Today, it’s hard to tell where the government ends and big corporations begin. The corporations finance political campaigns and increasingly toe political lines. The government, in return, gives these big companies special favors that allow them to survive in the formerly free market, despite being grossly inefficient. Now, we even see the corporations being used to deny people constitutional rights, drive housing prices past what people can often afford, and ruin the lives of political opposition.

In theory, the US has individual rights (civil rights, constitutionally-protected rights, etc), but we have a free market that restricts our freedom in significant ways. The need to survive dictates what we must do in ways that many past dictators would be envious of, but this is considered OK in a free country because people are free to set out and compete in the free market.

When we combine government and the largest players in a sick cycle of grift and corruption, we end up with no individual rights and no economic freedom. This creates a system that’s tough to vote your way out of.

When we open the old 1960s playbook and stand around holding signs on Saturday, we’re fighting yesterday’s war. Don’t get me wrong: protests are essential to building morale and meeting people, but they won’t fix anything on their own like they used to. Politicians aren’t afraid of mass movements that focus on awareness anymore. So, the energy and working relationships people build running a protest needs to be harnessed and used for further action against the regime.

But, the question of where to go next can be tricky, and even dangerous. When we see that protest alone doesn’t work, some people wrongly conclude that non-violent resistance doesn’t work. When that happens, some of them choose to move on to violent acts like assassination. This gives the regime exactly what they want: a bogeyman and something for the population to unite against.

This Is Where Parallel Institutions Come In

The sad fact is that we must take on both big corporations and the government if we want to fix things. Corporations and government both mostly care about money and influence, and have spent decades sinking their teeth deeper and deeper into society to get an extremely tight grip. They can’t be shamed into letting go, because they know they’ll be destroyed afterward. They can’t be forced into letting go through violent means because they will gain more public support because people will feel sorry for them.

To weaken the grip, we have to rot the monster’s teeth. The teeth are where the power of government and corporations contact society and make us dependent on them. Even while being crushed and broken, many people won’t let go because they’re afraid of losing the perceived benefits of stability, safety, and jobs.

To do this, we have to show people that there are other ways to provide for their needs, and that it will be OK if the monster withers and dies. When people see that there is another way, it gives them hope and strength. In many cases, parallel institutions give people the tools they need to further fight the regime once they feel hopeful and strong enough to do it.

Examples

Here are just a few parallel institutions we can build that weaken and then destroy the regime:

• Decentralized Community Gardening – We can’t make enough food for all of our needs, but providing food to neighbors and making it locally shows us that we can do it ourselves.
• Local Repair and Manufacturing – When we build our own things locally and keep older things working well for longer, we reduce dependence on major corporations. 3D printing is a big part of this.
• Independent Local Media – Too many local TV stations and newspapers are owned by major corporations like NexStar and Sinclair. We’ve seen them bend the knee and support fascism. There’s nothing keeping us from going out and collecting local news ourselves. Instead of boycotting them, we can end them permanently.
• Communications Networks – When authoritarian regimes get weak and desperate, they often resort to unplugging the internet and shutting off cellular phones. Using mesh networking (such as Meshtastic devices), we can build communications networks that keep working.
• Local Currencies and Cryptocurrency – Responsible use of alternative currencies can weaken one of the biggest powers major corporations and governments have at their disposal: monetary policy and banking surveillance.
• Opting Out of the Rigged Housing Market – Many people (especially retirees) choose to live in vehicles and RVs. This frees up a lot of money, giving them control back over their lives and their finances.
• Personal and Community Defense – Relying on the government for safety keeps people afraid to defend themselves from the regime and its violent enforcers. Peaceful protest can be snuffed out through killing and intimidation, just as it was in the Jim Crow South. Taking control over our safety back not only keeps people safe, but empowers them. But, it’s extremely important to ONLY USE FORCE IN STRICT, LAWFUL DEFENSE.

When we start doing these things and others like them, our communities become more resilient. People feel confident and hopeful. They see that there are other ways forward. The regime becomes less powerful, less able to instill fear, and less able to coerce us.

Be sure to sign up for updates as I discuss these things in more detail and schedule some workshops to show you how to get them going in your community!