They say that Louis XIV had the inscription Ultima Ratio Regum cast into all the cannon of the French Army. It means “The Ultimate Argument of Kings,” and that always struck me as one of the most honest and up-front things any ruler or would-be ruler ever said. “We can dress it up prettier than this, but when it comes down to the unvarnished truth this is what it’s about: You’ll do as I say or I’ll send my goons to kill you.”
I thought about that for a long time. If there’s an ultimate argument, it seems only logical that there must be an ultimate answer. For years I thought the ultimate answer must be the bullets in my rifle, but it never seemed quite right. I’ve got bullets – he’s got frigging Cannon Balls. I mean, if there were three hundred million rifles throwing bullets at him, then maybe. But we all know that’s not going to happen. So if there’s an ultimate answer to his ultimate argument, it sure as hell ain’t bullets.
It finally came to me – and that’s when I abandoned the city and most of my stuff, and gave all that was behind me a good stiff Randian Shrug.
The ultimate answer to kings is not a bullet, but a belly laugh.
Up here in Ontario, Canada we are in a similar situation thanks the the fools at Queen’s Park. Over the next few years it should become very interesting here. I have been getting the gear together for the inevitable as much as I can. My wife finally got on board with what I’m doing after reading the last Ontario Hydro statement which predicts an increase in blackouts and strongly suggested getting a generator. As for me I have a solar setup and generator it’s not big or fancy but it will run the essentials when things go dark. Next on the list is a small wind turbine to charge the batteries when the fuel for the generator runs out…