The mantra goes, "End the Fed, End the Fed, End the Fed" ... then it stops.
I agree with the sentiment but I don't see any value in recommendations to visit websites that provide no incentive to do anything but repeat the mantra to others who are already repeating the mantra.
I have visited End-The-Fed and several other similar websites. Take End-the-Fed for example; there I found only one sentence that was relevant and important. It was alone, adrift in a sea of evangelical propaganda, a wonderful idea with no guidance as to effective activity to cause it to happen.
Before I quote that sentence, I'll summarize my reaction to the bulk of material available at end-the-fed, restore-the-republic, campaign-for-liberty and an ever-growing collection of similar websites. They each offer a slew of activities members and participants can become involved with. Most of these activities are worse than useless noise (read DESTRUCTIVE to their stated goals) designed to boost egos by preaching to the choir and making participants feel so very good about their "activism". Only one sentence on the entire site at end-the-fed deviated from this general observation.
That sentence, the tenth and LAST activity in the recommended list of things irate choir members should do, said:
"Election of representatives supportive of a Free Economy, Sound Money, Rule of Law and Constitutional Principles."
As if this just happens by sheer force-of-will by very emotional choir members, there is not ONE WORD of advice about how to accomplish this most vital and necessary goal. Until and unless we focus on political activity designed to change the nature and perspective of those who are ELECTED the rest of this is just busy work that the enemies of liberty encourage those passionate choir members to fill their days with.
Shouting at the beast has never helped the LP grow. It has never helped the cause of liberty to be taken up by elected government officials and it has never been taken seriously by the enemies of liberty. Why do so many people continue this futility? It must be (some) human's nature to pursue their addiction to outrage at the expense of any constructive activity.
The way to elect representatives who support the goals of the choir members is to:
1. Join the GOP. No political change can happen unless a lot of hard, thankless WORK is done to flush the candidate pipe-line of the corrupt big government neocons. This cannot be done from the sidelines, from the pews or from the choir box. Anyone who cannot do this first tiny step, signing a registration card, is obviously happy in their futility.
The GOP is a political tool, nothing more. If you don't like what others are building with that tool it is incumbent on your integrity to take it away from them and build something you prefer. Abandoning the most powerful tool available to the whims of your enemies is the ultimate in self-imposed political futility.
2. Participate in candidate selection, primary elections, round-table discussions and public speaking engagements. Never let an opportunity go by when you could be imposing your criteria on a prospective candidate. Attend GOP central committee meetings, become an officer, influence the direction of the party. Give neocons the boot!
3. Drop any cravings for instant gratification, cold turkey. The struggle for the defense of individual liberty is a life-long pattern of constructive behavior. Anything else is just ego-driven crap with regard to the stated goals being promoted by these websites.
-Jahfre Fire Eater
©2009 Jahfre Fire Eater, all rights reserved. You must have written permission from the author in order to republish this work.
Published: Friday, January 16, 2009
Last modified: Friday, January 16, 2009
The views expressed in this article are those of Jahfre Fire Eater only and do not represent the views of Nolan Chart, LLC or its affiliates. Jahfre Fire Eater is solely responsible for the contents of this article and is not an employee or otherwise affiliated with Nolan Chart, LLC in his/her role as a columnist.
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Reader Comments:
Posted By: Bill
Date: 2009-01-16 16:34:46
Your pretty much right Jahfre, working to rebuilding the GOP is most likely to be the best route for Libertarians. The LP is the strongest 3rd party when you compare it to the socialist Green party and the theocratic Constitution party but as you said, they really aren't getting anywhere. As most people know reform never happen from the outside, it happens from within. The LP puts up great arguments against the NeoConservatives, the Paleoconservatives and the Religious Right but as outsiders Republicans just dismiss it as propaganda (liberal or otherwise). We as a Libertarians might have to swallow our pride and work with the GOP in order to get our ideals forward.
Posted By: Jake, the champion of the constitution
Date: 2009-01-16 17:13:55
Dear Jahfre,
Agree with you wholeheartedly about political activism, the big parties still control everything, etc. I even agree with you that the mantra "End the Fed" needs to have en end purpose, ie "OK so what if we removed the FED, what's supposed happens next?" Same thing with the other orgs, which they have to varying degrees of success.
However, I think you are missing one crucial fact, which is most Americans that I talk to anyways have no CLUE about (keep using the Fed example here) actually does. To me, the education part of it is key.
