My Vision of Freedom

Happy Independence Day! I know this is coming out a little late for most of you, but technically it is still July 4 in Alaska. As I was sitting around the campfire with my family I had some thoughts running through my mind, as sometimes happens at times like that. I was thinking of the miracle it is that I was born in this land of freedom while the majority of the worlds' peoples live in less free circumstances.

I was thinking of the men like James Madison, John Adams, and George Washington who had the vision of freedom. The vision gained from reading authors such as,Montesquieu, Locke, Burke and others who instilled in them the thoughts that people should live free. Their vision was gained by studying the Magna Carta, the writings of Aristotle and the Reformers who said that man should be more than he has been. The vision gained by working their own land for their own benefit, knowing that what they sowed, they also should reap.

With this vision, these men worked out a Constitution through struggle and compromise that would allow us if we chose it, to be the freest people in history. Since its ratification there has been a struggle to seize that sovereignty back from the people and centralize it  in Washington. The courts, the political parties, power seekers and others have all been grasping for that sovereignty which was so gallantly fought for. Today we are told what we must buy, what we must eat, if our opinions are correct and when we must not pray. We can do business only at the behest of our government, which requires that we be licensed through them so that we can be well regulated and taxed at every turn. This is the reality with which we now live.

I would not dwell on this only I hope that it may motivate some to see the vision of what could be lost if we continue on this path. I would see a vision of a people who would educate themselves in the ways of freedom. Who would become entrepreneurs, winning their fortunes, so as to have the time and freedom to participate in governing. People who would give their lives, fortunes and their sacred honor to the cause of liberty. Who would make decisions of governance from a perspective of what is the right thing to do and not from the perspective of what can be gotten from the decision.

I would see a people who seek ways to serve, not be served. I would see a people who would not be as the "summer soldier"but would stand through the trials and tribulations at hand. I believe those people are out there and they are beginning to awaken. I pray that the awakening continues because the people are the last check on a power hungry central government. If this generation doesn't do it, the next may not have the choice.

"To The Rescue"

I recently finished reading "To The Rescue" a biography of Thomas S. Monson, the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, written by Heidi S. Swinton. This was a remarkable book about a remarkable man. There was much written about his home and professional life as would be expected in a good biography, but the real message of the book was told in the private moments of his life.

The author tells of an experience that President Monson had that changed his life forever. He was sitting in a meeting when he had the thought go through his mind that he should immediately go see a friend who was in the hospital. So he did like we all would, he told himself that when the meeting was over he would go see his friend. The meeting closed and he went to the hospital and, upon inquiring about his friend, was told that the man had passed away and had hoped to see him earlier that day. Thomas resolved then and there to follow or carry out the impressions or promptings he had.

That one lesson learned brought about much good to those around him and also confirmed to President Monson that we have a mission to carry out while we live and that God is interested in that mission. He has been known many times since to excuse himself from what he was doing to follow a prompting.

I look at my life and have to ask the question, do I have the courage to listen to the impressions I have and then follow through on them? Generally I find myself questioning whether the impression is indeed what I should be doing, or just a random thought. I have been trying an experiment since reading this book. When I have an impression that I should do something or call someone I do it, and I must report that the results so far have been good. Nothing spectacular has happened but I have had positive experiences.

For example, I had a thought that I should call a friend I hadn't seen for a while, we had a nice conversation, and this friend was glad to know that someone was thinking of him. Small things like that can, at times have a great effect on people.

This life lesson has been the underlying theme in Thomas Monson's life and because of his adherence to this principle he has effected great good in the world. I would strongly recommend this book to you. You never know it could be a life changer.

Of Being Anti-Pedantic

In The Count of Monte Cristo, the main character, Edmond Dantes, has an experience that has been encountered by countless millions in history. Unknowingly, through his ignorance, he is taken advantage of, to his detriment. In Edmonds case his treatment is quite severe. He languishes in a dungeon for thirteen years for a crime he didn’t commit.

On a chance encounter with another inmate, Edmond becomes a learned man through much study and tutoring from this man. Eventually he escapes from prison and using his new found knowledge, exacts revenge on all who put him there.

This is not a good example of what should be done with education, although it illustrates some blaring examples of life with and without a great education.  Montaigne in his essay on pedantry (the state of being a know-it-all) has much to say on the subject of real education. He writes of those who go to school, who upon returning home are found to be unemployable because their education was lacking. They memorized many useless facts and actually learned very little.

This same problem plagues the educational institutions of today. To clarify the problem, it is the responsibility of the student to become educated, not his school to educate him. Where we run into problems in the institutions is that the schools teach conformity rather than thinking. So, how is the high school or college graduate of 2012 to become educated?

Montaigne in the same essay gives some pointers. Among these are a few that could really help. One is, be curious. He writes, “Let an honest curiosity be suggested to his fancy of being inquisitive after everything:”

Another suggestion is to learn things for ourselves, not just trust that what someone else says about a subject is true. Through taking the time and effort to actually study a subject thoroughly we make it our own.

