http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2011/11/16/disgrace-occupy-harvard
Here is a link to a story about the Occupy Harvard movement. The author rightly points out the absurdity of Harvard students - truly NOT part of any 99% - protesting the institution that sets them apart and provides immeasurably richer opportunities for prosperity than the true 99%.
I extrapolate this reasoning to the Occupy movement as a whole. Truly, 99% of Americans have immeasurably richer opportunities for prosperity than the vast majority of the world because of the very institutions of free enterprise and limited government.
So ridiculous for the Occupiers to be protesting against what pampers their behinds relative to world standards.
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Worth Defending
As a member of the military, I am compelled to ponder from time to time the value of what I've sworn to defend. Certainly, my oath is inflexible in loyalty to the Constitution. However, the Constitution, itself, is just an embodiment of principles and ideas that patriots have defended since its inception. And unfortunately, over the years, the interpretation of the Constitution has been ravished by the rationalizations of the legal elite (who I would argue have agendas quite disparate from the original principles).
So what is it, then, that makes this land worth defending? Beyond the obvious point of defending our home, where our families and loved ones reside, what made America so different and desirable than all the rest comes down to two key elements: a valuable culture and the freedom to provide for oneself.
The culture to which I refer is the one that reflects our traditional values: faith and trust in God, personal responsibility, and hard work.
French writer Alexis de Tocqueville, after visiting America in 1831, said, “I sought for the greatness of the United States in her commodious harbors, her ample rivers, her fertile fields, and boundless forests–and it was not there. I sought for it in her rich mines, her vast world commerce, her public school system, and in her institutions of higher learning–and it was not there. I looked for it in her democratic Congress and her matchless Constitution–and it was not there. Not until I went into the churches of America and heard her pulpits flame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power. America is great because America is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great!”
The freedom to provide for oneself, of course, implies that all such legitimate pursuits must not deprive others of life, liberty, or property. Moreover, Capitalism was born from this ideal, and has proven to be the world's best economic option (or at least the least detrimental one). I concede the possibility of a capitalist enterprise that does not evenly benefit all classes directly or indirectly involved. However, the dark alternative of vesting power in governments to ensure equality of condition has always proven to reap the most cruelty, corruption, and resultant inequality. This is because people are simply not inherently angelic enough to act above the simple rules of personal incentive, nor should we be obsessed with attempting to demonstrate the inherent goodness of humanity. (Sidebar: I always find it amusing how the leftist standard bearers pronounce the virtues of humanity and then decry the evils of Capitalism, corporations, Republicans, Christians, the military, etc.)
And thus is the tie-back to traditional American culture, which trusts in a perfect God and does not attempt to perfect humanity through worldly institutions. Could it be that Capitalism is so relatively successful as a result of being in closest accordance with the natural laws ordained by God? This makes me tend to think that modern liberalism and true Christianity are mutually exclusive.
So what is it, then, that makes this land worth defending? Beyond the obvious point of defending our home, where our families and loved ones reside, what made America so different and desirable than all the rest comes down to two key elements: a valuable culture and the freedom to provide for oneself.
The culture to which I refer is the one that reflects our traditional values: faith and trust in God, personal responsibility, and hard work.
French writer Alexis de Tocqueville, after visiting America in 1831, said, “I sought for the greatness of the United States in her commodious harbors, her ample rivers, her fertile fields, and boundless forests–and it was not there. I sought for it in her rich mines, her vast world commerce, her public school system, and in her institutions of higher learning–and it was not there. I looked for it in her democratic Congress and her matchless Constitution–and it was not there. Not until I went into the churches of America and heard her pulpits flame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power. America is great because America is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great!”
The freedom to provide for oneself, of course, implies that all such legitimate pursuits must not deprive others of life, liberty, or property. Moreover, Capitalism was born from this ideal, and has proven to be the world's best economic option (or at least the least detrimental one). I concede the possibility of a capitalist enterprise that does not evenly benefit all classes directly or indirectly involved. However, the dark alternative of vesting power in governments to ensure equality of condition has always proven to reap the most cruelty, corruption, and resultant inequality. This is because people are simply not inherently angelic enough to act above the simple rules of personal incentive, nor should we be obsessed with attempting to demonstrate the inherent goodness of humanity. (Sidebar: I always find it amusing how the leftist standard bearers pronounce the virtues of humanity and then decry the evils of Capitalism, corporations, Republicans, Christians, the military, etc.)
And thus is the tie-back to traditional American culture, which trusts in a perfect God and does not attempt to perfect humanity through worldly institutions. Could it be that Capitalism is so relatively successful as a result of being in closest accordance with the natural laws ordained by God? This makes me tend to think that modern liberalism and true Christianity are mutually exclusive.
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