Solutions
Our world right now is akin to a pot of water that is just about ready to boil; the surface of the water is still relatively calm, but there are obvious indications of agitation and energetic activity. When a society loses its way, the tendency is toward entropy – our population is devolving to the neanderthal behaviors of racism, overzealous jingoism and angry envy driven actions that fail reason. There are many reasons for this but my primary thoughts are that this is due to a lack of hope. Hope is generated from God and the knowledge of how to improve ourselves.
Glenn Beck is an interesting man; while I do not agree fully with the verve and vigor of his belief, he is a master of packaging the common knowledge available to all but known by few. One of the packages he has assembled is ‘e4′ – the four “E”s are Enlightenment, Education, Empowerment and Entrepreneurship. There are some elements he has posted on his website (sorry for the shouting; direct cut/paste from his site) ; http://www.glennbeck.com/2011/11/01/solutions-organized-by-the-e4-solution/
Solutions organized by the ‘e4′ solution
Tuesday, Nov 1, 2011 at 6:36 PM EST
A few days ago Glenn did a GBTV show on solutions – and now he has organized the things you can do into categories based on his ‘e4′ solution.
E1 – ENLIGHTENMENT
TRADITIONS
PRESERVE WHAT IS IMPORTANT. SHED ALL OTHERS. CONSERVE AND
PRESERVE. RECLAIM AND RESTORE
LIVE NEAR LIKE MINDED PEOPLE. (TEXAS, MOUNTAINS OR WHERE GOD IS)
IF YOU CANNOT MOVE (NO PLACE WILL BE UNTOUCHED) CREATE A NETWORK
DO NOT PLAN YOUR LIFE AND THEN MOVE. PLAN, LISTEN AND OBEY
PRACTICE AT LEAST FRANKLIN’S AMERICAN RELIGION
HONOR ALL OF YOUR OBLIGATIONS
PRESERVE – FOOD, TIME, MONEY, ENERGY
TEACH YOUR CHILDREN THE BASICS. VALUES/PRINCIPLES
DO WITH LESS NOW. LESS OF A SHOCK IF IT COMES LATER
SERVE/SHARE
JOIN A 9.12 GROUP. LINK ON-LINE. BUT HAVE PHONE NUMBERS AND MEETING LOCATIONS
HAVE A MEETING PLACE ESTABLISHED FOR FAMILY
READ THE BIBLE
E2 – EDUCATION
APPRENTICESHIPS ARE THE FUTURE.
DISCUSS THE VALUE OF SCHOOL FOR WHAT YOU CAN EARN.
DO NOT LOOK FOR LABELS THEY WILL BECOME MEANINGLESS (IVY LEAGUE)
FIND OTHER FORMS OF SCHOOL (ON-LINE)
TEACH YOUNG CHILDREN NOW THAT COLLEGE IS NOT A GIVEN
DEMAND MERIT FROM SCHOOL AND STUDENT OR PULL YOUR TIME AND MONEY
EDUCATE YOURSELF AT ALL TIMES. ALWAYS READ.
HAVE A HARD COPY OF IMPORTANT BOOKS AND DOCUMENTS
LEARN OLD AND OR LOST PRACTICES.
MENDING/CANNING/FARMING
LEARN TO FIX AN ENGINE
RE-LEARN READING A MAP
KNOW THE NEWS. LIFE CAN CHANGE QUICKLY.
BE ABLE TO DEFEND YOUR POSITIONS BY KNOWING THE OTHER SIDE
KNOW HOW TO LIVE ELECTRONICS FREE
HAVE PAPER COPIES OF IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS
KNOW WHERE YOUR DEEDS ARE. TAKE THEM IN EMERGENCY
TEACH CHILDREN WORK ETHIC
TOLERATE NOTHING THAT YOU FEEL IS WRONG BY REMAINING SILENT
LET YOUR CHILDREN SEE YOU STAND
E3 – EMPOWERMENT
MONEY -
GOLD, FOOD, CIGARETTES, LIQUOR, SUGAR, AMMUNITION, GUNS, SEEDS,
SKILLS (BARTER) KNOWLEDGE
HAVE 30 DAYS CASH ON HAND
BUY A HOUSE
STOP ALL EXCESS SPENDING. BUY QUALITY ONLY. FORGET FASHION ONLY
MEASURE TWICE – CUT ONCE. DO NOT WASTE.
