Given the general trend in this country toward socialism for the last 75 years, and the rapid slide of our culture, freedom, and economy in the last decade, how should a liberty-seeking, self-sufficient American react?

Should we resist or fight back? Or surrender to the whims of the left since they won the last election? After all, we have all been taught in school that the majority rules. But should the majority rule over every aspect of our lives?

Is liberty even important to the majority of Americans any more? It seems that the majority of our countrymen have accepted socialism and renounced their right to freedom and self-determination in exchange for the promise of subsidized living and a guarantied outcome from the federal government.

Now that the majority has been bought off, how can we either reform the country or save ourselves from the likely economic collapse and possible civil strife that will inevitably follow?

As our country degenerates into a debt-ridden, banana republic, it seems prudent to have some contingency plans. Reform can’t continue to be put off till after the next election (like we have done for decades). We are truly running out of time. Here are a few optional plans that I have considered:

Plan 1. Fix the Right. Retake the Republican Party, put a fiscally austere platform in place and spend like crazy on political ads in 2010. This probably won’t work, because of the vested interests within the party that would obstruct meaningful change. Reagan was the only one to temporarily halt the lean to the left.

In the end, we need a Constitution Party or Libertarian Party (without the kooky stuff) that is dedicated to strict interpretation of the Constitution (i.e., the eighteenth century meaning of the words). If liberals want a modern interpretation of the Constitution, then they should be required to use the rigorous amendment process specified in the Constitution.

Plan 2. Form a new fiscally conservative party. Is there time? Can you get enough of the people who sold themselves to the socialists to come back? Would this split the non-Democrat vote?

Probably. Without a parliamentary system, it is hard to rule with coalitions (even in a parliament, it is still difficult). Having two conservative parties would certainly guarantee a Democrat control. So the platform of the one united conservative party must consist of policies that have broad conservative support. No divisive issues such as the abortion issue, gay vs. straight issue, racial issues, and especially religious issues should be stressed in the platform.

Plan 3. Every man for himself. Pull your neck in. Avoid long-term investments, spending, and business ventures. Sell everything and get liquid (gold, canned goods, and shotgun shells). Retire early or dig in and hope for better days in the future.

How long will it take for socialism to run itself into the ground? While you are waiting for it to collapse, what happens if we get a Stalin or Chairman Mao in the White House (yes, it can get worse than Obama)? What if the Democrats get around to nationalizing 401k’s and IRAs or heavily taxing property to pay for their socialist schemes?

Plan 4. Vote with your feet. Emigrate. Go somewhere that does not punish people for hard work and success. Unfortunately, there are not that many decent places to go. Most of the world is overcrowded, third world, too cold, or a combination of the three.

We all can’t go to New Zealand. The place would probably sink from the extra weight. Besides most of the world does not accept immigrants the way we do. You must have a desired skill or a fortune to invest. Also a lot of people out there don’t like Americans.

So in the end, the majority of right-leaning people are going to have to stay here and fight to get their country back. There are different ways to fight as you will see in plans 5 through 7.

Plan 5(a). Go on strike. Get organized and don’t show up for work for a week or two. If tens of millions of the key people in the country go on strike, it would practically shut the country down. It would really show the government and leftists who really has the power.

Maybe the Libertarian Party or the Fair-Tax people could organize the strike using their existing Internet sites. They can’t put you jail for not working. Not yet at least. We could also make an exception for medical people, firemen, and the police for humanitarian reasons.

Plan 5(b). Organize a boycott on the purchase of government debt. They would have to raise the yield on the bonds and try to sell even more of them overseas. Unfortunately, foreigners are already getting concerned about the level of government debt and the credit worthiness of the Feds, so they may not buy more.

I heard that Moody’s predicts that T-bills are going to lose their AAA rating in a few years if the deficits are not reduced. So maybe you don’t want them in any case.

The big corporations and insurance companies would have to cooperate to make this plan work. The Soviet Union was taken down because they could no longer afford to finance the cold war. Maybe the Democrats will fall when they can no longer finance their redistributionist agenda.

Plan 5(c). Start a tax revolt. If tens of millions of people refused to file tax returns and those not subject to withholding refused to make their quarterly payments, how would the feds respond? They couldn’t put everyone in jail, because they would clog the courts for years and there is no room in the prisons. Business owners could also stop filing 941’s and any other reports as well and stop sending in employee withholdings. This has been dreamed about by many frustrated taxpayers (usually on April 15), but it might really work if enough people participated.

Plan 6. Vote with your feet, but locally. Choose a state or region and agree to migrate there. Take over the local politics and form a libertarian nation within the outer rotting socialist nation.

Would the feds interfere? Absolutely. Could they stop it? Who knows? Texas might make a good country. They are pretty conservative already.

Plan 7. The nuclear option. Grab your gun and organize. Form militias. After all, only right wing crazies (like us) own guns (200 million of them). Most of the military, especially in the officer ranks, have right wing beliefs. They took an oath to support and defend the Constitution, not the socialist federal government. Most cops are also right-leaning. Most revolutions, including our own, were started and carried out by a determined minority of the people.

On the downside most revolutions really mess up the economy in the short term. But if done quickly, it could be bloodless and have limited disruption. This plan would certainly take a great deal of planning and preparation (understatement).

I‘m not what you would call a Rambo or even a gun enthusiast, but I suppose I would join a militia if necessary to preserve my family’s right to a future based on self-sufficiency and freedom.

These plans are speculation on my part, so I hope the Secret Service does not come looking for me. Personally, I favor the strike, the tax revolt, and the boycott plans.

Something extraordinary must be done to turn things around both fiscally and culturally. I would welcome other ideas, because I certainly don’t have all the answers. Have we become too apathetic to save ourselves?

Bill Gilmer

Fayetteville, Ga.