Max~
For the record I wasn’t knocking Liberty Colony whatsoever - I’m not opposed to any sort of sustained community, and while I went off on the explanation in more detail, the only aspect that I would’ve had trouble with were those mentioned. Look at it more like a “review” and not a criticism. I am all for you guys setting the ground laws according to how you feel and what you believe, and it would effectively weed out the ones who disagree with any of the laws, which is what you would prefer I would imagine. And for what it’s worth, it wouldn’t be those aspects mentioned that actually stopped me from a more serious pursuit, but the simple fact I’d have to fly to get to any of those locations and I do not fly for any reason. So don’t take offense, I hope it will work out and I’m sure I’ll pass the link along where I find people looking for that possibility. I’m not against what you’re doing - I merely was indicating the aspects of it that I would have a personal issue with, and then went on to explain why that was…so as not to be considered just being arbitrary making a remark without any backup.
Still, LC and apparently various aspects of the “antigov” platform seem to feel inclined to want to go remote, or isolate somewhere with a group of likeminded people. In and of itself there’s nothing wrong with it, but to be assosiated with or linked to, or known as in any manner antigovernment is what would put those groups at risk, such as with the Davidians…and the advantage of reaching a massive amount of people in an overt way is with them, they can demonize such groups using the media. The flipside, the internet is to our advantage and will reach far more people with the right network, and another advantage is that the MSM brainwashing machine works only on idiots anyway and those same idiots are less likely to revolt - they’ve been dumbed down into complacency and mostly just fire off at the mouth rather than any real damage. One more advantage is that in individual cases, it’s way easier to “manipulate” them out of the manipulation by using the same tactics: ego. Instead of debating and arguing, which is threatening to their whole paradigm - which they will protect at all costs over and above hearing a word you say, if they perceived you as against them at all…the solution is to sidestep the whole subject for a bit, find a common ground and then pump their ego the same way - feed them the candy, indulge their whole mentality of following a leader - because the truth is they follow the leader that can appease their egos the best. Once they’re not kneejerk antagonistic toward you, then you can introduce the topic in ways THEY can relate to, and in a joking manner and eventually their light will flip on when they find themselves agreeing about the whole thing. If you’ve done it correctly then your ideas will be what these sorts of people begin parroting elsewhere so they sound all important - and basically “fieldtest” it a bit before they adopt it. If they find a welcome group, that will give them permission basically to accept it more.
Other than that, not everyone wants to do that, and in the long run it does seem to suggest less of a statement of “leave us be” and more of "fuck this, we can’t handle it’. I think this agorism is less about isolation and more about practical community change toward less reliance to no reliance on any govt entity making our decisions for us.
STAYING PUT
In that case, why leave somewhere? Why not stay right where you are and start cultivating your immediate neighbors? If you could focus all your efforts first and foremost on, say just the very people who live on your street - or in your apartment complex for that matter, even the police, security, hold or host a common ground event - like a block party or just a “meet n greet” sort of thing, and just bring them in one manageable spot, mingle and get an idea what they’re about, what page these people are even on. Don’t assume that just because one is a prosecutor or a cop or whatever that they’re superior or the enemy - they live in the same community as you for a reason, and they’re not ‘on duty’ - so don’t approach them that way. If politics comes up, toss it out there what you feel honestly and get the discussion going…but keep it upbeat and nonthreatening, no debates over the issues, but only chatting for the initial phase. You might find that everyone around you does indeed feel the same way and would love to abolish the government rule “but we don’t know how.” Of those who do, even if it’s not all, then move again to the next couple streets, or the local hood itself - hold a cookout in the local park or whatever…work in very small manageable segments of the community and knock them out like that…once you gey a good majority in your own county/parish, then rally those to move to the next one and start with a small tract area, rally them the same way.
It’s not THE solution, but it keeps it from getting overwhelming asking how the hell can I reach everyone in my state to get this out - without becoming a target?
SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY ON YOUR STREET
Next suggestion I would have is don’t organize into any identifiable group ever. Instead, bring various groups and organizations whether political or not together with a common goal, and basically what you’re doing is taking a calculation of what sort of ground level support is in place already and what sort of numbers would need to be brought in…but if there is no “group” then there is no threat of accusation of being “one of those government hate groups” looking to “overthrow our way of life” kinda BS. Instead, it is “citizens with something in common” which is a buffer between the community and the bombs…if the govt goonsquad pulled a Davidian on the government haters, they’d end up being supported…if they pulled the same thing on the “citizens in Mayberry Georgia” the country would stand behind the people.
Now, instead of an organized campaign designed to bring government down - which is, I know, the trigger word injecting fear into the equation, out of these new neighbors and friends made with all sorts of skills, begin approaching only those who are clearly antigov minded with personal, private transactions…with these various skillsets, there are people who can and do all those things, hunters still go to the woods and get deer, plenty of those in every state…plenty of local farmers with chicken pens to get eggs…these staples are still in play in all local communities, and those ones would be far more willing to accept a silver/gold round in payment than the currency, but if not, then pay them in currency and gradually encourage them on the benefits.
NEUTRAL CELEBRATION EVENTS
Now another idea I just had - I’ve slept on all this and woke up with something forming here finally - is for establishing some sort of local festival that is relevant to a no government theme, but not anything touching on conflict and revolution. The idea again is appeasing the ego itself - without threatening ideas and without dividing people into their factions of “pro lifers” vs “atheists” - something like the X anniversary of when the US abolished the gold standard, so you can get some ANTI conspiracy theorist info - i.e. I love Alex Jones but avoid that sort of rhetoric at this point! - actual information from libraries and gov departments, and then whatever options for the advantages of a private currency. Make it basically an datamining event, no commercial pushing of any specific brand or company, but the specific aspect itself of the benefits of a private currency…Mayberry GoldnSilver Saturday or some such thing…come out and discover the great benefits of choosing gold and silver as your currency of choice!
GANG SUPPORT GROUPS
Another one that would seriously be productive in so many obvious ways is if you happen to live in a poorer area or one that keeps the people on lockdown for fear of rogue gangs - instead of making them your enemy, consider befriending them instead. Look at the driving motivations for why these elements develop - numero uno: outlaw governmental oppression. Those very gangs and ‘supporters’ of such are choosing their personal revolt but are focused on the wrong target - their neighborhoods. They’ve been oppressed, been profiled, been strung up as the evil scapegoats but they are citizens who are angry with the status quo, pissed off about having their rights continually violated, and angry at their neighbors for abandoning them or turning on them. Not all of these people are sociopaths who simply like killing innocent people. In fact, I’d wager none of them are. What they are doing is indoctrinating more into their groups - so we know they recognize the power of the group, they want to “belong” somewhere meaningful to make a difference. We know they are warriors and soldiers - they’re not afraid to pull a gun to defend what they feel is their right, their property, their turf, etc.
The idea is to refocus those same motivations into something productive…so they can stop turning it against their neighbors and instead be protectors of their neighbors (the joke on them being the neighbors will no longer be in danger!)…the angle with them is more openly abolition of government, and highlighting the very reasons these sorts of gangs end up organizing, but impressing on them that the community is to their greatest advantage. If that’s too big for you, work at the fringes where you’d feel safer, and maybe look for those people who seem to tread the line between the gangs and the outsiders and get that person or individuals to serve as the mouthpiece for community cooperation against the whole thing. It would also be beneficial if those very gang groups got the heads up about the plummeting value of the dollar and that gold/silver would be more advantageous to them overall. Obviously not everyone is willing to do this, or has access - it’s an option for those in that position to reconsider the relationship with this element in a community.
KEEP IT SIMPLE
If you’re not a big partier or organizer, then focus again only on your street or complex. It could be as simple as making flyers to join the meet n greet, or even something personal and nonthreatening, more focused on ‘concern’ with the current economic state and plummeting dollar value, and that you’re interested in working with people on your street or getting together with them to consider options for a private currency, or gold/silver. If you’re not too great at rallying people or in verbally making a case without it going off the road into some heated debate, then find someone close to you/home who can appeal to the people, who has that gift of gab to speak instead, and let them do the public speaking part and you can organize other areas you’re more comfortable.
