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Guest post: Inner Freedom Comes First
From Brandon Smith of Alt-Market
Inner Freedom Comes First
Is freedom a place, or an idea? A state of society, or a state of mind? Does it begin around us, or within us? In today’s world of the all-you-can-eat sensory buffet, where every facet of life is a bit and a byte and a radio wave and a laser beam, most of humanity looks for all of its answers to such questions in the grand ether of the tumbling data stream. We see changes in the tapestry of cultural interaction as the final measure of national progression, or regression. We confuse forward sounding language with forward moving political transformation. We are mesmerized by the illusion of environmental appearance, and forget that the indelible root of all things outward is nurtured by that which lay within.
In America, in the midst of economic crisis and government driven moral hazard, millions of people are scrambling for “solutions”. The term is used rather haphazardly and often without proper context. There are, indeed, very evil men out there in the dark precipices of global infrastructure, and, these men often instigate very bad events. However, “doing away with them” is NOT a solution. It is NOT a plan. It is merely a goal. A solution requires more than an end result; it also involves the steps necessary to achieve said result. The Liberty Movement, as it is commonly called, tends to run into so much frustration and angst, I believe, because it consistently attempts to skip to the end of the story without traveling the rest of the very necessary journey.
End the Fed! Sue the Fed! March on Washington! Vote the bums out! Take up arms! These are not actions, but reactions triggered by the confusion of the moment. Not only are they single minded responses that lack the strategy and logistics inherent in a successful counter-offensive, but such cries ignore the other devious culprit responsible for our national heartache; ourselves.
Yes, the world must change, and soon, if our principles are to survive. But, for this to happen, we must change first. Instead of looking up, down, and all around us for some magical all encompassing answer, we have to question our very assumptions and world views. No weapon of steel or of law will ever undo the tragedy we live in day to day while we lack the conviction to confront our own biases and failings. We have always been the greatest obstacle to a truly freedom based society, not the elites, who are nothing but parasites feeding off our willfully perpetuated inadequacies.
Working methodologies for combating globalization and centralization do exist. State nullification, for instance, is a significant tool for defusing obtrusive federal authority, but without the organizational willpower and perseverance to take back the now thoroughly corrupt election process county by county, state by state, while producing viable liberty minded candidates and grassroots activist groups, nullification is impossible. Survival preparation is essential for anyone who wishes to decouple from the collapsing mainstream system, but without the determination to make prepping a reality, we are left with nothing but a bunch of hungry, desperate nobodies huddled on the sidelines of the war for truth. Barter networking and alternative markets require extensive patience and unerring dedication, along with constant self education on the processes of sound money and private trade. Safe Haven and Free State Projects push us even harder, requiring us to uproot from everything we have been conditioned to accept as normal and comfortable, and travel, perhaps long distances, to begin anew in a place likely unfamiliar. All of these things involve an internal finality of purpose, a clear and unwavering path unhindered by regret. Those who undertake the above initiatives do so not because they were “told to”, but because they know, above all else, that what they are doing is right. They no longer stand in their own way, and thus, the possibilities become infinite.
For others, the endless circular battle between action and apathy continues. Below, are some of the most frequent excuses uttered by those aware of the burgeoning dangers of a disintegrating culture but who are incapable of taking the first steps of inward freedom needed to do anything about their predicament…
1) I know things are getting bad in this country, but I only have time to focus on my own problems right now…
Your immediate problems are certainly yours to solve, but they are also very likely an aftereffect of the wider problems of the world around you. Ironically, only by taking personal responsibility for the problems of the world can we alleviate the incredible pressures of our microcosmic existence. That is to say, by taking action against the trespasses of global economic and socio-political despotism, you are doing yourself and your private life a big favor.
