castle!"

2. "You're a schmuck! Fuck you, asshole! What's your fucking problem, you asshole schmuck?! Fuck you!"

Dead serious, Terry. That is all you ever post. You need to relax. Lighten up. Take deep breaths before posting comments. Spew vitriol only on rare occasions, if at all. Drop this "libertarian militia" crap. No one wants violent revolution here. If it's a running joke, I have to tell you it is not funny.

Terry | June 27, 2007, 4:19pm | #

When have I attempted to incite violence on multiple threads?
Changing the subject when you can't answer the question. Pathetic.

Isaac Bartram | June 27, 2007, 4:19pm | #

You people can make light of this if you want too but you'll be laughing on the other sides of your faces when the Redondan Royal Navy approaches our shores with the Royal Foresters from Grand Fenwick on board.

You'll wish you hadn't ignored the arrow gap in the last defense budget. You laughed when I proposed the battlement project. But we'll see who laughs last.

Jake Boone | June 27, 2007, 4:29pm | #

When have I attempted to incite violence on multiple threads?

You're kidding, right?

B.P. | June 27, 2007, 4:57pm | #

Isaac -- Are you making a reference to a weird 1960s movie I saw in a drunken haze on TCM a couple of months ago?

If not, nevermind.

VM | June 27, 2007, 5:09pm | #

Mouse That Roared?

Randolph Carter | June 27, 2007, 5:24pm | #

Terry, I will fight you now. You puny cockroach! Your squishy invertebrate body is no match for my manly word-slinging. Is Shit for Brians a non-profit? Where can I send a donation?

Have at you!

jf | June 27, 2007, 5:46pm | #

I just want to know who stole thoreau's spin. I was sure I saw it with him earlier...

thoreau | June 27, 2007, 6:07pm | #

jf-

I handed it over when I entered the No Spin Zone.

But you won't see me on O'Reilly because he ran crying like a baby as soon as he saw me.

Terry | June 27, 2007, 6:12pm | #

Hightower wrote, "Drop this "libertarian militia" crap. No one wants violent revolution here."
Thank you Hightower for proving what I long suspected you are; a empty headed, spineless coward.
If you want revolution the only kind is violent.
Do you really think the Federal government is suddenly going to stop infringing on our rights out of the goodness of their hearts?
Yes, because you are a fool.
The US Constitution is clear, "Congress shall make no law abridging freedom of speech...".
Look, I know you can't read, so trust me on this. It means the McCain-Feingold is unconstitutional, meaning not law, invalid.
But did the President and Supreme Court do their jobs like they took an oath to?
No, that means we have the RIGHT to overthrow them and the only way is violent.
But that is a job for real men, not some boy who is still in his crib believing Star Wars is real.
Asshole.

Randolph Carter | June 27, 2007, 6:19pm | #

Terry, sweetheart, chill the fuck out. When trying to build broad-based support for a movement, it's best not to call your compatriots "assholes" or "empty headed, spineless cowards." Brush up on those people skills.

J sub D | June 27, 2007, 6:34pm | #

You're kidding, right?

There's even a page 2. Rich.

tarran | June 27, 2007, 6:51pm | #

Terry,

For the longest time, I thought you were a really clueless ATF agent trying to manufacture a terrorist plot for the government to bust up to great propaganda value.

I now realize that the sentence is wrong, and should be corrected by substituting "person" for the words "ATF Agent".

I apologize for any heartache my earlier mistake caused.

hightower | June 27, 2007, 7:06pm | #

What can I say? He nailed it.

Jake Boone | June 27, 2007, 7:37pm | #

Thank you Hightower for proving what I long suspected you are; a empty headed, spineless coward.

Yes, a coward! As opposed to the guy who advocates that others perpetrate violent revolution... from the safety of his keyboard. That guy clearly deserves some sort of medal for bravery.

You're doing a heckuva job, Terry.

Grotius | June 27, 2007, 8:46pm | #

Terry,

I really wouldn't trouble yourself too much about it.

Isaac Bartram | June 27, 2007, 9:16pm | #

You continue to make light of the threat.

Believe me, we have ignored the Arrow Gap for far too long.

Never mind that we have absolutely no defense against a square-rigged ship with a company of deadly archers appearing on our shores.

WAKE UP PEOPLE!!!!

Stevo Darkly | June 28, 2007, 7:35pm | #

First of all ... where is the "official list of trolls"?

Oh, wouldn't you like to know! But there is one, and I have seen it, and so have several other commenters on Hit & Run. Ah, ha ha ha!

Here is your entry:

Terry: Infrequent poster - generally shows up to call for violent resistance to the government outrage du jour. It has been suggested that Terry is part of a government sting operation, but if he is, he's not very good at it.

Now, on a more serious note:

Why are you calling me a troll? Jealous because I offer constructive insights shit for brians thoreau?

Randolph Carter responds:Is Shit for Brians a non-profit? Where can I send a donation?

Brian Tobey is an organic farmer in Iowa. A close friend of Terry's, he is the owner of Brians Organic Farm (he accidentally left off the possessive apostrophe), which is more generally known as simply Brians.

Brian is in danger of losing his farm. Why? Because he cannot afford sufficient organic fertilizer to raise a profitable crop. With enough crops to sell, he cannot afford sufficient fertilizer. It is a vicious cycle, driving him deeper and deeper into debt. Soon the bank will foreclose.

But you can help. Send your natural, pure, chemical-free shit to Brian so he can use it as manure. With enough shit, a bumper crop is all but assured in the next growing cycle. Then Brian can pay off his debts and succeed in making all his dreams come true. All he needs is a little hand ... and a lot of crap.

Come on! Let's all give him a hand! Let's hear the sound of many hands crapping -- from sea to shitting sea!

Right now, Brian feels like a failure. But with enough Number Two, we can make him feel like Number One.

Save Brian!

Please send your donations to "Shit for Brians" in care of Terry's address.