Funny, today (2-23) is A Day of Resistance in Alaska. A few groups from around the state will be gathering in parks and in public places bearing arms and signs and public speeches; and I'm sure that none of them got their permits. If I weren't working, I'd be there.
That said, I try to resist by calling bullshit on anyone who hides behind evasions and lives through contradictions, calling out their double-standard. I resist through being prepared. I resist through trying to lower my taxability in every way I can. Every check I send in for my property extortion or to the Irs or any other government entity, I always sign, "Signed under threat duress or coercion." I always buy American Flag stamps and put them on my envelopes upside down. I put little 'Who is John Galt' stickers on gas pumps, vending machines, shopping carts, and other random places. We try to eat healthy and organic when affordable. We have a good sized garden and greenhouse with heirloom vegetables organically grown. We have banished commercial television from the house, and come summertime, I intend to take the TV out and put a clip of 7.62 through it.
I question everything and take nothing on face value; always wondering , 'What could be their underlying motives?"
I plan to resist even further by homeschooling, and refusing unnecessary vaccines. I will resist any attempt by the state to steal my child's mind, or mine. We're working towards full self-employment and, eventually, being completely off the grid.
I resist by breaking bubbles and delusions. When people try to avoid the way things are, I slap them in the face with facts, and basically try to make the comfortable, uncomfortable; even if sometimes I have to set my sights on myself.

I have 'retired' :-)

I resist by going to DC in May to get in the face of those on the federal level who are oppressing me. In the meantime I am working locally to promote and place true Constitutional candidates on the ballot and see them through to election. There will always be a certain segment of the population that takes and a liberal side of controllers who want to give (what is rightfully yours), but we cannot go down without a fight. It may seem that too many people are just now waking up to the truth. We all need to speak up, speak the truth. You can never be tripped up as the libs constantly are, when you speak the truth, uphold the Constitution and refuse to let the insidious so called ideal that is promoted by statists to be promoted in your presence. We have been a silent majority for far too long. The pendulum must swing or stop where it now hangs for a generation or more. We are at an extreme tipping point as never seen before in the short history of this nation. Get involved or simply sit and wring your hands, and when you are asked years from now what you did to save this nation, hope that you can answer with pride.

I tried talking to my representative, but she is such a socialist, she won't change. The people in her district are mostly liberal so my voice goes unheard. I have lived in my house for 37 years and based on what is happening in my town, I am being driven out. I hope the place I find has not been found by other liberals moving out yet!

Kal, "Most Americans are against what has happened here..."

Yes and no, but mostly no. If you ask many (or most) people about some particular egregious situation (a specific effect of applying a law or regulation) then they will honestly agree with you.

The next step, however, usually meets with intransigence - try to convince them that the entire law or regulation is bad and they will just start quoting how some bad person or group or corporation would oppress and destroy if not kept in check by the law or regulation.

I can only remember ONE success I've had, and it was recent. A friend said that she believed that health care was a basic human right. I calmly explained to her why I didn't believe that. How it's impossible to have a right that depends on someone else to provide it to you. It only took 2 or 3 minutes and she had changed her mind. She really internalized what I said. But that was an exceedingly rare moment!

rlewellen, in the first sentence, is referring to the Bible. After that he goes (even further) off the deep end.

I am lucky. Everyday, my group of young analysts remind me what is still good about the US. 3 of them are from mainland China, who chose to leave their family, their friends, their language and traditions, to come here rather than live under that awful regime. They have come here because they are naturally, or through experience, against the socialist state, and the horrors it causes. Nevertheless, their world and US history was still taught to them by the Communist Party. And most of the time the only background to a story they have is what they see on TV with the huge media bias. So many, many days I give them explanations of our true history, how our government should work, and what shaped this country. Correcting the falsehoods underlying the media bias is never ending. They are all PhDs so explanations with reason and logic have great influence with them. They never heard of "1984" or "Fahrenheit 451". But of course, they or their parents actually lived it.

So don't give up hope. America is still the land of ideals and principles to a lot of the world. Those of us who know what is important should just do as much as we can.

Things are nowhere near as bad as you describe. I reject the idea of NOT hiring people and NOT working. The world is run by those who show up. Do hire people. Do work. Get to know your representatives in gov't, esp if you disagree with them. They have a hard time voting against something many people are for. Limit your time with people and things written by media outlets and activist organizations. They'll never say “Problem XYZ is getting better, and US has a decent record on this issue, but we need you to help us make problem XYZ go away even faster.” Instead they have to say, “Problem XYZ is an outrage that threatens your very existence.” Even people who work in that industry start to think that way. I stay away from them.

Always liked that tutorial, here's the full video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-MzxC8Mqu...

The same thing might work in my city, except you'd have to say "Thank you President Bush." Of course some politician is not responsible for whatever's making people angry in life. The suggestion, though, plants the idea that the problem is some politician.

It's a self-selected group who stands around grousing about politicians being responsible for their problems. The rest of the world just selects another vendor and gets things done.

Increase your knowledge of Objectivism every chance you get. The intellectual ammunition you get will not only help you see the most effective way of dealing with the evils we are all facing today but it will also help to bolster you emotionally. A donation to the Ayn Rand Institute is always helpful. The Institute is trying to affect change at the source of the countries ideas: in the universities.

I pointed you because of the truth and raw emotion I felt upon reading this. You ask such a critical question. I identify completely and ask myself this often.

what mminnick said.
and never, NEVER let an opportunity to speak out for "the American Way" go by. It doesn't matter if you're tired, or there are only 2 other people there, speak out. example? My honey was standing in a very long line at the pharmacy last month, and a customer was berating the clerk about being stupid, the store for not hiring enough clerks, yada yada. The pharmacist actually came out and apologized, saying that "the changes" were making things take longer. The hero I live with said, very loudly and very clearly "thank YOU, President Obama!!" and almost started a riot. People were so angry and upset and didn't have any target for that feeling. He gave them one, and everyone in the line started talking to each other about "did you hear..." and "I tried to get the insurance..." and that sort of thing. For those few moments, they came together, and had a common enemy, and they knew who it was. Will everything change overnight? Of course not. But some percentage of those people will take that aimed anger and frustration and DO something with it: political, educational, small arena like the weekend BBQ or large arena.
One of the best things you can do is to plant the seeds of change, every time you get the chance.

.This may sound a bit trite and odd but you resist by doing what you are doing now. Talk about what is happening and asking questions about how to prevent it from happening. Talk to people, write, and call or visit your Representative. The same with your senators. Let them know how you feel about what is going on.
Get involved in politics. Campaign for you choice of candidate. Contribute to causes you believe in. If this doesn’t seem to be working, run for office yourself. The more people involved and working to stop the changes, the more effective the effort will be.
One of the best ways to influence wha t is going on is to form a Tea Part group. I know there is no umbrella organization for Tea Party organizations or groups, but there are some large Tea Party groups that might be able to assist you in getting set up and going.
+1