Avoiding The "God-Complex" Trap

By Chris Rossini

Many who understand the superiority of the ideas of liberty simply give up. They see that the downward pull of totalitarianism continues at a relentless pace and come to the conclusion of "What's the point?"

This is an error in judgment.

The first error is in exclusively focusing on the effect. That is, in the expectation that your words are going to immediately change the minds of those around you who clamor for more authoritarianism. 

It is human nature to want the achievement of your ends as quickly as possible. That is, we want things immediately.

This desire for immediacy is (of course) exploited. Take a look at how the vast majority of individuals, corporations, and governments are all being crushed under mountains of debt. This is what happens when the desire for immediacy is fed and enabled by money that is created out-of-thin-air by central banks.

Well, in the arena of ideas, it is natural for those who believe in liberty to want the effect of their speaking to bear fruit right now! And if the effects are not seen right now, the thought of giving up (or worse, i.e., actually joining the totalitarians) becomes enticing to far too many people.

But immediate adoption is not how the arena of ideas works. 

Changing the world "right now" is the belief system that the totalitarians live under. They think they can forcefully implement their ideas of control through legislation, government coercion, and even outright violence.

It doesn't work. 

This is why the totalitarians have a 100% failure rate over time. They come and go...come and go...come and go...

Human individuals are very complex. We're all exquisitely unique, with our own personal kingdoms located between our two ears. 

No one...NO ONE...can force anyone else to believe what they don't want to believe. No amount of legislation, propaganda, or outright violence can force someone to believe what they don't want to believe.

This is a lesson that the totalitarians simply refuse to learn. Totalitarians suffer from a "God-Complex." They believe that they can arrange the world to their liking; that they can re-make it in their own image.

They can't. And won't.

The only consistent results that totalitarians have produced for mankind are mass death.

The job of the libertarian is not to change the circumstances as they are. It's too late for that. The circumstances exist because of what people have chosen to believe. That's how it works. Beliefs come first, and consequences follow.

So it's an error to look at consequences and say "What's the use?"

Instead, one must look at the consequences of creeping totalitarianism and say "What an opportunity!"

While we do not have the power to interfere with the effects, WE DO have the power interfere with the causes!

That is where the opportunity lies.

We do have the power to plant the seeds of the ideas of liberty. And that is the job of the libertarian....to plant! 

And to not only plant, but to plant abundantly!

When a farmer looks out at his 500 acres, does he throw out a handful of seeds, or does he throw them out by the thousands?

When he throws out the seeds, does he start whining at the ground, saying "I want my harvest right now!"

No, of course not.

He knows that it doesn't work that way. There is no immediacy.

But he does know that the effect is built into the cause. He does know that the harvest will come as an effect. He does know that his job was to take care of the cause.

That's our job. Laser-like focus on the cause. Persistent speaking of the ideas of liberty. Sow the wind; reap the whirlwind.

The circumstances will ultimately reflect our efforts, whether it be today, tomorrow, in 10 years, in 100 years...whatever!

The truth never runs out of time.