The Extraordinary Power of One

By Chris Rossini

​As the walls of authoritarianism close in, the questions are often asked "What can we do? What can be done to restore freedom in America?"

There isn't a single answer to such questions. Single answers are the modus operandi of authoritarians:

"Everyone must do this. Everyone must do that. Everyone must do what they're told." 

Liberty is not born of, and does not expand, by authoritarian measures or thinking. There is no one-size-fits-all solution for the restoration of liberty. There is no central plan or planner. There is no algorithm, or committee of "experts" that can bring it about.

You could be sure that if any of these things did exist, Liberty would have no chance. They could never work.

So if all the typical authoritarian tools and thinking are out, what is there?

There's YOU.

Not what on Earth can that mean: "There's me?"

Well, when Ron Paul is asked the question: "Dr. Paul, what can I do...," he always has the same reply: "Do what you want."

Ron Paul doesn't know what your talents are, what your skills are, or where you can make the biggest dent against tyranny. What if Dr. Paul were to go the authoritarian route and reply by saying: "You must start a podcast. That is where you belong." What good would his plan for you be if you hate public speaking? 

What if, instead, you're an amazing artist who could be creating liberty-oriented political cartoons? Now Dr. Paul's advice of "Do what you want," fits perfectly. The ball is in your court. It's up to "YOU" to "DO."

Once you start to "do what you want" for Liberty, you've become the answer to your own question of "What can we do?"

You're doing it!

Now, if that's not good enough for you, if instead you're looking for a white knight to come in and invoke liberty by diktat, or for a politician to wave a magic wand to ban all tyranny, then you're looking at the problem like an authoritarian would.

You see, the BIG PICTURE of life, and all the events that transpire; all the good and the bad that take place in every second, are not for us to individually "take care of," or "make right," or "set straight."

That's what authoritarians and utopians have been trying to do since the beginning of recorded history. It's what they try to do today. 

They think that they are going to control the BIG PICTURE.

They're not!

In their minds, authoritarians create a frozen and static perfection (i.e., what they believe is perfection) where everything is to their liking, every thought and every action of every human being is in line with their "vision."

These utopian "visions" have unsurprisingly driven people to create the most horrible atrocities imaginable. 

They constantly bump up against the reality that this is a world of individuals, who have their own individual motivations, preferences, beliefs and goals.

There is no unity of thought here on Earth.

There is no unity of action here either.

To seek to create unity of thought and action is to seek to wipe out humanity!

There is only individual thought and individual action. There is only freedom here. The freedom to choose one's way. And it is here that one has the power to make a difference for the cause of Liberty.

If being a busybody is the problem, then it's up to you not to interfere into the business of others. Their lives, liberty and pursuit of happiness is their own. As long as no one is hurting anyone else, leave them alone.

If being dependent on government is the problem, then it is up to you to wean yourself off, as best as you can. Rely less on them this year, and even less next. Always moving away from dependency, and no longer moving towards.

If being in debt to the corrupt monetary system that we live under is the problem, then it is up to you to stop increasing your debts, and start paying them down. Again, less this year than last, and even less debt next year. Always moving away from debt and no longer adding more.

If lying politicians are the problem, stop believing them.

If the lying media is the problem, don't watch or listen.

Layer-by-layer, you remove yourself from being a part of the problem. 

Step-by-step you bless the world with one more person who wants to deal with others voluntarily and not through force.

Perfection will never be reached. There will always be one more improvement that you can make. The process doesn't end.

And as this process takes place, the BIG PICTURE will continue to have its ups and downs, just as it always has. A static and frozen utopia cannot exist in a constantly-changing universe.

Hundreds of years ago, the ideas of liberty dominated the minds of Americans. Today, the idea of "something for nothing" dominates. 

But this too shall pass.

The job that each of us has, is not to set about to "fix" the BIG PICTURE, but to individually change the ONE, the only one that we have the power to change....ourself.