I can’t remember how I stumbled across Substack but I go there first for my news these days. I am a paid subscriber to just three authors and you are one of them.
Your presence is appreciated in my little corner of this chaotic world either way. I am unfamiliar with your work but you have certainly piqued my interest.
You don’t have anything to thank me for. I don’t belong to any community, and much of what I think or write is not much like what anyone else seems to think. My resistance is pretty much a solitary affair. A few stop by my pages and seem to find something useful from time to time. But, not many, and I’m satisfied with that.
Community isn’t what keeps me going, but I don’t mind sharing what does.
What I am doing is often guided by something Isaac Asimov wrote, “We can’t prevent the Dark Ages from happening, but perhaps we can shorten its length by a little.” I keep that in mind, knowing that Dark Ages typically run 1,000 years or more. Probably more if you consider the modern tools and weapons at the disposal of these Destructionists.
Why is more straight forward. I’m too old to expect to see anything change or to benefit myself. But ‘kodomo no tame ni’, ‘for the sake of the children’, gives me reason enough to keep at it. I do so with the reservation that there is the possibility that no future generations may survive our folly.
How, also relies on another Japanese word, ‘kigatsuku’. Roughly that translate as “Don’t walk by, or around a mess. Clean it up as you encounter it. That one is also good for getting household chores done (well, some of them.) The opposite of kigatsuku is praying. That is like sitting next to a broom and a dustpan and thinking god(s) is supposed to clean up the mess.
When & where are pretty much off the road most traveled these days. I don’t depend on the old playbook anymore—legislation, litigation, elections, and public dissent. It’s obsolete. Good to do if the opportunity presents itself, but downright foolish to depend on it. Tactically a new playbook is needed, but I don’t see anyone writing it, let alone using one. I posted a little ‘starter’ set, https://redslider.substack.com/p/resisting-tyranny-tactical-innovations-2e5 , but a real playbook for dealing with an autocratic tyranny will take better minds and more expertise than I have. If you read our influencers, the Hartmanns, the Snyders, the Mary Trumps, the Heather Cox Richardsons, et al, you may notice their offerings are all details of what is being done, witnessing the history of what is happening, but nothing but normal times playbook suggestions on what we can actually do about it.
I’ll skip the who, except to say, most people’s “solutions” require everyone being like-mind, looking like the people their world views require. There are a myriad of ways they suggest having that—education, consciousness, religion, love, empathy, etc, blah, blah, blah. I’m of the mind that if you want to design something that actually works for human societies, you need to take people as they are, not as one wishes them to be. Certainly autocracies don’t do that. But, neither do democracies. Our fetish for ‘democracy’ is based upon the idea that a few percentage points, one way or the other, can decide what it is people should have or want, and that elections allow one to “perfect” the deficiencies in previous choices. It doesn’t work that way, or we would be in the mess we’ve gotten ourselves into. For that, I’m guided by the only question about governance that I think is really important, “When better than anything else isn’t good enough, what then?” That keeps me searching.
Yes, I don’t share the community’s need to keep feeding itself on hope, unity, temporary band-aid solutions to serious issues, or celebrating “victories” until the inevitable moment when they prove they weren’t so victorious after all. That’s exactly what has happened to us as every "victory" has been chipped away, right by right, principle by principle, as Roe turned into Dobbs and a headnote in an 1886 Supreme Court decision turned into Citizen's United. I think there are ways yet to be discovered, systems of governance that much better than anything we have ever known which may not at all resemble anything previously considered. in fact, so different that they would have to be given names entirely different than the only two hopelessly inadequate, polarized ones we now have, 'autocracy'/'democracy'.
So, you needn’t thank me, I don’t belong to much of those 'communities' you mention. I wish them well and support them when i can, but that's not the road I travel. If someone finds something I do of use to them, well that’s good. Oh yes, when I do get a little stressed, down or confused, as I do at times, this gives me a little lift and gets me back in focus, http://poems4change.org/public/lets-get-tactical.html
Congratulations, Eric! You’re a really talented writer. I wish I were still working and could afford all you amazing people’s work. Thank you for being here with us as we navigate the insanity together. I probably would have just gave up long ago were it not for you and the good people of Substack.
