The Cost of Living... on the Ocean

This was going to be a great pic for a home school wildlife curriculum... until people in the background decided to lip wrestle.

When traveling in the US, seven nights in a decent metropolitan hotel easily costs $1,000+.  You get a comfortable room, access to a rarely used ADA compliant pool (one of many costly mandates), use of a tiny gym and a marginal breakfast.  The price covers the cost of the facility, utilities, maintenance, salaries, property taxes and numerous other hidden and revealed taxes -  employment, socialist insecurity, permits, municipal inspection fees, fines (more taxes), various sales taxes, etc.

Compare that to seven nights on a cruise ship.  It’s more than a hotel, it maintains a massive water purification and sewage reclamation system, multiple enormous restaurants, massive diesel-electric propulsion, sophisticated navigation and controls, high end gym and theaters, casino, small shopping mall, fire department, private security, a hospital, barbers, IT department, laundry, tailors, machine shop, cold storage, amusements and other things that rival and sometimes exceed what exists in a city.

How is this possible?

Imaging checking into a ~$1,000 per week hotel and being told “we’re going to move you to a luxury hotel, upgrade your breakfast, provide great lunches, gourmet dinners, take you to a few foreign countries, beautiful beaches, provide medical care if needed, security, big city entertainment and amenities…  How is this possible for the same price!?!

How often do these elevators fail and drop out of the sky?

Clues as to why emerged early during a recent voyage.  The first was the absence of permits to marvel at while riding the numerous 11 story elevators (permits are used by gov. and crony capitalists to mulct businesses).  The second was a reliance on multiple companies for everything and no apparent reliance on any gov service. The third was an absence of American employees (businesses are forced to pay multiple employment/wage taxes when employing Americans, foreigners are considerably cheaper to employ even when paid the same salary).

The cruise line also stopped at a private island!  After an employee informed a number of guests of this, a perplexed female passenger asked “so there is no government oversight?  What about pollution?”  Before panic ensued, I politely explained to the lady that profits motivate the cruise line not to pollute, otherwise pollution would hinder their ability to attract guests.

On an island where anarchy exists and the only visible weapon is a fake cannon?

I didn't see any AK47s. How can this place remain peaceful? (Caleb's facial hair did create some worry that he could be Jack Sparrow).

2,400 acres of no government and tourists did not panic. Note the wheelchair bound gentleman on the left. Despite no regulations forcing accommodations, the free market provided a solution.

Stingrays still exist despite the absence of social custodians to protect them.

I was told by ship’s officers that regulations do exist (and also learned that the US can charge a considerable port tax - so cruising could be even cheaper?!?), but a number of regulations seem to be private and industry enforced (I suspect in a way that's analogous to Underwriter’s Laboratories for electronics).  It appears that it is the reduced or limited gov in international waters that makes life on the sea so inexpensive.

For example, remember that medical care (if needed) is also built into a cruise’s cost. I.e., there is no extra charge for treating a broken limb and the necessary x-rays, cast, etc. Why then does it cost ~$10,000 on land (and with no cruise included)!? Because bureaucrats administer costly regulations that severely limit competition and expropriate from providers. But at sea, medical is provided just as other services; in the most sensible and efficient way possible with little or no bureaucratic interference. And since cruise lines are motivated by profits, the quality is excellent because offering credible medical care is necessary to attract customers (and the companies that don't, don't last long).

So it strongly appears that unlimited gov makes life very expensive on land.  Are you getting our money’s worth?

Trinity: No!  Liberty: Hehehe  Keena: I have to leave for my spa appointment... my monogrammed robe should be ready.

There were numerous shows and comedians in two different theaters ...just amazing.  This pic is from where the theater audio is controlled.

No building codes, permitting regime or inspectors on this island?  Is this porch safe?

Keena: I can't decide between the escargot or frog leg appetizer...  Trins: This isn't like one of those land restaurants, have both, there is no extra charge! Caleb: Howdy.

After returning to the US, an elevator certificate confirmed that we were back in the “land of the free.” Just as with many other things that we think gov must "permit," if heavily used passengers elevators that scale more floors can be maintained safely (and while at sea!) without the costly oversight of public custodians, why can’t it be done on land?

Bonus pics from the cutting room floor:

An example of a hermit crab (and to the single ladies that frequent this blog, please note the well groomed facial hair and nicely trimmed finger nails).

The thirsty lady on the left was just informed that she can't have any water because there are no more cups.

Which Makes Us Safe, Laws Or Freedom?

Many advocate that laws can make us "safe" by restricting firearms.  See exhibit 1 below. This may appear to work, but unfortunately innocent smiles don’t dissuade miscreants from forcing their will upon someone weaker. Socialists and communists (aka "progressives") advocate for disarming society despite history demonstrating that it only encourages tyranny.

But when freedoms bestowed by God are respected, multiple options for protection manifest themselves.  Exhibit 2 below illustrates a common option.  Note that it does not matter how big or strong, nor if there is one or many attackers,

because a 55 grain metallic projectile emitted at 2,800+ feet per second quickly encourages bad people to reconsider harming others:

Firearms are arguably the best tools for defending life, and they most commonly do so by only being revealed by the one threatened (as John R. Lott has documented, firearms are regularly used by private citizens to preserve life, not to take it).

Ironically, the organization which many think exists to keep us safe has actually interfered with our ability to do so.  Current infringements upon our freedom to bear arms began in 1934 (NFA under FDR).  Until then, fully automatic firearms could be purchased without any restrictions (and frequently without a sales tax) at places like hardware stores.

The public school narrative claims that “gangsters” necessitated firearm restrictions.  But we are not told that after the end of prohibition in December of 1933 (which was an abysmal failure and another great example of the perils of restricting freedom), the Bureau of Prohibition essentially lost the justification for its existence, so in 1934, instead of being dissolved, it was given purview over the NFA and it eventually became the A TF.  Additional freedoms were infringed upon in 1968 (Gun Control Act under Johnson) and 1986 (FOPA under Reagan, aka the "Firearm Owners Protection Act" - funny how a legislation's title frequently belies what it really does).

But despite attempts to infringe upon what God has bestowed, what freedom remains has continued to improve our lives thru innovation. This is true in all areas of life. In the automotive industry, three wheeled vehicles provide options not available on four wheeled vehicles because of mandates. It’s also true with firearms.

The 1934 NFA unconstitutionally restricted the barrel and overall length of rifles in addition to who could possess one that was fully automatic (one had to pay $200 [a considerable sum in 1934] to not have their right to full auto infringed).  In 1986, Ronald Reagan, much lauded for supposedly defending freedom, imposed further restrictions severely limiting the availability of full auto firearms with FOPA (the "Gipper" speaks out of both sides of his mouth here).

But freedom thankfully finds ways to prevail. An arm brace instead of a butt stock allows the firearm below to meet the classification of a pistol, so barrel and overall length requirements do not apply.  In addition, the folding mechanism makes the firearm easier to carry and the incorporation of tuned triggers can somewhat approximate the behavior of full auto:

In places where fewer infringements on firearms exist, violence is uncommon compared to places like Chicago, Baltimore and others where contempt for freedom is prevalent. So if you really want safety, advocate for the restoration of freedom.