The Hero Within You, Part II
Date: March 27th, 2009
Category: Ideology of Freedom
By Robert Ringer
While pondering the continued existence of slavery and genocide throughout the world, I also thought about the current batch of scoundrels running for the highest office in the land. They all have at least one thing in common: They employ their favorite euphemisms (e.g., “change”) to hide their intent to further increase government power over ordinary citizens.
Amazingly, these masters of deceit are revered by millions. Especially by those politically sedated humanoids who cheer wildly and pump signs into the air as their political heroes work them into a frenzy with the same tired platitudes that have been used by politicians throughout recorded history.
The airlines warn us to put on our own oxygen masks first so we will be in a better position to help our children. Good analogy, because as I watch those ecstatic sign holders on TV dutifully playing out their roles as political sheep, it occurs to me that folks who are interested in lessening pain and suffering in the world might do well to first concentrate on what is happening right here in America. Most Americans are so lost that they have come to actually love their servitude.
Just as the war against teacher and student bullying is never ending, so, too, is the war against tyranny. Thirty years ago, I wrote that the only hope for the U.S. lies in educating the masses. To be sure, libertarianism — which I believe a majority of Americans would embrace if they understood it — has made strides since then, and that is cause for hope. Unfortunately, those who aspire to consolidate government’s power over the masses have made even greater strides.
We may never become another Burma or Bosnia, but, aside from the varying degrees of violence, slavery by any other name is still slavery. Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World painted a pretty stark picture of that reality.
The March Madness guys are great athletes who excel at playing a great game. And for that, I guess they deserve some applause. But they are not heroes. And no matter how exciting any of the tournament games may be, basketball is still only a game.
You, on the other hand, can be a hero. How? By refusing to be taken in by the corrupt political system that is ever more rapidly moving the U.S. toward totalitarianism … by learning all you can about the concept of liberty … by educating yourself about the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the true intent of our founding fathers … and by sharing your knowledge with as many people as possible.
Gradualism and lethargy have worked in tandem over the past hundred years to make the odds against steering America back to its original libertarian foundation almost impossible to overcome. Almost — but not completely. To the extent you work at spreading the gospel of liberty to others — explaining to as many people as possible why liberty must be given a higher priority than all other objectives — you are a hero.
By all means, enjoy sports and other forms of entertainment as a respite from the daily cares of life. But for the sake of your children and grandchildren, keep those things in perspective and don’t allow them to distract you from what is happening in the real world — because what’s happening is going to have a dramatic impact on their lives.
Allocating a portion of your time and energy resources to help prevent a further slide toward totalitarianism in the U.S. is a good investment. And the nice thing is that it doesn’t even require a license to become a bona fide hero … yet.
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Liberty Education Interview Series
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March 27th, 2009 at 6:42 am
Robert:
I love your posts because they are always so thoughtful and I’m almost always thinking the same thing!
I’d like to make a comment about the Libertarian party:
I looked into the party about ten years ago, but when I saw that their platform advocated open borders and legalizing drugs, I said, “no way”.
If the party wants to gain strength, I think they need to give up some of their wacky stands. Again, I haven’t looked into the party for ten years, but that’s what stuck in MY mind about them.
I’m going to voice my opinion by attending a tea party rally on the 15th. Better use of my time than watching a silly basketball game!
March 27th, 2009 at 9:06 am
I agree with all that you’ve written, but we may have come to a point where preaching a message of liberty won’t resonate anymore. In a culture where we’re taught from kindergarden that we’re free by virtue of where we were born (or live), the concept of liberty, constitutional or otherwise, may have become too abstract for the vast majority.
As an example, when people recite the phrase “freedom isn’t free”, they usually think of it as a justification for defending the country from EXTERNAL threats. It probably doesn’t occur to most people who utter those words that the greatest threats to freedom are internal.
It might be more effective to advance a primary message of self-reliance and cooperation with other individuals, stressing the necessity of eliminating or at least reducing dependence on government. Not only is it hands on, like a 12-step plan, but it moves the individual to put beliefs into action–which is the best reinforcement.
