Screw Resolutions, Let's Get Shit Done!

I am not the type of person to make new year’s resolutions. Not because I know I won’t stick to them, but because the things I know need to change, I just go through the process of removing from my life or routine. But when it comes to the content of this Substack, which I take seriously - and hope that is clear to everyone - there are some subjects I would like to leave behind.  

Libertarians and libertarianism 

This is a tough one for me to give up. I’ve repeatedly said there are parts of libertarian theory that I agree with, but those parts are not exclusive to the libertarian, “in-the-box,” ideology. Libertarians didn’t create the concept of private property or political decentralization, no matter how many libertarians incorrectly claim these theories as their own. I just no longer think it’s an effective use of my time to continue calling out people’s errors. It’s fine, they can be wrong. If someone wants to have me on podcasts to discuss why libertarians/anarchists insist on discussing ad nauseum things that can never be achieved such as anarchy or a truly voluntary society, I’ll do it. But I believe this space is better reserved for discussing history, theory that can be helpful in the here and now, and the exposing of current events that aids in better understanding the Zeitgeist.  

The Federal Government 

I cannot foresee anything that you or I can do will change Washington DC’s political machine. Do I believe the federal government in its current iteration is eternal? Absolutely not! At this point I believe the federal government will become weaker, but that will be due to its own failings. Some may say that if all taxpayers decided to stop paying taxes the government could no longer function. I hope my podcast series reading The Populist Delusion by Academic Agent (Neema Parvini) put a bullet in the idea that the masses can in any way organize as well as the small group that runs DC. It’s a pipedream, all of it. It’s as nonsensical as believing in anarchy or a voluntary society.  

What Do I Have Planned? 

I want to focus on you, and what you can do now for you and your family. I realize that many will read what I have written and call me black-pilled. I am not. People who are truly black-pilled aren’t afraid to tell you they are. So if I was, you’d know. Some people have taken to calling others black-pilled just because these “others” do not believe the plan that was devised and presented to them for the future is going to work. If I criticize your plan, it’s because I don’t think it’s going to work, not because I don’t have a plan of my own or I have given up. And it’s not because I haven’t considered your plan. I have, that’s why I believe it fails and I think you’re wasting your time. If I hadn’t considered your plan, I wouldn’t have an opinion. 

If you examine the world as I do, you recognize that something is happening that isn’t black and white. That’s another problem; most people don’t leave a door open for mystery. Everyone believes they must give a concrete answer or people will think they don’t know what they’re talking about. Especially so-called “content creators.” There are forces at work in the world that are a complete mystery to me. As an example, I don’t believe there has been a war that I would consider just in my lifetime…until now. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine makes complete sense to me. The war is LOCAL and for a stated purpose that I can understand (I can feel the eyes of the “everything’s a psyop” people rolling back in their heads). And I’m not afraid to take that stance no matter what my family, colleagues or inner circle thinks of me. But it is a mystery to me as to how that war will change the Zeitgeist in which we live. And the concept of Zeitgeist, to me, is decidedly metaphysical. Will the world somehow thrive because of this war, or will conditions be made worse? Who benefits from a weaker Europe? Are the ones who believe they will gain from a weaker Europe and Russia being de-legitimized themselves? Politics is a mystery and to pretend what one reads in a book will provide them a full understanding of it is naive.  

I know I’m repeating myself but “all politics is local,” and the most local political figure is you. Once you embrace that you are your own senator/lord, then you can better understand the path forward. The worst possible thing you can be doing at this exact moment is waiting for someone to come and save you. I promise you they’re not coming.