An excerpt from Direct Citizen Action. (Chapter 5)
Decide that you have had enough. You want to do something to reverse America’s economic collapse. That something is nothing less than restoring the American republic. America’s problems of today were caused by the abandonment of that Republic slowly over a long period of time. Pledge allegiance to the principles of the American Revolution.
This chapter might seem obvious or even unimportant. However, I want to emphasize that this is the most important chapter in the book. Why? Because most of the power of the government comes from the public perception that it is legitimate. For this insight, I am indebted to Étienne de la Boétie’s The Politics of Obedience: The Discourse of Voluntary Servitude (1553) and his foremost modern exponent, Murray N. Rothbard.
How do 545 people—a president, 535 congressmen, and nine judges—control a nation of over 300 million people? Certainly not by physical force. Could 545 gangsters gain control of the country by suddenly announcing that they are the legitimate government deserving of your allegiance? Obviously not, because you would not choose to grant them power over you. This example shows that the source of federal power—not right, but power—is the people’s own “consent” to be governed. The American people hold the keys to their own jail cells between their ears and can leave the prison of tyranny any time a sufficient number of them choose to be free.
So, the first thing you have to do is withdraw that “consent” and make that known whenever possible. History shows that regimes fall when the masses withdraw their “consent.” I am not urging you to do anything illegal or violent, just come to the realization that you will no longer give any moral sanction or support to the corrupt kleptocracy on the Potomac. A journey of 1000 miles begins with a single step. This is the critical first step from which all else follows.
You need to withdraw your support for the corrupt regime the federal government has become. That is easy. Just stop. Stop voting for those degenerates and don’t vote for their opponents either unless they are Patriots. Stop being silent when people talk about politics. State your opinion clearly. Tell people you’ve joined the Second American Revolution and urge them to do so as well.11:35 pm on April 14, 2010 Email James Ostrowski