I, like you, would like to increase my readership, but it's a struggle. It takes time and committment and ten of course there's tose times when one is simply lost for words, like yesterday when the pit in our stomachs disallow our brains to think rationally and process properly. I'm still trying to find my "voice", theme or trademark.
I've considered openign a separate substack where all I do is post my recipes (I have hundreds.)... nothing political or contraversial. :)
It's refreshing to read someone's work without getting all upset about the "bias". You seem to be handling that part of the job extremely well. Keep up the great work. We all love it, or we wouldn't be reading it. Sorry I can't afford a paid subscription, but maybe later in the year that can happen.
Well done Erik, so glad that you’re gaining popularity because people need to hear what you have to say. I’m somewhat new to Substack, but in these last couple of months it’s become my main source of news. Your writing speaks to my heart; you put into words what my frustration and anger can’t convey.
I have recently started to be a paid subscriber of creators that really get to the heart of what’s going on. Today I subscribed to you also and I look forward to reading more of your insights. I admire your bravery to call this evil what it is.
So many of us are rightfully angry and it’s good to have a community that reminds us we aren’t alone and in time there will be an end to this mockery of an administration. Stay safe and enjoy your family.
Way to go, and Congrats, Brother! Well-deserved!
Thanks brother. Couldn't have done it without you.
Don't be so humble... yes, you could have... but, you're welcome.
Well deserved Eric! Congratulations!
I truly appreciate that. Thank you!
I can’t remember how I stumbled across Substack but I go there first for my news these days. I am a paid subscriber to just three authors and you are one of them.
Your presence is appreciated in my little corner of this chaotic world either way. I am unfamiliar with your work but you have certainly piqued my interest.
You don’t have anything to thank me for. I don’t belong to any community, and much of what I think or write is not much like what anyone else seems to think. My resistance is pretty much a solitary affair. A few stop by my pages and seem to find something useful from time to time. But, not many, and I’m satisfied with that.
Community isn’t what keeps me going, but I don’t mind sharing what does.
What I am doing is often guided by something Isaac Asimov wrote, “We can’t prevent the Dark Ages from happening, but perhaps we can shorten its length by a little.” I keep that in mind, knowing that Dark Ages typically run 1,000 years or more. Probably more if you consider the modern tools and weapons at the disposal of these Destructionists.
Why is more straight forward. I’m too old to expect to see anything change or to benefit myself. But ‘kodomo no tame ni’, ‘for the sake of the children’, gives me reason enough to keep at it. I do so with the reservation that there is the possibility that no future generations may survive our folly.
How, also relies on another Japanese word, ‘kigatsuku’. Roughly that translate as “Don’t walk by, or around a mess. Clean it up as you encounter it. That one is also good for getting household chores done (well, some of them.) The opposite of kigatsuku is praying. That is like sitting next to a broom and a dustpan and thinking god(s) is supposed to clean up the mess.
When & where are pretty much off the road most traveled these days. I don’t depend on the old playbook anymore—legislation, litigation, elections, and public dissent. It’s obsolete. Good to do if the opportunity presents itself, but downright foolish to depend on it. Tactically a new playbook is needed, but I don’t see anyone writing it, let alone using one. I posted a little ‘starter’ set, https://redslider.substack.com/p/resisting-tyranny-tactical-innovations-2e5 , but a real playbook for dealing with an autocratic tyranny will take better minds and more expertise than I have. If you read our influencers, the Hartmanns, the Snyders, the Mary Trumps, the Heather Cox Richardsons, et al, you may notice their offerings are all details of what is being done, witnessing the history of what is happening, but nothing but normal times playbook suggestions on what we can actually do about it.
