Contemplating Confounding Conclusions of the Common Man

What a world we live in! Knowledge is expanding at an exponential rate in all areas. Technology is making available to us electronic devices we only dreamed of, or saw on Star Trek. We are able to do more with less natural resources than just a few years ago. Automobile emissions have been reduced by nearly 98% since 1975. One laptop computer contains more computing power than what was available to most businesses just 25 years ago. The discoveries of man have been astounding, and yet when we look at the world today politically very little has changed since the beginning of time.

Never before has the manipulation and disinformation of the general public been more obvious. In centuries past there were very few educated and even fewer with access to any kind of information that would dispute or question the policies of those in power. Today, however, in free countries around the world we have access to information that can bring in to question the information (or propaganda) that we are being given by our media and elected officials. What continues to amaze me is how many in our global society continue to follow the curriculum that is hand-fed to them without even questioning... like sheep (no wonder the Bible uses illustrations of sheep and the shepherd so much) blindly trusting and following where their leader says to go.

Now, with what I am about to say next please don't label me as a extremist, gun-toting, Bible-thumping, hate-monger set on destroying the planet. That seems to be the tactic most often used by leftists to destroy anyone that disagrees with their agenda. Instead, consider for a moment the possibility that some of what we are being told about the economy, gun control, terrorism, climate change, etc. could be wrong. What if actions we are taking are not making things better, but worse? Is there anything wrong with analyzing the facts (and not those force-fed to us by the media) and at least questioning our policies? In the current political arena this seems to be treated as heresy and a attack on well-known and established truths. This is not at all the case.

Why are we so determined to give up freedom and liberties that we have had for more than 200 years based on unproven theories? Why does the media never question the fact that states and communities with a larger number of concealed handgun permit holders experience less violent crime than those that demand an unarmed population (read More Guns, Less Crime by John Lott) ? Why do they never mention the fact that over 700 international scientists dispute the claims of man-made global warming (from the website of the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, hardly a bastion of conservative thinkers)? Why do we continue down the road of less freedom, less choice, less individual responsibility when it is costing us jobs, safety, freedom of speech and expression? When did common sense become so un-common? When will we wake up and rise up to a higher level of personal responsibility and throw off the chains of government control? I fear that if it is not soon... it will never be.

Charitable Giving - Big Government Style

Okay, I'll admit it. I really, really don't get this. Can someone clue me in please? We were just recently subjected to months of campaigning (or lying, depending on how you look at it) by two politicians, neither of which should even have been running for the top office in this country. During this time I heard so much from a man (that I never believed for a minute) about change and creating a caring culture. A place where we, as Americans, take care of each other and level the playing field so everyone can achieve the American Dream. A culture that supports and encourages those that have traditionally not had access to the prosperity promised by this great country.

Now our beloved President has come out in favor of reducing the tax reduction that we can receive for charitable giving. Is this not completely opposite of what you would do if you really cared about helping others and creating a caring culture? It seems to me that if a person wanted to encourage the citizens of this country to give and help those less fortunate, maybe one way to do this would be to increase the tax savings available for charitable giving. Perhaps if it were more advantageous for people to give to worthy causes that help the poor and needy in our communities, we would actually see an improvement in the conditions of the less fortunate among us. I would think that this would promote more help with education, job training, and life skills and provide more opportunities for those with limited access to economic prosperity.

Why then would the head of the Executive Branch of the government take action in direct opposition to this? The answer, as with most of what we have seen so far is that he, and it would seem most of his political party, have Socialist tendencies. They want more of the money currently headed to charities to go to their big government so they can dictate to you exactly how much you will give, and where and how that money is spent. They believe that this same government that has yet to institute a successful program, should be in charge of every program... public or private. They see this as a way to control behavior and to ensure their long-term power by distributing money only to 'charities' that adhere to their value system and help to advance their cause. A government that controls all the money has significant control of the population. By controlling charitable contributions they also control to some extent our freedom of speech, as they already do with religious organizations. Any organization that does not support their socialist, liberal agenda would obviously not be eligible for funding... that certainly makes their world a better place!

As with every area of life, the less government intrusion allowed the better it is for the people. Taxes are no exception. Taxation should not be used as a tool to shape the behavior of the populace according to some arbitrary set of values dictated by politicians. It is time for serious tax reform and a major down-sizing of our government. This is the answer to stimulating the economy and providing opportunity for those that have been victimized by the failure of the war on poverty.

Peace is the Answer... or is it?

I was raised during the 60's and 70's, a time when changes were coming... and not all of them good. There was a lot of unrest with young people born in the 40's and 50's that were disenchanted with a war they didn't understand and the politicians that were trying hard to lose it. For the first time ever television was showing the horrors of war to the public and they didn't like it. Suddenly peace was the answer to all our problems. If we could just leave the rest of the world, and mankind as a whole, to do whatever makes them happy all would be better off. We just needed to talk, listen and understand each other and everyone would act reasonably and avoid war.

If you believe that man is basically good and desires nothing but the best for everyone, I guess the peace movement all makes sense. After all, if our enemies are basically just good people then there must be a reason why they are behaving in a violent or threatening manner. That reason must be America. Our system of capitalism, freedom, religion and foreign policy must force our enemies to action. We must be the catalyst that makes them behave in such a manner and hate, attack and kill others.

Of course the only problem with this logic is the premise that man is good. The truth is that man is inherently evil and selfish. We are all born with a rebellious nature that is concerned only about ourselves and our pleasure. Unfortunately history is full of people that demonstrated this time and time again. How can we believe that other governments will always be peaceful and benevolent when we see hate and crime everyday? No amount of rationalization will convince a leader bent on destruction of peoples of another class, race or religious belief to behave in a civilized manner. Sometimes nations must be disciplined and punished just as individuals are in most societies.

Peace is certainly an admirable goal and one we strive toward constantly, however, peace at all costs is not worth the price that must be paid. Peace is valuable, but not more valuable than justice. Life is valuable, but not more valuable than principle. I would suggest that without justice and principle, peace is not worth anything except to those that fear death more than their loss of freedom or basic human rights. No, peace is not necessarily the answer. The answer is found in a people that pursue righteousness and are willing to stand up for the rights of others regardless of the price that must be paid. If it means trading our lives for the lives and rights of those less fortunate, then so be it.