The Patriot

Go where you’re treated best.

Andrew Henderson

This is a reaction piece to the frequent pushback I receive from people calling themselves patriots, because I refuse to engage in activities that they define as fighting back to restore the USA to what it should be. They become particularly incensed because I am a veteran and refuse to act as they feel I should act. It seems as though they believe I am obligated to do so. I share many of their views on how things could be better, but I do not share their views on fighting back. I will explain why below.

The USA is a Constitutional Republic in name, but really now more of a Democratic Republic, the way the Constitution is being twisted and even bypassed by the will of the majority. This de facto dynamic results in the majority, an easily manipulated majority, determining the laws and even culture in the USA. Sometimes these new majority decisions even go against the established Constitution, which is being steadily eroded. The entrenched bureaucracy uses “administrative” or “executive” measures to effectively void much of the Constitution.

A patriotic person or group will sometimes loudly proclaim that you must fight for your country. Even when that country consists of a majority that disagrees with you and the Constitution. I empathize with and even support the views of the people who say this. I was one of them for decades. I even put skin in the game to stand up for what I thought was right and for what the Constitution said. It ended badly for me each time. Economically. Reputationally. Even my freedom was impacted. Now I tend to see that kind of rhetoric as myopic and unrealistic. Ideology, not reality.

The military oath I took stated that I would defend my nation against all enemies, foreign and domestic. Who defines the enemy? The previous political party said one group is the enemy, but after the election, it is suddenly people holding my values who are the enemy. They are even being jailed now for the flimsiest of reasons. Even foreign enemies are difficult to identify now, with the porous borders and popular support for people who display outright hatred for the US and act against its best interests. Does the word “enemy” even have an objective meaning anymore in the West?

More aggressive patriots will proclaim, “You need to fight!”  Against whom? Using what measures?  Vote? Yeah, how has that worked out? The Blue/Red system has collectively produced the mess we have. The differences between the parties are only in degrees, not values. Try getting in there and changing things, then let me know how that worked out for you. Take up arms against them? That’s called treason or sedition, and will land you in prison for a very long time. You don’t even need to take up arms today to be imprisoned for that. Don’t do it! Don’t even do anything remotely resembling it. These people are running the show and that is the reality of it. Sometimes the only choice is to leave and go where you are treated better.

They wave the flag of patriotism, but expect others to carry that flag into the fray.

Ironically, many of those most vociferously shouting for me and other veterans to rise up, are the most timid people with no skin in the game. They prefer to sit back and incite others to do the hard and dirty work, availing themselves of the option to claim they had nothing to do with it if it goes awry. They wave the flag of patriotism, but expect others to carry that flag into the fray. You know who you are. No thank you. I served my nation, fought in wars, did my time. If you want some change, it’s time for you to put in some effort. I am retired. I may not agree with my nation’s leaders, but I still respect their authority and my nation. I will work within the bounds of what is possible to improve my position. I earned it. I and the other veterans have no obligation towards you or your desires. There is a reason many veterans share my view. It is because they have seen harsh reality and know the difference between what works and what is merely foolish ideology. Attempting to shame them won’t change that.

Defending against enemies is one thing, but where, in any civic or military contract with the government, does it require citizens to live within the country? US citizenship, and by extension taxation, extends to Americans living anywhere in the world. You can be an American citizen living anywhere in the world. Many people do so. It doesn’t mean they are “unpatriotic,” just that they prefer to live elsewhere.

Patriotism sounds great, but in the modern soft-fascist governments it is about as practical as wishing on the Tooth Fairy. So, if you enjoy beating your head against the wall over and over again, you are welcome to it. My head-beating days are over. Fighting for something has the unspoken assumption that you can win. How can you win if your nation has become what you are not? Right or wrong, the majority has the right and the ability to determine the course of the nation. That is implicit in the definition of the democratic system that is now our de facto government. You can either align your values and life with the new reality, or look for someplace else where your values are still embraced and followed. I suppose you could take a third option and fight against the new reality, but I have already stated how that often ends. I will not do it.

