Can we live off the grid in a big city? That is the question I’ve been tossing around in my head for the past several years. It is a question I am going to be exploring on my new project: SovereignInTheCity.com . Im so excited to be bringing SITC to Steemit! I hope you follow us. Let me introduce myself...
The Worst Year of My Life.
In 2008 my mother lost her 2 year battle with breast cancer, passing away in my arms. At the same time I took a large financial loss on a real estate flipping project, and got separated from my wife of 10 years. These events sent me spiraling into a major depression.
Oddly, a strange man had appeared in both of those areas of my life. While researching alternative medicines for my mothers cancer I had seen some videos of Ron Paul talking about health freedom and individual rights. I also started seeing newer Ron Paul videos talking about the 2008 financial crisis and the Federal Reserve Bank. I started to delve into the rabbit hole of what I now know as the Truth/Liberty movement.
I spent weeks living in my friends basement watching documentaries and researching what up until that point in my life, I had dismissed as “conspiracy theories.” With my life as I knew it falling apart for the first time I had no vested interest in any particular point of view, particularly but not exclusively politics. Up until 2008 I considered myself a conservative. I thought George Dubya Bush was a great President doing the best he could after 9/11. I recognize now that I was really a Neo-conservative. After the death of my mother and my finances, I no longer clung to that part of my identity. My ego had taken such a beating that I was open to new points of view.
Into The Zeitgeist
One of the first truth documentaries I watched was Zeitgeist, this opened my eyes to religious conspiracies, the fraud that is the U.S. financial system and many other issues as well. It opened my eyes to the false left vs right paradigm and began me on my quest for truth.
I joined several “movements” on my journey. Starting out as a tea party activist calling for the end to crony capitalism, then the End the Fed movement and We Are Change as a “truther.” In 2010 I ran as a Libertarian for New York State Assembly. With 8+% of the vote I believe I am one of the most successful independent candidates In NYC history.
Then, I attempted to bring libertarian ideas into the Occupy Wall Street space when I founded Occupy The Fed with Derrick Broze of The Conscious Resistance. I was the Occupy Wall Street correspondent for Judge Andrew Napolitano on his Freedom Watch show on Fox. I was also active in the Ron Paul 2012 Presidential campaign and was even the M.C. of Ron Paul Fest in Tampa Florida.
By 2012 I had become a committed anarchist, adopting the Voluntaryist philosophy of the non aggression principle.
In 2013 I founded Peaceful Streets Project NYC with the help of Antonio Buehler. I made cop watching a part of my lifestyle; holding the NYPD accountable for violating the rights of New Yorkers. My #TicketCops campaign went viral as I wrote police tickets for traffic infractions. I spent more than a few nights in jail as a result of filming the police.
Rediscovering Love
In 2014 I began a relationship with an amazing woman who would become my twin flame. Vanessa opened my eyes to a whole new perspective on the world. Introducing me to the concept of empathy. Challenging me to reign in my ego. She helped my do some serious internal emotional work. She taught me how to actively listen and reserve judgment to form meaningful connections with people.
Vanessa taught me and showed me how to internalize what true, unconditional love means. She showed me how to deeply and empathically connect with another person. She helped me retrain myself to resolve my emotions rather than bury them. In essence, she taught me how to love, not just others, but myself. I still have a lot of work to do in that area, but for the first time in my life I am truly happy and am experiencing joy like I never have before.
Together we have been working to encourage and hold each other accountable to living life with positive intention, mindfulness and empathy, together we also want to help encourage others to live mindfully as well. We decided to use SITC as a platform to do exactly that.
From NAP to NVC
In 2015 @AdamKokesh recommended I read “Non-Violent Communication” by Marshall Rosenberg which took me to the next level in my journey. I began learning communication techniques that would not only change my effectiveness as an activist but help transform my personal life.
After spending almost a decade in political activism, studying personal sovereignty and holistic anarchy, I came to the conclusion that there is no political solution to life’s challenges. Instead, I’ve discovered the way to make the world a better place first and foremost is to improve oneself, and then to improve ones community.
What You Resist Persists
We believe that instead of fighting coercive power structures of institutional violence through politics, we can work together to make those power structures irrelevant by developing strong communities with a focus on empathy, agorism and mutual aid.
On SovereignInTheCity.com we will be providing content to help our readers exercise their personal freedoms while “being the change they wish to see in the world.”
Vanessa and I have designed SovereignInTheCity.com to be an educational blog featuring news, DIY tutorials, commentary and essays on topics related to exercising personal sovereignty. Topics include DIY life hacks, holistic health, philosophy, sustainability and economics.
I hope you will join us on this journey to be sovereign in the city.
This was a fantastic read though I'm really sorry to hear about your mother. I can only imagine. I'm no stranger these movements or kokesh. You've gained a follower. Your last picture is great. ✔
Thank you!! I appreciate your condolences! I hope you enjoy and are challenged by our content!
That last picture makes him look like BahBahBooey's brother! LOL You can't be serious. I hope Howard Stern reads Steemit stuff........................... He'll confirm it.