CONSIDER A FUEL EFFICIENT – SUV/TRUCK
CONSIDER SOMETHING PRIOR TO 1979 FIX YOURSELF
HAVE A GUN AND KNOW HOW TO SHOOT IT.
RESOLVE THOSE ISSUES THAT ARE HOLDING YOU BACK
STOP ALL BEHAVIOR THAT DOES NOT EXPAND YOU OR OTHERS INTO GOOD
MAKE AMENDS FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE
FIND PEACE AND GET TO WORK
UNDERSTAND THAT ANGER IS A PART OF LIFE BUT NEVER FEED IT
THE FIRST LOOK IS NOT A PROBLEM. IT IS THE SECOND LOOK.
NEVER BE THE BEST MAN/WOMAN IN THE ROOM.
BE HAPPY AND OPTIMISTIC. LIFE WILL GO ON. MAKE PLANS FOR THE
FUTURE. GET MARRIED. HAVE CHILDREN.
E4 – ENTREPRENEURSHIP
BUY FARM LAND GROW YOUR OWN FOOD.
LIVE NEAR PEOPLE AND BEGIN TO MAKE ALLIANCES OF SKILLS (BARTER) LIVE NEAR FARM LAND
BUSINESS/WORK: BE THE BEST YOU CAN BE. BE THE ONE EMPLOYEE NO ONE CAN FIRE
SMALL BUSINESS: BE THE PRODUCT OR SERVICE NO ONE CAN CANCEL
CONSERVE AND PRESERVE
LEARN FROM THE DEPRESSION -
ADVERTISE WHEN NO ONE ELSE IS (CHEVROLET)
STAY IN BUSINESS BUT DOWNSIZE AND PRESERVE
HONESTY, INTEGRITY AND CHARITY.
BE GEORGE BAILEY
SPIT YOURSELF OUT OF THE SYSTEM. TURN UPSIDE DOWN NOW
PUT YOUR MONEY WHERE YOUR HEART IS
DO BUSINESS IN SYMBIOTIC WAYS – WE NEED EACH OTHER
DO NOT TRY TO PUT OTHERS OUT OF BUSINESS, LET THEM DO IT.
(GIMBLES AND MACYS)
NEVER BE THE SMARTEST MAN IN THE ROOM
TAKE CARE OF YOUR EMPLOYEES THE BEST YOU CAN.
TAKE LESS AND GIVE MORE
READ FRANKLIN AND WASHINGTON
BE HONORABLE IN ALL OF YOUR DEALINGS
The Science of Victimization
This blog post from Skip is very much on point – by looking outward to blame others we ignore/escape the real issues that lay within each of us to deal with. Life is what it is; it is brutish, hard and short. Life is NOT fair. Ask anyone with an invisible condition about fairness. Fairness shares a portion of it’s etymology with fairy, as in fairy-tale. The moment we allow the idea of fairness of OUTCOME to creep into our thoughts we are doomed to this cycle of apathy, socialism, awakening and renewal.
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The Science Of Victimization.
Posted by :Skip MacLure October 31, 2011 – 6:25pm
We suffered a malfunction. The lights went out on our main site. At first I thought, okay, it must have been the article that Dee recently managed to slip by the editorial staff at the Daily Kos. My imagination summoned a legion of spittle-drooling, knuckle-dragging hackers in their mothers’ basements mounting an assault against our sites.
We had certainly stirred up an ants nest over there, as it was. There were some panties over there so twisted up it was cutting off their circulation. We had much the same thing happen a couple of times when the Huff ‘n Puff Post published a couple of our articles, probably because an editor published off a headline or a sub-head without reading the article. The results were hysterical. It was just as though we took a stick and stirred up a nest of Texas Fire Ants. Some of them actually actively looked for us for several months. Cute trick, since we publish from ‘somewhere’ in Wales.
So the lights went out and it was because of the bank’s apparent inability to post a payment on time. Gee, there it is, Dee… we’re victims. Victims of big banking. What a hoot. That’s exactly what the whole ‘progressive’ movement is all about. Taking victimization and attempting to codify it.
As genuinely sick and tired as I am of listening to the statist Lame Stream Press carry water for the left and its Marxist agenda, I can take solace from readers comments on the subject saying much the same things. They are (the statists) steadily losing ground and influence, and they know it.