2) I believe that a collapse (social and economic) is possible, but just can’t imagine things ever going that far…
What you can’t “imagine” is generally pretty irrelevant when considering the FACTS of any given situation. Educating one’s self on the history of modern economic and political instability is a step that many seem to overlook before drawing conclusions on the state of America today. Without a point of reference to refer to, these people are left completely in the mire as to the very real threats that lay ahead. Many of them actually avoid learning the background details of similar crises like those in Weimar Germany, Soviet Russia, Argentina, Zimbabwe, etc., because doing so would mean room for denial would disappear. Yes, our country will see darker days ahead, perhaps pitch black. Refusing to prepare for the worst will not stop the worst from happening. Never, ever, assume a disaster will “blow over”.
3) I just don’t have the money to get into survival prepping right now. Maybe I will start when I get some savings in order…
In some cases (very few) this excuse is acceptable. But, in many others it is complete nonsense. I can’t tell you how many people I’ve run into that make this claim while continuing to spend money on non-essential luxuries. Do you still have cable T.V.? Get rid of it! It stinks anyway. Do you buy a new computer every six months? Well stop! The gigs and ram you have now are probably more than adequate. Do you pour money into personal vices like drugs, cigarettes, or beer? Quit! There will be no room for them post collapse anyway. There is always money for prepping, even if it’s a little every month. The obstacle is not funding. The obstacle is your unwillingness to sacrifice certain comforts for more important investments.
4) I would delve into sound money, but it all seems too complicated…
I’ll make this simple; buying gold and silver is NOT complicated. In fact, it is very easy. If something feels “complicated”, then simply uncomplicated it by educating yourself using the numerous resources still available on the internet or your local library. Knowledge is (at this time) everyone’s prerogative. Liberty starts not with the words in an article or a book, but the decision to actually sit down and read that article or book with an open mind. Make that decision now!
5) I feel isolated, and would like to move to a safe haven with more like-minded people, but am afraid of not finding work, or leaving behind that which is familiar…
Safe Haven relocation is not for everyone, but many can at least admit that they probably live in an unstable and violence prone environment sensitive to economic unrest. Many can also admit that they do not have the support network required to survive such an event. This choice ultimately comes down to priorities. When the survival of yourself and your family is on the line, does it really matter if you are “familiar” (i.e. comfortable) with your current location? In a crumbling marketplace, is it better to take your chances with a job that you know will soon no longer exist, or to take your chances in an alternative market with increasing growth? Is it better to wait until doom is ringing the doorbell? Or, is it more practical to take measures now to insulate yourself from the storm? Learning to prioritize means learning to set aside what we want in the face of what we need.
6) I would like to become more of an activist, but isn’t it better to “keep a low profile”, and avoid retribution from the power elite…?
Fear is the most repressive internal obstacle of all. Tyrants do not conquer countries; fear conquers countries. As I have said before, when the Founding Fathers signed the Declaration of Independence, they did not sign it “Anonymous”. It is every free man’s duty to stand behind his own convictions. Holding them quietly in the corner of the room gets us nowhere. This is not to say that all our thoughts and activities should be made public, but if you can’t build up the gumption to speak the truth in the wake of a lie then you aren’t of much use to anyone, especially yourself. There is nothing illegal about organizing against corruption, and even if there was, it wouldn’t matter. Fighting for freedom means being audacious, and sometimes unconcerned about the supposed “consequences”. While we speak often of safety and preparedness, these things at bottom are also only important so far as they support our ability to put ourselves on the line for the future of our ideals. There is no room for apprehension here…
The purpose of the above is not to “shame” those in the movement who remain inactive, but to clear the fog that tends to surround any new and powerful movement against the rush of the totalitarian wildfire. We continue to look for white-knight leaders, short cut slapdash solutions, and even miracles to somehow save us from doing what we dread most; facing the fact that we are the greatest prognosticators of our own fates. We are the ones who choose freedom, or slavery. In the soft light of fading glory, only those who blaze their own trails will see the road ahead. To each man awaits a multitude of perils and rewards, all of which depend upon his inner resolve; a quality which stands upon the summit of the soul, against the wind, and the unrelenting cold.