And without that education, sorry, there's no impetus to do the things you are suggesting. This articles written as if everyone is already geared up to the same level of knowledge as yourself - again, possibly true for the choir, but certainly not true for most of the US. What do you think?
Posted By: daddysteve
Date: 2009-01-16 17:40:35
Amen on the education thing. I'm 48 and have only bothered to understand the Fed in the last two years. Not proud of it but that IS what you're up against. People have to WANT to know and I don't see much of that. Economics should be marketed as a sleep-aid.
Posted By: Wayne
Date: 2009-01-17 15:40:08
At least these people are doing SOMETHING- even if it is not 100% effective, writing articles saying various gropus are not doing something is doing less... like discouraging the uneducated from even caring. What is YOUR solution? Blogging about blogs? I know a lot of people in the Campaign for Liberty freezing their butts off collecting signitures to send to congress in support of putting HR2755 up for a floor vote
Posted By: jeff mcgullam
Date: 2009-01-17 16:08:00
well, i disagree with the article, and all the approaches.If the neo con agenda is strong enough to censor documents, allow election machines that we have been shown to be riggable,torture people and get away with it,discredit doctors,scientists,and good people with cures that actually solve humanities problems ,create falseflag terrorists, and then use them as the so called enemy,commit fraud , treason,and then executively change the laws that they broke, making them unprosecutable after they broke the original law, how in the world do you think you can influence any one inside or out of any gop. and how long will it take? we need to shout this stuff. people are so dumbed down because of our blind trust in our government, that they wont listen,even you people need to dig deeper. the sane people with the answers are being called crazy, and terrorist supporters ,by our own media. your stupid article isnt gonna help with that lame, long term suggestion either. if you understand the fed. you would know that what they do is illegal, by our constitutional laws. so i dont see why the people couldnt hold there own hearing, and do a large scale citizens arrest of all of the corrupt banksters. but oh , thats right, you cant get anywhere near washington since there faked terrorist attack. so see we are past everything that is not considered radical. so when your left with no options, as are for fathers where years ago, what do you think the only solution will be for us that love america, its freedoms, and all the good,hope, and promise we once represented.Answer that question. and i dont want to hear the word conspiracy,even though thats exactely what the federal reserve has done, its history, well documented for those that are in denial and disbelief,they have conspired against the heart of the united states of america, and that is our beloved constitution.people like you are doing the same with your article as every one does, and thats sit back and wait. i dont care when people call me crazy, because i've done the work, and frankly, if you dont understand the families that run the federal reserve, and there history, you are never gonna get it until they are putting you in your grave, because there new eugenics policies have deemed you unviable.people that used to read instead of listen to the screwed up television,back in the days before that, were much smarter, and when someone heard the word conspiracy, they would listen and investigate, just to make sure. we are so arrogant, we wouldnt know one if it was sleeping in our beds. And if you would wake up from your dream that everything will work out, you would notice they are already in your bed.
Posted By: Christine
Date: 2009-01-17 16:50:48
It is not just about ending the Fed. This will never change as long as the lobbyist own D.C. We need to join both major parties in order to get rid of the lobbyist. This can not be done by using only one party out of the two. I know of many Democrats who are now understanding the power that lobbyist have in D.C. Of course, we all want to use lobbyist for our own advantage. But, we must not be selfish and work to get rid of the lobbyist. Christine
Posted By: David
Date: 2009-01-17 18:42:03
THe writer is coret to point out that passion and slogans won't change anything. However, they are necessary in the development of momentum of change. As another respondand wrote, there is a profound mass of ignorance and apathy in the population. Most of us were in that catagory not long ago. Waking us up required something vigorous. Staying awake requires daily reminders, as the MSM wants us either sleeping or panicked into making the next bad move. So slogans and passion have their place.
In addition to the actions proposed by the writer and that of signing petitions, I'd like to add such things as joining the Libertydollar.org and other barter systems. The more we use alternate currencies, the less the Fed's grip on us. Get on your local newspaper, write letters to the editor. Yes, the bopttom line is to FIND SOMETHING TO DO, as well as ramp up your passion if that is required. As a therapist once said to me, "don't deny the anger, USE it to propel you to ACTION". Thats helped me better understand how to use emotions.