The leftists have a largely deaf ear to those of us outside of the political class. Until, that is, their political agenda is threatened and then they quickly morph into their ‘party of the people’ mode to once again convince the ‘victim’ class that the visions of sugar plums dancing in their heads will come true… if only they wait. The real and present problem for the left, trying to re-ignite the spark that swept Barack Hussein into office, is that many of his base really believed the things that were said and promised.
As the first glow of victory faded and the light of reality shone on Barack Obama’s stewardship of the country, even his most ardent supporters had trouble defending him and his visibly destructive policies. The exodus of support continues to this day, three years down the road. Even the ‘victims’ are tired of waiting.
Semper Vigilans, Semper Fidelis
© Skip MacLure 2011
The Space Between…
The Space Between…
There is a story making the rounds where a certain union leader made incindiery comments towards an opponent group that can definitely be read as a call to arms for union members to ‘take ‘em out’ (whatever that means). This caused me to think (something I am lead to do more and more frequently these days) – what generates the space between those that yell and scream from those who are the receipents of those vocal and at times physical abuses?
I am an individualist – rabid but not radical; I wish no one ill will or feel animous toward those who believe differently than I. I cannot say the same for others on the opposite end of the idealogical spectrum. Wherever I encounter those who are championing the cause of the ‘little people’, invariably I find that the love for their fellow person ends with those who believe as they do. Call it what you will – progressive, liberal, socialist, anticapitalist, unions, social welfare advocates and so many other titles – the defining factor of these groups are one of hatred and acrimony toward those who believe differently than they.
I have my own reasons for not shouting and raising my blood pressure where issues are concerns (well, most of the time) – however I cannot fathom those who will leverage their full volume for simple, often stupid points of contention. I cannot understand the MTV “real world” generation of those who will yell and get in one anothers faces for the silliest things. I don’t understand those who target others personally for topics centered around ideas and beliefs – those who will attack others verbally and/or physically whether violent or not. I want to believe that those who behave in such ways have poor impusle control (I know I once did) or don’t have malice in their hearts – this is however a fools desire and I know it.
Bullies, thugs and gang members (whether from areas of squaller or from marble palaces and office buildings) are convinced they are better than the rest of us. If you swear allegince to their cause, you’re fine; if you disagree with their message or approach you are akin to slave property in their minds. Beatings, verbal abuse and general pit bull behavior are acceptable because we are in their way. Their enemies must be defeated – even though there is no war outside of the one in their minds. Any means is acceptable if the ends are met.
The space between us and them couldn’t be more stark. I want the world to be as Lennon wanted it but in a libertarian framework. I want the hunger and poverty to end as much as Tia Leone does (UNICEF spokeswomen) but I wouldn’ think of taking from another to make those wants come true. I want the dialog in our country to be spirited and lively with zero personal attacks and the job of representing the Republic to be one that is honorable and prized for the message it says about the one entrusted – not one of graft and corruption where the lowest common denominator runs to get a choice job.
I don’t want what another has through theft or entitlement. I want to earn my way even where it causes me great pain and impact to do so. It is my desire to talk and not to yell. Rather than stick around and bark at someone I will walk away and remove myself from that situation. I have had incredible discussions with friends and strangers that have been fulfilling and informing without being flogged or talked down.
I do not know what the answers are related to making progress toward civility and retarding scandalous behavior where human interactions are concerned. My dogs deal with one another by barking and making more noise and alpha positioning. I cannot imagine a world where humans are devolving towards pack behavior with one another – this however is what I am seeing and it scares me. The only choice in that world is one the 12th century mongols would recognize.
What does “being involved” look like?
There’s a misnomer related to being involved with the political system- here are some ways you can show support for a candidate running for office.
- Give a little or a lot, but give (Sadly, until money goes away or laws eliminate political spending, part of the campaign process requires funding)
- Tweet, post and speak you mind in the social media
- Put a sign in your yard
- Talk you your friends and family- nothing partisan but about character and the need for honor in office
- Give of your time and skills – campaigns are no different than other endeavours
- Be a poll monitor
- Become a precinct capitan
- Support your candidate at the polls on election day and during early voting
- Attend events rallying support for your candidate
More than any of those small sampling of ideas, register to vote and show up at the polls on election day. You can do that here (www.triggerthevote.com) or at your local State Board of Elections website and office. In NC, the registration deadline is 25 days before an election so get you butt into gear and flex your liberty and freedom. A pathetic 38% historical turnout is due entirely to apathy and we can no longer afford the luxury of standing idly by.