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It all sounds nice - but you are not going to "Change" the people - at least not the ones who need to be changed. Do you really think that a person who is on every government entitlement program there is is going to change? NO - because their parents and grandparents were doing the same thing -- they are ENTITLED to have it all. No - the answer as much as some do not want to hear it is that these people must be eliminated - and that is not going to be done at the ballot box. Sorry!!
i think the writer was speaking primarily about the primacy of self-change in becoming a more effective person, here
unfortunately typically ZH. A lofty article, deep thoughts about liberty and then: morons who want to kill and maim strangers in undirected anger. Shameful...but those who make these comments do not understand shame I suspect.
The shame I understand is the shame people who suck off of society for generations should feel - or those who cancel job interviews because they ahve learned that their unemployment benefits have been extended. Sorry to offend you - but I think the page is turning where there are more people who are sick and tired of the takers of this country getting all of the "We Need To Help Them" - or the "It Is ALL Motivated By Racism" blather. Just put a flower in your hair and stand aside when We The People FINALLY say enough is enough - or maybe you can carry a sign or something that says how shameless you are and how good you feel about yourself for holding the views you hold. As for me (The Moron) - I am tired of being ripped off and paying hundreds of thousands of dollars in taxes each year to see it go to people who have never worked a day in their lives and have no intention of ever doing so.
ain't it awful! shameful! if eveybody thought like you, everything wld be great! not that you're "wrong" but maybe the author is talking about everybody putting down his/her sign and re-ordering priorities if necessary, and, uh,...still possible for them
what would you be like without your sign? how emotionally important is it to you, to be a giver and be "ripped off" by the takers?
if you pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in taxes each year, you must have a pretty nice income
the idea that you are a part of We The People may or may not be true. or do you think if you can make "gunsmoke" nothing else matters, as long as you are a giver, of course...?
" Do you pour money into personal vices like drugs, cigarettes, or beer?"
Not so much right now, yet these can all be grown in a garden along with food and that's my plan for survival if/when there is a collapse. Vices have always been profitable. Always will be imho.
There have been theories that postulate beer ws the trigger for civilization. A farmer needed to specialize to grow enough grain, instead of hunting/gethering for sustenance. So he needed to buy other essentials elsewhere. So there you have it. Enough grave goods have been found to back this theory very well.
Remnants of 6000+ year old honey have been found in jars in Egyptian tombs. You can turn honey into wine if you mix it with water and leave it sitting outside. It's that easy. Perhaps not clean, but easy.
Some people contend that beer may have been the staple of mankind's diet even before bread was invented. During the Neolithic Revolution, bands of hunters and gatherers began forming organized communities to cultivate the land—the beginning of civilization. "We know that in farming the land, they grew things, and the first thing grown was cereal grains in the Fertile Crescent of the Middle East," said Jackson. "The first thing they did with that grain," he added, "was make it into beer. We don't know whether they were trying to make beer, or just trying to find a way to make grain edible."
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2001/04/0424_kurtbeer.html
for a fantastic combination of economics and brewing history see ray daniel's designing great beers ch. 16 bitters and pale ales...besides providing invaluable brewing advice, ray discusses the history of ipas, the british/indian beer trade and the rise of the burton brewers
Thanks, I'll look that up.
IIRC, the reason why hops was orginally included in IPA is to help preserve the beer while in transit to India. Adds acid.
I think I'll go get a big frosty mug now!
:)
(I'm very sorry about the jobs report......but I had a really fucking good day today)
In another thread, the founder of Amercian Spirit cigarettes was posting, and he linked his book showing how to cultivate tobacco with heirloom seeds. Been considering this for a while, and his book sounded perfect so I ordered it yesterday. Check it out, might interest you: http://cultivatorshandbook.com/cultivators/Welcome.html
And thank you as well sir. Would you care to go fishing sometime? I'll bring the beers!!
more good stuff worms, thanks. wish i would have found this in the spring, but there's always next year.
