A few days ago I wrote about The Death of America, which will likely be caused by a government that grows so large it strangles the individual-above-state attitude that formed the basis of the founding of the United States. I then outlined many of the ways in which we’re already there.
That’s the bad news — and it’s really, really bad news.
When you get down to it, government doesn’t really create anything at all. (Exceptions: paperwork and fiat currency!) When government brags about spending a zillion dollars on yet another pet project, it’s really bragging about robbing productive people and handing that cash to the well-connected. Thus, as government spends more and more, it’s no surprise that ‘regular’ people participating in voluntary exchanges of goods/time/services tend to fall behind those who are friends with the literal money-makers.
But the good news is that the life of America doesn’t emanate from Washington DC. The life of America comes from its people, not its politicians. Everybody who gets up every day and makes their little corner of the country a little better is part of the life of America. The farmers and baristas and taxi drivers and accountants and lawyers — okay, let’s not go THAT far — are all positive forces helping shape the most complex society in the history of the world.
Even with a historically (for America) overbearing government, the pulse of America is strong if you know where to look. (In Washington, we say that’s anywhere more than 30 minutes away from I5) We generally have the freedom to make our own decisions and valuations. We can (mostly) raise our kids the way we like. Even though government is encroaching, we can still take care of things that humans have historically cared about most — family, friends, and community. We can use our intelligence to ‘route around’ the damage the government is doing, at least minimizing the inevitable. The challenge is formidable but so are our resources and our contacts.
Today my inbox, and maybe yours as well, overflows with awesome articles from ‘Stackers and their subscribers wishing one another a Happy New Year. When we look back at where we were last year at this time, 2022 was a wonderous success. We finally got off the mat and started swinging back — and already the the world is better off. Mandates are being rescinded left and right, and the ones that remain look even dumber than ever. And the great unspoken truth is that without the endless screaming of “Team Reality”, those mandates (and possible lockdowns) would have continued and expanded.
After years of being banned from society for being two steps ahead of it, our voices are finally starting to break through. (As are the lawsuits) We’ve formed awesome communities able to quickly share and debate information. And even today — when most of the country is hungover — information continues to flow on Substack!
But the best reason for optimism about the life of America is that the genie is out of the bottle with regards to freedom and the ideals that allow governments to be instituted among humans in order to secure their natural rights as free people. At this point, the ideas enshrined in the Constitution have spread around the world and most of the globe agrees (at least in theory) with many of these ideas. The life of America can thrive anywhere that people are free. Even baboons know that.
When people are free to speak and question authority, tyrants are forced to play defense. Here’s to putting them on the mat in 2023 with four little words:
I envy your optimism. 2022 was a complete shitshow, at least for me. I'm hoping 2023 will suck less, but I'm not naturally inclined towards hope, and it's getting harder every year.
This is going to be a very interesting year... Good, I think, in many ways, but hard, too. Very hard on those who already struggle. BUTT...
We're entering the tipping point time. First and one, as SC says... Covid is about to crash and burn like the flimsy tissue paper bullshit it is... But when they come for our food and our money, we're gonna scramble, we're gonna struggle. Stock up NOW if you can, like a month's worth of food, that doesn't need to be cooked, and water, too. You can always eat and drink them later if you don't need 'em.
I'm thinking about things that go boom, too... Last time I did that I was 10, with some bb's...