Writing at American Greatness, Christopher Roach argues that the Left, after patiently mounting a well-organized assault on all institutions, and after a century of expansion of the managerial state, now has power that is “largely immune from elections.” (After what we’ve just seen in 2020, can anyone doubt this?) He advises us that henceforward “Any purely political efforts should be local and issue-specific, rather than channeling our energies into a doomed bid for national power. ”
We can begin by severing the ties that lash us into the larger system and make us dependent on it. We can reduce our personal debt by frugality and change of habits, and try to find ways to live that give us more control and independence. And independence of thought plays a key role:
We live in an age of lies. Academic institutions are devoted less and less to inquiry and more and more to indoctrination. They also function to provide credentials for future leaders of the managerial system. The student loan program is a massive transfer payment system from the aspirational middle class to the wealthy.
There is little way for anyone of integrity to thrive in this system. Often, one must choose between success and one’s self-respect and honor. Consider the example of someone like General George Casey. After the Fort Hood massacre, he humiliated himself and said, “Our diversity, not only in our Army, but in our country, is a strength. And as horrific as this tragedy was, if our diversity becomes a casualty, I think that’s worse.” This is not a legacy to be proud of.
It is not easy to unplug from the constant propaganda and groupthink. It is seductive and intertwined with moral judgments. But a real education is readily available to each of us: simply read old books.
The real history of our country, our civilization, our faith, and our people is there, along with much practical wisdom on every subject under the sun. It’s all more interesting and less corrosive than reality television, gaming, newspapers, or the rare gems found on the internet.
By fortifying one’s mind with the best of Western Civilization, one is immunized from the poorly reasoned, dishonest, and transparently self-serving narratives of the Left. None of this takes a degree or a student loan; it only takes a library card.
We should also focus more on local than national politics:
Trying to capture the upper echelons of the system won’t be permitted, as #TheResistance demonstrated in response to Donald Trump’s 2016 victory. We need to play a different game that leverages our strengths.
Local politics are probably a worthwhile locus of activity. With relatively less money and effort, one can achieve substantial influence, whether in primaries or otherwise. There’s a reason George Soros threw money into so many local prosecutors’ races.
Further, local governments have also shown themselves capable of surprising energy in enforcing (and resisting) the coronavirus mandates coming from the experts. One possible model of influence is New York’s Conservative Party, which will withhold its endorsement of the Republican candidate and, thereby, acts as a check on the more suicidal impulses of the Stupid Party.
Local politics also extends beyond elections. Spontaneous activism can be effective, like the well-armed homeowners who protected their neighborhood in Indiana from Black Lives Matter hooligans. Families and existing organizations have the capacity for mutual support and mutual defense. New organizations should emerge with these ends in mind, as well. They are going to be increasingly important in the face of a hostile government and an indifferent economic system.
Political activity goes beyond merely winning elections. Tens of thousands of Virginia gun owners peacefully marched in January. Even though pro-gun control Democrats won control of the state legislature and governorship, the proposed assault weapon ban was voted down in committee.
Above all, we should resist the atomizing of civil society — the severing of the horizontal ligatures that bind us together into a compact unity. Those who would dominate subjugate us know that as isolated individuals, we are most easily frightened and subdued. We must refocus our attention — away from placeless social media and the great, punishing energy-cone that Curtis Yarvin calls “The Gigaphone”, and toward our own communities — that is, toward those with whom we can actually build normal human relationships of trust and mutual assistance.
As with real insurgencies, the best tactics for the political insurgent are often the opposite of those appropriate for the regime. Thus, while monopolistic online “communities” are now highly regulated by woke weirdos, that’s not true of your backyard barbeque, your church, and your local gun club.
The source of strength for the dissident Right comes from those areas of life that exist outside of the economic-political-technocratic surveillance regime. The greatest potential exists among “in real life” friendships and family relationships. Your Twitter followers aren’t going to come to the rescue when Antifa is threatening your home or your business needs a loan. And it’s a lot harder for “cancel culture” to break the bonds of blood and shared experience.
The most workable model is less Ronald Reagan’s GOP and something more like Poland’s Solidarity movement in the 1980s. Even under Communism and the imposition of martial law, this grassroots trade union managed to resist the regime and convert the government’s suppression into a high cost in international censure. Some of Solidarity’s more important tactics included underground schools and workers’ strikes.
What if we went on strike?
It is difficult to adjust to the reality that ordinary politics essentially are over. The signs of a slow-motion breakdown of the old system first appeared only as fragments: Supreme Court cases on controversial social questions, sustained government growth under both Republican and Democratic administrations, intelligence agencies meddling in an election, and the full-bore resistance by the bureaucracy to the Trump Administration. The real “mask off” moment has been the suspect election of 2020.