"Freedom is not free !".... Public domain tripe ! "Freedom is a bargain compared to slavery !"....Monedas 2011 Wisdom for Clueless Liberals
Don't waste money on rainforest killing flypaper ! A little chicken fat in a tin can does the trick and later pour it on the dog's kibbles....he'll love you for your environmental sensibility and the extra flavor of the fly giblets ! Monedas 2011 Buy two bathroom scales....one for each foot ! More comfort and more accuracy in the scale's sweet spot ! Don't forget to add the readings to get your real weight !
good contribution. One thing all of us can do is realize that we can shake things up by electing Ron Paul. At least scaring the shit out of the power elite by winning primaries and cuacuses.
Find out how your state elects GOP national delegates and get involved.
A cuacus (if you are in one of those states) is simply a one night event (unless you organize in advance which is better) Or simply vote in your states primary.
Dont give up on the USA. We can do something positive with a little time and effort on everyones part.
And if you have made some fiat on gold and silver consider throwing Ron Paul a bit on the next moneybomb.
I already left but that does not mean I still dont love my country. I know it is hard for most to leave.
Onward and upwards comrades. And i wish gold and silver would not keep going parabolic. Slow down and base will ya? Plenty of time here.
The joke is that every.single.one.of.us. is totally free.
What imprisons us? The hopeless clinging to "identity" and "familiarity." We'll suffer each other in our attempts at pseudo-orientation in the world; and we'll willfully shackle ourselves--because if we're shackled, we atleast know we're tethered to something. Freedom fucking scares us--we love to speak nice of it, but none of us want it. So, keep your little -isms and achievements: they define you and limit you because you need it; you can't handle just being. Incomplete psyches suffer the need to feign "being" anything.
Take a note from the Fight Club novel, at any rate: People just are. We are. That's it. Everything else is roleplay.
"Man was born free, and he is everywhere in chains. Those who think themselves the masters of others are indeed greater slaves than they."
This debate needs new thoughts.
The world we knew is gone.
Start with that.
...can you become a self-righteous meddlesome douchebag and create yet more problems.
"The world" doesn't have problems. The world is an idea in your head.
I may have problems, and I'll thank you to leave their fixing to me, because only I know my values. I'll do the same for you. Maybe we have some problems in common, but don't dare assume you know what they are, or that you're doing me some kind of favor by fixing your problems.
Your problems are not ours. If I want your help, I'll ask.
If people would only mind their own business and let "the world"/society/humanity go to hell--I would expect exactly the opposite of their intended effect to result.
Those who demand sacrifice from you are either charlatans, or subjugated by their own dogma and attempting to propagate it.
Every action originates from self, therefore nobody can escape selfishness. There is no mode of behaviour outside of "self-centered"--it's possible for marionettes, but not for people.
You're altruistic because generosity gives you pleasure, not because you're a saint.
You're virtuous because satisfying your moral code reinforces a righteous self-image, or assuages the guilt of an unrighteous one.
You sacrifice because you value the effect of that sacrifice more than you value the object. More often than not, that effect exists only in your mind. It is--emotional.
You are selfish. Stop pretending otherwise.
Needless to say, this business of duping idiot masses into willingly sacrificing themselves to various ideals has been extremely profitable for those who have their ear.
"Ask not what your country can do for you..."
Etc.
Fuck them, and all those cut from their pretentious cloth. Know your values, and live for them.
you are wrong.. and as much as I enjoy proving it.. i enjoy knowing that you are the trash that perpetuates this shit hole of "life isnt fair so get over itand move on" bullshit!
you are ignorant trash.. at best.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7AWnfFRc7g
What you video forgets to mention is that the human mind can only conceptualize about 150-200 people as being their "extended family". Whitin this "extended family, collecitivism works. Outside it, it don't.
When dealing with people from outside the "group, people need more than emotional altruistic rewards it they are to feel like they are being compensated. This is why the states are ineficcient, why the federations are crumbling and why a "one world goverment" would be a disaster.
It seems to me to be a question of where you prefer to die. Do you want to die where you are, holed up in your house waiting to be dragged away or snitched out by suspicious neighbors? Will you be behind a barricade holding off the inevitable while decidedly lethal ordinance impacts your area? Are you of the mind that when the going gets too hot you can scurry off and get on the open road or disappear into the woods and brush? Or do you go out west and fortify a hilltop, hoping to live that Randy Weaver life minus the Randy Weaver demise?
