Customer Reviews

I Am Not A Number!: Freeing America From the ID State

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Wolfe's cynicism towards both big government and violent political fringe groups, without any paranoia and hysteria, is a welcome change from books of this type (not unlike her previous book, "101 Things To Do 'Til the Revolution"). Instead of a typical "globalist conspiracy, grab your guns and head for the hills" type of book, this is an investigation of just how your rights are being eroded, not by plot and design, but by complacancy and apathy; how we are allowing our desires for security and comfort to build a prison for us with bars that we will never even notice. Included in the book are resources and suggestions (with plenty of "caveat emptor"s) on how to keep what privacy you have, as well as taking back some that you've lost.

You don't know how much privacy you've already lost? Frightening, isn't it?

Worthy of the title, taken from a line from Patrick McGoohan's TV mini-series "The Prisoner" (Available on tape, so rent it!), this is Wolfe's best so far. A rare voice in this field of writing, I look forward to more "rationally radical" works from her.

Claire Wolfe first popped into view while researching National ID sites and electronic privacy forums. I was delighted with what I found. Perhaps enough of us will see the light Claire has given us before the lamp is extinguished.

For the interested reader, there are other gems to be mined. A "must read", fictional account of where we are headed if current trends are not reversed is a new novel by author Jerry Furland, "TRANSFER-the end of the beginning...". Chillingly topical and utterly believable, you should check it out right here at Amazon.com. Forewarned is forearmed.

Claire Wolfe, Culture Hero

The revised and expanded second addition of her recognized libertarian classic, I Am Not a Number! Freeing America from the ID State, is out now and even better than the first. She's written a bunch of other books, too. In fact that's the first question a person asks after reading one of them: "Is there more?" You find yourself wanting to take a couple of weeks off from work to check out the rest.

A sage once said, "If we keep on the way we're going, we're going to wind up where we're headed." So this is a book to get now, because when we do wind up where we're headed, a book like this is only one of the things we won't be able to get.

In the great tradition of Harriet Tubman, who led slaves out of bondage via the underground railroad, Claire Wolfe provides clear directions back to America. The America some of us love and miss. An America where, to give just one little example, paying for something with legal tender didn't used to be seen as suspicious behavior.

It's about "how to retain ownership of our lives."

Wolfe reminds us that the recipe for freedom is a willingness to take risks, combined with a re-evaluation of priorities, followed by making the appropriate changes in lifestyle. (As another sage expressed it, you can do anything you want as long as you're willing to pay the price. A lot of times you don't end up having to pay the price - but you have to be willing.)

She discusses the extremes: primitive living at a level so far below the radar that the authorities don't bother with you - which can be a life of deprivation and loneliness - or sophisticated hiding - which can be ditto. How to escape? Shooting the bastards is not a real good idea, since all it tends to do is make the next crop of bastards even nastier.

Millions of Americans, Wolfe feels, "have now reached their line in the sand" and are ready to stop being sheeple. The preferred method is to "creatively disregard" the rulers - emotionally, mentally, philosophically and if necessary even physically. Leave the government even if you can't leave the country. Many methods of non-cooperation are suggested here, along with advice about how to handle such things as financial and medical affairs. For someone who hasn't heard about, for instance, the Free State Project, this could be a major life-changer.

The slogan of the cyberpunk crowd was, "Information wants to be free." These days, it's much more useful to remember this - "Information want to help us be free." The opportunities for further self-enlightenment in Wolfe's generous "Freedom Resources" section prove it.

If you are sorely depressed about the current state of the country and with the idea being pushed on us that the USA Patriot Act is a way toward Homeland Security. If instead of security, you're finding personal freedom and privacy a thing of the past,this may be just the book to read. Claire gives you the sense that things aren't completely lost. She doles out some sound advice about how to live quietly within the system--sort of a low tech under the radar approach--and also perhaps a little bit of a utopian approach, but very do-able if people just band together. Her idea for using hobo signs to identify others of like mind is one that I personally like. There is a lot of hope in this book and what Claire Wolfe is famous for--that ability to inspire. For other books like this 8003802230 or the loompanics site.

This book combines a compendium of reasons to be against the Federal ID number schemes, and a lot of interesting tips on how to live without submitting to them. As a hard-core curmudgeon who dislikes anybody sniffing into my affairs, I loved it. The Clintonistas would hate it, but what else would you expect?

I have read a few of Claire Wolfe's articles, which prompted me to buy this book during an ISIL (International Society for Individual Liberty) conference. She gives some very innovative ideas on how to stay out of government databases and other alternatives to using your 'national ID number' (SSN). Anyone who is concerned about how fast we are losing privacy in this country should take a look at this book.

This author of this book is not fooling...the numbering system is being forced on us as we speak...those who own even one livestock animal will face having premises(the term property is not used) and animals numbered, microchipped and all births, deaths and movements tracked....this program is called NAIS and it is a business plan designed to benefit coporate ag but those animals raised in groups get one lot number. See nonais dot org for more info about the program that will put livestock owners under more govt surveillance than illegals, drug dealers or sex offenders.