Victim(?)(!)(-)(+)
“Evil requires the sanction of the victim.” – Rand
What is a victim in the world of today? What does it mean?
There are victims of abuse & force – rape, war, terrorism, assault. They are victims of the event; meaning they are not associated with or a party to the violence that they experience in the event.
There are other ‘victims’ who are, knowingly or not, sanctioning or giving permission to the evil that they experience. There are many examples of this – self-pity, domestic violence, crushing remorse, etc. I struggle with referencing these situations or individuals as victims as they have a choice in the matter; even in only aware of the choice at an near unconscious level (thank you Wachowski brothers). The fact remains that choice is not spoken about more and more in our sanitized, politically correct and increasingly polarized world.
As an example, a recipient of welfare ‘chooses’ to accept the states check instead of doubling down and making extraordinary efforts to work and earn an income. The choice as with all things is surrounded by the controversy of our times – what conditions were present when the choice was made; what is the historical context; what if any limitations are present to keep the person from choosing action versus accepting the liberty sucking contribution from the state? I contend there is very little difference in the cocaine dealer giving away the first hit of powder to gain a customer than the state handing out checks to those who are perhaps not as financially affluent as others. Once the state has a welfare recipient they want to keep that person pacified to secure more voters in their ranks. The most altruistic of intents turns into something that would be outright rejected if presented in the open. Attempting to help those experiencing tough times turns into power hungry elites searching for conditions that favor more state subsidies and less liberty – more people on some kind of handout. The handout is nefarious because of human nature – once a person has something, even if that something is a lie, they will vigorously fight to keep what is theirs. Ownership is more important that the truth and someone will fight like hell to keep what is theirs.
There are those who are born poor, disabled, with different skin tone or odd features. There are those who are bullied, shunned, called out or ostracized as kids. There are those who feel that past transgressions to ancestors affect their journey in life today. None of these things control the exercise of choice and freewill. They are conditions of the human experience. I was born to those with modest means, disabled and a real nerd in school. I have freewill – I choose in every case how I behave.
There are those who believe that there are only oppressors and the oppressed (re: victim) and that the oppressed must rise up and defeat the oppressor(s). There are those who believe that society must be controlled to avoid victims being hurt. There are those who push political ideologies on the backs of made-up victims (only to control and continue to perpetuate the conditions they felt caused the bad event in the first place).
I contend there is no such thing as a victim of circumstance, of hurt feelings or of history. How you rope-a-dope with life, racism, discrimination, taunting, oppression and any other event it takes two to tango is about choice. The liberal/progressive activists wish deeply that no harm would come to the sensitive – that those who were oppressed have the right to give some payback to the progeny of those who harmed them in the past. That everyone who walks this earth would be equal, have equal stuff and live in a sterile, fake Star Trek world. We’re not there; it’s not feasible; dreaming doesn’t make it so. We’re still in a society based on money. We’re still in a society that is built around meritocracy.
There are those in power today in the US who have felt/played the victim role their entire lives – as minorities, academics, activists or misguided money-bags. They either see value in leveraging the victims for their own means or they retain their very large chip on their shoulders and they feel justified in paying back the ‘oppressor’. For humanity to take the next step we do not require socialism, communism or a form of government. We do not need government run programs, redistribution of wealth or skyrocketing taxes. We need the awakening of choice and the awareness that claiming ‘victim’ status must also have context and intention tied to the tapestry that is seen.
We used to see things (more often) with a broader, wide angle lens if you will – there were questions about a persons intentions, their circumstances and the context of the situation. A claim of harm did not automatically don the veil of victimization – stuff happens and you take care of business and move on. Today the climate is purposefully divisive. Gotcha political games don’t just populate the halls of Congress, but in every business where those games are tolerated. They are played in Homeowner Associations, Churches, PTA meetings and any other location where positions of “power” are available. If you make a single error, and you happened to err against a maligned group (or one who has powerful people at the helm), you’re certainly toast. There are no guiltless parties anymore.
“Let go and let God” is a popular saying in spiritual circles – this removes the burden of carrying perceived victimization as you are giving that to the Almighty. It’s telling that in our secular society, full of ill-conceived and false traps built through political correctness, the individual is no longer accountable for their reactions to circumstances. If Jesus does return to the world, and walk among us, he wouldn’t just be mobbed by the faithful – the number of delivery persons serving summons to appear in lawsuits where acts of God were blamed would potentially outnumber the faithful.
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