COMMUNITY SERVICES
A sound monetary system, and a conventient way to trade between fiat paper and gold/silver.
This could be more effectively done once there is a ground network of locals willing to privately trade…the above suggestions are an option to get to this point.
A safe place to store your savings and profits. (If you store gold in your residence, you risk theft by common criminals and you risk theft by criminals wearing badges and uniforms.)
The risk is lowered tremendously the more you can get to know your neighbors and if they are private currency minded then they would see the value in circulation rather than hording, and it would make it much easier to identify the risk neighbors who might be inclined to just steal gold/silver. That knowledge would also help you work out effecient hiding places, but the idea isn’t to hide it - it’s to put it in circulation in the community like Liberty Dollars. For the record, while LD did get raided, they do still sell the rounds/coins, just not the certificates which is better anyway.
Food manufacturing (off-the-books farming and cooking)
This one is no threat to anyone and is already widely practiced. Indoor gardens, solar ovens - and for what it’s worth if you live in the midst of citylife, that could work well for the neutral celebration event - invite your neighbors to learn about solar cooking, build a very inexpensive solar oven, or make indoor gardens - go with the easy, quick fix sorts of options and share that with your neighbors on your block…then branch out from there while also posing the benefits of private currency amongst yourselves. Also, be inconvenienced to avoid WalMart and chain grocers and go find farmer’s markets, buy from those guys who pull up their truck of veggies on the side of the road, and pay with silver/gold. Refer your friends to them, or set up a grocer service between your neighbors who aren’t gonna or can’t go and do the shopping for a fee.
Free market health care (doctors without a State license)
The main barrier is finding the ones with skills who would be willing to take on a private clientele, paid in gold/silver, without ending up in prison. Instead of approaching anyone in particular unless they’re a close relation who trusts you, consider a small local passive campaign that your community/neighborhood is seeking a qualified private physician who is interested in this sort of arrangement…but if you worked on some of the above options, there’ll probably be medical people in there somewhere. If they are also likeminded about no gov, they would be more willing to work with people they are on the same page with and far less risk of being targeted. If they are actually helpful, the community would absolutely support them in any sort of altercation with the thought police.
Appliance manufacturing and repair (air conditioners, toasters, etc.)
This is also very common - most guys love to fix stuff (after they’ve broken it to begin with so they can fix it), but it’s so easy to track down someone who can repair anything you hand them…the shift is only in how they want to be paid, and if they’re remotely intelligent, they would also choose private currency.
Clothing manufacturing
Same - most guys have no idea where to find people to make clothing, but here’s a hint: she’s probably female, and she’s probably a bit older. And if so, she’s very likely a retired seamstress or just enjoyed making clothing - to START - she may also be dependent on retirement and SS, which would enslave her. Seek out seamstresses in your local papers, bring her some business, pay her in gold/silver…also find some of those who are also able and willing to teach classes to people. This actually is fairly common practice too but mostly ignored in mainstream America as people trot to the malls. It would not be that hard to bring business back to these manufacturers on local levels (most likely they’re ALREADY getting their side, hidden income from referrals and friends anyway and are indeed off the radar and not paying tax on it…the shift is only to the introduction of private currency).
Transportation (such as unlicensed taxi services and unlicensed car mechanics)
See above, especially with the mechanics. Don’t think for one second that a mechanic will turn down a side job. The only shift would be private currency. Start a local only transport service as a “side job” - or use the whole ‘carpool’ option for a less threatening approach, and people chip in for gas - and a little extra…which is not illegal to begin with and can launch into private transport. The business is there.
Housing repair (someone who will fix/repair your house off-the-books)
Look not to the company owners but to the employees themselves, who also will not turn down side jobs. Start with the side jobs option because it doesn’t draw any undue attention, and they are far more likely to take on more and more business if they can build up enough that it’s sustainable for themselves and they can “quit working” and go into their own little business. If these same people are from your collection of nogov pool, they’re not going to go on radar…and the off target resource can build up to enough of a degree that the corporations and companies start losing business, which will eventually shut them down.
