An Objectivist Sense of Resignation
In my conclusion that our nation's sliding over the abyss, and that no political leaders who know enough (or care) to do anything about it will be put into positions of power, I am finding that I'm feeling a sense of "couldn't care less" that eclipses any of my past similar feelings. I'm done watching debates. I don't read articles about candidates. I'm avoiding facebook now that the banter is starting up there. No intention to vote. I flat out don't give a *&%. Anybody else out there have this same feeling? I am seeing a big uptick in threads here about Trump, etc. Do some of my fellow Objectivists still think that we might get a president who could turn this ship around? Or, are you finding yourself hiding in a valley more, getting ready to draw a dollar sign in the sky?
We see this mindset all the time when the Democrats want to pass a program to control yet another part of the economy. When the Republicans object they are demanded to give "their plan", which means their plan to control that part of the economy. The idea that the best plan is "no plan" is anathema.
His or her platform should be not to things but "to undo things."
First on the list to undue would to nullify all of Obama's executive orders and to make such things as the IRS and the EPA go away.
Hostile nations such as Iran get no deals and no money that the USA does not have in the first place.
Printed money that we do not really have could bring me to other things to undo.
Also, I could undo things like Common Core and Planned Parenthood go on and on and on.
That old Pacman video game now enters Old Dino's mind.
.
The GOP seems unwilling to even consider proposing that the government back off and let the people have some room. Now, we have this boa constrictor on the country. Exhale and it tightens. Wiggle and it tightens. It always tightens...then, the lights start going out.
I have made the realization that I cannot mindlessly foist this system on my kids. They deserve better. The world is their oyster...not just this patch, this tax farm.
Obviously a sad thing and something that would provide caution to anyone else trying to do that -- and they would know about her. But it was a single event, not a national problem. Our skies weren't filled with 7 year olds recklessly flying planes.
But Congress felt the need to act and passed legislation the "Child Pilot Safety Act" which prohibits someone without a license or medical certificate (essentially 17 years old) from being in control of the craft if they are trying to set a record. They can still fly, just not set records.
to propose that, say, if the Ds advance an initiative to require that
a new iPad be bought for every 4th grader in the nation, to be used
in their education, then the Rs should advance an initiative that
public school taxes be made optional, including the cost of iPads,
allowing for home schooling or private schooling with the tax dollars.
it might be poorly received by many, until they saw the dichotomy,
but it would be a real alternative to advancing government
control and debt. -- j
.
That said, I've personally gotten involved in my county Republican party and, with a lot of other liberty minded activists, have taken the party over, much to the chagrin of the state apparatchiks. We have turned it into a bottom-up organization that holds state and local politicians accountable and actually encourages discussion and input rather than waiting for marching orders from the likes of Boehner and McConnell.
It can be done, but decades of complacency got us into this mess and decades of patient, dedicated action will be required to clean it up.
I urge you to not give up and get involved in any you can, however small.
Politics goes to those who show up.
Possibly my favorite quote is from Voltaire. "Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities."
Credo Quia Absurdum Est = I believe it because it is absurd.
For deep thinkers, here's a platitude to consider:
If the dog barketh up the wrong tree and the coyote howleth at the moon, think, then, of the predicament of the goat. (Pot smokers: Heavy, man)
A few years ago there was a quote floating around often (incorrectly) attributed to a former Czech President about Obama and the electorate. While there's a lot of good stuff in it, my favorite line from this quote is this: "Blaming the prince of fools should not blind anyone to the vast confederacy of fools that made him their prince."
The problem is not with the government; it's with the people who keep giving us this government election after election after election.
Our local newspaper has a "reader comments" section called Let It Out. A few years ago, someone wrote in with this: "The problem with our country is that those of you who vote for a living now outnumber those of us who work for a living".
Yeah, Abaco, I share your "couldn't care less" mindset. It's almost impossible not to. While every revolution may start with one man, that man has to have the power to make his revolutionary ideas stick. Our political system has evolved into a system that squashes those revolutionaries before they can do any good.
I'm simply waiting for everything to collapse. I'll vote, because it's one of the very few social obligations or moral responsibilities I have. But I also know it’s an exercise in futility. We (as a nation) prove that in election after election; meet the new boss, same as the old boss.
I think I first ran across this in one of Heinlein's books years ago; "People ultimately get the kind of Government they deserve." Maybe as a whole we just are not evolved enough for the concept of government. After all, every government throughout history has followed the same cycle. Unfortunately, we and our children are at this point in the cycle. What will happen next is anyones guess: War - external or civil, collapse, oppression by our own government leading to collapse or revolution, a coup - usually military. In other words, the usual ways governments execute their demise (yes, I missed about a dozen possibilities). Some of these may be eliminated either because this is the first technologically dependent society (and that it self may cause the failure), and others because of the proliferation of personal weapons (although I would not be surprised if people gave up their weapons under duress).
The truth is; "It is what it is." The thing to do now is put together a plan to deal with it.
As to the civil collapse or a revolution featuring the military there is no need. If they do decide to honor their oath of office it would be a counter revolution. Moral, honorable, and legal.
