I admit it: I am depressed.
Recently the overwhelming realization has hit me that very few people want to live free. While that won't stop me, it does mean that I know I probably will not be living in a free society at any point of my life. I would like to have company.
I have never claimed that freedom will be easy for everyone. What can you expect when the majority of people have been trained from birth to depend on the state in some way? What I do claim is that it will be better for everyone who does not intend to live the life of a parasite. No other philosophy can honestly make that claim. I do not seek to force people to be free; such an idea is so full of contradictions as to be ridiculous. I do expect to be allowed to live free, the way I choose, and will resist any attempts to stop me. I expect no better than coercion from the dependant and stubborn statists around me.
That isn't the worst of it.
The thing that confuses and hurts me the most are the people who claim to want liberty, but who will search for any excuse they can find to hide from it. These are the people supposedly on my side! It has become obvious that even they want nothing to do with liberty. The very idea either paralyzes them with fear or it sends them into a frenzy of "but"s. OK, I get it: you are scared of freedom and will do anything you can to stop it from becoming the "norm". Fine. I am not going to violate the ZAP and try to force you to grow up. Still, it is disappointing in the extreme to see liberty denigrated and replaced by a statism-lite in the debate for freedom.
Maybe it is time for me to find a secluded cabin or a cave and withdraw from civilization. I think it would do me good. Anyone have a nice cave they could loan or rent me?
.................................................
Geesh Kent . . . it's the middle of winter, everyone gets this way this time of year. You shouldn't get overwhelmed by other people's circumstances. We can't flip a switch and make freedom happen after all, it takes time and work.
ReplyDeleteIt's the little things that count on a day to day basis. A nice cup of coffee, a kid's smile. A car that starts and a roof over your head. Basic food and clothing. Once these things are secured most people are happy beyond any measure that the state or it's adherents might exact from us.
I agree with Eric to some degree; doldrums seem to be as pervasive as the flu this time of year. That's one reason why I've held a Jan. 16 celebration for two years now. You're welcome to participate—as is anyone reading this. It seems to help a number of us.
ReplyDeleteYes, Kent - that is a very common feeling I have as well. Constantly and completely surrounded by the willing enslaved at times often forces me to retreat to my "mental" cave. The frustration causes me to contemplate reversing my stance - if one can't be free, it is far better to be the King and rule. If I have been able to defend my freedom against all odds, imagine if I turned that energy around and into seizing power with all those willing 'allies' at my side. God help the world then.
ReplyDeleteBut as soon as I see kids - even though they are most likely destined to the same enslavement as their parents, there is maybe a chance for them. I'm reminded of another freedom fighter's mantra:
"Because my father failed in freeing me, I cannot and will not fail freeing my children"
My daughter will be closer to true freedom then I and I will die fighting for that.
I think that is the hardest climb for the people - that living in freedom is actually very hard. They are looking for 'easy' and 'safe'. The blinds over their eyes are so tight that they do not see that their lives are neither easy or safe at all, but illusions are powerful.
Most people believe freedom is a means to some other end - and can't get their minds to grasp that freedom is the goal! Yet, people want money - why? To be free to do what they want! People don't want to work at a 'job' - why? To be free to do what they want! People want 'power' over their lives - why? To be free to do what they want! So you show them how to do that - without need of money, 'job' or power and they run away from it as fast as possible into the hands of the State.
So look at them, Kent. They say they want financial freedom - but they actually do not want to work for it. So they bury themselves in debt to give them that illusion, and will be destroyed financially instead. They say they want 'work' freedom to do what they love for a 'job' - but they actually do not want to dedicate themselves to the degree that will allow them to live off their 'hobby', so they end up in jobs they hate, and whittle their lives away "living for the weekend". Same as self-power, they actually cede it away to others on a whim under any lie that allows them to be lazy for their own responsibility and safety - which means they are really never safe.
People are lazy. Therefore, they will suffer from the State, because the State - if anything - is relentless.
On my better days, I can look at it this way.
If freedom was that easy, everyone would have it, and it really wouldn't be that valuable.
Freedom is the most valuable thing, because it is so rare - more rare then all the gold in the world - because you and I and those of like mind would spend every single ounce of gold to buy our freedom, if that is what it would take!
And, thanks to technology and the web, we can find the very few of like mind. The more of us, like you, who write and publish as broadly and widely as we can, the more we will find our scattered tribe. That's how I learned about you - an article that was linked by another who, those still a Statist, like one sentence you wrote.
Small steps, Kent, small steady and strong steps - one sentence at a time.
I know that part of it is just seasonal. But, the weather has been nice and warm, and I have been spending a lot of time "outdoors" (as "outdoors" as you can get in town, that is). It goes a little deeper than that this year.
ReplyDeleteBF, I have also had the same "if you can't beat 'em; join 'em" thoughts in the past. Usually years ago, and over the issue of guns. Try as I might, I can't make myself agree with those who would violate the rights of others.
I have a happier post ready for tomorrow.
But I still want that cave, even as a retreat. I am feeling very confined in town. In fact, I think that is probably where most of this depression is coming from. Towns are fine, once in a while, but for me they are not a home.
Kent, I can really sympathize. It can be depressing to realize that most people around us really are all for the police state. I'm glad you put it out there so hopefully you can work your way out of it. For me to cope, I look at it this way. People who are going to be in my life, I try to just accept as they are, imperfect like me, and I really want to not just lump them together as the enemy or the other, but as people who just have not been able to overcome their lifelong conditioning to support state aggression. Considering how pervasive that conditioning is, I'm amazed and glad that any of us have escaped it.
ReplyDeleteI heard a Buddhist guy give a speech not too long ago where what seemed to be his point was: "there is suffering in the world, and it's important to recognize that there is, but to the extent that I can make my own mind happier, I've made a tangible and immediate improvement in the universe." It may be a very small thing, but I can go somewhere with that. Other people's minds don't have to prevent me from making my own mind a good place.
I do realize that most of this is in my own head. Things can be falling apart all around me, and when I am feeling good, nothing can get me down. This just happens to be one of those "other" times. But, the kind words are greatly appreciated, and are helping.
ReplyDeleteThanks.
I didn't know you live in a town now, Kent; that explains it much more clearly to me. (I too greatly dislike living in a town.)
ReplyDelete