Restore America or Build Back Better? It’s time to decide.
Or the decision will be made for you…
I keep a running list of the topics that I want to write about, and I sometimes have trouble keeping my mind on the topic of Saving Western Civilization. There is so much happening in the world today, it is easy to get distracted. I often tend to want to write about something I read in the news, a video I saw on YouTube, or something someone said on Twitter, but I have to consciously resist the urge.
Lately, I have had to re-focus my thoughts on why I put forth the effort to write, and what the main topics of concern are for me. The main concern is that we are on the precipice of losing Western Civilization in its entirety, not just the bad, but the good, as well.
We are faced today with a massive decision, a binary decision. It is either, or. It is one or the other. Either we go down the path of Restoring America, or we let ourselves be led down the path to Building Back Better. There is no in-between.
With that said, I feel like this is probably the most important article that I have written on Substack, and it may end up being the most important I will write – ever. It is a wake-up call, it is a call to action, it is a last-ditch effort to get people to understand what we face while we still have the opportunity to do something about it.
And to be clear, I am not suggesting that we have the opportunity to turn things around and return to 2018 – I am suggesting that we may have the opportunity to MAYBE lessen the impact of what’s coming – to ourselves as individuals and to the society as a whole.
A story about the importance of building solid foundations
I’ve thought through ways to convey my sentiments regarding the options of Restoring America or Building Back Better, and how I can make the ideas as clear and concise as possible. I’ve found that it is not that easy to do.
I decided that I would try to frame the decision in the same light as the decision a potential home buyer might face if he were looking to buy a home in one of the better neighborhoods of a large city. I lived through that experience in Houston, Texas, and that is where my point of reference is based.
Houston has a number of very nice neighborhoods, many with starting prices far beyond what the average American can afford. It also has very high property taxes, partly due to the lack of an income tax in Texas. These are two considerations that are built into the story.
Consider this scenario: You move to Houston for work and find it to be challenging to find a move-in ready home in the area near your work that is in your price range. The options that you have been able to find are all older homes in nice, established neighborhoods. And while there are still nice, older homes in the neighborhood, many have been torn down in order to build brand new homes (often referred to as McMansions…).
The question is: Do you buy an older home and restore or remodel it, or do you tear it down and build a completely new house in its place?
To help think through the things the potential homeowner might have to consider, and the decisions that he might be faced with, I turned to ChatGPT to help me write a short story. I have been researching the use of ChatGPT and of AI, in general, for a few months now, but I have never used it to help generate content for my Substack articles. I thought it would be an interesting effort for a few reasons, the main one being to produce a quick, readable, and interesting article that I can use to frame up the discussion about Restoring America – without spending more time on the story than I will on the main issue!
I plan to write about Artificial Intelligence, ChatGPT, and other issues related to AI in the future, but first things first.
After some work to come up with a detailed prompt for ChatGPT (which turns out to not be much easier than just writing the story from scratch), here is the story that ChatGPT wrote about the buyer’s dilemma that I outlined above. I titled it “Buying the Worst House in the Nicest Neighborhood”.
Buying the Worst House in the Nicest Neighborhood, by ChatGPT, with prompting provided by Tom
The decision to buy a home is one of the biggest financial decisions a person can make. It can be overwhelming to consider all the factors involved in this decision, such as budget, location, size, style, and future resale value. And if you're looking to buy a home in a major city, the options can be even more daunting.
The conventional wisdom is to buy the best house you can afford in the best neighborhood you can afford to live in. But what if that best house in the best neighborhood is actually the worst house on the block? It may sound counterintuitive, but in some cases, buying the worst house in the best neighborhood can be a wise investment.
Of course, there are many factors to consider before making this decision. Let's start with budget. If you're on a tight budget, buying the worst house in the best neighborhood may be the only way to get into that location. However, it's important to be realistic about the costs involved in restoring or rebuilding a property.
In general, restoring an older home is less expensive than tearing it down and rebuilding from scratch. However, restoring a home requires expertise, patience, and a willingness to invest time and money into the project. It's critical to ensure that the home has a solid foundation before embarking on any restoration efforts.
