Facing Facts
Along with the seasonal absence of sun, this Yuletide has been glum here due to some of the lessons learned in 2010.
Against much advice to the contrary, Dan and the rest of Restore The Constitution crowd were able to stage successful, legal, safe armed protests from Virginia to North Carolina to Georgia to Alabama to New Mexico to Texas to Pennsylvania.
Having proven the concept's viability in April on the banks of the Potomac, attendance actually dropped over time, to the point where in the Second Amendment bulwark of Pennsylvania, one man -- one man -- showed the flag at two separate events.
Deep gratitude to all who did show up.
And I also understand the reasons why many who might have attended did not.
But here is the unmistakable lesson I have drawn from the RTC experience in 2010:
People -- for good reasons and bad -- are too afraid to attend legal, safe assertions of First and Second Amendment rights.
In my view, that means the likelihood of more robust assertions of basic human rights in 2011 and forward are, at least at current course and speed, very slim.
Hence, the political path perhaps becomes more viable -- not because any of its inherent defects have been removed, but instead because the other two options (personal secession and outright rebellion) have equally low probabilities of launch, let alone success in the current battlespace.
Read Kerodin's support of that argument (and disregard the refs to CA).
Denial of reality is no way forward.
But it sure leaves one cold on a dark December day.
posted by Concerned American | 3:52 PM
30 Comments:
Geez.
And I thought I was a glass half empty kind of guy...
I can't argue with your observations. I still question the likelihood of anyone with a realistic view of FedGov's proper role getting elected to a position of any power.
The monkeys still vote for the people who will feed them.
Although I agree with your observation on the likelihood of direct action failing, and partially agree with you conclusions about why people don't attend (I think it's equally due to inconvenience-it is in my case), I am stuck.
I just don't see politics working. This solution could work, but here's why I am skeptical.
This is not because patriots could not do what needs done, it is because voters would never elect people with our general values and beliefs on the proper role of government. At least not now.
You're talking about an electorate that just re-elected Harry Reid. Harry freaking Reid.
I honestly have few other options. People don't show for RTC rallies because of various reasons, IMO (fear, or inconvenience, or "the-other-guy-will-do-it mentality", or whatever). I stand convicted.
If those rallies fail to attract the crowds necessary to send a message, you're right, there's NO WAY a physical confrontation would get off the ground.
So, maybe it has to be political. Although I think that often politics is a disease that markets itself as a cure.) But how do you get this electorate to care?
I dunno, CA, but the more I think about it, I think of the Baugh piece I read here a while back. It was titled "Quit Clawing", or something like that.
Geez. No matter how I turn it, the glass is still half empty.
With respect to all who put these rallies on and/or attend:
Don't presume that non-attendance at these rallies is due to fear.
There are those who see these gestures as playing right into the hands of those who want us dead and in the final analysis do no real good to the cause of restoration because they change nothing.
Take the much vaunted Glenn Beck rally. What restorative action can be directly atributed to that rally that many estimates place over 1,000,000 in attendance? The 63 GOP seats won in November? How does that balance against the current GOP capitulation to the marxists in the START treaty or DADT reversal? In the final analysis, there was no discernable gains toward restoration. Not. One. Thing.
I would never attempt to speak for the entire Threeper community, only for myself. That said, the reason many people I know refuse to go to these rallies is because they have a 'zero sum' total of ROI other than 'feeling good' for the participants.
Leviathan chortles in the back ground during the speeches and "Don't Tread on Me!" flag waving.
Some feel the time, energy and money is better spent acquiring those items necessary for the survival of freemen, and subsequently, a free state along with the practice of various disciplines.
It's not fear....
Addendum: Kerodin uses his blog as a 'bully pulpit' in that he does not allow for counter-point through comment. His peers (you, Vanderboegh, Denninger, etc,) all allow reader comments to agree, disagree, or counter-point.
