Love this perspective. The Amish example really nails it becasue they're not trying to convince anyone or change policy, just building parallel structures that work for them. Once saw a similar dynamic with homeschooling families who basically created their own educational ecosystem without waiting for school board approval. Sometimes the best response to a broken sytem isn't reform but just creating something better alongside it.
Not the first time I've posed this Albert Camus quote, nor will it be the last time; "The only way to deal with an unfree world is to become so absolutely free that your very existence is an act of rebellion."
Thank you, Kim, and thank you for having optimism and hope. There is so much blackpilled doomerism these days, and it really does us no good to be mired in despair!
Yup, fighting is what they want and encourage, they know how to deal with force. There is another way. I discussed it in this post https://substack.com/home/post/p-187106746 In fact there are actually probably an infinite number of ways as there are potentially an infinite number of individuals in existence. Thanks for reminding us.
Hi Calvin, you are on the right track. Learning that managing symptoms instead of understanding causes is related to what Thoreau said about the millions futilely hacking at the branches of tyranny with only a few who go for the roots. What you say about taking a holistic approach and taking into account the truth that we are all connected instead of selfishly ignoring the requirements of natural law which considers our obligations to our neighbors and to truth.
One thing about the Amish is that they are devout Christians, so they follow the Ten Commandments + Jesus’s 2 Commandments (summary of the law), thus they have a much more intact and trusting community. And that fact gave them the option to opt out of government services b/c they are small and have strong community support (like taking care of their elders so no need for SS.)
Individual freedom will thrive more in a trusting community and that’s not something we have anymore. Integrity is probably at an all-time low these days.
Let’s Build! Yes! We need to do that and stay positive b/c thoughts are actions. Live Free or Die.
You’ve written about the various sects fighting amongst themselves, and that’s a big problem. That’s what “they” want.
What if we could all work together to first downsize the federal government, then we could go from there, allowing people to opt out of government if they want? Of course, you will continue working on the distributed nation idea but also let the Freedom Movement work together, step by step.
Baby Steps…Did you see What About Bob, yet?
It’s sad that the ideas of Robert Yates (aka Brutus) got memory-holed because it does not seem like many people have heard of him, let alone have read about his ideas. We can still take his ideas and work together to downsize the fed.
“ What if we could all work together to first downsize the federal government, then we could go from there, allowing people to opt out of government if they want? Of course, you will continue working on the distributed nation idea but also let the Freedom Movement work together, step by step.”
—I do not disparage anyone’s attempts to downsize government. I am grateful for such attempts, as they buy us time to build. My view is simply this: 99 percent of the freedom movement is focused on that project already—on reforming the system, fighting the system, shrinking government, etc. Thus, the freedom movement can spare a few more of us to build something new. There will still be plenty left for the former efforts.
“Individual freedom will thrive more in a trusting community and that’s not something we have anymore. Integrity is probably at an all-time low these days.“
—Yes. Without the religious glue, we will have a harder time with cohesion. And yet, many people hold together, albeit loosely, just based on a shared belief in America’s founding principles. I think we can do the same.
I agree with both of your points of view. I think we have to work both sides of the system to bring it down, although the odds look worse every year.
It’s hard to be positive with the sheer volume of aggression against the populace by our government, but I see little glimmers of hope in my daily interactions.
I don’t expect to stand in the shade of the trees we’re planting, as you say, but I hope very much that they will be there for future generations.
I surely have nothing to do with that system that is not forced upon Me under duress. LOL! I withdrew My consent from the psychopathic legal/governmafia mess and stand sovereign on higher ground - on Ethical ground.
And work to obsolete the tool that They have - the ONLY tool - to keep that system in cohesion...
Anarchism, voluntarism, capitalism, any sort of liberty-based system, isn't a totalizing system. It never needs *everyone* to agree to it before *someone* can simply behave accordingly and maybe find enough others who do the same.
In fact, if anarchism, voluntarism, capitalism, and the like do totalize, they cease to be anarchism, voluntarism, capitalism and the like. Some things fundamentallly can't be decreed to encompass all persons; they can't be made totalitarian. Christianity is like this, too, despite what the Christendom quasi-pagans attempted for centuries (and still do attempt, *cough* Christian Nationalists *cough*).