Justice (a way to resolve disputes) Police (a way to enforce decisions when someone is mistreated; ostracism of dishonest people might be sufficient)
Again, this is where the local gang element can be recruited and refocused. These people are, to be blunt, very willing to shoot if they pull a gun, but instead of their internal issues if they were redirected into hiring these gangs as private security for the neighborhood/community, that would accomplish a lot. It would also greatly reduce local area crime if those committing it had the sense of ownership restored, pride, etc. that they’re responsible and doing something people around them do value - and if they happen to end up busted before things really take hold, then their community or private employers BETTER be willing to bail them out, stand up for them, or protect them from prosecution in whatever manner open. Otherwise they’ll end up right back in the same mentality taking it out on the community who betrayed them. Offering them a very real position as a private security squad for X community, and to protect the community from corrupt cops and all that sort of thing would be a selling point!
Eventually all these gang members and rival factions can compete not with violence against one another, but in which security squad offers the better service for the people - and pay them well. Cultivate these people - and if all these other areas are beginning to work, then there is less tax money going to the state which can fund these service providers. The community could also get together to help these people get some cool “security duds” - just get them out of the sloppy gangsta fashion nonsense, put them in something less threatening and more professional, and step them up from guttergansters into a very real, respected local security force that is off the radar. If you look closer at what they’re doing - they’ve got loads of skills on how to avoid detection, black market operations, buying and selling of weapons and other goods, even for those who feel drugs should be legal - and not taxed! - these members of society can be turned into a great asset for the PEOPLE…if they are cultivated and supported. That very well would be the first visible benefit to the community is watching the crime rate drop down to next to zero.
For any local law enforcement who are of the same mind, they can assist this whole arrangement by helping train the security teams to keep off the radar as well, and maybe in time with the reduction in crime and the gang element redirected, a lot more cops out there would ease off their kneejerk nazi mentality and the corruption would settle down internally…but for those who just prefer to remain corrupt, they’d be dealt with by a rival security force who isn’t afraid of them…which is what you would want…else how secure are you going to be from this very threat?
As for the local justice - it would by all accounts be considered vigilante justice, because in a private sense, a ‘lawbreaker’ would not be sent to a state jail for prosecution, and the court provision would not allow for movement of a case or appeal to a supreme court - as we know it. It would require voluntary installation of a private court that the local communities agree on off the radar. So the best way to go about that would be holding small segment oriented community meetings to hash out how they’d handle it. The decision would likewise have to be made among the people whether or not to handle minor infractions with the security/court, and leave the hard crimes like murder to the ‘real police’ - or to cross over and just handle it within the community, which would probably result in a large amount of “obstruction of justice”…
The other option is to start working on local cops in the community to encourage them to the private sector…
Education (an effective homeschooling system)
I am a homeschooler. The states are very much out of the picture depending on what option you consider. There are typicaly two alternatives - one is basically where you are still seeking state permission, and would still use a state sponsored curriculum, and the other is schools not seeking state’s permission - meaning the state has absolutely zero authority whatsover to intervene or determine what curriculum is used, their truancy policies do not apply - and those interested in homeschooling should choose that option. That takes the kids out of the system entirely in that respect…and then it’s entirely up to you what subjects are taught and how. I pulled my son out year before last, toward the end of the school year - which I felt was more strategic advantage. It amounted to sending a notice to the state that as of this date my child would be attending X private school (even made up a name, no problems, it’s mostly protocol), and then I went to the school and pulled him out. I did have the principle come to my house wanting to see the memo from the state, but I hadn’t gotten it back yet and told her that it was her responsibility to secure it from the school board, I was under no obligation to show her anything. In that state, that was my right. She left and that was the end of it. We later moved to a new state that had the same provision, so I haven’t had to bother with notifying the state one way or the other.