By not allowing commentary, he places himself in an implied superior position while he pontificates about 'moral' right and wrong and subjectivity regarding what is constitutionally right or wrong while facing no risk of reader rebuttal.
Fact: The popular vote has been broken since the 17th Amendment was passed.
People who don't vote are voting albeit as Pontius Pilate washing his hands. People do not vote for the Constitution anymore; rather, they vote 'for the lesser of two evils" or a candidate with 'electability', both of which are still evil.
Kerodin also ignores the factors contributing to the Liberal 20% having sway over American politics: The rampant feminism of the last 40 years including the psychological and intellectual emasculation of the American man as a whole.
He also implies that the TEA Party stayed on course and message when it's a commonly known fact that the RINO/GOP co-opted the TEA Party with populist support only to abandon the very principle of Constitutional Restoration during and after successful campaigns.
Opinions are fine; we all have them, including me. However, what I've written in this and a previous post can be critically reviewed by my peers. Kerodin offers no such avenue, which makes his 'take' less weighty than he might wish.
After the Brownsville Rally I was Very Disappointed in many of my fellow Texans,for all the same "good and bad reasons". But like you, my gratitude goes out to those that did attend also.
Merry Christmas Pete enjoy the holidays with your family, the fight will continue tomorrow. And like Kerodin's article says all peaceful means have not yet been exhausted and some of us like
"The Guardians of Liberty" will continue to exhaust those means and more if necessary.
Dennis
III
Texas
I for one have given up on voting. I have voted in every presidential election since I was able to. But what is the point?
It's either Dem or Repub, every person I know who calls himself a patriot votes Repub and they can't understand it does no good. You're switching from a thief to a rapist every election cycle and this insanity just keeps continuing on. So many I talk with are just ecstatic that in a few weeks the gov't is turning a new leaf and all the crooks are getting thrown out. This will be the end of Obamanation. Gimme a fukn break!!
Nothing, absolutely nothing is going to change. Pass a few new bills and ACT like you're getting something accomplished, then back to business as usual. Play along with a few of tea partiers and let them think that you're one of them. The average American is so ignorant to the true workings of the political game, they have no idea how they are played and pandered by the elected officials. And the hero worship that is bestowed upon these thieves is beyond comprehension. Absolutely astounding that a human being with a partial semblance of a brain can buy into this bullshit.
And as far as attending any rallies to oppose new legislation, see above. I'm fed up with the whole process!
0321
If you check out the parking lots near the site of a TEA PARTY or where a RTC event is happening, you might notice someone going around the parking lot taking down license plate numbers. Guess Santa Fed is making a list and checking it twice for some upcoming late night surprise. I prefer to remove the license plate while in the event lot (have to remember to put it back on later) and cover the VIN that's behind the windshield. Sometimes it pays to be a little bit paranoid. The last TEA PARTY I was at had a lot of camera activity taking pix of the crowd (or were we a mob??). Do not trust the clowns in Gubmint.
I didn't/don't go to these rallies because they were/are too far from my home. I work overseas and am away more than I am home. When I am home, I am busy spending time with family and other obligations,as a result of being away for so long.
All that being said, I would attend, and hope to in the future, if it is possible. I will make the financial and family sacrifice when the time is right for me. I am not afraid. A rally demonstrating my rights does not scare me in the least. In fact, it excite me.
All THAT being said, I don't think most(of "us")are afraid of such things, as much as they/we are lazy. Neither answer is good.
I will continue to grow what I want to in my garden, and give it to whomever I want. I may even sell surplus to someone who wants to buy some. I will continue to voice my distrust of Big Brother, log my IP address on whatever sites I choose to visit, buy guns and ammo, and generally be a "problem" citizen. It is my duty. When any of that becomes "illegal" and the enforcers come, I will stand my ground.
JoseyWales3633@yahoo.com
Sad commentary for a Christmas Eve.