On the other hand, rebuilding a home from scratch can provide the opportunity to design the home to your exact specifications. However, new construction can come with its own set of challenges, including meeting Home Owner's Association requirements and designing a home that fits in with the existing neighborhood.
Another important factor to consider is the number of people you need to accommodate in the home. If you have a large family, for example, you may need more space than the worst house in the best neighborhood can provide. It's important to consider not just the current needs of your family, but also the future needs. Will you need extra bedrooms or a larger living space in the years to come?
Of course, there are also other desirable features to consider beyond location, such as the layout of the home, the quality of the materials used in construction, and the availability of outdoor space. It's important to prioritize your needs and wants when considering the various options available.
Resale value is another important consideration when buying a home. A home in a desirable location is likely to appreciate in value over time, and if you can restore or rebuild a property in that location, you could potentially see a significant return on your investment. However, it's important to keep in mind that there are no guarantees when it comes to real estate.
When considering the various options for buying a home in a major city, it's important to keep in mind that the foundation is key for both the restore and the tear down and rebuild options. Without a solid foundation, any investment in the property may be for naught. And in some cases, it may be better to recognize that a home is beyond repair.
Ultimately, the decision to buy the worst house in the best neighborhood comes down to weighing the various factors and determining what makes the most sense for your budget, your needs, and your intent for the property. But regardless of the choice you make, one thing is certain: a solid foundation is critical for the long-term success of any home investment.
If you decide to restore an older home, it's important to recognize the value in preserving a piece of history. Restoring an older home can provide a sense of satisfaction that comes from saving a piece of the past. However, it's important to ensure that the home has a solid foundation before embarking on any remodeling efforts.
If you decide to tear down an existing home and rebuild from scratch, it's important to consider the impact on the existing neighborhood. Designing a home that fits in with the existing architecture and meets the Home Owner's Association requirements is crucial to maintaining the character and charm of the neighborhood.
It's also important to consider the property tax implications of both remodeling and rebuilding. In some cases, remodeling may result in a lower property tax bill than rebuilding, as the existing structure is grandfathered into the tax code. However, this can vary by location and it's important to do your research before making any decisions.
In the end, the decision to buy the worst house in the best neighborhood requires careful consideration and a willingness to invest time and money into the property. It may not be the easiest or most straightforward option, but it can provide a unique opportunity to create a home that truly meets your needs and desires.
At the same time, it's important to approach the decision with a sense of humility and respect for the property and the neighborhood. In some cases, a home may be beyond repair and tearing it down may be the only viable option. And even if a property can be restored, it's important to recognize that it may not be the right choice for everyone.
In the end, the decision to buy a home in a major city is a complex one that requires careful consideration of many factors. Whether you choose to restore an older home or tear down and rebuild a property, it's crucial to ensure that the home has a solid foundation and that it fits in with the existing neighborhood. And regardless of the choice you make, remember that a home is more than just an investment – it's a place where you'll create memories and build a life.
The key takeaway from the ChatGPT article: It is crucial that the house have a solid foundation, no matter which option you choose.
Whether you choose to restore an older home or tear down and rebuild a property, it's crucial to ensure that the home has a solid foundation…
So, what does that have to do with Saving Western Civilization?
Why tell the story about buying an older house in a nice neighborhood and the facing the decision to restore it or remodel it versus tearing it down and building a new house?
It is because it is something that people of any political, religious, or other ideological inclination can relate to. People from all walks of life regularly buy homes and are faced with these kinds of decisions, no matter what ideology they follow or what other beliefs they have.
In order to Save Western Civilization, everyone needs to know the options, the good and the bad, and then make their decision whether to fix or to tear down and start over.
The Decision we face: Restore America or do nothing?
At the point in history where we are today, people need to be clear that the decision that they face is whether they make an effort to Restore America or if they do nothing and let Build Back Better be forced onto them. One option requires a great deal of effort, the other requires none.
