And so our “awkward stage” continues.<\/p>\n
The awkward stage<\/a> is that excruciatingly, endlessly frustrating phase in which tyranny, brutality, and bigotry against freedom grow ever more oppressive but the oppressed feel powerless to act effectively<\/em> on a large scale. Moral though it may be to string lawless, dictatorial rulers up on lamp posts, it isn’t what good people do — at least not until provocations and deprivations exceed endurance. <\/p>\n Yet without effective options, we good people find ourselves ever more bound and restricted. In the 25 years since I opened 101 Things to do ‘Til the Revolution<\/em> with my infamous remark, even many of the alternative actions outlined in that book have been closed off to us or become too needlessly dangerous to advocate. <\/p>\n What was petty and amusing monkeywrenching a quarter of a century ago is now “domestic terrorism.” What was honest questioning or investigation is now “disinformation” and cause for cancellation. Merely stating biological facts or traditional beliefs is now “hatred.” What was once angry protest or trespassing is “treason,”<\/a> with all the draconian threats and lack of due process that implies. And let’s not even talk about surveillance systems that outstrip the wildest dreams of historic tyrants.<\/p>\n One thing for sure: Although we are still in the limbo of that excruciating awkward stage, we’re in a far more advanced and precarious condition. Crucially, more of us now understand that not only is our freedom being attacked; so is the entire cultural, intellectual, philosophical, and ethical ground on which freedom is built. <\/p>\n Whether Our Betters “merely” intend to lead us into another centralized, Sovietized, unworkable, and ultimately failed “expertocracy” or will end up driving us farther, into a new Dark Age, remains to be seen.<\/p>\n But there’s one ray of light shining through their centrally planned catastrophe: More of us finally understand that we must act individually<\/em> and in small groups to avert or mitigate disaster and to preserve what we must through a potentially bleak future. Even better, we understand that we can<\/em> do that. We have the tools, the knowledge, the spirit, and the determination. We can’t fix global or national politics. We can’t confront and beat back oligarchy. But we can<\/em> take charge of our own lives, families, and communities.<\/p>\n —–<\/p>\n Prepping and homeschooling are no longer fringe activities. People are saving everything from heirloom seeds to classical literature. Self-sufficiency has become a thing. From alternative construction models to home generators and sawmills to beekeeping and home brewing and fermenting, millions are adapting to the political threats and the cultural dilapidation by taking their lives and their families’ lives into their own hands. Post-lockdown, millions are saying NO to the job culture and yes to self-determined forms of work. After being badly burned by “experts” they’re beginning to say YES to their own life experiences and no to received institutional wisdom. Young men are giving up corrupted universities for lucrative, hands-on trades.<\/p>\n This runs across the entire political spectrum, but it’s certainly a roaring trend among freedomistas.<\/p>\n