It seems too many liberty advocates are closeted totalitarians who've turned the language of freedom into their totalizing objective.
I think a big part of the problem is the fallacy of the single-solution system. Our experience tells us that everyone in a given area must live under one system, and so people think in terms of taking over the system, reforming it, imposing new ways, etc. Unfortunately, this even afflicts people in the freedom movement.
If we encourage people towards the understanding that panarchy can work, this may start to change.
first of all one has to wonder what someone experiences as freedom.
when I think about it, I think of a tribe in the Amazon, or in Africa, that has had little or no contact with westerners, does not use money, hunts, fishes, or gathers for food and lives in a hand made hut or shelter. may be a weird way of thinking of freedom, but living in a society requires rules, and with rules put onto everyone by someone else, even a tribe elder, is no longer total freedom. I think once you have lived in a house with AC the thought of freedom is no longer valid. But that is just me, of course.
Is it only the absence of? Or does freedom require a set of principles, structures or agreements (rules, if you will), and protections that allow humans to thrive?
Given the behavior of humans, yes, absolutely some do need to be told not to violate the rights of others.
By absence, I simply meant that in order to respect the freedom of others, all that is needed is to do nothing. Just don’t trespass their person, property, or liberty.
Love this perspective. The Amish example really nails it becasue they're not trying to convince anyone or change policy, just building parallel structures that work for them. Once saw a similar dynamic with homeschooling families who basically created their own educational ecosystem without waiting for school board approval. Sometimes the best response to a broken sytem isn't reform but just creating something better alongside it.
This is the way.
Not the first time I've posed this Albert Camus quote, nor will it be the last time; "The only way to deal with an unfree world is to become so absolutely free that your very existence is an act of rebellion."
It is a magnificent quote and sentiment.
One small spark of light drives out a lot of darkness; think about what millions could do.
What I've observed in the past year or two are many new sparks, all across our nation.
We haven't reached the tipping point yet, but we'll get there.
Great article, Chris, and love the song!
Thank you, Kim, and thank you for having optimism and hope. There is so much blackpilled doomerism these days, and it really does us no good to be mired in despair!
Yup, fighting is what they want and encourage, they know how to deal with force. There is another way. I discussed it in this post https://substack.com/home/post/p-187106746 In fact there are actually probably an infinite number of ways as there are potentially an infinite number of individuals in existence. Thanks for reminding us.
Hey Hat. There are specific, universal requirements for freedom but I don't think that many people like to hear that!
https://open.substack.com/pub/calvinperrins/p/the-futility-of-challenging-an-illegitimate?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=1sa22z
Hi Calvin, you are on the right track. Learning that managing symptoms instead of understanding causes is related to what Thoreau said about the millions futilely hacking at the branches of tyranny with only a few who go for the roots. What you say about taking a holistic approach and taking into account the truth that we are all connected instead of selfishly ignoring the requirements of natural law which considers our obligations to our neighbors and to truth.
One thing about the Amish is that they are devout Christians, so they follow the Ten Commandments + Jesus’s 2 Commandments (summary of the law), thus they have a much more intact and trusting community. And that fact gave them the option to opt out of government services b/c they are small and have strong community support (like taking care of their elders so no need for SS.)
Individual freedom will thrive more in a trusting community and that’s not something we have anymore. Integrity is probably at an all-time low these days.
Let’s Build! Yes! We need to do that and stay positive b/c thoughts are actions. Live Free or Die.
You’ve written about the various sects fighting amongst themselves, and that’s a big problem. That’s what “they” want.
What if we could all work together to first downsize the federal government, then we could go from there, allowing people to opt out of government if they want? Of course, you will continue working on the distributed nation idea but also let the Freedom Movement work together, step by step.
Baby Steps…Did you see What About Bob, yet?
It’s sad that the ideas of Robert Yates (aka Brutus) got memory-holed because it does not seem like many people have heard of him, let alone have read about his ideas. We can still take his ideas and work together to downsize the fed.
