Jordan Hall - Round 3

beginning with links to my previous articles

Jordan's Journey

Jordan Hall Update

From X from a few days ago:

Here is the link to the article he wrote in 2016.

We can restore Democracy by disrupting politics. Here’s how.

First, you have to admit that you have a problem . . .

The reason that all of our old tools and techniques have been rendered ineffective is because of the long, hard work of something I call “the money power”. The money power is a set of both tacit and complicit alliances among people who have money and people who have power. This money power is absolutely masterful at turning power into money and money into power. Back and forth, back and forth in a mutually reinforcing cycle.

The centerpiece of this approach is a new model of governance called “liquid democracy”.

In recent years, a couple of my friends have made me aware of liquid democracy. I see its potential. But the idea does not seem to have moved forward since the time Jordan Hall was writing about it.

The political system does seem ripe for a major disruption but from a troubling source. Elon Musk, founder of the America Party, is the ultimate of money and power. This does not bode well.

There was a long post on X by Jordan yesterday. It sparked a lot of thoughts which I will share. The bolding in the post is mine.

I’ll take a swing. Dead center of GenX here, so take it for what you will.

Don’t look to boomers for vision or even support. GenX has known that since at least the early 80s - probably earlier. If some flip and turn out to be helpful, that’s pure upside.

Here is the frame: y’all are at war. It’s a very different kind of war than the kids storming the beaches at Normandy faced, but that is the right mindset. You need to be on a wartime footing else nothing will make sense.

Now the best way of thinking about your war is that it is a spiritual war — of which 5th generation war is a big part. The enemy isn’t going to kill your kids. He is going to get you to do that, or get them to kill themselves, or cause you to never have any kids, or cause them to choose mere survival over Life. Get the sense of it?

In a way, the boys at Normandy had a simpler task. The Enemy was over there and he was trying really hard to kill you. In your war, the enemy is everywhere and nowhere. He’s between you and your wife, you and your parents, you and your friends. Between your mind and your heart. Especially between your heart and God.

It’s tough to face things like just getting a decent job, being able to own a home, being able to raise a family as war — but that’s the way it is. No (human) authority is coming to save you, nothing is fair, every legacy institution is corrupt and incompetent. You have to muster a subtle quality of intense courage, find allies who are capable of being brothers in arms, and begin to figure out how to fight this fight.

Then win it, fully accepting that death (or worse) is a perfectly plausible outcome.

My advice from whatever wisdom I’ve acquired: Focus locally. Flesh and blood is more trustworthy than virtual. The Net is useful, but don’t over index. If you can build a community of a hundred who are made of the right stuff, you’ll have a real chance.

Hyper-local. Get yourself sorted. Physically, psychologically, relationally. Your integrity is non negotiable. A man without integrity is less than worthless.

Connect with other functional communities and help each other. Sometimes it’s operating doctrine, sometimes technology, sometimes it will require a physical presence (my WNC folks know what I’m talking about here).

Cultivate discernment and gift your attention wisely. Figuring out who is better at telling a more meaningful truth - and not being dragged down rabbit holes - is life and death. Again - a man without integrity is less than worthless. Go to Church.

If you don’t have a church worth attending, find one. Or start one. You are going to need God.

Here is the good news. These are the bad times. If you become strong men, you will be the ones who create good times.

Don’t look to boomers for vision or even support. GenX has known that since at least the early 80s…

I am a Baby Boomer and well aware of the hostility towards us by some in the following generations. In my opinion, there is as much wisdom and foolishness in Baby Boomers as there is in GenX. I am interested in intergenerational dialogue and have that opportunity in our small island of coherence. It seems to me that Hall has an us and them attitude which feels foolish to me.

You need to be on a wartime footing else nothing will make sense.

That we are in a war can be useful framing. It is a frame not THE frame. You can choose whether this is useful framing for you.

Now the best way of thinking about your war is that it is a spiritual war…

I think of our times as being extremely challenging psychologically rather than as spiritual warfare, framing that I left behind at midlife when my Christian faith collapsed.

In your war, the enemy is everywhere and nowhere. He’s between you and your wife, you and your parents, you and your friends. Between your mind and your heart. Especially between your heart and God.

This is beginning to sound like the sermons I once listened to.

No (human) authority is coming to save you…

I mostly agree.

…fully accepting that death (or worse) is a perfectly plausible outcome.

I totally agree.

My advice from whatever wisdom I’ve acquired: Focus locally. Flesh and blood is more trustworthy than virtual. The Net is useful, but don’t over index. If you can build a community of a hundred who are made of the right stuff, you’ll have a real chance.

This is good advice but in my local community I have only found two people with the right stuff.

A man without integrity is less than worthless.

This is true but integrity is not enough as there are many who speak with integrity but lack wisdom.

Figuring out who is better at telling a more meaningful truth - and not being dragged down rabbit holes - is life and death.

This is very good advice.

Go to Church.

If you don’t have a church worth attending, find one. Or start one. You are going to need God.

This is, imo, very bad advice.

My advice:

Do not go to church. Do not look for a church and definitely do not start a church. You do not need God.

Perhaps you need Jim Palmer.