We are all collaborators. It's the choice of collaboration that increases the reward of volunteering and self responsibility. Like if you are a governor worker, a military guy and even an executioner, you will wake up one day and realize your work is meaningful to the people but not to the government. Then you put down your sword for them and pick it up for you. 

Better to do work for people who also feel the same. 

Nuttall

We are grateful for the giants before us.

> examples of people "doing it for themselves"

Made me think of how so much of the Netherlands was literally under the ocean until some people realized it could be homesteaded because it wasn't locked into any feudal arrangement.

Undisciplined

culture

Fighting The Cancer Of Society

TomK

I think this is the key.  History is full of examples of people "doing it for themselves", not relying on the State.
Eg in europe, many of the large financial services insurers etc started as mutuals, ie self help, by local communities. They're a long way from that now (!), but I think rediscovering our history is helpful to show it can be done...