No matter how it’s done, it’ll be an uphill fight, because going with the flow and taking government money is easy–and that’s what people want life to be. Not so much free, but easy.
Either way, I agree with you that freedom is a legacy well worth preserving for ourselves and for future generations. I’m just not sure people know (or care) what it is anymore…
March 27th, 2009 at 10:58 am
Robert,
You stated “Amazingly, these masters of deceit are revered by millions. Especially by those politically sedated humanoids who cheer wildly and pump signs into the air as their political heroes work them into a frenzy with the same tired platitudes that have been used by politicians throughout recorded history.”
Apparently, what these masters of deceit are doing is quite effective if it causes millions of people to cheer wildly and pump signs in the air. I would say that their platitudes aren’t at all tired. They may be blatantly false—but they are not tired.
I believe our Founding Fathers meant to create a Republic, not a Democracy. Many of them understood that a Democracy always fails miserably, because it devolves into gang warfare.
Robert A. Meyer
http://www.libertarianway.com
March 28th, 2009 at 1:52 am
If I counted all my visits to Burma, I’m sure they would number over twenty-five. So, if you want some perspective on Burma, liberty, and heroes, then read on.
First let me say that this is a very well written blog, one of my favorites. The idea of becoming a hero, by educating oneself on the concept of liberty, may have some appeal to the masses. And therefore, it might motivate them to take action. This would be a good thing.
It simply never occurred to me to think of a hero the way Mr. Ringer suggests. I was raised with a totally different mindset: Learning about the constitution of liberty, for example, was a basic responsibility. Education had absolutely nothing to do with being a hero. Becoming a decorated combat veteran, like my father and grandfather, and fighting for liberty was and is my concept of a hero. I guess I’m just too old school when it comes to my way of thinking. So I would never want to be labeled a hero for educating myself.
The way I look at education is: I was born an ignorant sucker. Yes, as an infant, I came into this world a sucker; not even knowing how to dress myself or use a toilet. I was so empty-headed that my parents had to tie a diaper on me and teach me all the basics in life including how to walk and talk. Every lesson that I ever learned in life, I had to be taught —–even if it was a self-taught lesson. And yes, I even had to learn how not to be a sucker—and that particular lesson is still, to this very day, an ongoing one. Some lessons I had to learn the hard way—-some with gun-smoke. At times, I was slower than a crawling baby turtle in my educational progress; but, long hours and my determination made the difference. I always wanted to build up my mind to be as powerful and quick as the jaws of a large snapping turtle. I never reached that goal, but I got close enough.
Sadly, it seems quite evident to me that a large segment of the world population has not learned many of the most basic lessons in life(liberty included) that all adults should have learned even before they became adults. Therefore, in my mind at least, they are still very much, suckers. Because of this fact, America is accelerating down the river to suckerdom (i.e.Socialism) And personally, I find people far too naive to the point of aggravation. If that makes me sound like an ill-tempered snapper, then so be it.
Some important facts about Burma to ponder over are:
By 1886 the British had conquered Burma. In 1937 Burma became a self-governing British colony. In 1948, the nation became an independent democratic-republic. In 1962 General Ne Win led a military coup d’etat.
Ne Win, who died in 2002, was the most influential General and Prime Minister of Burma. Ne Win authored and ruled by the rubric “The Burmese Way to Socialism ” also translated “The Burmese Road to Socialism.” The title is ironically similar to F.A. Hayek’s “The Road To Serfdom.” However, the content of Ne Win’s work supports socialism and is antithetical to Hayek’s.
From 1962 until 1990 Burma had had no democratic elections. Aung San Suu Kyi won the election in 1990 by a landslide; whereupon, the military Junta put her under house-arrest, where she has remained ever since.
In my opinion, the first painful and deadly mistake that the people of Burma made, was that they did not vote to become a member of the British Commonwealth when they had the chance. The second very painful and deadly mistake was getting suckered into socialism. Now the military Junta have the people’s faces pushed down into the mud, and they intend to keep them there.
