In the last two commentaries (here and here), we’ve discussed the amazing resiliency of the Fifty States’ society, economy, culture, and even political system. And I have warned that it may not last: the stresses are great and may overwhelm our already weakened systems. I think there is very good reason to be cautious.

BUT…

The American nations do NOT have to fall. Yes, the Pax Americana (however poorly named and maintained) probably will. And the Imperium Americana – the American Empire – almost certainly will (and should) collapse. But those are NOT the American nations. The Fifty States themselves do have a good chance of surviving.

Not just surviving but thriving. At least most of them. Not necessarily in the same form – indeed, we may not want to keep the same form. It has deteriorated so much in the last century – especially in the last 30 years.

Why am I being such a Pollyana?

Many reasons, including what many will claim is a irrational belief in divine providence and trust in God. Indeed, our national motto, “In God We Trust” states that, and I am naive enough to think there is something to it. “All things work together for good…” And many, many Americans meet the conditions for that promise.

But more secularly:

First, although the woke and the nannies and the powergrabbers are very vocal and seem to dominate, they are really very much in the minority. Strip away their fellow-travelers and the opportunistic, and I suspect that they amount to less than one percent of the population. And the more they push, the more likely they are to find out that the majority of the population is seeing through their bluff.

Second, although I will give that very small group of culture-deniers and tyrants some credit for cunning (if not actual practical intelligence), their fellow-travelers continue to demonstrate their stupidity and irrationality. Again, the more they push, the more likely they are to get most people to openly express both their rejection and their contempt for the woke. And the more stupid mistakes these people make, the quicker their house of cards will tumble and fall. THEIRS, not American civilization.

Third, traditional “American values” and ideals are more in line with the fundamental laws of the universe. People are not designed to be docile slaves and followers, and eventually DO rebel and regain their liberty. To put it another way, liberty and freedom are survival traits and make us fitter to survive.

Fourth, more and more people ARE learning what it means to be free, what liberty truly is. Most of those are quiet, knowing the time is not yet ripe for speaking up or actively fighting. But more and more are passively resisting. Among those actions:

• More people are homeschooling their children
• More people are arming themselves and their families
• More people are abandoning the mainstream media
• More and more people are just plain ignoring laws and “guidance” on many things
• More people are taking actions to improve their independence and preparation for bad times
• More and more people are reeducating themselves – going back and learning the truth

Many people will disagree with me, but there IS hope of liberty, of regaining freedom and seeing a much better future, even for our children and certainly for our grandchildren. Especially in the Fifty States and particularly in the Western States of the Rockies and Great Plains.

But we must assume that matters WILL get darker before the dawn. That we will see more and more indications of collapse, and that society, culture – and even infrastructure and the economy – will continue to deteriorate. We will continue to be bombarded with lies and herded more and more into compliance and submission – but we can resist.

And we can continue, as Mama Liberty did for her entire life, to teach liberty and live free in an unfree world. IF we are willing to count the cost AND the blessings of liberty. And act.