Reflections on the Importance of a Personal Code

Gratitude for Authentic Relationships

As we wave goodbye to another Thanksgiving weekend, my sense of appreciation is directed not at the usual holiday clichés, but at something that has become increasingly valuable in our synthetic era: genuine relationships. These are the relationships with family and lifelong friends that grow stronger, not weaker, under stress. I've come to understand that the glue that holds these relationships together isn't mutual opinions or situations, but a common code – a steadfast dedication to principles that rise above the ever-changing landscape of politics and societal pressure. I'm especially thankful for my close circle of friends I've known since my childhood and family members whose ties have only grown stronger through the trials of recent years.

Standing for Values Amidst Social Pressure

Like many others who voiced their opposition to the oppressive measures of Covid, I observed what I believed were robust relationships crumble in real time. As a local brewery owner and coach of my children's sports teams, I was deeply rooted in my community, a familiar face whose friendship and advice were actively sought. However, suddenly, the same individuals who had enthusiastically interacted with me would avoid me when they saw me approaching. Professional networks and local connections vanished at the mere challenge of dominant narratives. This reaction was because I chose to uphold liberal values – the very principles they professed to support – by refusing arbitrary mandates and limitations.

Revelation of Authentic Bonds

In this moment of trial, the contrast between those who adhered to a consistent code and those who merely followed societal trends became glaringly evident. Yet, looking back, this sifting process feels more like a clarification than a loss. As superficial relationships fell by the wayside, my core relationships – friendships and family ties that span decades – not only survived but flourished. These trials unveiled which bonds were genuine and which were merely circumstantial. The friendships that endured, grounded in authentic principles rather than social convenience, proved to be infinitely more valuable than the broader network of fair-weather friends I lost.

Shared Code Transcending Partisan Divisions

What impresses me most about these lasting friendships is how they've defied the conventional narrative of relationships torn apart by political divides. As Marcus Aurelius noted, "The obstacle to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way." Despite holding opposing views on political and cultural issues over the years, we found ourselves united in our opposition to the constitutional violations and rising tyranny of recent years – the lockdowns, mandates, and systematic erosion of basic rights. This unity arose not from political alignment but from a shared code: a commitment to fundamental principles that transcends partisan divisions.

Revisiting Aurelius's Meditations

In these moments of reflection, I've found myself revisiting Aurelius's Meditations – a book I hadn't touched since my college days until an inspiring conversation between Joe Rogan and Marc Andreessen prompted me to return to it. Aurelius recognized that a personal code – a set of unwavering principles – was crucial for navigating a world filled with chaos and uncertainty. This connection feels particularly relevant – much like my own group of friends, Rogan's platform embodies a code of genuine discourse in our era.

The Essence of Authentic Discourse

Critics, especially those on the political left, often express the need for their "own Joe Rogan," completely missing what makes his show successful: its true authenticity. Despite his historically left-leaning tendencies, Rogan's readiness to engage in real-time thinking with guests from across the ideological spectrum on a wide range of topics, his commitment to open inquiry and truth-seeking, has ironically led to his alienation from traditional liberal circles – much like many of us who've been labeled as heretics for upholding consistent principles.

Commitment to Authentic Discourse

This dedication to a code of authentic discourse explains why organizations like the Brownstone Institute – despite being regularly labeled as "far right" – have become a vital platform for independent scholars, policy experts, and truth-seekers. I experienced this firsthand at a recent Brownstone event, where, unlike most institutions that enforce ideological conformity, diverse thinkers participated in genuine exploration of ideas without fear of orthodoxy enforcement. When attendees were asked if they considered themselves political liberals ten years ago, nearly 80% raised their hands.

Shared Recognition of Manufactured Reality

These are individuals who, like my friends and I, continue to embrace core liberal values – freedom of speech, open inquiry, rational debate – yet find themselves labeled as right-wing or conspiracy theorists simply for questioning prevailing narratives. What unites this diverse community is their shared recognition that the reality being presented to us is largely manufactured, as explored in “The Information Factory,” and their commitment to maintaining authentic discourse in an age of enforced consensus.

Adherence to a Code

In The Wire, Omar Little, a complex character who lived by his own moral code while operating outside conventional society, famously stated, "A man got to have a code." Despite being a stick-up man targeting drug dealers, Omar's strict adherence to his principles – never harming civilians, never lying, never breaking his word – made him more honorable than many supposedly "legitimate" characters. His unwavering dedication to these principles – even as a gangster operating outside society's laws – deeply resonates with my experience.