Fact is, the government isn't going to disappear, nor are the banks, the elitists, the corporatists, the police, the National Guard, the ATF, FBI, CIA, DEA, DHS, or any other of the self-serving, totalitarian ilk that strangles the world. You've been watching Libya, right? Very instructive. Remarkably easy to designate a target and watch the hounds of media and military descend like vultures while they are justified up and down the moral ladder every night on television. Very uncomfortable to think about. Much more uncomfortable to realize. Do you imagine a good friend or neighbor whose dead broke and a few miserable years from suicide won't sell you for a few grand to informants? Do you think the people looking to stamp out the domestic terror element(that's you) aren't easily infused with as much of a sense of patriotic duty as you feel for defying those who would rob you of your liberty? Do you think they don't already have your name, the names of your friends, family, etc. and are willing and legally able to torture or kill for information if they have to(more importantly, do you realize such things have already happened, and are happening with greater frequency now than ever?).
I agree with many points above, but the situation is not so cut and dry. You aren't dealing with some "menace" that can be easily identified, even if the people supporting it can. And surely you don't believe the vast majority of Americans are going to support such a movement, be it in Idaho, New Jersey, Mississippi, or Rhode Island. What is being challenged here is the most powerful miltary the world has ever seen and the most powerful government directing it, backed by the most powerful corporate interests. Worse still, they are way ahead of you on what they are doing, where they are going, who goes to what camp, and how the transportation, processing, and internment are to proceed. You will be identified unequivocally as an enemy of the state and dealt with accordingly.
They are way ahead. Now I am not out to scare anyone, but if you are going to decide to pick up a gun some day soon, you damn well better know what you're going up against. For every ten of you out there ready make this a firefight, six or more you are going to be buried. No news items, no fact-checks, no whispers, and only a few devoted spots on the internet---it is extremely easy to wrap up a county in Anywhere, USA and clear it out of "bad elements". Not only that, but Iraq and Afghanistan have given the military leaders valuable experience in urban warfare and modern counter-insurgency(one could only guess if that was one of the objectives). Those of you ready to stake it all on violence ought to have some backround in tactics and strategy, both smalls arms and grand tactics. Read some Sun Tzu, pick up a copy of Guerilla Warfare by Che Guevarra and the Anarchist Cookbook(beginners of course), and familiarize yourself with the concepts of close quarters fire, line operations, logistics, demolition, and CCC. This is critical information and it will significantly lower your odds of survival if you try to "work it out" on your own later.
Talk is cheap, and praise God for that. I would rather see more people talking because then they can figure things out in their heads before they go running out their backdoor with a rifle. This is serious, serious shit to be talking about and I don't want anyone to get any misconceptions about that.
"Some folks say war is all glory, but I'll tell you boys, it is all hell!"--General Sherman.
Karma, as a concept, is true.
The secret to survival is to get along, share, give love, and cultivate friendship.
Man is a herd animal. Man attacks that outside the herd. To survive, be one with the herd.
Love thy neighbor.... There is a reason that was wisdom! It was and is truth...
gh
what a wonderful post!
i have been sitting here for a while writing this/that/rinse/repeat and finally just figure you might be more hopelessly honest &tc than i can understand or conceive, or something. L0L!