Finally: I suggest that if you really want a “hero’s education” then you should travel throughout Burma. Yes, do it if you have the chance(and the guts), and take a good long look at what socialism did to a country which had a bright future. Take a good long look at the poverty. Try and hold a child in your arms as he or she expires because of the abject poverty and ignorance. And then think about how and why things like this are possible…. Make a friend who dares to whisper a word against the Junta. And later on, when your friend disappears and then is finally found floating in the river, but you’re not 100% sure that it’s your friend because his body has been mutilated beyond recognition, then stop and think why and how a country that the British left as a democratic republic could now be a place comparable to Hell for the vast majority of people. Go spend some money and buy a human slaves freedom; then ask him to tell you his life’s story. Educate yourself. Learn about the facts of life and death. Learn that if there is a place worse than Hell, then the people of Burma have found it.
And just who is to blame for this socialist hell on earth? A people who got suckered into socialism……that’s who.
Let’s not allow the same thing happen here in America that happened in Burma. And please, whatever you do, don’t give up your Second Amendment Rights, because one day you and I may very well need a gun for the sake of liberty. One day the serpents lie will stop prevailing over the truth. If and when the day comes that we need put down the pen and stand up for liberty, then we’ll see who the real heroes are and just what kind of mindset they have.
“I was born for a storm and a calm does not suit me.” —Andrew Jackson. A true American hero.
“The darker the night the bolder the lion” — Theodore Roosevelt. A true American hero.
March 30th, 2009 at 3:59 pm
Response to TamaraK
Most libertarians are not advocating drug use. In fact, many consider drug use irrationally selfish behavior. They believe that we should legalize drugs because drug laws worsen the situation. Eliminating drug laws would virtually eliminate organized crime and most property crime. Here is an excerpt from my report “How to Win the Drug War.”
Social Consequences
For years the Anti-Drug Crusader has accused drug users of causing property crime, violence and even murder. Unfortunately he reverses cause and effect. It is drug laws that greatly increase the incidence of crime. They are responsible for a considerable amount of all property crimes. In order to protect you from the so-called “evils of drugs”, the Anti-Drug Crusader has put your property and personal safety at the mercy of desperate drug addicts. With his warped sense of justice, he considers drug use worse than property crime.
Making drugs illegal greatly increases their price. The drug addict, who has an insatiable desire, will suffer severe physical and psychological withdrawals if not satisfied. The only way he can obtain enough money is stealing anything he can turn into cash.
Ironically, the harder government cracks down on the drug trade, the higher the price goes, and the more the drug addict has to steal. This results in large sums of money being transferred from property owners and insurance companies to drug lords. Most drug addicts don’t steal because it is inherent in their nature. They steal because of the detrimental effects of drug laws.
The Anti-Drug Crusader points to violent crime in the illegal drug business. He acts as if violence is a natural part of this industry. He delights in demonstrating how drugs and violence go together. Why is this so?
Why don’t we hear about violence in the clothing, medical, fruit, or cosmetic industries? Why don’t we see news stories about members of competing hamburger places shooting it out on the streets? Why don’t we hear about the pizza murders or the toilet paper killings? The answer is simple; these products are legal.
Outlawing drugs causes massive problems. The participants in the drug market are now threatened with fines and imprisonment. What could be harmonious trade is now filled with tension and antagonism. The participants are wary of each other. Distrust in each exchange is now the rule. Violence soon follows resulting in drug related murders.
Disagreements among legal business can be taken to legal institutions and solved without violence. Drug dealers, being considered criminals, have no such recourse, so they must deal with their problems without these benefits. This places them in the roles of prosecutor, defense, judge, etc. They must dispense justice themselves. As you can see government has forced the drug dealers to become violent by failing to provide them legal protection and forcibly interfering with their exchanges.
In addition, individuals own their body and life. Nobody has the right to interfere with their choice to indulge in drugs.
Robert A. Meyer
http://www.libertarianway.com