Consider the words of Nomad Capitalist CEO Andrew Henderson:

Rather than leaving your country, why don’t you just stay and lobby to change the laws? The answer is, where I am from in the US, there are 330 million people. I’m one person and we delude ourselves into thinking that a lot of other people think like us. If you want freedom. If you are a hardworking, successful person who wants to build something, own a business and employ people … there aren’t a lot of people like you. I realized very early on that I’m not a very sympathetic person who is going to get a lot of people on my side politically. So, I’m going to go where the conditions already exist because I realize my insignificance in the scheme of things. I’m not going to get up there and convince people whose momentum is going in the wrong direction that they should change where they’re going. Momentum is really hard to stop, especially when your country has 330, or 80 or even 20 million people.

Andrew Henderson, Nomad Capitalist

Not everyone is cut out for politics or activism. Not everyone is cut out to be a soldier. Even politicians, activists and soldiers eventually want to retire. Most of them, anyway. I will continue to be sympathetic to those wanting to fight for the USA that used to exist, but pragmatically they won’t be getting any help from me. In the USA today, not choosing one of the highly polarized sides will often get a person condemned and vilified by both. I choose not to support either side, as there are almost always more options in life than two. I just grew tired of choosing the lesser of the two evils.

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Judging, elevating or favorably treating others by physical characteristics, or traits. Replaces racism due to the fact that there is only one race, human.

The overriding view that women are strong and independent, don’t need men, and are more competent and wiser than men. Men are to realize and admit that they are both inferior and toxic.

Giving too much attention and affection, whether through gifts, compliments, or acts of service as a way of seeking validation from someone else.

Instead of accepting responsibility and facing the uncomfortable situation head-on, the deflectors will try to move the focus from themselves, usually by passing the blame onto someone or something else.

Individuals are confronted with two choices, both of which have negative results. The choices are framed to produce an emotional response in the person, forcing them to choose or look bad. The individual will fail, no matter what choice they make. The abuser will use this as leverage to further manipulate the victim by depicting them as weak, flawed or ineffective.

The manipulative process by which individual or collective freedom of choice and action is compromised by agents or agencies that modify or distort perception, motivation, affect, cognition and/or behavioral outcomes. The person being mind controlled is not aware of the influence process, nor of the changes occurring within themselves. They believe they are acting according to their own choices.

A declaration of an intention or determination to inflict punishment, injury, etc. to frighten and emotionally force a person to do something.

The intentional manipulation of another person’s emotions to induce feelings of guilt. It is a form of emotional blackmail that is often designed to manipulate other people by preying on their emotions and making them feel responsible for something they are not.

Using sarcasm and put-downs to increase fear and self-doubt in the victim. Manipulators use this tactic to make others feel unworthy and therefore defer to them. Manipulators can make one feel ashamed for even daring to challenge them or say no.

Attempting to establish a perceived close bond with someone very quickly to overcome their natural caution and use them for money, resources or work. This is often involves a quick push for friendship or intimacy.

A manipulative tactic where someone portrays themselves as a victim to gain sympathy, attention, or caregiving. The goal is to make the person eliciting pity seem like a victim, which can make it easier to get what they want without being seen as a bad guy. This is because people are naturally inclined to help those they pity.

A woman is simultaneously a victim and empowered, until something happens. Then she chooses which state benefits her the most.

A woman is simultaneously a victim and empowered, until something happens. Then she chooses which state benefits her the most.

A Chad is a stereotypical alpha male. He is depicted as attractive, successful, muscular, cocky and very popular among women. He has a tendency to play the field and will not commit to any woman.

An enabler of a highly narcissistic person or someone with narcissistic personality disorder (NPD). A flying monkey is an agent who acts on their behalf.

Projection involves taking an unacceptable part of oneself, disowning it, and placing it onto someone else. The manipulator describes the victim and paints them in a light that more accurately portrays the attacker himself.

Toxic amnesia is a tactic where the perpetrator pretends to not remember abuse, betrayals, lies, and other hurtful and dysfunctional behaviors they've engaged in. Its a form of gaslighting. Its purpose is to make you doubt your perceptions and memories.

Narcissistic rage can be triggered by various situations, such as criticism, perceived rejection, or being ignored. The reaction is often extreme and disproportionate to the event or comment, as the narcissist's fragile ego struggles to cope with the perceived attack on their self-image.