Our current reality is proving that Brutus was right about everything: https://lizlasorte.substack.com/p/brutus-was-right-about-everything?r=76q58
“ What if we could all work together to first downsize the federal government, then we could go from there, allowing people to opt out of government if they want? Of course, you will continue working on the distributed nation idea but also let the Freedom Movement work together, step by step.”
—I do not disparage anyone’s attempts to downsize government. I am grateful for such attempts, as they buy us time to build. My view is simply this: 99 percent of the freedom movement is focused on that project already—on reforming the system, fighting the system, shrinking government, etc. Thus, the freedom movement can spare a few more of us to build something new. There will still be plenty left for the former efforts.
🤔
Yes, the Antifederalists totally got shafted by Hamilton and Co.!
“Baby Steps…Did you see What About Bob, yet?”
—No. can you remind me of what it is about?
“Individual freedom will thrive more in a trusting community and that’s not something we have anymore. Integrity is probably at an all-time low these days.“
—Yes. Without the religious glue, we will have a harder time with cohesion. And yet, many people hold together, albeit loosely, just based on a shared belief in America’s founding principles. I think we can do the same.
We thought it was funny: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0103241/?ref_=ext_shr_sms
I agree with both of your points of view. I think we have to work both sides of the system to bring it down, although the odds look worse every year.
It’s hard to be positive with the sheer volume of aggression against the populace by our government, but I see little glimmers of hope in my daily interactions.
I don’t expect to stand in the shade of the trees we’re planting, as you say, but I hope very much that they will be there for future generations.
I think the answer lies in those daily interactions and the glimmers of hope emanating therefrom.
As another Substacker was pointing out recently, fighting the system makes us a part of the system.
What you are doing in your own life is BUILDING something. That is the way.
I surely have nothing to do with that system that is not forced upon Me under duress. LOL! I withdrew My consent from the psychopathic legal/governmafia mess and stand sovereign on higher ground - on Ethical ground.
And work to obsolete the tool that They have - the ONLY tool - to keep that system in cohesion...
Anarchism, voluntarism, capitalism, any sort of liberty-based system, isn't a totalizing system. It never needs *everyone* to agree to it before *someone* can simply behave accordingly and maybe find enough others who do the same.
In fact, if anarchism, voluntarism, capitalism, and the like do totalize, they cease to be anarchism, voluntarism, capitalism and the like. Some things fundamentallly can't be decreed to encompass all persons; they can't be made totalitarian. Christianity is like this, too, despite what the Christendom quasi-pagans attempted for centuries (and still do attempt, *cough* Christian Nationalists *cough*).
It seems too many liberty advocates are closeted totalitarians who've turned the language of freedom into their totalizing objective.
Oh, and a good song, too!
I think a big part of the problem is the fallacy of the single-solution system. Our experience tells us that everyone in a given area must live under one system, and so people think in terms of taking over the system, reforming it, imposing new ways, etc. Unfortunately, this even afflicts people in the freedom movement.
If we encourage people towards the understanding that panarchy can work, this may start to change.
first of all one has to wonder what someone experiences as freedom.
when I think about it, I think of a tribe in the Amazon, or in Africa, that has had little or no contact with westerners, does not use money, hunts, fishes, or gathers for food and lives in a hand made hut or shelter. may be a weird way of thinking of freedom, but living in a society requires rules, and with rules put onto everyone by someone else, even a tribe elder, is no longer total freedom. I think once you have lived in a house with AC the thought of freedom is no longer valid. But that is just me, of course.
I would imagine that the tribes have their own rules.
Generally, I think of freedom as the absence of coercive trespasses against person, property, or liberty.
Is it only the absence of? Or does freedom require a set of principles, structures or agreements (rules, if you will), and protections that allow humans to thrive?
Given the behavior of humans, yes, absolutely some do need to be told not to violate the rights of others.
By absence, I simply meant that in order to respect the freedom of others, all that is needed is to do nothing. Just don’t trespass their person, property, or liberty.