Jeeze, Danny... these neoHippies in the voluntaryist movement have turned you into a modern day "meathead" from All in the Family! Where are you living in NY? If I get a chance to come back and visit, you and I are going to hang out in a Nathan's, have some lunch and discuss this! sheeesh. Maybe we can take in a ballgame, too.
LOL, Im in Brooklyn and Id be happy to discuss being an anarchy-hippy. Did I just coin that phrase?
well, it is a good evolution from my neoHippie. Better than mine because it really captivates such a recent phenomenon. Up until a few years ago it was a "given" that all hippies were commies and had NO problem using force to assure you will not own anything. Can I assume you are aware of Kenny's Kitchen here in Steemit? THAT BOY IS THE POSTER CHILD! You have got to spend some time and watch his DTube vids from Anarchopulco '18. Dude... YOU CAN'T SCRIPT THAT STUFF FOR A MOVIE. LOL
My dad was born in Bensonhurst, then they moved out to Long Beach. I was born and raised in Stewart Manor, on L.I. When you cash in some of your Steem $ go have a Carvel Ice Cream cone and think of all this banter. LOL
Welcome to Steem @sovereigncity.
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All the Best!!!
It's wonderful to see more folk reaching this conclusion! Following with interest.
=)
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Look forward to seeing you there.
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Oh yea, I have upvoted you and followed you. Many blessings from @introbot & @bycoleman
Nice post! Welcome to steemit and have a wonderful time here.
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followed!!
As a man who left NY back in 1985, (born in '56), I can sincerely say YOU ARE FRIGGIN' NUTS. I have lived in places where freedom was quite available. I have visited other places (all in America) where it was even more the case. Saying you can live as a Sovereign in NYC is like saying swimming in the sewer system can be as enjoyable as going to Jones Beach. Please, Danny.
Now, I realize how New Yorkers just think "the city" is the only place a human with class or civilized manner (and culture) could possibly exist, but seriously.... even Boston would be a better choice if a Voluntaryist chose to "work it" somewhere in NH (probably Keene) in some way attaching himself to the Free State Project movement.
Next: Don't tell me about how there is "no solution in politics". Kokesh is PROVING that to be completely incorrect. If he wasn't running for noPresident with his "Split 50!" prescription, who the frig would pay attention to his hollywood smile? Would he be able to raise $120k to distribute his "Freedom!" book all over New Orleans if he wasn't a candidate seeking LP nomination? NOT EVEN FRIGGIN' CLOSE.
I bet you are a Met fan......................................................... but I am "resteeming" this and "following" you, anyway.
pfffffffft. (Bronx Cheer for you!)
Louis Charles "Chuck" Geshlider
Prime Minster, Deplorable Nation
[email protected] Anyone. Anytime.
I agree it is probably near impossible to live completely sovereignly in the city.. but the point of the site is to teach people to incrementally INCREASE their sovereignty. We haven't officially launched yet, but when we do we will have some great content to help city dwellers live a little bit more free.
And yeah I would totally be living off the grid in the wilderness, unfortunately my familial situation doesn't permit that at the moment.
And no, im not a Mets fan.
We could have a philosophical discussion about the LP and my dear friend Adams non-presidential campaign, but that would be another post entirely.
Oh, no... a true libertarian... HE WANTS TO HAVE A PHILOSOPHICAL DISCUSSION. I am shocked! LOL
Are you for his efforts, or against what he is ACCOMPLISHING for the anarchoVol community? Gimme the short and sweet version. Don't go all "kafka84" or larkenRose on us.....
I get that... I just don't want anyone to be completely deluded with false hope. Now, what we need to do is organize Agora3 people and find a little town upstate along the Delaware River and "time share" some property with the intent of seeing an "outpost" of AnarchoForko develop. What sayeth? Are you into the CAPITALISM side of AnarchoCapVol? There should be at least one of these developments in each state.
So, you are a Yankee fan, or just not into baseball?
BTW THANK YOU for the upvote and resteem!!!!
Welcome!
Loved your statement "what you resist persists" - very true!
There's a great series of meditations around resistance/acceptance I'm currently doing on the Headspace meditation app. May not be your thing, but I'm loving it and thought I'd share. :-) Great starting point for working on mindfulness for people like me who can't just 'sit in silence'! :-)
This is a very interesting form of anarchy! :) Great post my friend. @thefreshfive @aussieninja. Something worth considering for thefreshfive.
Thanks for the shout out @raveenp!
Unfortunately we try to help out people that haven't made as much money on their first post... I try to look for people under $10 of post earnings. Great find though!
Congratulations @sovereigncity!
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Hallo, I am a new user. Come and read my first article about Russia
Hello! Welcome to Steemit Community! I can't wait to see your content
Hi friend how are you
hello good day ... I give you a warm welcome .. good post, I hope you have much success and fortune in steemit
Welcome man, we use to be friends on facebook before I left behind that place, nice to see you over here.
Thought you'd appreciate this:
https://steemit.com/adamkokesh/@fundposhprincess/how-to-start-kokesh-s-domino-effect-of-localization
Sorry for the loss of your mother, I hope you are recovering well. This project looks great, you just got another supporter/follower. Good Luck @sovereigncity!
tried to upvote your post but I guess it's too close to payout. Won't upvote. :(