Richard, I wish that none of us should have to worry about predators, but that is a rather naive wish. In this fallen world it is not possible to live, or wish, in such a way. Be innocent as doves, but wise as serpents, is not simply a meaningless phrase or poster slogan. It is sound advice. Bob Lee, unfortunately, ignored all the signs that pointed to the dangers of walking around the streets at 2:30 a.m. in the morning, signs that he previously pointed out himself.

In a substance piece, Michael Rectenwald assay’s the problem Marx versus Mao in “The Maoist Rage of Woke Ideology.” (The author’s web site, but it also appears in this month’s Chronicle’s.) He takes on James Lindsey and Ryan Chapman.

CONCLUSION: since the 1970s, “ this Westernized Maoism, like Mao’s philosophy that it adopted and adapted, is entirely illiberal and anti-liberal. It is, in short, totalitarian. Yet, to undertake its subversion of Western liberal democracies, Westernized Maoism exploited the paradox of liberal tolerance and used liberal ideals against liberalism itself. It relied on the principles of free speech, individual rights, and tolerance of oppositional views to make its case, and then proceeded to silence and shout down its opponents after it gained ascendency. The solution to this infiltration is the unapologetic reassertion of Western ideas and ideals and the confrontation and elimination of the totalitarian “other” that has savaged them.”
https://www.michaelrectenwald.com/essays/maoist-rage-of-woke-ideology

Huh. Confrontation and elimination, then, after Enlightenment revival?

I have seen on websites, increasingly since last year, and the latest at Zerohedge, the mention of Anarcho-Tyranny.

For this precisely describes what we — Bob Lee — and Trump are enduring from the far Left.

The term goes back to 1992, and the concept has loomed large in paleo-conservative and paleo-libertarian thought and analysis. Such circles at the public level include two aging lions, Pat Buchanan and former Congressman Ron Paul.

But Samuel Francis originated the term anarcho-tyranny:
“anarcho-tyranny (plural anarcho-tyrannies)
1. (abstract) A term coined by Sam Francis referring to a system of government that fails to enforce or adjudicate protection to its citizens while simultaneously persecuting innocent conduct.
2. (abstract) An armed dictatorship without rule of law.” — Wikionary

Before the deep state came into usage, there was and remains the term administrative state. And before these terms, I think, James Burnham (and others?) coined the phrase “the managerial state.”

It’s from Wikipedia’s entry on the “managerial state” that I share some further examples illustrating anarcho-tyranny.

“[T]heorists of the managerial state additionally draw from theories of political religion and the secularization of Christian concepts, namely Puritanism,[6] which they contend demand an overweening concern with government intervention in favor of social justice, unaccountable regulation of citizens’ private lives, and both informally and formally enforced political correctness.

“Francis argues that anarcho-tyranny is built into the managerial system and cannot be solved simply by fighting corruption or voting out incumbents. In fact, he says that the system generates a false ‘conservatism’ that encourages people to act passively in the face of perpetual revolution. He concludes that only by devolving power back toward law-abiding citizens can sanity be restored.[14]

“In addition, Thomas Fleming describes anarcho-tyranny as ‘law without order: a constant busybodying about behavior that does not at all derive from a shared moral consensus.’[18] He suggests stoicism as a survival skill.

He wrote, ‘the only response to this regime is to follow the boxing referee’s advice: protect yourself at all times….. The only freedom we have is the moral freedom that even ancient slaves enjoyed. Read Epictetus.’ [18]”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Managerial_state

Samuel Francis “says that the system generates a false ‘conservatism’ that encourages people to act passively in the face of perpetual revolution.”
That’s certainly the thinking of Trump and Trump allies like Congresswomen Lauren Boebert and Marjorie Taylor Greene, for example. And many other people.

Francis “concludes that only by devolving power back toward law-abiding citizens can sanity be restored.” Precisely what would this mean? Everyone armed? And everyone enforcing vigilantism?

As we edge towards half of the states adopting CCA or Constitutional Concealed Carry laws, we may be moving towards Francis vision sooner than we can imagine.

There are a few other uses bearing on anarchy-tyranny. C. S. Lewis and the late Jerry Pournelle, Joseph Sobran, and Paul Gottfried adduce even more, for those interested.

I once decided a particular intersection was dangerous–expressway runs out and highway hypnosis might not notice the red light. Decided to be extra cautious. Then, one fine day, I was watching and managed to get out of the way. Saved my life. But, had I not, it would still be the truck driver’s fault and the lack of warning signs in the preceding mile.

Insisting the entire thing is the fault of the ordinary driver not taking care that a guy driving a cement truck would be zoned out is not the way to think about such things.

But that’s the way it goes with “at the hour…??

Additionally, official disfavor toward active Good Samaritans can be tricky.