Posted By: Ted Berthelot
Date: 2009-01-17 19:03:06
My question is how do you reconcile the innate individualism of freedom lovers with the requirement for collective political action in pursuit of this goal? Back in the late ‘70s I became active in the republican party due to a naive belief that good citizenship required participation in the political system, and that I could make a difference. While serving several years as precinct committeeman, district chairman, convention delegate, etc., I discovered that the temperament required for success was quite different from my own. Although I was pressured to run for the State legislature, I could not countenance functioning in such a corrupt environment.
My observation was that those who did move on up from the grass roots gradually lost their objectivity and succumbed to the opiate of power. The ego could not resist the adulation rendered by lobbyists, colleagues, and supporters. Staying elected trumped principle in most cases after a couple of reelections, and loyalty to the Party became essential, a characteristic of the collective mind.
Thus, if my experience is at all typical of liberty minded folks, most will find participation difficult and offensive.
Posted By: Robert Zraick
Date: 2009-01-17 19:18:01
I am an American currently living overseas, on an island in the South Pacific. I consider myself to be a patriot and have concern for our country. Your criticism of the grass roots movement to End the FED is rather arrogant, in my view.
You are obviously ignorant of the issue at hand. The first steps to solving any problem are to create awareness and to define the problem. You have not even taken the first step.
You obviously know nothing of the history and the current function of the Federal Reserve System. I would suggest that you educate yourself, rather than make fun of those who are trying to create awareness.
You will find that the FED is the cause of the problem. It is an unnecessary private banking cartel and is destroying the world economy. They are completely unnecessary and the removal could be accomplished by a bill already introduced in congress. HR2755.
I do agree with you that the movement is up against enormous odds. But it is my hope that awareness can be created by such efforts. One of the biggest obstacles to a solution is the amount of ignorance, which has been so clearly demonstrated by you, sir.
Posted By: Whistle B. Currier
Date: 2009-01-18 03:21:01
Hypocrites all.
You all complain about the fraudulent money system and its enforcement arm, the IRS, plus the lap dog puppets who call themselves our "representatives" while promoting the counterfeit so called "bail out" money creation, and talk so intelligently about the economy problems, yet I'll bet not a one of you have the guts to stop confessing that you had "taxable income" last year on April 15th, 2009.
Then if you happen to be on my jury when I'm charged with "wilfull faialure to file" you will send me to jail because you're part of the corrupt scam. The last time I confessed having "taxable income" was 1983.
Posted By: Steven Vincent
Date: 2009-01-18 10:32:41
It is evident that the author did not really explore the End the Fed website or delve into its projects at all. He began and ended with a preconceived conclusion.
End the Fed activists are right now achieving far more than this blog gives credit. They are out on the streets of America, in many cases in the cold, educating Americans and waking them up to the fact that the Federal Reserve System is the cause of our economic crisis. They are collecting signatures to support Ron Paul's bill to repeal the Federal Reserve Act. On April 27th those signatures will be presented at a press conference at the National Press Club. Together with another round of rallies for "Sound Money for America" on April 25th, this will help to elevate the question of our monetary system to the level of a national debate.
Most of our activist are newly awakened and new to activism. ETF is providing a structure and concrete projects for them to take action on their desire for Freedom and disgust with the Establishment, particularly the Fed, which is at the root of it all. We are providing a vital service for conscious Americans to take action.
This is called "activism". If we are to take the country back a growing number of people need to be "actively" involved. It is distinct from "intellectualism", whereby those safely ensconced behind their computers click away at keyboards and spout ideas about things they know little about. All the concepts in the world amount to nothing if they are not actively spread and promulgated. Detracting from those who fulfill this crucial role is not helpful. Acting within the Republican Party is certainly ONE arguably viable way to take action. It is also certainly not the ONLY way. It's nonsensical to attack Campaign for Liberty, since the very purpose of that organization is to reform the GOP.
End the Fed is just beginning and is in the process of developing a complete plan of citizen ACTION. We apologize if the complete plan is not yet fully materialized, since it does take time to move from concept to action.
I find it curious that anyone who supposedly supports Freedom would take any time at all to attack those who are honestly and dedicatedly WORKING for Liberty. It would seem that their time would be better spent attacking the enemy.
