Dear Dr. Arnet:

I cannot begin to tell you how I am feeling after finding your article (The Informed Juror, Issue No. 82).

I’ve been a court reporter for 34 years and have felt sick about it for 34 years.

I’ve ostracized my reporter colleagues as I am the only one who is sensitive to defendant rights and have always found the jury system as it exists today to be fraught with deception and trickery.

I see prosecutors and courts in a conspiracy to deprive Americans of their rights in today’s system of meting out justice in order to fill the already overflowing private/public prisons with free labor for rich and powerful corporations and to “get rid of” people who are not white and not wealthy.

I feel sick when I see a jury given scant evidence, untruthful evidence, and the jury returns with a guilty verdict because of it.

I feel sick when I juries are given absurdly written, incomprehensible, idiotic jury instructions read at a pace so fast many times the words are misheard.

It’s ghastly that juries are not allowed to take the written instructions, as incomprehensible as they may be, back to the jury room.

Juries are always prohibited from having the evidence in the jury room.

Juries are so unaware that they are being hoodwinked from the get-go.  Every time a recess is called, all manner of proceedings take place on the record out of the presence of the jury so that the jury deliberates the case never knowing the phenomenal amount of evidence they didn’t get to hear.

In every trial I ever reported, the jury is told they must return a verdict of guilty if they find so and so, even though they do not agree with the law.

Juries don’t understand that once they pronounce the defendant guilty a sentence is then passed by a court that more than likely has a prosecutorial background and prosecutorial leanings.  They don’t understand that lobbyists in the country representing rich and powerful corporations lobby the courts for severe, stiff, long, harsh, inhumane sentences and that it is likely that the defendant they find guilty will serve such a sentence.

On and on and on and on.

And the statement by the court I hate to hear the most is, “Members of the jury, our systems is not perfect, but it is the best in the world.”

It’s not the best in the world.  It’s by far one of the worst.

The U.S. has more prisoners than any other country in the world.

The U.S. still has the death penalty.

A jury of one’s peers in America is a very scary proposition in this time in the world.  I dare say very, very few Americans are my peers.

I found your article while in search of the very information I was looking for for an article I am putting together called “The Enlightened Juror – Serving on a criminal jury in the U.S.”  I had no idea that what I have been intuiting all of these many years actually existed until now.

I am writing the article as part of a support group for Jose Barco, railroaded by the Colorado Springs Police Department into one of the “Filthy Four” courts in Colorado, El Paso County, Judge Larry Schwartz.  He was given a 52 year sentence that he is presently serving in the BVCF in Colorado.  He’s 24 and won’t be eligible for parole until he is 56 years old.

The jury filed an affidavit with the court immediately after their deliberations stating their confusion about the instructions given and that two of the jurors demanded to leave so they could return to work the next day.  The prosecutor manipulated the facts in closing and through state’s witnesses who should be charged with perjury.

You can learn about Jose at www.veteransresourceforjustice.org or going to Frontline’s “The Wounded Platoon” where his story is chronicled.

Kind regards,

Terri S.

I want to thank you for being there.

My mother hen hatched 3 chicks. Both her and  my first experience with this. I was so excited. When I told people at work they looked at me like I had just landed from Mars.  It is nice to read your magazine and blogs and know that I am not alone in this world.

Other people  out there still get excited about first chickens, tomatoes and wonder what to do with all that zucchini.

Thank you again.

Rebecca Boitnott
Virginia

Just read your article [The art of living in small spaces by Claire Wolfe] and getting lots of good ideas. I just purchased, The small house book, by Jay Shafer.

I am impressed that you share this space with your loving pets too. I feel if I try one of these small spaces, I will have to start out with it being a weekend place. I don’t think I could convince my husband to live that small and I don’t think I would want to live in too tight of quarters with him. LOL. Maybe we should have a his and hers and join them in the hallways.

Thanks again. Also pics say a thousand words.

