A colleague made a comment the other day that they were disillusioned with work, in particular with the idea that one could not refuse their boss’ instructions, regardless of what that instruction was. Coupled with this was a comment on man needing to be free to choose and that having freedom was one of the most important things in life. But I found this ironic that the comment was being made from inside an even larger prison. The system and modern society trap us all in the same way that it works on the micro-level. Yes we cannot refuse our boss when they ask us to perform a task, but this is because we need the job so that we can live comfortably, because we need money in order to pay the bills and afford basic amenities, so ultimately at the macro-level we become a sort of slave to the system, forced to dance their dance in order to reap the rewards at the end of it.
It’s easy to then make the argument of dropping off the grid and becoming self-sufficient, but how viable is this option for everyone? And when this idea is presented to anyone it is such an extreme disconnect from their current realities that they are likely to shun or ridicule the idea. Therefore, a middle-path might be advisable. An attempt can be made to make one’s situation as independent as possible and the easiest way to take this first step is to perhaps start a small garden. Now I say easiest but there are many factors that come into play even with this simple suggestion such as the availability of soil and then managing pests and insects feasting on your garden which in turn turns you back to the system for support, looking for things like pesticides and fertilizers.
Society begins to feel like a Chinese finger trap, the harder you try to pull away from it, the more firmly it holds onto you. But the reason that this seems so impossible for any one person to do is simply because it is. So what then? Is it all hopeless and we can never break away from the system in any meaningful sense? Well no, of course not, humans are social creatures and we are not meant to do things alone. This is where collectivizing, forming communities and close-knit bonds are important. Rather than have the responsibility fall on one household, each person can contribute something different to a smaller community, and one that can eventually break away from the system. If one family is responsible for rearing chickens and another rears cows, another sees about getting water from a nearby supply and another does the gardening, suddenly it seems very doable.
One of the biggest groups that does this sort of thing today is Patriotic Alternative and is why I support them and enjoy watching their videos and activities. And we should follow in their footsteps. The best part is that we don’t have to do this alone either because their leader, Mark Collett is a very reachable man and is quite easy to talk to. He is very wise and can give excellent advice so that even the idea of beginning this sort of grassroots movement is not implausible. It starts here, with an idea, and as we spread and encourage others of this idea then a community can be formed that help each other out and that can weather the storm if the system were to ever collapse.