Public assertion of Constitutional rights is likely to end up with jail and removal of 2nd Amendment rights. There IS NO rule of law in this country. There are only Thugs with Guns. When the time comes, some will rise up and make them pay for dishonoring their oath. If at that time one is prohibited from owning a gun, that becomes more difficult. In spite of Gov. Christie's commutation of his sentence, Mr. Aitken currently finds himself in that situation. Col. Lakin is there as well, merely for trying to honor HIS oath. And MANY OTHERS are dead. While I do not expect to survive the war, I do not wish to be an "Only One" even if in doing so I remove a worthwhile number of Evil Men. But it may come to that, and if so that's the way it goes. However, I WILL NOT throw away my capability by relying on the honor of this country's "Leadership" and their enablers to respect my right to assemble and carry. I have seen very clearly how they ALL respect those and other rights.
As I have said before, the stench is overwhelming.
And it smells like pig.
Doc and all:
I have complete respect for the "no ROI" POV.
I don't think politics will work.
I don't think either of the other two paths will work.
I won't submit.
What I am doing for the next 24 is to spend time with people who love me.
Thanks to all readers, commenters and observers alike.
Merry Christmas to all.
Peace on Earth, good will unto men.
Sadly, I concur with several of the writers above. I do not believe that a vote is worth the effort even as I pull the lever every time. We have allowed a system to take root that promotes corruption in every facet of government. The only way to root it out in my humble opinion is a do over. I am not a happy camper looking ahead into a bleak, long dark winter.
Well, I thought I might be an early poster on comments but seems many have beat me to it....anyway here goes:
Here is what has left me cold for many a dark December day for a few years; I stated when the idea was offered about RTC rallies, It won't work. TPTB are not listening because they don't have to. Hence I chose not to attend. that was only part of my reasoning. Some other reasons have already been put forward by others in the comment section.
The lone individual from PA who attended armed was directly confronted by the lawless goons of Philadelphia PD and threatened with gun confiscation and arrest if he did not comply with their unlawful demands. He complied.
As for PA being a "bulwark of 2nd-A rights" it may appear that way but allow me to share something. Recently, I took an informal survey on the states premiere gun forum. The central question was posed to people who carry (openly or concealed) "How much training do you have?" The overwhelming majority responded little to none and some actually boasted they had zero training. Some of the most ridiculous responses were from military (and former) persons stating that training was sufficient. Statements like, "I have kicked in doors in 3 countries" as sufficient training to carry a sidearm for personal defense in civilian life! So in PA it seems plenty of folks have guns but do they know how to use them properly and safely and judiciously? I doubt it.
continued....
...continued:
So "denial of reality is no way forward" For Sure!
Claire Wolfe eloquently stated over a decade ago that "America is at that awkward stage; it is too late to work within the system, but too early to shoot the bastards."
I have voted on principal from 1980 to 1994 for Libertarian candidates whenever I could. Where did that get me? Big fat No Where! My conclusion is forget voting. If your vote actually mattered it would be taken away from you. Rallies don't matter either. Starve the fuckers. Let it fall. Quit clawing. The sooner it falls the sooner we can get to the task of rebuilding a properly functioning Republic.
On a personal level, I am in my mid-50's, unemployed for over 2 years. Prior to moving here to look after an aging and infirm relative I was self employed. That means I get not one penny of state unemployment insurance benefits. Why would I waste my money/time/energy going to D.C. or anywhere for that matter to demonstrate my frustration with a system that has been corrupted for longer than I have been alive?
Call these excuses or fear if you will but I have felt the boot of LEO's on my neck (literally)before and don't wish to be in that position again. "Robust assertions" can get one killed especially if they are armed. Or they can wind your ass up in legal deep shit for which I have no tribe ready to bail and fight for my position. It is lonely being an advocate for truth, justice and what was once the American way.