Eileen Janes

Colorado

Dear Sir,

I appreciate your opinion in general regarding the legalization issue. Unfortunately I must disagree with you on the positive spin you have given the upcoming “The Regulate, Control, and Tax Cannabis Act of 2010″.

Reading the specifics of the legislation I’m sure you would agree that this is a far cry from a freedom-based initiative. You made some very sound arguments in the article but did not address some of my main concerns. Specifically the regulation aspect limits the amount that can be grown and possessed, which begs the question of just how the authorities would monitor the plants grown on an individual’s private property; will the authorities be inspecting homes? I cannot in good conscience support this initiative because it doesn’t decriminalize marijuana, it simply changes the terms of what is considered criminal activity according to the law. Furthermore, collecting taxes on something that is grown and consumed privately seems quite impossible to me.

The skeptic in me also is extremely leery of any “step” the government takes in any direction. More often than not, legislation is bastardized through endless amendments and adjustments as time goes on. Rarely do these actions result in less intrusion on individual rights.

Best Regards,

Kevin

I just got my new issue of BHM and I noticed several nasty letters canceling subscriptions because of right wing thinking. Keep up the right wing thinking! If anything, you are not right enough! I have been a subscriber for years, have most of the anthologies, several of your books and all of my back issues. I love Jackie! She is my absolute favorite. My sister, Linda, who is also a subscriber, and I often talk about Jackie’s articles.

My husband and I moved back to our home in Tennessee a little over a year ago, having moved to Illinois approximately 8 years prior for fortune not fame. Unfortunately, there was not much fortune to be had there either. Ha! Ha!

We are trying diligently to get as prepared as we can for whatever is coming without going completely nuts. Most of our friends and family think we are crazy. I am sure there are more of “us” in the area, we just haven’t talked to many yet.

LOVE BHM !!!

Virginia Weathers
Tennessee

Thank you for a great magazine, full of tips and advice on how to live an independent, self-reliant life–without making it seem “criminal” to be Conservative!  Keep it up.

Jane Brown
Umpqua, Oregon

I appreciated the article in the current issue of BWH about tub gardening.

I purchased three 18-gallon tubs, added potting soil, and am very pleased with the results: tomatoes, bush beans, assorted peppers, lettuce & sorrel. Excellent recommendation for those of us with small urban garden space. Plus the barrels are inaccessible to digging by our puppies.

Thanks again!

Julia Morgan
Pasadena, CA

Dear Editor,

I found your site from a link from survivalblog.com and somehow ran across the article of the Animal Rights Activists ruining what must be a totally hysterical event at your local fair.

I do understand their point but I do realize there are limits on what an activist group can do. Caving into to them only gives them power, but since that has already happened…I have a better idea!

For a close knit town, you can starve them out. As a retailer, you can refuse to sell anything to anyone and not have to justify it. Gas stations can refuse to sell fuels, grocers refuse to sell them food. You get the picture.

As Jim Rawles says, if you don’t like what is going on around you, vote with your feet and move. When all the town gets behind this movement, the activist will get the idea that he or she is no longer welcomed and move on. It wouldn’t hurt for someone in a restaurant to take away their fried chicken special stating they are contibuting to animal cruelty. If they got half a brain….they will leave, probably just before the local police or sheriff decides to join the unwelcome wagon.

Ken

Hello,

I found your website while taking a break from planting corn.

The article “Grow Open Pollinated Seeds for Self-Reliant Gardening” by Jackie Clay is excellent!!

I’ve read hundreds of pages on the net about gardening and this is probably the most helpful I’ve seen.

I just wanted to let Jackie know and to say thank you very much for posting it. I’ll be reading more of your articles on my next break.

Patty Wisniewski

Dave

You guys have a great magazine, dare I say the best!  I like every part of it. I like John Silveria, Massad Ayoob, your editorials, and all the wonderful info I have learned.