Your Friend in Freedom,
Steven Vincent
End the Fed! Website:
http://www.EndTheFed.US
End the Fed! Organizing Sites:
Meetup: http://www.meetup.com/End-The-Fed
Restore the Republic: http://www.RestoreTheRepublic.net
End the Fed USA: http://endthefedusa.ning.com
Ron Paul’s Campaign for Liberty:
http://www.CampaignforLiberty.com
Posted By: Jim Babka
Date: 2009-01-18 14:30:49
You and what army? God tends to be on the side of the bigger battalion.
Our army isn't big enough to take over the GOP. Our issues aren't in the public domain enough to attract the winning candidates -- they're considered strange. What to do about this?
Build the army. How to do it?
Use issues that attract the army and build it.
Use the army to get the resources -- the money, aptitude, and manpower necessary to get the message out repeatedly, everywhere, every day so that they're no longer strange. Anyone that's worked in marketing and advertising understands the power of repetition.
I too thought that Abolishing the Federal Reserve was an unrealistic goal that was counterproductive. Then, Ron Paul ran and many people discovered this issue. Then, we had a banking crisis. And then, I began seeing End the FED around the web. I was thrilled when they contacted us and asked us to work with them. This is an yet another issue where we can attract and assemble the army.
This is another brick in the wall. And someday, we'll be so large Congress won't be able to afford to ignore us. Someday we'll be so big that we'll be able to get the message out everywhere, every day. And as a result, our ideas will be mainstream. And the politicans, who are merely opportunists, looking for a parade that's marching somewhere -- a parade that they want to lead -- will show up to be our "leader" (our representative). They will ask to speak for us.
That's the plan of DownsizeDC.org. And you can participate, for free. Tell your Representative and Senator to End the FED.
http://www.downsizedc.org/etp/campaigns/108
Posted By: D
Date: 2009-01-18 17:05:52
Hey. I help set up Ron Paul's pre-speech tent across from the Houston Federal Reserve building. Does that that count for anything? ;-)
But seriously, many of us have joined the GOP and participated in the party. Also, many have only just begun to learn how to operate the levers of the beast, and though we've had many remarkable failures, we've also had small triumphs and have tasted (smelled, at least) glory. Sure, an ETF rally may seem like a self-gratuitous high school pep rally, but it's only an expression of the desire of the sound money "team" to win!
You are correct that creating a new political reality takes time, hard work, and patience. Indeed, it may even seem like an exercise in futility along the way. ETF is just one element of the grassroots, self-organizing battleplan for Liberty.
Attending ETF was an opportunity to meet people with similar views, and I was well met. I picked a Free Stater's brain, visited with a friendly bookseller and state coordinator who started an educational lecture series for liberty, met a fellow immigration reformer, hand-signed a HR 2755 petition, and met two students from my school who I will soon be working with to start a Young Americans for Liberty chapter at my university.
My first ETF rally was a great success. It was an inspiring ceremony for Liberty, and I plan on attending another soon!
Posted By: Kangalanatolian
Date: 2009-01-18 22:07:44
We can run for and win office in the GOP and with the Democrats as well. There we will show the people who could not see before, why we should return to our roots. It would not be good for people who do not believe hardly anything the GOP believes - to join the GOP- and then start alienating them to the cause of liberty in general. So please, make your influence known in the circles you already travel, with emphasis on joining the gargantuan political party near you.
But keep your eyes on the prize. If the shadow government can work through both parties to get what they want, so can we. I think I remember somebody saying "Freedom unites us, it doesn't divide us". That unity for liberty is what will inspire others.
Posted By: Tim Gandee
Date: 2009-01-19 08:37:11
Reforming our country’s decades old monetary policy that is robbing the people requires us to approach it at all angles and would be considered intelligent to do so. Not only are people like others and me inside these walls working to rebuild the party, but also we are working on educating others about some of the most central problems to our economy, our country, and each other’s liberties. Most of us here, who truly care, become an educational force outside of the confines of these Internet walls.
For instance, I would like to tell you about my night yesterday evening.
End the Fed has encouraged me to gather signatures for a petition to help in bringing legislation to the table to end the Federal Reserve. While in the act of gathering signatures, I have had many conversations with people outside the walls of these organizational websites.
What I have found is that every single person I take the time to sincerely talk to listen and then are engaged to the point of throwing out questions or some light-hearted rebuttals. While being in sales for the past 12 years, I understand the fundamentals of these responses and that these responses are what lead up to a sale.