Let's see what Ron Paul can do along with the new class of Tea-party backed candidates. I am not so hopeful as Kerodin and others but willing to watch. Who knows maybe I could be foolish enough to vote again in 2012.
Sorry to be so damn negative but life has taught me some hard lessons I don't care to repeat.
Wishing all freedom fighters a Merry Christmas and prayers for a brighter tomorrow.
KPN3%
Merry Christmas to all! And stop worrying about it all. It will happen and that's that. III.
Thanks to all who took the time to read my column.
Sadly, I am with most of you who are pessimistic (at best) about our chances of Restoration through politics. Even if the impossible happened, and we suddenly elected 218 Jefferson's to the House in 2012, and they slapped the teat from the mouths of the slackers, we'd have a fight on our hands. Someone will start the shooting if the Government stops feeding the masses, and someone will start if Government doesn't stop...
Either way, prepping is mandatory and ugliness is likely.
But, it is a necessary fail.
All of my hope for political solutions amount to many very big "if's".
As my uncle would tell me often: If a bullfrog had wings, he wouldn't bump his butt...
So, I'll keep bumping my butt right up until our world falls apart.
Merry Christmas to you all.
Sam
III
I'm with Doc. I remain unconvinced that the rallies do anything but paint a big crosshairs on the backs of the participants.
With all due respect, the Politics As Usual or Shooting War is a false dichotomy in that it only explores what it possible right at this second. An economic collapse is all but inevitable, as Denninger and others have laid out. When the comfortable standard of living suddenly vanishes, we'll see riots and worse, and a necessarily more direct and brutal government apparatus. If this occurs and still no one fires a shot, I will share your pessimism.
Also, the federals are doing their damndest to emasculate the very belligerent organizations they depend upon for protection. Since DADT has been repealed (although there was in fact nothing to repeal; DADT was an executive order attached by Clinton onto a law banning homosexuals in the military) there has been much talk in the rightosphere of enlisting foreigners from south of the border in exchange for citizenship. The last time this was attempted, it ended badly for the state.
By the way, those very foreigners come from a culture that despises homosexuality. The Left is an amalgam of disparate tribes, temporarily united only by their hatred of us. As our power declines, those tribes will begin vying with each other to fill the vacuum. The ruling ideology ignores reality at its peril; it has only been able to survive because of the strength of America's underlying foundations, in the same way that the Roman state was able to endure the odd incompetent emperor. But that strength is nearly exhausted.
At any rate, I've sworn my oath. I am resolved to die rather than be disarmed. Should I break my oath I will die in shame, as with all cowards.
I've participated in rallies and then watched legislators do the opposite anyway despite face-to-face assurances. I've had my well-thought-out protest placard taken from me before I entered a legislative committee meeting, which meant opponents of the bad law could no longer be distinguished from proponents, and seen THAT law passed as well. I understand disappointment.
It doesn't mean I wouldn't show up when force, rather than a show of force, is necessary. Don't count us out yet.
I wish I could believe there was some utility to voting and protesting, but I'm afraid the ruling elite will simply chuckle and wish us well. It will keep us occupied with something other than rebellion, and they really aren't very worried about that either.
Face it: we have tolerated a long train of abuses that would have had _more_ than 3% of the colonists of the 1700's up in arms. If we are willing to let Chester-the-TSA-molester get his or her finger stinky on our three-year-old daughter or our wife, simply to be permitted to board an airplane, what will we not tolerate? How long before your teenage daughter traveling by herself is taken into a separate room and required to give oral sex if she really wants to get on that plane?
As Jeff Snyder pointed out in his article "Walter Mitty's Second Amendment", we've long been pacified by the thought that we have the Second Amendment to protect us. But the likelihood of ever using that last resort is pretty damn small. If it does happen, it may well happen as Churchill said, after it is too late to save ourselves, but better than living as a slave. I don't really expect to be that effective myself, but I plan on making it costly to whoever finally does push across my line in the sand.