If you choose the Build Back Better option, there is nothing else required. All decisions will be made for you. Your future will be in someone else’s hands after the rebuilding is complete. You may own nothing, but you will be happy, according to the new landlord. After all, the fine-print in the Build Back Better contract states that you won’t actually own the new, fancy house after it is built, you’ll just be a renter, subject to the Rental Agreement that you signed, the one that looked a lot like a Purchase Agreement. Be sure to understand the contract before signing if you opt for Build Back Better - it probably doesn’t say what you think it does.
If you choose the option to restore or remodel the old house, you’ve got a lot of work ahead. You must first assess the condition of the house, then make plans for whether you are going to restore it to its original condition, or whether you are going to remodel it. Do you plan to keep the original floorplan and design, or do you plan to reconfigure the floor plan, add bathrooms, expand the kitchen, add modern appliances, etc.? That decision depends on a lot of internal and external factors, but no matter the final decision, it is going to require serious thought and planning.
One of the main assessments that must be done prior to restoring or remodeling is to look at the structural integrity of the house. Are the walls load bearing? Can you remove the wall between the kitchen and living room and maintain structural integrity, or will you need to add supports before the load bearing wall is removed?
And then there is the issue of the foundation of the old house. Is it still strong and intact? Are there parts of the old foundation that have failed and will need repair? Are there upgrades that you want to make to the old house that will require additional fortification to the foundation before the remodeling work starts?
What about the plumbing? Is the plumbing up to code and capable of handling the requirements of the new floorplan and the additional rooms? That’ll need to be addressed before finalizing plans for the foundation repairs or upgrades.
Strong foundations are critical
It doesn’t matter which decision the home buyer makes; some amount of foundation work will be required. With the Build Back Better option, the foundation will be new, it will probably meet all regulations, but it might not be exactly what you would have designed if you started from scratch. Rather than being a nice, single-story 3-bedroom, 3-bathroom, house with a 2-car garage that you might want to retire and live out the rest of your life in, the administrator of the Build Back Better program may decide that the best use of the land that the house will sit on will be an 8-plex multi-family building – with the foundation designed accordingly. It will surely be strong, plus it will offer housing to many others…
If the buyer opts to buy the old house and remodel it, upgrading appliances and making it more livable and more comfortable, extra effort to strengthen the foundation before starting the remodeling effort will pay off in the end. If the foundation is cracked and uneven, he will want to have a foundation expert come in and shore up the foundation before the sheetrock is hung and painted. If the foundation isn’t shored up first, it won’t be long before the walls start to crack, and the floor becomes uneven. Any foundation repairs done after the remodeling work is finished will probably require much of the work to have to be redone.
The Foundation of the US and the effort needed to save it
Using the analogy of the old house as an example, most people would probably agree that the foundation of the US is strong, but that it does have some serious cracks needing attention. In addition to the cracks, there are also parts of the foundation that need to be fortified, reinforced, extended, or even replaced before attempting to start any renovation process.
When viewed as the old house in this story, it’s apparent to most people that the US really needs more of a remodeling than a restoration. It has a few tweaks that need to be made to prepare it for the remodeling process, but those are relatively minor repairs or additions when contrasted to the complete removal of the foundation what would happen with Build Back Better.
And that brings me to the Primary Lesson that readers should take away from this article: What is “Conservatism?”
I know that it may seem to be a bit of a leap to go from talking about foundations to asking what “Conservatism” means, but that is a question that needs to be answered now - before attempting to go any farther in this discussion.
So, what is Conservatism? What does the word actually mean? Ask a few Conservatives and you will get a few different answers. Some may even parrot the Progressive Left’s label, “It is about maintaining the status quo.” Some may offer responses about how Conservatism means doing conservative things… And that’s the problem: Even Conservatives seem to have difficulty defining what Conservatism means. It is NOT about maintaining the status quo! Never has been, never will be!
Conservatism is that tweaking of the foundation of the old house during the renovation process.
That concept, or something similar, should be considered as the basis of the definition of “Conservatism” – it is about recognizing that there are problems with the old foundation and then fixing them. It is NOT about replacing the foundation.
It is about preserving what is good and necessary about the old foundation and working to eliminate what is bad - monitoring and maintaining the foundation as new, unanticipated loads are added onto it; extending the foundation as new requirements are added; or repairing or reinforcing the foundation before it starts to fail under the weight of the kinds of modern loads that the original foundation builders could not have imagined.
