What Better Place to Launch Into a New and Better Direction Than From a Bottom?

By Chris Rossini

Today, Liberty is an idea that is alive and well, however it is not "mainstream." In America, once the "land of the free," dependency on government dominates the minds of most people. Waiting for orders from bureaucrats has replaced the 'rugged individualism' of our antecedents.

The Covid overreaction embarrassment is the latest glaring example. Never have Americans been subject to such authoritarian acts by the political class. And yet, Americans shamefully cowered and were pacified by a few measly checks from the government.

Well, what better place to launch into a new and better direction than from a bottom? Of course, as long as we're breathing, new bottoms can always be made. The downward spiral of government power can always continue deeper into the chasm.

If there's one thing Americans should grasp at this point it's that authoritarianism isn't just something that you read about in history books. It's not something that only happens "out there, somewhere." 

America is made up of human beings just like every other nation. Bad ideas (like Socialism, Fascism, Communism, Crony Capitalism, etc.) that destroyed other nations can and will destroy us too, if allowed.

Of course, bad ideas will always go under new and different name (authoritarians aren't stupid) but the principle is always the same. Your life, and the decisions you make, are placed into other people's hands.

It all happens one fear, and one crisis, at a time. The walls close in a little further during each episode, and are never pushed back. 

If you choose to be afraid from the propaganda that is blasted in your face from every direction, then you're toast. You'll wake up when the hysteria subsides with much less freedom.

And the freedom that you lost, you're not going to get back.

It won't matter afterwards that the propaganda was nonsense. It won't matter that you were lied to repeatedly. It won't matter when the truth comes out. By that time, a new fear and crisis will be blasted in your face. 

'Don't bother with the past. Let bygones be bygones. There's a new emergency!'

The key is, you're not getting your freedom back no matter what the truth about the past is.

There are no shortcuts out of this vice.

There aren't any back doors to escape through.

Liberty is it.

It's the only way out.

And the walls will continue to close, until enough people have a burning desire to be free.

Do a majority of people have to have this desire? 

No, not at all.

The majority always follows. The majority never leads.

Then how many people? 

No one knows. 

The only answer is "enough," whatever that happens to be.

An important key is for each of us to do the only thing that matters --- SPEAK.

Now, anyone can speak when the ideas of liberty dominate in society. That's easy. There's little push back. Anyone can be what Thomas Paine called a 'Sunshine Patriot.'

But in our time, that's not the case. 

Authoritarianism dominates today. You're in the minority opinion. 

Being in the minority, it means that when you speak, you'll immediately get push back. Expect it. You're speaking to multitudes that have been conditioned to be dependent on government.

Change is always resisted.

So speaking the ideas of liberty today guarantees immediate resistance. 

Our job is not to literally "change" anyone, like the authoritarians try to do. Our job is to focus intensely on causes, not effects. Speaking the ideas of liberty is the cause. The goal is to do it to the best of our ability each day. Plant the seed.

The effect, that is, people believing you and embracing the ideas of liberty, is irrelevant. Who cares if they believe you? Did you speak? Did you plant? That's what matters.

Other people are free to believe and embrace whatever ideas they want. That's strictly up to them, not you. Authoritarians try to force everyone to think like robots...not us. We're not looking to impose anything on anyone. We don't try to shove every human being into the same mold.

The philosophy of liberty means that everyone should be the one-of-a-kind unique individual that they are. Just don't use aggressive force to get the things that you want.

Get the things that you want voluntarily. Exchange, trade, and serve others. Don't rob, cheat and steal from them. Don't try to get a bureaucrat to do the robbing, cheating and stealing on your behalf.

Just because you close your eyes while the bureaucrat does the dirty work for you doesn't get you off the hook!

We're very fortunate that despite Liberty being the only way out, it is so easy to understand.

Even a child can understand non-aggression.

Even a child can grasp that 'what's yours if yours, and what's theirs is theirs.'

The ideas of liberty simply need is enough people to SPEAK them.

There will be push back. There will always be push back. That can't be an excuse to shut you up.

Focus on the cause.

Only focus on the cause.

Did you speak today? Did you plant today? If the answer is "yes," then you're good.

The rest will take care of itself.