He likens our learning to the system of digestion in our bodies. If our minds have not broken a subject down to its smallest elements much as a stomach breaks down our food, then we have not learned the subject.

To digest a given subject one must do four things. First we must actually read or study the material, at its original source if possible. Next we need to contemplate or ponder what we have studied. Third we must find someone with whom we can discuss the subject, most advantageous would be a mentor who has gone before us on the path. Lastly, what we learn must be applied in our life or it will float away like a cloud in the wind.

If we will apply these few principles in the area of learning, a whole world will open to us that we have been missing because of our ignorance.

Think, Think, Think...

"I think therefore I am." Descartes' statement could spell trouble for many of us. How long has it been since you've taken the time to sit and contemplate? I know for me it happens much too seldom. Pondering can put life into perspective, open pathways to knowledge and enhance spiritual progress. In our busy lives who has time to sit and think? We all do if we take advantage of some common situations.
 -Turn off the car radio, cause you can't hear yourself think with Rush blaring in the background.
 -Get up a few minutes early and take a walk without the headphones.
 -Do the dishes, no one will bother you then.
-Last but not least, turn off the TV, or better yet, throw it out.
 Thoreau fled the city, taking to the woods so he could truly live his life. He found life there to be splendid because the lack of noise and hurry allowed him to think. We may not be able to actually flee civilization, but with a tweak to our daily habits we can go to the wilderness in our minds and drink from the well of knowledge we will find there.

The Elephant in the Room

The health care industry, pharmaceutical companies, tort lawyers and the government have created a new class system in America. These classes are: those with private or public employee health insurance, those with Medicare or other welfare insurance programs, and the uninsured. As these classes have developed, numerous discussions have been taking place as to how we can get everyone covered by health insurance. Insurance is not the issue. The issue which should be under discussion is why are the costs of health care so exorbitantly high? For example, a half hour helicopter ride to a hospital costs $32,000, when a helicopter can be rented with a pilot, for $900 per hour. A routine knee replacement costs $60,000, or an overnight hospital stay runs $8000. The costs of a long term illness of a month or two will carry a price tag of well over a million dollars. When doctors are asked about this they always point to the high cost of malpractice insurance. Hospitals and pharmaceutical companies shrug off the questions and tort lawyers laugh all the way to the bank. Meanwhile the public is mollified by the distractions of the circus portrayed by the media. The correct questions are never asked so the public is led down the slippery road of Progressivism. Big Brother can be the only solution, so we are told. While this debacle is before us, behind the scenes the oligarchical power of corporate America continues its rapine fleecing of its citizens. Daily, gigantic transfers of wealth are taken into the coffers of these corporations while the uninsured cower in fear of even a minor illness. All a person has worked for, for a lifetime, can easily be lost in a matter of days, if this person or a family member is hospitalized. At the end of a persons’ life, all of his property is routinely transferred to a long term health care provider for a generally short term of care. Now, even the insured are fearful because the costs have risen so far and so fast that good insurance doesn’t cover the costs, so the consumer is left with enormous bills. What are the questions that should be asked? One, should we look at tort reform which would limit the amount which a doctor or hospital could be sued for malpractice? By doing this the cost of malpractice insurance should go down. Two, should regulatory agencies streamline their operations, so new drugs and technologies can come to market at a lower cost? Three, should auditing of hospital financial records be done so as to determine the real cost of treatment? There is a good chance that the hundred dollar screw drivers from the military of the ‘80’s have found their way to our hospitals today. If these reforms aren’t made voluntarily, Uncle Sam will use the excuse of compassion to take over the health care system. Obamacare will put private insurance out of business and the public will be left with two choices, become a ward of the government or become an outlaw. While driving through many small towns in America, one can see the enormous new hospital on the hill overlooking their berg. With a little imagination, one can envision a feudal castle of the 14th century with all the serfs and resources of the surrounding village serving the gargantuan appetite of their Lord. Let’s not let this happen in America.

I Pledge Allegiance

I read in the news this week about a former sports star, Ryan Leaf, who has been brought up on drug charges, again. You may remember him from his college days at Washington State, he was a fantastic quarterback there and was drafted into the NFL. Things didn't work out so well for him there and he only lasted a couple of years. I asked myself how a person, who was seemingly on top of the world, make such a slide downhill?

I believe it has to do with where their allegiance lies. Anyone remember what allegiance is? I looked it up and, according to Websters, it is the tie which binds the subject to his Sovereign. Which brings up the question, what is a sovereign? Websters again defines this as a supreme lord or ruler.

We all have a sovereign in our lives to whom we are fiercely loyal, and to which sovereign we pledge our loyalty will make all the difference as to where we end up in life. There are four basic sovereigns to which we can pledge our allegiance. These are self, others, evil and good.