We have to face reality and fight the good fight effectively on the terrain on which we now find ourselves. That means changing our lifestyles and efforts in ways that achieve maximum personal independence, mutual support, and tangible results.
In short, we must rebuild a civil society that has been torn apart by the combined economic and political pressures of the leftist managerial state.
Read the rest here.
11 Comments
As a start, not enough.
The best thing in the above was the neighborhood watches- armed watchmen.
All of the above are a good start, no solution.
Sold as solution is misleading – on life/death issues.
As for Solidarity- uh- thats all very nice if they cared if we worked, or needed us for money, or wanted us at all.
They don’t. Also no Reagan, no Casey, no JP2, no bankrupting from the outside, no NATO, no nukes…
No Gorbachev. Also the wife may object to sacrifice, and losing your job and access to any financial services, etc.
Frankly the entire thing if taken as solution is a diversion.
Intentions don’t matter, effects matter.
The effect of taking those steps would be to blunt our presently whetted purpose.
Here’s a local measure that comes highly recommended, in fact was considered essential;
“ A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”
Well regulated meant organized and trained.
The individual right to bear arms misses the point, utterly and tragically. An individual is nothing in war, a group is essential.
Form local militias. That you can do.
Your charter is above.
No, don’t ask permission.
Not from the govt, not from the police, not from the wife.
Yes, do all those things.
But they are meaningless unless you do this, nor are we allowed civil society, or non- participation unless we do this; form as below.
A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.
vxxc,
The article presents a practical start; above all, it presents a proper mindset for a defiant Remnant to cultivate. Our system was founded on subsidiarianism, and on the vital importance of civil society as a framework both for strength and civic virtue; the author is right to emphasize these things.
Keep in mind that there are limits to what one can suggest in a (relatively) mainstream publication. Some reading between the lines is necessary.
Can’t even read be bothered to read this Benedictine Option “go local” kind of crap anymore. This is Rod Dreher style loserspeak. Look, if you want to move into a cabin in the middle of Montana like the Unabomber nobody gives a sh!t, but organized, local opposition will not be tolerated by the left. Dropping out collectively in favor of organized, local opposition is not an option.
Twenty years ago Conservatives thought they could forge a compromise with the Left based on a promise of tolerance for the various forms of deviancy promoted by the Left. “Conservatives don’t care if you are gay/bi/trans or whatever particular form of deviant behavior was being promoted. We are willing to judge you based on the content of your character.
The answer from the Left was: You will be made to care. Now almost every Fortune 100 company and all government employers will fire you for failing to express sufficient enthusiasm for drag queen story hour at the local library. The strategy of compromise was an epic failure.
Any attempt by the Right to form opposition groups at the local level will be met with the response from the Left: You will be made to conform. This battle must be joined and it must be won, starting with the theft of the 2020 election. If Biden takes the oath of office on January 21 there will be no recovery for Conservatives in America.
Guest,
There is no conceivable downside to strengthening economic self-reliance, personal and community networks, and independence of thought and education. All of these things will be necessary assets under any possible scenario.
You say:
This is, I’m sure we’ll all agree, a rousing call to action. What’s your plan?
@Guest,
Locally we will be checked, or ignored.
Unless we do the below, which we were supposed to be doing all along, in which case dear Guest they are checked.
“A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”
They have no army, and they can’t use the police unless a crime is being committed, and even if declared an illegal assembly outside of Blue cities the police will ignore any directives from DC, or Albany, or Sacramento.
@Malcolm
My comments were not directed at you, but at the common reading public, who are very nice people..but politically children, and must be told directly. They insist on it in fact, and good luck getting anyone to read between lines.
vxxc
Expressly my Fellow Americans: you were supposed to be doing this all along..
Form a well regulated (organized and trained) local militia. Then see if the Churches stay closed.
Building on the author’s point, perhaps Lefty has shown us one way to proceed, with the sanctuary cities and states of the past four years. Two can play at that game.
Very well.
What to do?
What is your Trade or Profession?
Fine.
Form ___ + Constitutional Club.
Half your trade or skill you will organize, or to young people impart, the other half talking about our Constitution vs what we actually are having forced down our throats.
Half – actual ratios are up to you.
I am sure men of all ages particular the young always want to learn or improve skills- and scared people [and you should be] like to band together.
Do what you already do, in concert- and add the Constitution and discussions to it.
Example: The Truckers Constitutional Club.
Everyone needs stuff off trucks.
The martial arts constitutional club.
The Radio show constitutional club.
The whatever _____ + constitutional club.
Keep it local.
There is no trade not needed in strife, should matters continue on this path.
Our enemy is in full view.
https://remodernreview.wordpress.com/2020/12/21/2020-the-invisible-war/
https://bayourenaissanceman.blogspot.com/2020/12/how-to-respond-to-revolution-remember.html