Commitment to Truth Over Comfort

Like Rogan's commitment to open dialogue, like Brownstone's dedication to free inquiry, like RFK Jr.'s determination to expose how pharmaceutical and agricultural interests have corrupted our public institutions: these exemplars of authentic truth-seeking mirror what I've found in my own circle. My friends and I may have different political views, but we share a code: a commitment to truth over comfort, to principle over party, to authentic discourse over social approval. This shared foundation has proven more valuable than any superficial agreement could be.

Importance of Authentic Foundation

In these times of manufactured consensus and social control, the importance of this authentic foundation becomes even clearer. The 2012 Smith-Mundt Modernization Act, which legalized the propaganda of American citizens, merely formalized what many had long suspected. It represented the ultimate betrayal of the government's code with its citizens – the explicit permission to manipulate rather than inform. As anyone not under the spell has come to realize – we've all been thoroughly "Smith-Mundt'ed." This legal framework helps explain much of what we've witnessed in recent years, particularly during the pandemic – when those who proclaimed themselves champions of social justice supported policies that created new forms of segregation and devastated the very communities they claimed to protect.

Disconnect in Charitable Giving

This disconnect becomes even more apparent in the realm of charitable giving and social causes, where "virtue laundering" has become endemic. The absence of a genuine moral code is nowhere more evident than in our largest charitable institutions. While many charitable organizations do crucial work at the local level, there's an unmistakable trend among large NGOs toward what a friend aptly calls the "philanthropath class."

Philanthropath Class

Consider the activities of the Clinton Foundation in Haiti, where millions in earthquake relief funds resulted in industrial parks that displaced farmers and housing projects that never materialized. Or examine the BLM Global Network Foundation, which purchased luxury properties while local chapters reported receiving minimal support. Even major environmental NGOs often partner with the world's biggest polluters, creating an illusion of progress while fundamental problems persist.

Extractive Nature of Charitable Institutions

This pattern reveals a deeper truth about the professional charitable class - many of these institutions have become purely extractive, profiting from and even amplifying the very issues they purport to solve. At the top, a professional philanthropic class collects fancy titles in their bios and flashes photos from charity galas while avoiding any genuine engagement with the problems they claim to address. Social media has democratized this performance, allowing everyone to participate in virtue theater – from black squares and Ukrainian flag avatars to awareness ribbons and cause-supporting emojis – creating an illusion of activism without the substance of real action or understanding. It's a system entirely devoid of the moral code that once guided charitable work – the direct connection between benefactor and beneficiary, the genuine commitment to positive change rather than personal aggrandizement.

Power of a Genuine Code

The power of a genuine code becomes most evident in contrast with these hollow institutions. While organizations and social networks fracture under pressure, I'm fortunate that my closest friendships and family bonds have only grown stronger. We've had fierce debates over the years, but our shared commitment to fundamental principles – to having a code – has allowed us to navigate even the most turbulent waters together. When the pandemic response threatened basic constitutional rights, when social pressure demanded conformity over conscience, these relationships proved their worth not despite our differences, but because of them.

Path Forward

As we navigate these complex times, the path forward emerges with striking clarity. From Marcus Aurelius to Omar Little, the lesson remains the same: a man gotta have a code. The crisis of authenticity in our discourse, the chasm between proclaimed and lived values, and the failure of global virtue-signaling all point to the same solution: a return to genuine relationships and local engagement. Our strongest bonds – those real relationships that have weathered recent storms – remind us that true virtue manifests in daily choices and personal costs, not in digital badges or distant donations.

Bottom Line

This Thanksgiving, I find myself grateful not for the easy comforts of conformity but for those in my life who demonstrate real virtue – the kind that comes with personal cost and requires genuine conviction. The answer lies not in grand gestures or viral posts, but in the quiet dignity of living according to our principles, engaging with our immediate communities, and maintaining the courage to think independently. As both the emperor-philosopher and the fictional street warrior understood, what matters isn't the grandeur of our station but the integrity of our code. Returning one final time to Meditations, I'm reminded of Aurelius's timeless challenge: "Waste no more time arguing about what a good man should be. Be one." What are your thoughts on this article? Please share it with your friends and sign up for the Daily Briefing, which is every day at 6pm.