You've demonstrated a remarkable prescience over the years. Three toots on the harmonica for you! If I may sound presumptuous: There are times when solutions to seemingly insurmountable problems can be very, very simple. I believe the resolution to our problems is much simpler than most of us imagine. You mention it repeatedly in your work and I am grateful. Thank you. Some ideas: 1. Get rid of T.V. It is pointless and rarely addresses anything which needs to be addressed. It is a pathway for mendacity and socialization. 2. Bring friends and family closer and begin communicating more deeply and thoroughly. There is absolutely nothing wrong with living with those we love and trust. It may be difficult at first as we are not accustomed to it; but eventually we will be stronger and more united in our attempts to make things better. We have been isolated within nuclear families for much too long. Nuclear families work against us. 3. Practice communication and co-operation with as many people as you can. It's the best way to get things done. They are art forms and require dedication and a reasonable selflessness to work effectively. 4. THINK SMALLER! It's obvious - things are shrinking in our world. Aside from the wealthy trying to make away with everything we own; our planet is tired and overworked. Bigger, better, more, newer - simply the damaging distractions of predator capitalism. Adjust your psychology. Try to ditch the pride and find some humility in the face of it all or you won't go far. Overcoming others is strength. Overcoming yourself is true power! Trying to hold on to and engage in practices from before will surely lead to your impoverishment. The predators are not wise. They're cunning and smart. Stop listening to them. We are not 'consumers'. We are human beings first and citizens second. Defining oneself by 'stuff' will also lead to a spiritual impoverishment. 5. Stop purchasing corporate products if at all possible. BUY LOCAL! Corporations are the biggest drivers of this ongoing madness of war, joblessness and the destruction of our environment. The only thing which matters to them is the bottom line. Affect that and they may begin acting more senisbly and may begin listening to reason. These efforts will not be easy. The road is loaded with pitfalls and these are only a few things we can do to affect sanity once again in our lives. Trust each other as we're all in the same boat at this point and we all stand to lose the wonders of life. Good luck to one and all!
Good article. The seeds of liberty have been planted and I'm starting to see them grow. Thankfully the seeds are planted in the minds of the youth. As the boomers die off a new generation of liberty minded folks will emerge around the world to take their place.
May we live in interesting times.
If the Abolitionists had a clue as to how well the slaves would embrace the nanny state Liberal plantation and hug the knees of people like Barney Frank......their fervent zeal might have been dampened a bit ? Monedas 2011 Slavery is the most inefficient of all the centrally planned economic models !
Capitalism is the mother of all police states ! It is policed constantly by consumers and competitors in pursuit of happiness ! It's refreshingly un-oppressive in spite of the market snitches and spies everywhere ! Monedas 2011 North Korean film makers plan their own sequel to "The good, the bad and the ugly !"......it's called "A fistful of rice !".
Here's a step in the right direction. We get our own band of Inglorious Bastards, Jewish or not to go and put a nice bloody dollar sign on the bankster's foreheads. Yeah?
Here's a step in the right direction. We get our own band of Inglorious Bastards, Jewish or not to go and put a nice bloody dollar sign on the bankster's foreheads. Yeah?
Lol, what. So in other words - cease enjoying life, dedicate everything you have to some illusory 'collapse' - if it comes you will survive and lead a shitty, undernourished life. If it doesn't come you will STILL lead a shitty, undernourished life because you opted to 'survive' instead of trying to enjoy life while the world still exists.
'Surviving' isn't living. It's just breathing. Common misconception. I'll continue living my life and I couldn't care less that I'm fucked 'when' the collapse arrives. I have gold and silver, sure. Mostly as personal entertainment.
Your problem is conflating "enjoying life" with chemical vices and cable television.
as long as anyone else's life is not affected negatively, who are you to judge? (mean this with respect, but i do mean it sincerely)
That is a very good question, now I'm not saying the poster above that I replied it to falls under this, but our lives ARE indeed being affected negatively by people who believe in the media story lines.
i think he's normal
others prefer to be real; like e.c.; you. why shld he care abt the c'flation? he's normal
there are many frauds, but true trance mediums are rare & like e.c., pretty amazing, too! when i read the Koran, i try to remember that Mohammed was a trance medium who passively "channeled" an archangel which "dictated" or "revealed" what became the Holy Koran, m/l
If the economy contracts to a 1960s level, remember, people lived in homes with 1200 square feet and one car. It happened, and they found happiness there. But the 1970 - 2010 period must not be repeated.
www.silverrevolucion.com
T_R_O_L_L
advertiZing-bot*
*see: "ORI"
Amen Bruddah.
It's never to late to save your soul. Time to walk the walk.
They will continue to tear down your inner resolve. Make it thrive from their attacks.
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