Understand, I don't begrudge anyone their ability to vote or protest. I will even support that as best as I can. But I think it is going to get a whole lot uglier before it ever gets better.
Kerodin - While I only speak for myself, the fact that you don't allow discourse on your POV truly takes much weight away from your position and adds a condescending tone to your thoughts because you expect the rest of us to accept what you have to say as a fait acompli' with no chance to even question for clarification.
And make no mistake -- I read your column because CA requested it, so it was on his recommendation only that I went to your site and discovered your preference to pontificate to the 'less enlightented' among us rather than opt for the exchange of ideas, for better or ill.
So don't take it to personally when others, like me, choose not to look at you or your site (scary graphics notwithstanding) without just a bit of jaundice in the eye...
Merry Christmas.
No "fear" to attend at all. It is a matter of economics. Distance, work and family obligations seem to interfere with everything that comes along. Let these rallies grow until they are more numerous and you will see better attendance. I have promoted every one of these rallies yet even I could not myself attend for the very reasons stated above. Which is why for me every day is Open Carry Day.
Dammit! There's something missing. It's been lost or stolen or something. I don't know what it is, but I can tell you guys one thing right now. I would gladly give my life right now to have whatever it is imparted to all of you.
Now, on this Christmas Day I'm gonna go back to practicing my tac and slide lock reloads. I'm gonna cut the timer back another tenth or two for draw to first shot. I'm gonna wipe down my reloads and chamber check them. Live training tomorrow.
I ain't quitting.
Due to circumstances which I will not post, I am unable to travel any great distance. I live in Central Florida. And so I have not participated in any of the RTC rallies listed. But be advised that anything taking place within the greater Orlando/Daytona Beach area would be amenable. Some have openly carried down here while fishing (legal here), but I'm not a fisherman, either.
The good part is that we have a "shall carry" law here, and a lot of Floridians are packing, including myself.
I am not afraid to attend these things (I did make it to the 9/12/09 rally at the Capitol by traveling round-trip on AmTrak). And I do believe that certain people DO notice the attendance.
And I also believe that certain people did sit up and take notice after the last elections. It may not have fixed a lot of things, but it was a good start.
HAve a little faith, and keep fighting!
TOO MUCH DAMN PESSIMISUM, And we have no yet reached Valley Forge.
PATRIOTS! Stood before the Worlds Greatest Army and WON they won because they had the RESOLVE to STAND AS MEN THAT WOULD BE FREE PERIOD.
Dennis
III
Texas
A couple of years ago, I attended one of the first national Tea Party/9-12 events ever held here...the first one Beck got going.
There was sobbing and bullshit grandstanding, along with the local organizer surreptitiously pimping his plumbing business.
It felt like a high school pep rally.
All this is fine, I guess, but not what I was looking for.
It didn't get my blood flowing.
I was in the mood to hear a fiery speech and kick somebody's ass, but they wanted to hug each other and hold hands.
Fuck that.
Regarding attendance...the commie-libs gather in large numbers for their causes because most of them don't WORK for a living like WE do.
I suppose if I sucked on the government teat to support my family, I'd have more time for rabble rousing.
I ain't afraid of shit, and I need to feed my family. If/when the ruckus starts, I'll meet you all on the village green...right after I shoot a few squirrels out of the trees for my family's supper.
Semper Fi.
When it starts? This is a critical point I believe. At least for me. It is my understanding that it has already started. In fact, for quite sometime now. And the time to engage is when?
"because the other two options (personal secession and outright rebellion) have equally low probabilities of launch"
What intelligence mechanism do you use to count the present amount of outright rebellion implemented as personal secession? I don't think you have this data. I don't think you are asking questions that would lead you to this data.