What easier product could one sale than the freedom that inspired our founders to risk life and limb? They put their entire future at risk as they understood that their futures would be irrelevant if they did not take action at all. They did not have the luxury of written law to fall back on that specifically protected their life and liberty. We do, the Constitution, and our country is steeped in a tradition of freedom and liberty that everyone, I mean everyone, has a profound love for.
These questions remarks to me means they want to know more, so I proceed accordingly.
So last evening, I decided I wanted some time away from the wife and kids and I would meet up with an old buddy of mine. He was running late so I step into the bar to order a drink. In the process of ordering my drink, I bumped into this guy who was celebrating his friends 21st birthday with family, friends, and neighbors. He starts chatting with me after I apologized for bumping him.
Next thing you know…we are talking about the Federal Reserve when I go to pay for my drink with Federal Reserve Notes. Within moments I stepped out to my car and grabbed the petitions I had with me. While these two were signing this petition, their mother came over and started to chat with me. She told me she was their younger sister and I played along for a laugh. After her little bit of flirting, she asked what her son and her son’s friend were signing.
After explaining what was going on with the petition, she looked at me with the palest and straightest face I had seen. Her flirtatious smile had left and she asked me an interesting question. She asked me if I had voted for our county commissioner. It turns out the kid’s whose birthday they were celebrating had his uncle, the County Commissioner who is a Republican, sitting at the back table.
I felt I had taken enough of their fun party time away as 15 minutes had past since I we had begun to talk. Plus I had another place to go, so in answer of her question about if I had voted for the County Commissioner, I smiled and asked her a question.
“Could you just do me a favor? I have spent already 15 minutes of your time while you should be out there enjoying Craig’s 21st birthday. Could you just do me a favor and hand this House Resolution to Bob for me and let him know that I will be giving him a call later in the week?”
“Sure thing sweaty,” she replied, “but I really think you should take the time to talk to him now.”
So at the end of the evening, I gathered a half a dozen more signatures for this petition, recruited two more people that will be protesting at the Federal Reserve Bank this coming April 27, and I had passed on the legislation verbiage to a Republican politician. That gentleman, it turns our, is very well connected with my Congressman. I will be meeting with my Congressman’s Chief of Staff at the end of January. So steps are being made to rebuild the party while I am gathering signatures.
Come to think of it, at the next county republican meeting I should invite the county commissioner along. I believe he and I could extend our congratulations to our Congressman regarding his recent U.S. House Appropriation Committee appointment.
To limit one’s activities to just one avenue of approach is shortsighted and many opportunities can be missed. The momentum needed to make these changes can be lost when one is waiting two years for the next major election to come about.
There is a lot to be done; there are a lot of people that believe in the freedom and liberty we believe in. Not only do we need to let others know that they have friends that feel the same way they do, but also we need to let these people know that there is organized movement against the Federal Reserve as a whole. Interest gathers, as does momentum, so the cycle continues.
Those who really care decide to get involved.
Then on some evening in America, in some neighborhood, some person decides to go out and have a couple of drinks. The next thing you know…!
Each action builds on itself. Each person plays his or her part.
Screaming at the monster is multiplied to the point where they are surrounded. So SCREAM at the monster every chance you get and others will pay attention because many more feel the same exact way.
Posted By: George Faas
Date: 2009-01-22 16:15:54
If you only found only ONE relevant and informative sentence in the site, then you have not read through the site. I disagree with your opinion of pointless criticism. The site stated clearly to me what the plan of action is. Now, I'm out on the streets handing out information and collecting signatures for a bill to be put in front of congress to create real change from a broken system to ANYTHING ELSE. The Fed is the root of so many problems. Personally, they have stolen and continue to steal the value of my dollar from me!! Last time I checked, theft was illegal. The Fed is directly affecting me, not to mention my family, friends and everyone else.
The ONE-party system does not work anymore. I read in the Declaration of Independence that it is my DUTY to overthrow this establishment. Unless we all want to agree and rip up the US Constitution, I will defend it! It is a beautiful document that we have been blessed with. Let us use it to battle tyranny and provide freedom to our posterity. The more we ignore our founding fathers, the more liberties are taken away from us.
Support H.R. 2755!!! And this is for you, Mr. Fire Eater. End the Fed! End the Fed! End the Fed! And then it DOES NOT STOP! My incentive WILL BE a sound monetary policy and Liberty!!