Good day to you, readers. Welcome to the first occasional musing of 2022. Sit back, grab a cup of coffee, and come with me on a little thought wander inspired by our neighbors to the north.
Canada, eh? Getting a little spicy up there, isn’t it boys?
In case you haven’t heard, it seems a bunch of really pissed off people loaded up in trucks and drove to that nation’s capital to protest their grievances. As you do. Predictably, the folks in charge of that country have said an enormous amount of stupid shit and, whether intentionally or not, have done everything they can to make the situation worse.
Now, I’ll never claim to be an expert on Canadian culture and politics. My understanding of the country doesn’t go much further than loving hockey and thinking Kids in the Hall was pretty hilarious. Tim Horton’s is pretty lit, too. Much better than Dunkin Donuts (come at me, Massholes).
But I do know people to a fairly decent degree and the following thought has been rolling around in my brain these past weeks: There are two kinds of people. Those that hate, and those that just want to live.
Subjective as hell, I know. Bear with me, dear reader, as I trace my own line between these groups. I’ll start by borrowing an idea from a fellow Substacker, Simulation Commander (check out his stuff, it’s great!): the most timeless conflict has always been between the authoritarians and the libertarians.
While it brings me joy to push libertarians into the anarchist pool whenever possible, I can’t say I have much quarrel with that statement. It’s a tomato, tomato kind of thing. In regards to figuring out who hates and who wishes to live, it’s a good place to start as any other and so I’ll happily steal the thought.
And so where do the truckers fall? The latter, obviously. Why? Because the authoritarians enjoy the state’s monopoly on violence and they are all too happy to see it used on people they deem unworthy of their sympathy. There’s no clearer mark of those that hate than that.
Don’t believe me? Spend some time in Poland, like I did. Ask the children of the Cold War. They’ll tell you. Walk their cities, see it for yourself.
In any case, sure, the truckers might be a bit rude. They might have some questionable characters among their midst who deserve a slap on the back of the head, but what they don’t have is the power of the most murderous organizations in human history: the modern state.
And so I turn to the supporters of that monster among the common people. As I listen to them speak, read their words, and watch their body language I can’t help but be reminded of the religious zealots of my youth. There is no doubt, no room for debate, no chance of being incorrect. The danger of this attitude is obvious and any cursory overview of human history, specifically the religious side of it, will demonstrate that clearly.
The State is their God and they’ve no qualms about ending you for the heresy of disagreement. Thankfully, this is still easier said than done. Kindly see Trudeau scampering off with his tail between his legs, or the barricades erected all around Washington D.C., if you need any proof.
So stand with the truckers. They might be mad, they might be rude, they might be causing trouble, but trust me. In the end?
They just want to live, like you and me.
Of Mice and Men was such a good book! Classic Steinbeck novel. Did you see the movie? (Lennie's death is done way too fast!).
“While it brings me joy to push libertarians into the anarchist pool whenever possible”
Keep pushing. Some of us never get out!