For the record, this blog was initially hosted through Blogger on Google. It will remain there in its entirety as long as the internet is still up and running. For those of you who found me at GaltsGulchOrBust.com, this domain name will soon be out of service. Since I no longer post here, there is no point in paying for the domain name. If you wish to pass this website on to others and/or pass it along to friends, it will always be available at: www.sgtjarhead.blogspot.com Be sure to bookmark the previous for the future, as GaltsGulchOrBust.com will no longer bring you here soon. Now to the meat and potatoes...
The more things change, the more they stay the same. A new Congress will be sworn in tomorrow under the Republican leadership of John Boner. Yes, you read that right, I said Boner. Let me be clear...this will not change anything. The Republicans have pledged to cut 100 billion dollars out of a 3 trillion dollar budget.
Here is a pie chart of 100 billion and 3 trillion.
Politicians love doing this. 100 billion sounds like a huge amount. You see the number 100 compared to the number 3 and think that it must be a lot because the billion and trillion do not register in your mind. But in reality, it is a very small sum indeed. Republican voters will feel like "their guys are making a difference." But it is just business as usual. There will be a hard fight for this so-called huge budget cut, but I predict the Republicans will win in the end and get the cuts. They will be heralded as saviors of the fledgeling economy, and movements like the Tea Party will wither and die due to lack of true political and economic knowledge. Perhaps the movement will carry through to the Presidential elections, where the Republicans will run the woman who can see Russia from her house. If she wins, we will be in no better or worse shape than we are with Obama. Not a lick of this matters. Welcome back to the status quo ladies and gentlemen! Nothing has changed. Nothing will change. We are still headed for unprecedented debt and catastrophe. The only thing that may change is the wool being pulled back over your eyes for a little while longer. If you want to do yourself a huge favor, take a shotgun and blow a hole in your television right now.
It is for reasons like this, and many others that I am going to stop posting on this blog. The main reason is that all of my writing is not doing a bit of good. I do not have a wide fan base. Most of what I write on here is a simple passing on of information mixed with occasional original thought. There are many other bloggers who have a much better grasp on things than I do and are much better at breaking things down in a way that can be easily understood. Perhaps in my case it has been too much preaching to the choir. Or perhaps it has been too much preaching. Who knows? What I do know is, I rarely have comments on blog posts, and when I try to answer them for some lively debate, no one responds. I am a bit short on tact. In the end, I know this much: I am no wordsmith.
I would like to refer my readers to these two blogs.
Between these two authors, you will find the truth of the way the world really works. I am not saying that both authors get it right 100 percent of the time, where one author is wrong, the other usually gets it right. I will let you decide which is which. Please stay away from Alex Jones and those like him. It will destroy your soul!
I guess, my heart is not in this anymore. When I started this journey, I attacked every bit of information with a vigor that I have lost somewhere along the way. I read books all the time, but now I find myself thinking, "Tell me something I don't already know." I try to avoid confirmation bias as much as possible by reading outside my comfort zone, but I think I have come to the end of the line as far as learning new concepts. I finally made my mind up. Perhaps that is a philosophical cop-out, but it had to happen at some point. Maybe, if more real information is brought to my attention, I will change my thinking in the future again. Back when I was a neo-con I was sure that it was the only true and right way to think. Now I know that I was wrong. Just because I have stopped posting does not mean that I will stop reading and thinking. Life is a set of never ending learning experiences stacked end to end.
The experience of political awakening is very much akin to the stages of grief experienced when a loved one dies. The stages of grief are known as the Kübler-Ross model and they are as follows: Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, and Acceptance. By looking at the volume of posts from month to month on this blog, you can actually track my progress on the model. Most of the high volume posting was anger, and I think I skipped depression altogether. Maybe not all the way, there have been times I have been really down about the state of things and wished more people cared or could see what is right in front of their faces. Oh well, I am at the acceptance phase now, and that is when a person can finally
move forward and start actually making progress in their future.
The short version of what I believe is as follows: I believe in Agorism otherwise known as Market Anarchism or Political Atheism. I believe that all of the problems we have as a society are either caused by or made worse by government. If government would leave people alone to live their own lives as they see fit, we would be in a much better place today.
Humans are a flawed race of beings. God's punishment for original sin in the garden was to make us ignorant. This is why we disagree with each other. If we were all able to get along, we would no longer need God. No form of government set up by man to govern man can work, because man is inherently flawed and sinful in nature. The only form of government that will ever work will be after the return of Jesus Christ. Man cannot govern man, because he was not made for that purpose. Only God can rule man, and he is not doing that right now because this is still an evil world.
The experience of political awakening is very much akin to the stages of grief experienced when a loved one dies. The stages of grief are known as the Kübler-Ross model and they are as follows: Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, and Acceptance. By looking at the volume of posts from month to month on this blog, you can actually track my progress on the model. Most of the high volume posting was anger, and I think I skipped depression altogether. Maybe not all the way, there have been times I have been really down about the state of things and wished more people cared or could see what is right in front of their faces. Oh well, I am at the acceptance phase now, and that is when a person can finally
move forward and start actually making progress in their future.
The short version of what I believe is as follows: I believe in Agorism otherwise known as Market Anarchism or Political Atheism. I believe that all of the problems we have as a society are either caused by or made worse by government. If government would leave people alone to live their own lives as they see fit, we would be in a much better place today.
