I see a lot of people in partisan politics who seem to have no ambition beyond getting their candidate elected, or at least that is the impression I get based on their social media output. Meanwhile, many libertarians/anarchists can't seem to write about anything except the latest evils of the government. Is this all there is to your life?
Our word "politics" comes from the root Greek word polis, meaning "city." As a result, the most expansive interpretation of "politics" would be "anything related to society." However, in modern parlance, it means specific activities and ideas related to the government of others, which is inherently trespass against their natural rights. In the absence of such trespass, there is still ample room to discuss economic ideas and explore ways to voluntarily cooperate, but the current political environment means people bicker over the form subjugation takes rather than whether the idea is legitimate in the first place. Today, that conversation is certainly important.
But beyond that, how would you want to live without some authoritarian breathing down your neck? And what can you do to begin living that life today? The real revolution is not in the streets. It is in living as freely as possible today while offering an example to others of how liberty can bring us more joy and fulfilment. Like good evangelism, it's not about browbeating and nagging, it's about setting an example for others so they can see the inner light in your life. The darker the world around you, the greater the impact of the tiniest spark, no matter how hard the control freaks try to snuff it out.
We have the theoretical foundation for a peaceful society, but we can begin real politics by building our relationships with others, learning new skills, and creating a peaceful, productive society without permission. So don't get hung up on the anger and outrage generated by government goons and their destructive behavior. Be constructive in response.
Besides, if you aren't truly living now, what would you do with yourself if the State collapsed tomorrow? Michael W. Dean of the Freedom Feens has often said that he wants his podcast to include the stuff he would want to discuss without the State. What would you create if there were no political distractions in your life? What other interests do you have? This is why I write about things some very serious people find frivolous: tabletop games, cooking, music, amusing anecdotes from my life, and so on. Politics matters, but probably not as much as you think, so don't build your life around it.
Please share your thoughts on this rambling post in the comments below. What would you do if modern politics were gone? What do you do now in spite of politics today?
