David, it took clarity and candor to say that. I have to admit, I’m right there too.

Even on this “non-news, non-politics, do-freedom” blog, I sometimes find myself ranting about Alan Greenspan or what the Thought Police are up to. I try to do so in ways that inspire proactive steps, or at least thinking – but I know I’m not fully free of the world as the media presents it.

I do think, though, as you point out, that progress is the vital thing, not purity.

Thank you for your thoughts!

But I do still thrive to a certain extent on the criticism aspect rather than the creative. A large chunk of that is being stuck in a place that I hate, but I definitely see a light up ahead, and a day when I will be busy doing freedom rahter than wallowing in the lack of it.

Sharon – it’s great to have you drop by! I regret now that I didn’t make an effort to get acquainted with the other guest editors in my time at STR. Every one of you has a unique perspective and it would be cool to learn how you arrived at it. I wish you all good things in your life walk.

George – Wow, I’m thrilled you came by for a read. Your comments are wise and wonderful. And you bring up a point that sometimes troubles me … as a writer, can I manage to return to that space of “beginner’s mind” and retrace the steps that brought me where I now am? Can I find that kind of empathy and deep memory and perspective and offer it to the reader, regardless of his or her own stage of thinking?

Scary question. And secretly titillating too – with that writerly “heheheh” that knows it won’t rest until it finds a way.

Thanks to all of you for readin’ and respondin’!

Basically, what you are saying is that you no longer find such stories necesarry. That’s not a bad thing. It’s a good thing — a sign that you have achieved a state on your path where anti-government evidence is no longer needed to fuel the fire, so to speak. You realize the beast is the beast on a basic enough level that you no longer require reminders.

Those stories are still useful, though. To newbies. The people just now awakening to these ideas, who are tempted — every day — to roll over and forget about it. To jump off the wagon and return to the line where questions are never asked and the benevolence of Big Brother is never questioned.

You can do your part by making your blog the kind of place where folks can come once they’ve reached the state you’ve reached. A place to find positive stories of finding freedom in everyday life, freedom lovers helping each other, and new ideas for the future.

The more of the “news” I hear and read, the more irritated and cynical I get.

I think (actually I know) news is a form of psychological warfare. It shows how “benevolent” the government is for those who worship at its feet. It shows the punishment and or ridicule of those who disagree with its propaganda or disobey its rule. It reminds the watchers that their vote matters and that they are needed for “good” government. It assimilates the average mind into the collective. And for those of us who scream at the TV in rage at the idiocy that spews forth, it reinforces the idea that we will never be heard.

I try to avoid it whenever I can. Life is difficult enough. Being cynical and irritable doesn’t make life any easier to enjoy.

I think this concept we’re looking at is spreading in the blogosphere. Shoot, it’s ages old. “Accentuate the positive.” “Be careful what you wish for.” “No one can make you feel foolish without your consent.” “Anything’s possible.”

And yet even the label “anarchist” is an anti-concept. I suppose that’s why there have been so many subdivisions of anarchists over time: socialist anarchists, market anarchists, etc. Since “anarchist” only defines what one is against, there’s a huge hole of a question remaining about what one is in favor of.

More soon!

While thinking about it I realized that the news organizations have a vested interest in the status quo. If it were gone, so would better than half of their business. Perhaps a comparison to a national news show to a local news show would shed some light on…something.

Anyway, I agree with your assessment and try not to fall into the trap myself with varying success.

Here’s a quote for you:
An “anti-something” movement displays a purely negative attitude. It has no chance whatever to succeed. Its passionate diatribes virtually advertise the program that they attack. People must fight for something that they want to achieve, not simply reject an evil, however bad it may be.

— Ludwig von Mises in The Anti-Capitalistic Mentality