There are a lot of people where bitching is their pastime. But we were only one Trump away from a second revolution. All that was needed was the how to proceed. Many times people will move from bitching to doing the constructive thing if they are just told how. It may seem simple, but not to them. And often the enemy makes it much more complicated than it needs to be as a barrier to entry.
I appreciate your remark and concede, yes, there are people who are frustrated and do not know what to do. But that is not what I experienced among my union brothers. The pathway to council membership was easy and begging, but they reacted with revulsion. Similarly, among gun owners, there is nothing easier than to join any pro-gun organization, pay a membership, and let the organization do all the work and provide you reports on their activity and progress. Widespread indifference. Perhaps even negligence in registering to vote.
I have been involved in political activism from time to time. My approach is to find the least stressing path for involvement. Some self-approving and arrogant activist types take the view of "Well, they need to do this, they need to do that," but this is only off-putting. My view is that something, even the most minuscule, is better than nothing. I do not disparage humble participation. It is more productive.
So, I have a slightly jaundiced view, based on these experiences. Lots of bold talk, but little appreciation of the grimness of any armed struggle. I take it far more seriously from those who have had military experience...but not from those who are commando wannabees (of which, I have to categorize myself, to be honest).
Wow. I have kind of the opposite problem. My friends want to change the world and get paid for it. But I am the one that would have to do the heavy lifting. I have to explain to them that since we are not a big think tank, to get someone to fund us we need to take a smaller bite.
There are some low-cost approaches. It is all in the realm of communication. If one can make a point cogently and eloquently, it is possible to influence thinking. Getting involved in publishing a newsletter can be low-demand...or as much as your creativity and means can supply. i used to edit and compile a monthly political newsletter, type it up, and send it off to a production crew that would get it printed and mailed out to a subscription list. That went on for a few years, and then I began to get tired out (this was on top of a full-time professional job). They turned it over to an ambitious nice guy, but then it took a nosedive in 3 months and went out of existence. Easy come, easy go.
A classic American tradition of political discourse is the production of pamphlets.
Another approach is to advertise under some heading for public speaking. Just prepare a small (but growing) repertoire of 30-minute talks supported with PowerPoint slides. The talks could also be videoed as podcasts. There is some charm with candid camera.
My experience was Old School. I think the hands-on approach is more authentic than the internet glib approach, but that's just me. Nothing preventing you (or anyone) from implementing a personal vision.
Just bite off what you can chew. Save your material (it will eventually turn into a gold mine). Welcome all; disdain no one. Don't let an overweening vision drive you into the arms of financial dependency, for whomever signs the check also signs the veto. Trying to become the Hoover Institution (for example) will cause financial and legal dogs to nip at your heels and distract you. Some people work well in such an environment, but it is an experiment.
Anyway, these are some suggestions and things to keep in mind. The ultimate question is: "What do I want to say?" That is not an easy one to answer. I face it every time I sit down to write. But also, trust yourself. Listen to your heart, and use your mind to give it words. You finally reach the point where you think, "I don't see how I can say it any better." Sometimes, you may feel defeated. But eventually, you will pat yourself on the back. And life is just one big Return Match.
There are a lot of people where bitching is their pastime. But we were only one Trump away from a second revolution. All that was needed was the how to proceed. Many times people will move from bitching to doing the constructive thing if they are just told how. It may seem simple, but not to them. And often the enemy makes it much more complicated than it needs to be as a barrier to entry.
I appreciate your remark and concede, yes, there are people who are frustrated and do not know what to do. But that is not what I experienced among my union brothers. The pathway to council membership was easy and begging, but they reacted with revulsion. Similarly, among gun owners, there is nothing easier than to join any pro-gun organization, pay a membership, and let the organization do all the work and provide you reports on their activity and progress. Widespread indifference. Perhaps even negligence in registering to vote.
I have been involved in political activism from time to time. My approach is to find the least stressing path for involvement. Some self-approving and arrogant activist types take the view of "Well, they need to do this, they need to do that," but this is only off-putting. My view is that something, even the most minuscule, is better than nothing. I do not disparage humble participation. It is more productive.
So, I have a slightly jaundiced view, based on these experiences. Lots of bold talk, but little appreciation of the grimness of any armed struggle. I take it far more seriously from those who have had military experience...but not from those who are commando wannabees (of which, I have to categorize myself, to be honest).
Wow. I have kind of the opposite problem. My friends want to change the world and get paid for it. But I am the one that would have to do the heavy lifting. I have to explain to them that since we are not a big think tank, to get someone to fund us we need to take a smaller bite.
Egad. When eyes outreach their hands...
There are some low-cost approaches. It is all in the realm of communication. If one can make a point cogently and eloquently, it is possible to influence thinking. Getting involved in publishing a newsletter can be low-demand...or as much as your creativity and means can supply. i used to edit and compile a monthly political newsletter, type it up, and send it off to a production crew that would get it printed and mailed out to a subscription list. That went on for a few years, and then I began to get tired out (this was on top of a full-time professional job). They turned it over to an ambitious nice guy, but then it took a nosedive in 3 months and went out of existence. Easy come, easy go.
A classic American tradition of political discourse is the production of pamphlets.
Another approach is to advertise under some heading for public speaking. Just prepare a small (but growing) repertoire of 30-minute talks supported with PowerPoint slides. The talks could also be videoed as podcasts. There is some charm with candid camera.
My experience was Old School. I think the hands-on approach is more authentic than the internet glib approach, but that's just me. Nothing preventing you (or anyone) from implementing a personal vision.
Just bite off what you can chew. Save your material (it will eventually turn into a gold mine). Welcome all; disdain no one. Don't let an overweening vision drive you into the arms of financial dependency, for whomever signs the check also signs the veto. Trying to become the Hoover Institution (for example) will cause financial and legal dogs to nip at your heels and distract you. Some people work well in such an environment, but it is an experiment.
Anyway, these are some suggestions and things to keep in mind. The ultimate question is: "What do I want to say?" That is not an easy one to answer. I face it every time I sit down to write. But also, trust yourself. Listen to your heart, and use your mind to give it words. You finally reach the point where you think, "I don't see how I can say it any better." Sometimes, you may feel defeated. But eventually, you will pat yourself on the back. And life is just one big Return Match.