I think your metric for restorational progress is the amount of conservative electoral success, and it's precursors the soapbox-thumping bonus army type protests. That public organizing approach wouldn't have worked in East Germany or Romania, would it? Why do you expect people to stand up and volunteer to be early targets? The American civil war South fought that war in a suicidally stupid way, according to the rules of the North. Don't repeat that mistake. Instead, do something that would have worked in East Germany, and if the takeoff is a little slower that it could be, don't mind it because we're all still eating.
You will know the personal secession thing worked if the currently seceded continue to eat regular meals after a hyperinflation starts, while defending themselves from the currently tax-funded, who then decide to work instead of starve. If you learn about it sooner it's probably a failure of opsec.
Doc Enigma,
Seems to me there is a fair bit of discourse about my column right here. Isn't the point of discourse on Restoration topics dissemination to the widest audience possible?
CA, Codrea and others have chosen to create blogs, forums for discourse. These sites serve as modern Green Dragon Taverns. WRSA in particular is a place many of us meet to discuss the issues before us...myself included.
I chose to create a format for columns, not a blog.
Why would I want to create a site that draws traffic away from sites like WRSA & WoG or GoL? To a point, it is a zero sum game. I'd rather offer a column, and if a blog finds it has any merit for their particular audience, then people can read the column and return to the blog for discussion.
That is my reason for not offering comments on my site. I really don't think anyone should be offended by my choice of format.
If you think me patronizing, ok.
But there is an email link on my site, and I talk to many, many readers every day who choose to use the option.
That is my answer for any charge of isolating myself from criticism.
Here is the only reason that really matters: It's my damn site and I'll do what I want.
Sam
III
Remember we're doing everything we can to keep a roof over our family's head. Tends to force trade off decisions and, let's face it, Maslow always wins.
Having said that, we don't have the infrastructure for mass rallies. The Left has the rent-a-mobs, professional organizers, the law firms, and the media to pull it off.
We don't.
What we can do though is to organize. Network. Spread the idea of Liberty and see to it that we're as free as possible in this value-chain world.
Then when the time is right, things will happen but not until then. You can't force it.
Kerodin - Apparently you do take it personally when you're called out because of an idea you've published.
And yes, of course your site is your site and you can do with it what you want.
What you can't do is expect others to accept your ideas at face value, especially when you post vague or inaccurate ideas that conflate or co-opt ideas already in existence. An example of that could be drawn from your side bar: "III Creed".
A case could arguably be made that the "III Creed" is an attempt to co-opt the 3% of gun owners who will not disarm for any reason (original intent of the 3%) into the militia, who may or may not be part of the 3%.
Having an email critique? Damn near the same thing as choosing to post without commentary (which, of course, is your choice). It keeps you in the 'safe zone' because you control what you even acknowledge let alone determine you must defend.
Example? Sure. Right here. It took 3 posts for you to answer my critique of your 'choices' and their logical consequences on another's blog.
In contrast, any idea I've put here regarding your 'columns' I've had to risk being disproven. So far, they haven't been. All that's been said is the bottom line of, "it's my site and I'll do with it what I want".
That's all I'm communicating. Not that you're not a patriot; not that you're not a threeper. Only that you don't speak with impunity for the 3% movement.
Now, if you can accept that, maybe we can move to create harmony between 'soldiers of the same side'.
If not, well, that's too bad.
Doc,
You're the one asserting that I am somehow trying to speak with impunity for the entirety of the III Community, from a position of implied superiority...not I.
I count several points where you put words in my mouth that you mis-represent as my positions, which is why I ignored your first comments.
While I could disect your posts seriatum, and I would if I thought for a moment you were seeking actual discourse on the topic rather than simply a public forum to declare how pompous Kerodin is with his "Bully Pulpit", cluttering CA's board is not the proper venue. It's unseemly.
I'll be happy to talk about "me" and my faults in email. Or, you may continue to do it wherever you wish. But on this blog, I'll limit my comments and responses to the issues of Restoration.
There is far too much blue-on-blue snarking in our community already.
Please feel free to email me, or not.
Sam
III
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