I canned meat because of your magazine, never thought I would do that. I have a Libertarian viewpoint like a few of you do, and wish more people did. I read “Can America be saved from stupid people”, and no I don’t think it can, without some type of revolution, bloody or peaceful.

I read your articles online and in print, I’d say your magazine is the easiest to find, and use in all media formats.

Thanks and keep up the great work!!

Todd Lange
Nebraska

I just wanted to say thank you to all of the writers and staff of Backwoods Home Magazine.  You have inspired me to finally get off my duff and create a website and a new business.  I was disappointed in the writing and opinion of other magazines that promote independent living.  Sorry, but if I have to surrender my Second Amendment rights or be told I can’t criticize an entrenched politician, then I don’t care how far off the grid you are, you are not living free.

I know there are those who want you to drop your political views.  But to what end?  America has been and always will be political.  It’s part of who we are and what made us so great.  But it’s always a SMALL group who stand up and actually shout their opposition to tyranny and ultimately take action.  The majority either side with the tyrants out of fear and wanting to be on the “winning” side or, like the vast majority of Americans, they simply don’t care and don’t want to hear about it.  Like a child, they believe all that is necessary for evil to stop is to close your eyes and ignore it.  This was very much like the American Revolution, when a relatively small handful of citizens actually participated on the side of the Revolution.

BHM is doing it right.  You may not be as slick as the big money magazine (I’ll denote here as M.E.N). but you are far better, far more down-to-earth and serve a real and growing group of Americans who have come to the realization that America does not reside in Washington D.C., it resides in the hearts and souls of those who can reach across time and touch the meaning of what our founders really wanted.

Americans should be free to live quietly.  To raise those chickens and goats.  To have a garden.  To tap energy from flowing water, the wind or the sun.  They should also be happy in the knowledge that their government is working with them in their endeavors and not singling them out for heavy handed fines, threats, or worse, an armed attack to seize their property.

I am going to recommend  BHM to those who will be coming to my website.  I also intend to become an advertiser.  Thanks again for inspiring me to stand up and start using those rights that we all talk about, but few actually use.

Jim Harris

Ms. Ainsworth,

I’m writing a fast note to you while I’m getting dressed to go explain to the county engineer that I want to build my own house out in the country. I have no clue what to expect but judging by the phone conversations, perhaps he’s going to gently try to guide this 54 year old woman to pulling a mobile home on the property or just contracting a builder. I’ve been studying & drawing up my plans & using your dreams are goals with deadlines motto to push through just a little bit more every day. By the end of the month I think I’ll have all the kinks worked out. Today’s visit to the permit people is asking them specifics and for guidelines.

I’ve read everything you’ve written that I can get my hands on and wanted to thank you from the bottom of my heart for sharing your stories. Since 1980 I’ve wanted to build my own place but  have found excuses not to move forward. Finally I have the land and thanks to stories from you and Dave Duffy, am beginning to believe that I can pull this off. Personally I don’t subscribe to being a victim thus gotta keep going forward.

You need to know that I’ve enjoyed every article you’ve written and if you have any books out there point to them!  I’ll go after those too!

I’ll write more later but wanted you to know that your motto of ‘if not me then who, if now now then when’ was the catalyst that woke me up.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Marylynn Brooks
Mississippi

From the backwoodshome feedback page:

“We are especially interested in reading your non-political letters that talk about how you live your self-reliant life, including tips for other readers.”

Well, I am especially interested in reading a non-political magazine that talks about how I can live a self-reliant life, but that doesn’t appear possible with backwoodshome. Going from goat selection and wild edibles to the tea-party movement and supreme court ruling is jarring, at least to this reader who finds politics (of any ideology) extremely tedious. It’s annoying enough to turn on the television and be inundated with political talking heads, but to not be able to escape politics even in a magazine about self-sufficiency… I should hope that becoming self-reliant is a noble endeavor regardless of political affiliation. Everyone has strong political opinions, and you also happen to have a magazine capable of dissemination to a wide audience, but is it too much to ask that you save your political angst for letters to your own local editors, and focus on self-sufficiency?

