Socially Perpetuated Self-Encagement

What To Leave Behind

True clarity begins when we shed the illusions that bind us. It's not about passing judgment on others, but about knowing the fundamental truths that define our interactions. When confronted with our core ideas, especially Voluntaryism, we must discern: does their disagreement stem from a nuanced philosophical difference, or from an endorsement of aggression against peaceful people?

This discernment is not about exclusion, but about establishing clear boundaries for our own security and the integrity of the Network. Where do individuals draw the line on initiating or supporting force against free people and their property? Their answer defines whether they are a boon to our collective freedom or a potential threat to the very foundations we are building.

Stop Playing?

Life itself is a profound game, and the critical move is to seize ownership of your strategy and command your decisions. For too long, many have chosen to live within a fabricated nightmare, finding escapism in trivial diversions rather than recognizing the epic adventure that their own existence truly is. This is not about abandoning fun, but about prioritizing genuine liberty.

The time has come to transform your life into the ultimate adventure—a thrilling pursuit of self-sovereignty and collaborative creation. Once your own life is the primary, compelling game, then the smaller "games of men" can be engaged with on your own terms, if desired, rather than being passively endured as a distraction from true living.

What Has Failed In Our Own Movement?

The world overflows with individuals yearning for freedom, yet our collective progress is often hampered by a lack of overt, actionable support. Too many of us, perhaps well-intentioned, rely on subtle messages and abstract metaphors, expecting others to "get it" through indirect cues. This approach, however, often misdirects vital energy and attention away from the tangible actions that could truly bring about change.

A genuinely revolutionary movement cannot be built on unspoken understandings or academic theories alone. Pragmatism dictates that if a better way exists—a path that reduces suffering and maximizes liberty—it is our absolute duty to pursue it with relentless focus. True freedom demands direct, actionable content, not just intellectual contemplation.

Common Failings:

• Vision Not Large Enough: Limiting potential, failing to imagine the truly free world we can create.
• Scared by Probabilities: Allowing statistical fears to paralyze action rather than embracing bold experimentation.
• Failing to Seize the Advantage: Missing critical opportunities to advance freedom when conditions are favorable.
• Self-Perpetuated Stagnation: Getting stuck in analysis paralysis or comfortable routines, preventing necessary evolution.

Waiting to Do Something

The illusion of waiting for the "perfect moment" or the "right conditions" is one of the most insidious forms of self-encagement. Every delayed action is, in itself, a choice with profound consequences, actively postponing the liberation you desire. The future we envision is not a destination we arrive at by default, but a reality we construct through immediate, decisive steps.

Urgency is not a burden; it is a catalyst for change. The world does not pause for our hesitations; it is shaped by those who dare to act in the present. Your contributions, however small they may seem, become significant ripples in the current of progress when you choose to cease waiting and start building.

Relying on the Next Generation

It is a comforting, yet dangerous, delusion to believe that the monumental task of securing freedom rests solely on the shoulders of those who come after us. This passive deferral of responsibility is a betrayal of the present, allowing oppressive systems to strengthen while we hope for a future generation to miraculously dismantle them. Freedom is not an inheritance to be passively received; it is a legacy that must be actively fought for and built by each generation.

The foundation for a truly free future must be laid by adults in the present. Our actions, our courage, and our willingness to step into the arena today are what will empower, rather than burden, those who follow. The greatest gift we can give the next generation is not just the idea of freedom, but a living, breathing, flourishing example of it, built through our direct engagement now.

Even More Ways the State Brings Us Down

The coercive reach of the state extends far beyond overt displays of power, subtly infiltrating and draining our potential through mechanisms that appear benign or even necessary. These insidious impositions do more than just lighten our pockets; they actively suppress our natural inclination towards self-governance, innovation, and voluntary collaboration.

Taxes

Taxes are not simply a civic duty; they are a fundamental extraction of your creative life force and accumulated wealth, seized without your explicit consent. This forced contribution diverts your hard-earned resources from projects you choose, businesses you support, and communities you wish to build, instead funneling them into a system that often perpetuates the very tyranny you seek to escape. Every dollar involuntarily taken empowers the leviathan you wish to shrink.

Regulations

State regulations, often touted as safeguards, are in practice a monopolization of control over human conduct and enterprise. They stifle organic innovation, erect arbitrary barriers to entry, and suppress the natural emergence of efficient, self-governing solutions. Instead of protecting, they often consolidate power, protect established interests, and prevent individuals from creatively adapting to real-world challenges.

A truly free society thrives on the dynamic power of voluntary standards, reputation-based trust, and mutually agreed-upon best practices. These decentralized, bottom-up forms of regulation are inherently more agile, adaptive, and effective than rigid, top-down mandates imposed by a single, coercive authority. The market itself is the most efficient regulator when left unmolested by a monopoly on force.

Licensing & Permission Systems

Beyond taxes and regulations, state licensing and permission systems create artificial gatekeepers to human potential. These bureaucratic hurdles demand compliance and payment, often without genuinely ensuring competence, thereby restricting individuals from freely pursuing their passions, offering their skills, or starting ventures without explicit governmental approval.

These systems do not primarily protect the public; they serve to centralize control, limit competition, and establish privileged monopolies. True competence and trust in a free society emerge organically from reputation, demonstrable skill, and consistent, voluntary delivery of value—not from a piece of paper issued by an unaccountable bureaucracy.

Questions Oft Mishandled By Anarchists:

Our movement must confront its most challenging questions with unwavering clarity and actionable answers. Too often, critical inquiries are met with evasion or overly theoretical responses, hindering the very progress we seek.

Here are the top three questions that demand our direct and effective responses:

1. Is there a best strategy to achieve freedom in this lifetime?
2. Is it possible to end the state in this lifetime?
3. Can we build a network that will bring it down?

Our answers: ...