Originally published on www.denverlibertarian.com
Once again, it’s that time of year for reflection and pondering. Regarding libertarianism writ large, it’s easy to lose faith as many in the mainstream of political thought are quick to dismiss the libertarian slogans about personal liberty, markets, peace and a general anti-interventionist approach to life. Many have grown accustomed to, and have accepted at face value, a life full of government compulsion and an attitude that it is only government that can save us from ourselves. It is easy to lash out at the quick and dismissive remarks of, “well, that’s just not possible in the real world,” or, “we need the state to look out for the little guy,” on and on, ad nauseum. It’s always a battle going against the standard narrative and it can get exhausting but here is what I can tell you, it is awesome when someone says that they learned something new from you. Even though it might just be one little bit of knowledge, one conversation, or one sentence, it can have a lasting impact.
So stick with it and give yourself over:
...to conversing and connecting with others in a meaningful fashion with passionate, yet reasoned, debate. Be it on social media or in real life.
…to planting seeds of liberty and to winning converts, not just arguments.
…to always questioning the validity of the state.
…to laughing more and relishing in the opportunity to take on Leviathan.
...to being staunchly anti-war and anti-interventionist in all matters.
...to history, to reading and to going beyond the standard narrative. Might I suggest Fool’s Errand: Time to End the War in Afghanistan, by Scott Horton, which was, without a doubt, my top read of the year. An eye opening, extensively footnoted, foray into the futility of attempting to control a plurality state with never ending instability due to a continued American presence which, in turn, has induced continual proxy wars from local competing factions (find my full book review here. Or, dive into some Cold War history with, The War State: The Cold War Origins of the Military-Industrial Complex and the Power Elite, by Michael Swanson, where the Continuous Government of War is exposed and laid bare. Where lies, manipulated data and executive overreach have lead us to the current state of forever war (book review on this fantastic work coming soon). Or, pick up a copy of Freedom Frauds: Hard Lessons in American Liberty, by Jim Bovard, to find out why he was evicted from the Supreme Court for laughing and so many other amazing stories from someone who truly lives life with a freedom and independence mentality.
Give yourself over:
...to relishing in the good work of your fellow libertarians, an-caps and anarchists, be they podcasters, writers or good old fashioned Twitter rabble rousers. For they foster an approach to a life in which you may learn to Forge Your own Liberty; to fight the state and bring Death to Tyrants; to enjoy your anti-establishment streak with laughter and libertarianism with all of your Friends Against Government; to committing some Peaceful Treason from time to time; to catapulting yourself over that wall to get a glimpse of that Free Man, just beyond; to reading all those Postcards from Somalia from all your friends who have been told to move there; to delving into all those mysterious and classified Dean-O Files; and to getting comfortable with tractors, fruitcake and libertarianism with the Rollo and Slappy Show. My thanks to them for regularly putting out good content. Of course, there are plenty of other great libertarian podcasts out there, just waiting to be found - find one that fits with your style and run with it.
Give yourself over:
...to opening yourself up to criticism, to considering other positions, if only to strengthen your own.
...to investing in decentralized, voluntary institutions at the most local level and tearing down the centralized and coercive ones that have become the norm.
...to friends, to family, to learning your family history.
...to learning about Constitutional abuses, even if you are more of a Constitution of No Authority type; if only to be able to explain to those in the mainstream exactly how, through the misdeeds of politicians of all political affiliations, that that piece of paper doesn't really matter, it's just an illusion.
Give yourself over:
…to explaining to your friends that their day to day interactions, in practice, are anarchy (that often co-opted word) even though it is rarely conceptualized in that manner.
...to knowing crypto.
...to working in libertarian concepts into your conversations with your Uber or Lyft drivers, you never know what someone might pick up on and in turn, maybe pass on to the next rider.
...to thanking those who encourage you, who inspire you to do things out of your comfort zone. Sometimes it just takes a nudge. Take myself for instance, wherein writing a monthly article began with a simple response to one of my tweets:
“Hey, why don’t you write a short article about that?” (Many thanks, MH)
...to being thankful you’re not in North Korea or Mao’s China. Read these horrifying books to reaffirm your opposition to centralized authoritarian thought control, that would pit you against your neighbor.
Both are quick reads, but pack an immense punch: Red Scarf Girl: A Memoir of the Cultural Revolution, by Ji-Li Jiang and Escape from Camp 14: One Man’s Remarkable Odyssey from North Korea to Freedom in the West, by Blaine Harden. As for me, for 2019, I’ll be delving into Everyday Stalinism: Ordinary Life in Extraordinary Times: Soviet Russia in the 1930’s, by Sheila Fitzpatrick, to expand on this concept further.
And finally, give yourself over:
...to continuing the fight. It’s an uphill battle and the state has set itself up to beat down the inner libertarian in all of us from an early age. We need all the help that we can get. Keep at it, for as Lew Rockwell reminds us in The Left, The Right and the State, “Every state wants to control all. If it does not do so, the major reason is that freedom-minded intellectuals are making the difference. If it were otherwise, why would the state care so intensely about suppressing ideas with which it disagrees? Why would there be political censorship? Why would the state bother with propaganda at all?” (p.534) True enough.
That is all for now.
Carry on.
Happy New Year.