I’ll skip the who, except to say, most people’s “solutions” require everyone being like-mind, looking like the people their world views require. There are a myriad of ways they suggest having that—education, consciousness, religion, love, empathy, etc, blah, blah, blah. I’m of the mind that if you want to design something that actually works for human societies, you need to take people as they are, not as one wishes them to be. Certainly autocracies don’t do that. But, neither do democracies. Our fetish for ‘democracy’ is based upon the idea that a few percentage points, one way or the other, can decide what it is people should have or want, and that elections allow one to “perfect” the deficiencies in previous choices. It doesn’t work that way, or we would be in the mess we’ve gotten ourselves into. For that, I’m guided by the only question about governance that I think is really important, “When better than anything else isn’t good enough, what then?” That keeps me searching.
Yes, I don’t share the community’s need to keep feeding itself on hope, unity, temporary band-aid solutions to serious issues, or celebrating “victories” until the inevitable moment when they prove they weren’t so victorious after all. That’s exactly what has happened to us as every "victory" has been chipped away, right by right, principle by principle, as Roe turned into Dobbs and a headnote in an 1886 Supreme Court decision turned into Citizen's United. I think there are ways yet to be discovered, systems of governance that much better than anything we have ever known which may not at all resemble anything previously considered. in fact, so different that they would have to be given names entirely different than the only two hopelessly inadequate, polarized ones we now have, 'autocracy'/'democracy'.
So, you needn’t thank me, I don’t belong to much of those 'communities' you mention. I wish them well and support them when i can, but that's not the road I travel. If someone finds something I do of use to them, well that’s good. Oh yes, when I do get a little stressed, down or confused, as I do at times, this gives me a little lift and gets me back in focus, http://poems4change.org/public/lets-get-tactical.html
Congratulations, Eric! You’re a really talented writer. I wish I were still working and could afford all you amazing people’s work. Thank you for being here with us as we navigate the insanity together. I probably would have just gave up long ago were it not for you and the good people of Substack.
I so appreciate you being here.
Congrats to my brother in arms. ✊🏼
Congrats and love you too!
I too am glad that I found you - best wishes Liberaldads Newsletter!!! Elizabeth
So happy you are here
I encourage you to do a seperate one. Im not much of a cook but I would certainly take a look.
Many congrats. I'm glad I stumbled upon you.
I, like you, would like to increase my readership, but it's a struggle. It takes time and committment and ten of course there's tose times when one is simply lost for words, like yesterday when the pit in our stomachs disallow our brains to think rationally and process properly. I'm still trying to find my "voice", theme or trademark.
I've considered openign a separate substack where all I do is post my recipes (I have hundreds.)... nothing political or contraversial. :)
Keep it up. I realize its not an easy slog.
Congratulations, Liberaldad.
You deserve success. You are committed and work hard.
Thank you my friend
It's refreshing to read someone's work without getting all upset about the "bias". You seem to be handling that part of the job extremely well. Keep up the great work. We all love it, or we wouldn't be reading it. Sorry I can't afford a paid subscription, but maybe later in the year that can happen.
I have made a few decisions about those I paid for monthly. I’ll be adding you to replace the ones I drop. Thank you!
Thank you so much!
No worries Shirley. I just appreciate you being here. Take care.
Well done Erik, so glad that you’re gaining popularity because people need to hear what you have to say. I’m somewhat new to Substack, but in these last couple of months it’s become my main source of news. Your writing speaks to my heart; you put into words what my frustration and anger can’t convey.
I have recently started to be a paid subscriber of creators that really get to the heart of what’s going on. Today I subscribed to you also and I look forward to reading more of your insights. I admire your bravery to call this evil what it is.
So many of us are rightfully angry and it’s good to have a community that reminds us we aren’t alone and in time there will be an end to this mockery of an administration. Stay safe and enjoy your family.
I noticed that you bought a subscription. I am so thankful.
Congrats DAD ..well deserved and Thank You for always supporting me and helping me feel welcomed on Substack
Happy to help. Im sorry I haven't been able to keep up with all of your work. You are like a content machine. Lol