It is Conservatism that is going to repair the foundation if the option is to Restore or Remodel America; it is Progressivism that is going to tear out the foundation and completely replace it with the Build Back Better option.
The very definition of Conservatism in everyone’s minds should be the recognition that the foundation is strong, that it is worth saving, but that it has a few problems that need to be fixed before remodeling starts. Any ideas that involve tearing down the foundation and replacing it with something new should be harshly criticized and refuted.
As mentioned above, the label that the Progressive Left has successfully tagged the Conservative Right with over the last few years is that Conservatives are only interested in “preserving the status quo”. Conservatives must push back on that label and ridicule the Progressive Left’s ignorance of Conservatism, or highlight their intentionally misleading characterization of what Conservatism means.
Conservatives must work to reveal the Progressive Left’s ignorance of what Conservatism really means, or to reveal their intentionally deceitful definition of Conservatism - a definition that is intended to sway people away from Conservatism using the tactics of Identity Politics and other Progressive strategies.
I plan to write more about Conservatism, the dangers of Identity Politics, and other strategies and tactics of the Progressive Left in future articles.
Help build the foundation that’s needed to support the Movement to Save Western Civilization - the Secondary Lesson of this article
Finally, my secondary lesson for readers is that the movement to Save Western Civilization also has a type of foundation that needs to be considered. This foundation is less of a philosophical foundation than it is a series of steps, or of categories of actions that are needed to be undertaken in order to continue and build the movement. There are different kinds of activities that need to be done in support of each of the three foundational steps.
These foundational steps are the first three steps in the “12-Steps to Save Western Civilization” that I have written about previously. Think of them as the legs of a three-legged stool - without all of the legs in place, the stool cannot stand upright or support any weight. The legs need to be strong and well attached, or the stool may be unstable or collapse when weight is applied.
Here are the first three steps, the legs of the three-legged stool, the foundation that will support the weight of the next steps that will need to be taken in the movement to Save Western Civilization:
Step 1: Restore our ability to communicate. Eliminate censorship. Restore our right to Free Speech.
Step 2: Reclaim the language. Restore the meaning of words to the author’s original intent in order to enable meaningful discourse to occur again in the age of Cancel Culture.
Step 3: Reveal the truth and reverse the effects that Postmodernism has had on people’s ability to understand what truth means.
It is these three foundational steps in the movement to Save Western Civilization that need immediate attention. If these three steps cannot be completed, the foundation of the movement will be unable to support the weight of the following steps.
But what can I do?
Think of ways that you can help build the foundation for the movement to Save Western Civilization. Educate yourself on topics, and then educate others. Turn off the TV, read a book about how similar cultural revolutions have started and ended, recognize that we are in a cultural revolution and protest or boycott the people and organizations who support it.
Learn about your elected officials at all levels, know their positions, and vote accordingly when the time comes. Support candidates that believe as you do, recognize that career politicians are probably not the solution we need, and help others understand that, too.
Contact your elected officials and explain the need to fix the foundational problems first, before addressing the crisis of the day, the week, the month…
There are far more things that someone can do than I can possibly list. Seek to understand the depth and breadth of the problems we face, at the foundational level, and think critically about how they should be addressed, and by whom.
Read the three steps, think about how they relate to each other and to the next set of steps related to assessing the situation, identifying options, and planning. Recognize the importance of these three steps and focus your efforts on coming up with ideas on how to accomplish them for now while saving your energy for other crises to be tackled later.
It is critical to understand the importance of the steps in the order that they are listed, and then make progress on addressing the earlier steps first. For example, it is more important to restore our ability to communicate and to eliminate censorship first, because without doing that first, you can’t reclaim the language or reveal the truth to the larger audience. If you don’t reclaim the language next, after you’ve restored communication to the larger audience, you can’t reveal the truth because the language has become so corrupted.
Commit to doing something to Save Western Civilization every day, no matter how big or small - you won’t like the alternative, and doing nothing isn’t an option.
Let me know what ideas you have in the comments section below. Also let me know if you need additional clarification or if you have questions.