Triangulation is when a toxic or manipulative person, often a person with strong narcissistic traits, brings a third person into their relationship in order to remain in control. There will be limited or no communication between the two triangulated individuals except through the manipulator. It may appear in different forms, but all are about divide and conquer, or playing people against each other.

The action or practice of lavishing someone with attention or affection, especially in order to influence or manipulate them.

Cognitive dissonance refers to a situation involving conflicting attitudes, beliefs, or behaviors. This produces a feeling of mental discomfort leading to an alteration in one of the attitudes, beliefs, or behaviors to reduce the discomfort and restore balance.

To gaslight someone means to manipulate another person into doubting their own perceptions, experiences or understanding of events. ~ American Psychological Association

Because their sense of self is determined by what others think of them, narcissists use relationships for self-enhancement. Everyone must feed them. In addition, they seek validation and attention in their public and professional life. Other people are used as objects in order to provide their supply. For example, they may need constant compliments or applause, more status and money, or may check their appearance in the mirror several times a day. ~ Psychology Today

Fraud that targets people belonging to a particular community or group, typically that in which someone pretends to be a member of the group in order to gain the trust of others.

Second Attack
Second Attack
First Attack
First Attack
Initial Dispositions
Initial Dispositions
ZSU 23-4
ZSU 23-4 Anti-Aircraft Gun
TOW Missile
TOW Anti-Tank Missile
T55 Tank
T55 Tank
SA7
SA7 Surface to Air Missile
M113
M113 Armored Personnel Carrier (APC)
M48 Tank
M48 Tank
Hawker Hunter
Hawker Hunter Jet
BTR-50
BTR-50 Armored Personnel Carrier
BM21 Stalin Organ
BM21 Stalin Organ
Howitzer
Howitzer
AT7 Anti-Tank Missile
AT7 Anti-Tank Missile
AT3 Sagger Anti-Tank Missile
AT3 Sagger Anti-Tank Missile
120mm Mortar
120mm Mortar
AT4 Anti-Tank Missile
AT4 Anti-Tank Missile

Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’ And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.

A religious leader uses valid verses or concepts from the Bible about following and obeying God to generate enthusiasm in people, then misdirects that obedience to himself as a representative of God. The group believes they are following and obeying God, but in reality are obeying the leader.

A fictional, exaggerated version of an opposing viewpoint, especially one that is intentionally created to be easy to dismiss or argue against and to make one's own argument seem stronger. Straw man arguments can be made unintentionally, but most are made on purpose to make the other side seem evil, incompetent, or extremist.

The religious leader distracts members from mentally registering what he is doing.  Screaming praise to God when something he proclaimed does not come to pass.  Acting like a bad thing is really a good thing.  Just keep talking and talking and talking, while ignoring that nothing is happening. It is the same thing politicians have done successfully for years.

The leader calls members flattering adjectives or nouns, like righteous, holy, or saint.  These are often vague and difficult to define, so the member feels the leader’s superior knowledge has recognized something good in them.  Conversely, if the leader later withdraws this praise, the member is eager to toe the line to recover it.

Manipulation of a person or group's emotions in order to make them believe something is factual (or false) in the absence of any evidence. The manipulator tries to draw on the recipient's inward feelings such as fear, pity, or joy with the goal of convincing them that the statements being presented are true or false.

Essentially a black-and-white worldview with the leader as the ultimate moral arbiter. This creates an atmosphere of guilt and shame, where punishment and humiliation are expected. It also sets up an environment wherein members spy and report on one another. Through submission to the guilt-inducing and impossible demand for purity, members lose their moral bearing.

The use of jargon internal to (and only understandable by) the group. Constricting language constricts the person. Capacities for thinking and feeling are significantly reduced. Imagination is no longer a part of life experiences, and the mind atrophies from disuse.

The process whereby the group becomes the ultimate arbiter and all nonbelievers become so-called evil or non-people. If these non-people cannot be recruited, then they can be punished or even killed. This process creates an us-versus-them mentality that breeds fear in followers who learn that life depends on a willingness to obey. This is when individuals merge with the group’s belief.