"The US is a nation of laws: badly written and randomly enforced." Frank Zappa
"Congress Is the US's only true home grown criminal class." Samuel Clemens
And as to my characterization of the once to often national charade as street theater
"Politics is the entertainment branch of industry."
and putting it in musical terms. "You can't always write a chord ugly enough .....sometimes you have to rely on a giraffe full of whipped cream" Zappa. Now that had to be about Congress.
I don't want to be riding the "Comet" while it is being pushed through a tunnel by a "Smoker", to use an analogy.
"Democracy is the theory that people know what kind of government they want and deserve to get it good and hard."
We're getting it good and hard. No doubt about it.
That's where I still care - children. What our nation is doing to our children is really criminal. The proven ethical standards THAT WE KNOW WORK are being ignored when it comes to children. I don't think it's an accident, either. After the kids, guess who's next.
Under Carter, people did not work and did not eat. Under the odious one, people did not work and they eat. Debt signifies the lack of return of service to their fellow human being. Eating but not producing. "money" is merely a chit that demonstrates you had done something productive for another. That has been pushed aside, temporarily until the debt comes due and they start another war to cover the loss.....
Love and teach your kids well. Teach them the truth, both the difficult and hard to find truths.
You will find in time you are mentally in GALTS GULCH and it's Wonderfull feeling.
Atlas Shrugged was very accurate in that I don't remember it getting into the partisan fights within government. That's because, based on what I see, any such fights are just theater (the debates, etc.)
Of course a lot easier said then done. My heart to wishes for a solution, as have many before us, only to watch one government or empire rise up, have an enlightened phase, and then crash into history. It has finally occurred to me that governments are only one percent of the problem. For the first time I didn't listen to the debate because I know that whatever is said will not be acted upon (it never is) and it won't change the momentum that has built up and is shaping history. The mental definition of leadership in the average persons mind is wrapped around "benefits and promises."
Although historians are very poor at recording the why things happen; from what I have been able to learn a lot of Empires followed the same path when the heads of government learned to make promises that they could not possibly fulfill, began excessive control, excessive taxing, and bestowing benefits to stay in power. At some point the producers stop producing and the system crashes.
at age 15. . the immense contrast between living and existence,
operating as a societal slave under others' control, just
got to me. . I became a kind of geek, devoted to knowledge
and real producer-values like food, shelter, clothing .......
yes, the resignation has become more painful along the way.
as I see it, you have to fight for life every day. . soooooooo many
want to get a free ride that you have to hold them back
as best you can, by every action every day. . it's a tough way
to live, but facing reality beats the alternative!!! -- j
.
I've been writing about this for years..its here, its in the open, and things will hit the fan in my lifetime.
Suggestion, don't quit, don't stop caring, and do what you can to help restore Constitutional order in the country at every level of government. If we don't its gone, and there is literally no where else to go.
The best thing is if congress and the president are opposite parties, and neither can run with their agenda, because both are big government. If they disagree, and do less, we keep more freedom.
I recently wrote an article for my newsletter explaning that three things really matter: your health, family and money. These things matter and focusing on them can make life better. Not focusing on them is a mistake. As I watch this pres campaign unfold I find myself watching the citizens more than the candidates. I just see sheep, easy marks anymore. They're getting played by the political machine like a snake oil salesman plays a crowd.
We are Ruled by a Government of Force, you know.
Try this little book by Bastiat, it's a bargain. No, I don't get referral fees.
https://www.lewrockwell.com/lrc-blog/...
I understand withholding your emotional investment, it's frustrating, but now is not the time...when the American Dream needs us the most.
We saw the last gasp for hope eradicated with Vote2012 when we watched 98% of our voting fellow-men go for the greater evil because there was so little difference between the candidates O or R, neither of which knew enough or cared enough. So the Proponents of Force at last became wholly in charge, voted in by a populace who also saw no alternative to more-of-the-same.
Governments have always had, and used, it's powers of Force against both their own populace and against all other "nations", and always throughout history governments have Failed, only to be replace by (guess what?) - yet another government! The Collapse will be horrid -- no fun at all, at least all of the Rulers will be Out of Business! Then mankind gets one last chance for human beings to opt out of being Governed, ever again! One last hope for Individual Sovereignty and thus Real Liberty?
America's Self-Crippled Response to Islamic Totalitarianism
EDITED BY ELAN JOURNO - CONTRIBUTIONS BY ALEX EPSTEIN AND YARON BROOK
Like you, I am not as emotional about losing my country as I was for a LONG time. I have decided to wait until the nation falls into chaos, and that is when I believe there is a chance to develop voluntary anarchy, which I strongly favor. Our Constitution met its match with Obama's angel who got him into office to do the angel's will. The enemy of America found the Constitution's flaw and the left wing felt it now had the strength to defeat America and is doing so. What I think they do not realize is that they have milked it dry, and when they finally come to that conclusion, they will abandon it and then we can fix their screwups. To do so requires EVERY right wing good citizen we have, so I beg you to stay on board for what is coming.......it MAY turn out to be our salvation. You are certainly NOT ALONE!!!! My partner and I have a website I hope you will visit, and everyone is welcome to come by and browse at: http://www.no-ruler.net
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