rivercityvibe   “Puerile, smutty, schoolboy nonsense” – My Mom

There’s libertarianism, and there’s this.

An elderly couple just down the road in Sanford declared themselves independent sovereign states at some point during the 1990’s, announcing that they were deliberately putting themselves outside of U.S. government jurisdiction. Much like Jimmy Buffet’s extra eight ounces of Cherry Coke for 25 cents, they don’t want it. They don’t want that much organization in their life.

Queen-President Donna of Brinkleland

Unfortunately, as the Orlando Sentinel reports, personal-secession from the Union is not an inalienable right. You’ve got to pay your taxes, and you’ve got to have a driving license if you want to drive on the road.

Donna and Joel Brinkle disagree and boy-oh-boy, are they suffering for their comedy antics:

… Joel Brinkle keeps getting arrested for driving without a license. So far, it has happened three times. He doesn’t need a license, he said, because, just like his wife, he has proclaimed himself a sovereign nation.

Joel’s served 7 months in jail (he’s 76). They’ve lost their home and five acres and they are being sued by the state for harassing state officials.

This did not, of course, stop them from buying a $700,000 new home with a home-made money order. Oh no. When asked to explain, Mrs. Brinkle explained that,

[The] money order was perfectly valid. As head of her own sovereign country, she has the power to create her own monetary system……

There’s something undeniably great about the Brinkles. I know you agree.

Apparently, Ron Paul has written them a letter of support.