Humans are a flawed race of beings. God's punishment for original sin in the garden was to make us ignorant. This is why we disagree with each other. If we were all able to get along, we would no longer need God. No form of government set up by man to govern man can work, because man is inherently flawed and sinful in nature. The only form of government that will ever work will be after the return of Jesus Christ. Man cannot govern man, because he was not made for that purpose. Only God can rule man, and he is not doing that right now because this is still an evil world.
God has given us a good groundwork on how to live and get along with each other. Here a few pertinent passages:
One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
--Matthew 22:35-40
So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. --Matthew 7:12
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. --Romans 12:2
Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. --1 John 2:15-16
I believe that I have been transformed by the renewing of my mind. I see the true evil and ignorance of the world, because I no longer conform to its ways. I see a faith in government as a form of idolatry and one of the greatest evils there is. The Golden Rule, as stated above in Matthew 7:12 and Matthew 22 sums up everything you need to live a happy and fulfilling life. You should live your life like you want your kids to act. Don't hit people, don't take their things, don't tell people what to do. It really is that simple.
People do not like being told what to do. I have no interest in telling others what to do, because I don't like people doing that to me. I had enough "leadership" and "being a leader" when I was in the Marine Corps. Whether I tell you what to do directly, or vote someone else into "power" to tell you what to do makes no difference. It is still wrong.
Here is a great example of how to drive this point home to someone. If you are having a group conversation, pick one person and tell them to give you all the money in their wallet. They will naturally say no. Then say, "If you don't give me all the money in your wallet, I will beat you with a baseball bat and take it from you." They will say, "But thats wrong!" Then say, "OK, I am going to hold an election. If everyone in the room votes for me, I will take all the money in your wallet." It does not matter if everyone votes for you or not, in fact it will drive the point home even better if everyone votes against you. This shows everyone how petty elections are and that there is no true legitimate use of force.
Pick up any college Poli-Sci 101 textbook and look for the definition of government. It will give it as, the legitimate use of force. But you see, there is no legitimate use of force. What could possibly make any force legitimate? Nothing can. Forcing anyone to do anything against their will is a sin, therefore trying to legitimize force through government is also sinful.
I no longer conform to the ways of this world. My goal for the future is to starve the status quo. I plan to opt out of as many systems as I possibly can. I want to reduce my tax burden to the lowest possible number. I want to grow and harvest as much food as I possibly can on my own through small scale organic farming, permaculture, and raising of livestock. And in the end, a good day for me will be hard work outside and then relaxing in a rocking chair on my front porch with the Grateful Dead in my ears, a good book in one hand, and a cold home brewed beer in the other; watching my children play with the dogs in the yard. I know....... a man can dream can't he?
Fighting does no good. Armed revolution is doomed to failure. The only way forward is to start setting the example by living the life you want, not the life you are forced to live by those so-called-legitimate politicians. Yes, I will probably be viewed as that crazy old codger living outside of town, but I am okay with that. And when the poop hits the fan, I will be able to take care of myself and my family. When those around me see that I am making it without the current systems or a failing government, I will be making my biggest impact on this world. This is true leadership. Neither telling people how to live, nor voting for someone to tell people how to live; but by living a good life and setting the example for others to follow.
Fighting does no good. Armed revolution is doomed to failure. The only way forward is to start setting the example by living the life you want, not the life you are forced to live by those so-called-legitimate politicians. Yes, I will probably be viewed as that crazy old codger living outside of town, but I am okay with that. And when the poop hits the fan, I will be able to take care of myself and my family. When those around me see that I am making it without the current systems or a failing government, I will be making my biggest impact on this world. This is true leadership. Neither telling people how to live, nor voting for someone to tell people how to live; but by living a good life and setting the example for others to follow.
So, here we are at the end of this blog. I have not even finished my final series of posts on Survival +
. It doesn't matter. I urge you to read it for yourself. There is nothing I can say that Charles Hugh Smith did not say better in the first place. I would also encourage you to read the other titles listed on my Reading List tab above. I wish you all the best. If you are new to this blog, I would encourage you to read through my past. My journey from neo-con to libertarian, and from libertarian to Christian agorist. Perhaps it will spark some interest for you and get you thinking in a new way. Time is running out. The status quo is unsustainable. We cannot continue on this path forever. I don't think we can continue on this path for another five years, but I pray I am wrong about that. As much as I want things to change, I do not want to see the suffering that will accompany that change. Opt out, say your prayers, take your vitamins, and I will see you as a part of the Remnant later on down the road.
God Bless!
See you at Galt's Gulch!
. It doesn't matter. I urge you to read it for yourself. There is nothing I can say that Charles Hugh Smith did not say better in the first place. I would also encourage you to read the other titles listed on my Reading List tab above. I wish you all the best. If you are new to this blog, I would encourage you to read through my past. My journey from neo-con to libertarian, and from libertarian to Christian agorist. Perhaps it will spark some interest for you and get you thinking in a new way. Time is running out. The status quo is unsustainable. We cannot continue on this path forever. I don't think we can continue on this path for another five years, but I pray I am wrong about that. As much as I want things to change, I do not want to see the suffering that will accompany that change. Opt out, say your prayers, take your vitamins, and I will see you as a part of the Remnant later on down the road.God Bless!
See you at Galt's Gulch!
