Like the proverbial frog in a pot of simmering water, most conservatives I know are wringing their hands and gnashing their teeth as they watch our civil liberties being crushed and our core societal institutions crumble… while doing NOTHING.
Most conservatives are well aware of what’s going on. The blame game is the easiest one to play: surely we can blame the progressive left, George Soros, a corrupt federal government, a complicit big tech cabal, and political leaders who are on the take.
But few conservatives will look in the mirror and take a hard look at themselves and ask what their role was in how we came to be here, or what their role can be going forward.
While this site normally focuses on Second Amendment related news, we’d like to take a moment to step back and look at the broader picture.
Just as the State of New Jersey has been the poster child for oppressing its law-abiding citizens and obstinately refusing to grant their Constitutional rights for the better part of half a century, it has (ironically) been one of a very few states whose citizens galvanized, balkanized and fought back!
The passage of Bruen made concealed carry a reality and forced restoration of our Second Amendment rights in the Garden State. The state fought back viciously attempting to retain power to suppress its citizens and their rights with the “carry-killer” bill signed into law by Governor Murphy in December of 2022.
And then something very interesting happened. We fought back.
People coalesced on social media; donated loads of money to Second-Amendment rights groups; showed up to state Assembly hearings giving their own testimony; called and wrote their elected officials; organized gatherings and got the word out. And that fight is now formulated as a legitimate legal effort that is heading towards the Supreme Court and may very well set yet another benchmark to protect our rights at the National level! (You’re welcome, by the way.)
While New Jersey is the brunt of many national jokes, there are lessons to be learned, even from the uncouth residents of the “armpit” of the U.S.
Whatever your particular concern (Second Amendment rights, protecting children in schools, securing our national border, enforcing penalties on criminals), our current state of affairs didn’t happen by accident. The progressive game plan that has shifted our entire society to the left has been played out over decades. And they achieved this by being the MORE vocal, activist, involved, and even belligerent group of people.
Yet, sadly, when we speak to our conservative friends and family the response seems to be very predictable and sadly passive:
“What can we do?”
“The system is broken. It all has to burn down.”
“I refuse to participate in a corrupt system.”
“Voting doesn’t matter.”
And it suddenly becomes clear! Conservatives, YOUR apathy is partly why we are here. While the liberal left works with lawmakers to push their agenda; while they chant and march garnering coverage from local and national media; while they address their local school boards to push anti-family course curriculum; you have sat on your couch and watched it all happen, maybe with your nose stuck in TikTok or yet another episode of Desperate Housewives.
So, what are you going to do about it? What actions are YOU going to take to make sure your children have a better future than you?
Please allow us to offer a few suggestions:
- Become collective – you can’t fight this effectively without numbers – join a group or organization that reflects your interests.
- Support those who support you financially by donating small monthly amounts; as we’ve learned in New Jersey, the legal fight costs money.
- Spread the word – whatever that word is, be vocal about it to your family, friends and colleagues; you can be sure your liberal counterparts are doing the same. Now is not the time to be shy.
- Get involved at the local level: attend your school board meetings, your town forums and any gathering where you can make your voice heard, and make sure you’re heard.
- Run for office: the progressive agenda started at the local level; run for office and beat them at their own game.
- Pick up the phone and fire up your keyboard: if you are retired and have few monetary resources, use the resource you do have: your time! Write and call your elected officials.
Though there are myriad other ways to get involved and get in the fight, these are but a few simple actions that we can start doing now.
Take a lesson from the “armpit state”. No matter how stinky the state of affairs, bullies don’t like it when you come out swinging and start fighting back. And that will eventually lead to victory.
So very true.. Remember the old adage, ‘The squeaky wheel gets the oil.’ It applies heavily to this fight. Still, we have organizations and PACs that only support those that they like instead of all running for office. If we are to win this, we must all support each other.