If one is loyal to oneself and puts his heart and soul into that loyalty, he will be rewarded and sometimes greatly. But when he attains the reward he will wonder why it isn't enough. With loyalty to self, fulfillment can never be reached.

Loyalty to others plays out like this. You work hard, doing what others say will make you great and you still can never quite seem to measure up. The ones you were trying to impress don't really care and aren't all that impressed.

If ones allegiance is to evil you will get what you want but it will be in a way in which you don't want it, and you lose your soul in the process.

The last and best allegiance is to good or God. If your allegiance lies here, as has every truly great persons', you will be able to do great, even unexpected things. You will have huge impact in the world, changing it for the better, and you will be truly happy and fulfilled.

I have known several people, some good friends even, whose allegiance wasn't in the right place. There have been times in my life when my allegiance wasn't right and it is amazing how empty life seemed. So take a minute and evaluate where you are and compare with where you should be, it will make all the difference.

Wish You Had a Crystal Ball? Look Behind You.

What's wrong with America? Everywhere you look it seems like everyone has gone crazy. We've lost something but were not sure what. It must be the schools some will say. It's the Democrats! No, it's the Republicans! Sorry folks, it is neither and we can see it if we look around us, but it is more easily seen if we look back, more than two millennia back.

If we check in with a poet, no less a Roman poet named Virgil, we can clearly see what's going on. Virgil lived a world away from here, but in an eerily similar environment. The Roman Republic had become the Roman Empire and Virgil knew why. You see, he figured out that Rome was missing something, just like we are today.

Virgil wrote of three ideals that his society had lost. In Latin they were, labor, pietas, and fatum. Let's talk about the first one. Labor means what it says labor, but it goes beyond just work. Early Romans cherished work, they thought it almost sacred. If one loved her work, that made you a better person, which in turn made for a better society.

Pietas translated to English essentially means piety, but the Roman meaning goes beyond that. Pietas meant that one reverenced and respected spiritual and sacred things. You payed close attention to living in accordance with your beliefs. Religion was an important and necessary part of everyday life. Virgil believed that this contributed largely to a well ordered society.

Lastly, fatum was the belief that your country was the best. Early Rome knew that it was going in the right direction. Patriotism was high, the love for their country was very evident.

As we look forward to our day what similarities can we see? Labor, honest physical labor has become looked upon as beneath the average American. In fact, as recently as 2001 as our economy slipped following the terrorist act of 9/11 our President asked us, not to go to work, but to go shopping to boost our economy. We have two generations of people who have never really needed to do physical work and so have lost touch with the reality that work brings prosperity and connects one with the physical laws of the earth. For example, The Law of the Harvest, what you sow, so shall you reap. Many have no connection with that. If I need it I can get it from the store or from Amazon.

Before we discuss pietas, let me say that there are many Americans who are very religious and that has benefited our society immensely. What is happening today, is that religion is being marginalized as a nice thing to do but not really important in our governance. Popular culture views religion as an annoyance and portrays believers as being out of touch with reality. It goes beyond this, if a religious person speaks out against one of the hot issues of the day,(gay marriage, abortion etc.)they are portrayed by pop culture as a zealot and a bigot. America was established on a foundation of Hebrew, Christian, Greek and Roman religion and culture. As we drift from this our society becomes less ordered and vital.

Lastly, fatum. It seems that patriotism and love of country is alive but gradually waning. Periodically some event comes that rallies us to the flag but the enthusiasm is fleeting. We are not sure if we are going in the right direction, in fact, the country is sharply divided as to the direction we should take. We haven't had dynamic leadership in some time to give us hope or direction. We seem to drift from one calamity to another and no one seems to want to take the helm.

Is our Republic falling? States rights seem to be withering under an ever expanding central government. Personal rights are eroded daily in the name of security. We have been calling ourselves a democracy for sometime now. Many American citizens don't know that we live in a republic. I would say it is eroding and we the people need to work toward its restoration.

In its final stages the Roman Empire undertook feeding and entertaining its people in order to keep them from revolting. The official term they used was "bread and circuses". A modern day equivalent could be called "government welfare and the NFL" or your choice of media entertainment. The Romans ran out of money and their society and government crumbled. America is running on credit, when the loans stop coming, what happens then?

We are at, and have been at for some time,a crucial stage in our history. We need to teach and instill labor, pietas and fatum back into our society. This can only happen in our homes. This can only be a bottom up reform, no government program can instill these values in its people. It has to start in our families, which means that it is not a quick fix. If we start now the next generation can be better than we are. In two generations, society could be much better. Rome lasted about a thousand years, America seems to be on a faster track in its evolution compared to Rome. If we don't put the brakes on our erosion, we may not be able to turn it around. So remember, work hard and love your work, respect and revere the sacred and see America as great again and we could just become so.