Order Liberty - Civic Anti-Authoritarianism

How the Founders Built Liberty as a System, and How Modern Operatives Sell Its Replacement

This is the condensed version of a fuller treatment. The complete essay, “Two Fundamentally Different Views of Liberty,” develops the argument in full, with sources.

Every Fourth of July, Americans post about freedom. Almost nobody says which freedom they mean, and that one omission explains over 120 years on a slippery slope and the last 40 feeling more like a long drop into the abyss. The word is liberty, and it carries two meanings that cannot coexist.

The Two Views

The first view says liberty means being left alone. The test is a single question: is anyone stopping you? Philosophers call it negative liberty; the claim, in plain terms, is that liberty is a possession, something you already own. Government exists to guard it and otherwise stand aside. This is the liberty of the Bill of Rights: “Congress shall make no law.”

The second view says liberty means being provided for. Its test: can you actually do it? By this measure a man is not free until someone supplies the means, and the only someone large enough is the state. Philosophers call it positive liberty; the claim, in plain terms, is that liberty is provided to you.

Possession or provision: hold onto those two words, because they build opposite governments. If liberty is a possession, government's job is to guard it, and its power is restrained. If liberty is provided, government must be the provider, and its power grows with every promise. One view ties the government's hands. The other fills them.

The Cost of Being a Patriot

(Verse 1) He's been working this county for twenty long years Knows where every body's buried, every doubt and every fear Got a smile like a handshake and a heart like a hole Been trading in whispers, been collecting his toll (Chorus) A little story here A word or two there Gets his people spun up At somebody's good name, Just a nod and a whisper and the coven goes insane And the telling they do is a lie That's the way of the Howling Not caring whose reputation dies (Verse 2) He never raises his voice, never shows you his hand Just a quiet conversation and you don't understand How you ended up angry at the good ole boy Always smiling at the table, plotting his next plan (Chorus) A little story here A word or two there Gets his people spun up At somebody's good name oh… somebody to blame Just a nod and a whisper and the coven goes insane And the telling they do is a lie That's the way of the Howling Not caring whose reputation dies (Bridge) And the ones he's been killing Don't have nowhere to turn No voice, no shield No way to return the burn It's all about power And that power punches down Strong man, weak man, sad man A man who lost the plot It's time to bring him down (Verse 3) But a funny thing happens When you play it that way When the people you've been using Start to figure out the game When the ones that you've been spinning Start to ask the right questions And the word gets around About his quiet little lessons (Final Chorus) A little story here A word or two there But now we're the ones talking And the town's gonna hear Going to hear about a new man's good name We're done with the whispers and the coven The truth has a power That a lie can't contain We are ending the Howling It's the start of a new day (Outro - spoken) He never yelled Never had to Just a word or two In the right ear At the right time For the wrong reasons That's the Howling And maybe his story is done

It's a Long Way to Anywhere

© 2026 Jeff A Pierson

Counting on promises That were never really made. Watching the seasons pass, While the colors slowly fade. Talking like it matters, Like it’s all about to change. But every step they’re not taking, Keeps us the same.

They say just be patient! They say just hold on! But waiting feels like a wasteland Where love is lost and everything is gone.

They are waiting on a change, But not doing a thing. Just watching the clock for the nothing it brings. Yeah, they are waiting on a change, Acting like they're already there But it’s a long way to anywhere… oh… when you're standing still

Smiling for the cameras, Shaking every hand. Talking like they’re different, While they work thier plan. Saying what you want to hear, Changing when it’s time. Talk about standing for folks, Then stepping out of line!

They say it’s complicated! They say it takes time! But time just keeps on passing, And they’re still standing in line.

Most are still waiting on a change, But not doing a thing, Just watching the clock, and watching the nothing it brings! Yeah, most are waiting on a change, Acting like they're already there. But it’s a long way to anywhere Yeah, it’s a long way to anywhere… …when you are standing still

You can feel it breaking, Underneath your feet! All the quiet failures! All the silent defeats! No one wants to say it! But standing still together, Is the slowest death of all.

If no one dares to move Then nothing changes. You can’t outrun darkness While you're standing still.

They are waiting on a change Just passing time, Stuck in the same spot Standing still!

Yeah, they are waiting on a change But nobody dares to run it’s a long way oh… a long way to anywhere If you are standing still!

This song was inspired by a couple of our local heroes and a few thousand of thier friends.

© Copyright 2026, Jeff A Pierson - Permission to use it to resist renewable energy and related projects - just mention Dean Dimond, Jerry Holton, and Lava Ridge.

This song was inspired by a couple of our local heroes and a few thousand of thier friends.

© Copyright 2026, Jeff A Pierson - Permission to use it to resist renewable energy and related projects - just mention Dean Dimond, Jerry Holton, and Lava Ridge.