Reference Checking (so you don’t accidentally trade with an undercover cop)
What a great opportunity for all us armchair sleuths! If you had any idea how many people there are out there who are investigators at heart, but for various reasons do not or can not go through the whole federal level training and licensing, you’d wonder why we’re even using police investigators. The upside is with the armchair sleuths you’d have to have a rule somewhere keeping them from nosing into some investigation! These people are true investigators, researchers, these are the ones who end up with those massive websites with tons of detailed information about this or that crime or case - they’re EVERYWHERE. They don’t care about a license, and they would jump at the opportunity to begin a “side job” style investigative service if there was little risk of the “legal” repercussions or avoiding all the red tape. That leads to those who love forensics - the more qualified are those who are self taught…they didn’t get the education listening to someone else telling them this is how it is, they genuinely love the subject and do their own research and learn far more than most standard state forensics techs. Also those with backgrounds and interests in chemistry, biology, neurosciences, etc. can be brought in for their input - so private forensics labs can be established, research and development, etc.
One other consideration would be for emergencies - before or during a full transition. Some things would just be overridden by local ER and police, like pileups on the roads, or some bank standoff - but to truly transition there would need to be something similar to police dispatch and 911, so the local forces would be notified instead of the state sponsored ones.
A way to match buyers and sellers (agorists can’t make advertisements in the newspapers or on Craigslist)
Agorists could indeed develop a community circulated paper similar to thrifty nickel, that is run by the community itself - not corporate news media, same for actual community news for that matter…the borders have been blasted, everyone and their mamma at this point is wide open to become the reporter journalist they’ve always wanted to be. It would be a GOOD idea to bring back the printing presses and set up a local print shop - or find a locally operated print shop still in business and use them…and begin circulating true media. The same ad principles work, but a community barter paper is completely legal and nobody is required or stupid enough to post an ad for their 15 kilos of pot for sale! Those deals will continue to happen off the radar anyway.
So to me it would seem that the resources themselves are there and have been there all along - it’s a matter more of introducing the idea and advantage of private currency, but even for those who aren’t ready or able to do it, building up that resource and supporting them is better in the long run. Eventually they won’t have any choice - the FRNs will be dead anyway.
So the resources are already in place…the agenda would be to start working on connecting these people together into the private network, and doing so as more of a “community upgrade” sort of thing, which nobody would seriously protest, and the cops have nothing to target. Even doing any sort of business with a local cop in some other area - they still need clothes, food, transporation, etc. or various social needs - so asking them in the off duty respect if they’d consider trading with private currency like gold/silver because of your concerns about the economy, that isn’t a threat alert to most cops. The threat for them comes in with visible organized mobilized groups with a specific agenda that could trigger some kinda uprising = but individually, none of these things are “illegal” on their face, with the notable exception of a citizen’s court. Not even private security is illegal, as long as they don’t present themselves as an organized gang. That sort of shift would go along way in easing that conflict between gangs and cops on a social level and could inspire more cops to help and assist them, growing a mutual respect…
Now getting all of this rolling would over a short period of time begin to threaten the state controls…they have nothing to arrest or prosecute, no groups to target, and they can’t prosecute one or two people for trading gold or silver in some small scale thing…and they have no real way of tracking the citizenry as to who is doing business if it’s all presented or conducted as a “side job” isolated event. At most they could impose a fine. They cannot compel people to use the local corporate businesses. Further, if the organization is done in small, manageable segments of the population from county to county, the numbers themselves would be solid enough to first convince the communites as a whole that no government would not be missed, and after enough evidence, to then move toward a statewide move for seccession, and since the majority by then would be convinced there would be less resistance on a state level except from those in govt positions who don’t want to be unemployed. An option is to help those people transition to community run state, find them some other work similar to what they were already doing, unless they’ve been proven corrupt.
Again, this may not be THE way, but it is a very viable, feasible way to develop it and transition to it with the least amount of risk, and the least overwhelming to actually start practically. Even if you start with 3 people on your street, grow it from 3…to find 6…and 15…and move street to street mobilizing without any identifiable agenda to abolish all government. Spin it only as far as to present it as a community network solution or getting to know your neighbors…and let the issue of no government be simply a topic of discussion when it’s relevant…and even used as a “revelation” you’re sharing:
Wow…I see these people together, we’ve redone the park and planted a sustainable garden…without any sort of assistance from government at all.
That kinda thing to get them considering it as a very plausible option.
Sorry it was long but lots of topics I wanted to cover.