I enjoy reading your magazine, but the political messages are souring the milk!

Sincerely,

Pete Weisdepp

Pete, you don’t even subscribe to the magazine and you’re complaining about its content? Should I change the content to suit someone who is reading it for free?

Why don’t you just stop coming to the website?

Dave

Greetings!

I used to get your magazine and loved it! However, I can no longer afford to subscribe.

I read your article about tapping maple trees and I have to let you know that I have a Norway Maple in my back yard, I am sure the person that planted it just wanted it for an ornamental tree as it is beautiful.

Well, this year I decided to tap it and try to make maple syrup. After I gathered some sap I read from a different source that Norway trees shouldn’t be tapped because of their “milky” sap. I boiled it down anyways and that is the best maple syrup I have ever tasted! I am glad that you mention the Norway maple as a tapper because it really is good.

Your friend,

Dee Dee G.

Dear Editor,

As an online reader that missed being a “Baby Boomer” by one year or so, and not quite young enough to be of this so called “younger generation” I was awestruck by one comment in Mr. Duffy’s article.

“One thing I feel pretty confident in predicting: America’s Second Revolution is coming, and the young will bring it.”

America has lost her way. One can only hope that these young people can right her course and guide her through the rocks and shoals of this treacherous bay. As someone that has sworn an oath “to support and defend the Constitution against all enemies foreign and domestic” I can only hope and pray that it comes by the ballot box instead of the rifle barrel.

Time will tell. I will not say I look forward to the future, as that would be a lie. I will however say that these are indeed interesting times.

BikerRN

Dave,

Been with you guys off and on for years now. Just a quick note of thanks to Massad Ayoob for his current issue article on the Appleseed Project. It was very well written and reading of his experience at the AS in Hernanndo County, FL, was very interesting. I love to read his articles and appreciate all you guys for such a fantastic SERVICE you have been doing over the past couple decades now at BWH.

Take care and keep up the good work. I’m sure that Massad Ayoob’s article will generate more people to go to an Appleseed, as I did, and for many of them to also take up the Heritage and seek to become more like the people who gave us this great Nation which we are seeing be dismantled day by day now. Your editorials always inspire me along the political lines as well and we are both on the same song sheet.

William Stover

Among your other fine articles, I’ve been following the construction of “Eric’s House” with interest. It appears that he will have a beautiful house when finished, at a fraction of the cost of hiring it done.

Of course, the pride of doing it yourself is inestimable.

Since I bought an old farmhouse on 145 acres in rural West Virginia in 1989, I have had to learn all of the skills involved here. While I have formal training in commercial carpentry, nothing in that prepared me for working on these old “Jenny Lind” houses.

I’ve done plumbing from the well, wiring from the service connection, gas piping from the wellhead or city meter, and septic systems from where you don’t want to know.

When severe summer or winter weather knocks out the power for weeks at a time, those less prepared can visit me for a hot shower and some TV, because I’m prepared for that.

I have also acquired four rental properties, and have had to replumb all of them, rewire most of them, and fix roofing, windows, doors, and things too numerous to mention.

I love where I live, and also your magazine. I have only one question.

Uh…What’s a “Building Inspector?”

John Dillon
West Virginia

Just found this via some other blogs and wanted to say, Kudos! Outstanding!

Especially “When we have sufficient free individuals, political, social, and institutional freedoms will follow. They will arise not through revolution or politically driven reform, but from who we are and the choices we make every day.”

Appreciatively,

Diana

I loved the bucket feeder idea. I can’t believe how much they want in the feed stores for such a simple container.

I have been looking around yard sales and flea markets but someone had just snatched them up. This idea makes my day.

I even think it works for ducks. At least they think so.

Thank you

Jackie Smith