tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27968841179617997422024-03-03T09:03:42.969-07:00My God and Government“I am one. I am just one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something.” Let's talk bluntly about the collision between God and Government.Tom Sheppardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09835008483484789023noreply@blogger.comBlogger95125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2796884117961799742.post-69825300208544601442024-03-03T09:02:00.002-07:002024-03-03T09:02:53.402-07:00Eating Right Makes Me Fit for the Destination<h2 style="text-align: left;">Fasting and Eating</h2><div>This is the first Sunday of the Month of March. Every month, usually on the first Sunday of the month, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints celebrate a period of fasting. Those who can, abstain from food and drink for two consecutive meals. They donate the value of those meals to be used to directly help the needy in their area. They typically refer to this day as "Fast Sunday."</div><div>Because today is Fast Sunday, I am thinking about food, and what we eat. What I eat. Or what I should eat (more on that later).</div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Fit or Fat</h3><div>With the advancement of medical sciences we have gained a lot of insights into how diet affects our health. We know that too much food, in excess of what we need to fuel ourselves for the day, tends to make us fat. We know that some foods, regardless of the quantity or our caloric needs then to make us fat. We also know that being fat, carrying excess weight, tends to produce some very bad health outcomes, most of which culminate in suffering and death at an earlier age than might otherwise be the case. The medical studies citing the role of excess weight in heart disease, strokes, joint failure, liver failure, and other issues are too numerous to cite, or refute.</div><div><br /></div><div>The "get skinny" and the "get fit" industries (the two overlap but are not the same) capitalize on these facts to promote a variety of products and processes. Most of those products and processes have dubious benefits and some are more harmful to our health than being fat.</div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Junk Food</h3><div>All this is a roundabout way to make the point that if I feed myself a steady diet of junk food, I can only expect to suffer weakness, ill health, and untimely death. In contrast, if I eat a reasonably healthy diet, ensure I have at least some moderate regular exercise (walking is exercise), I can expect to enjoy physical strength, mental acuity, and moderately good health until my body wears out, or I exit mortality from some abrupt misfortune. Of course, fat or fit, I have no guarantee that some ailment or accident won't somehow wreck me.</div><div><br /></div><div>Now that I am thinking about the effects of my diet on my physical body, I'm going to s switch gears and consider the diet and exercise I am feeding my spirit.</div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Natural Diets</h3><div>For all the advancements of medical and physical sciences none of the sciences can identify what animates a living being and is then absent from the deceased. They can measure and track the evidences of animation, and they can even note many things which directly result in the cessation of animation. However, they are unable to see, even with the most powerful of microscopes or other medical imaging devices, the source of what animates our minds and bodies. Natural sciences can only reveal nature.</div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Spiritual Diets</h3><div>To gain insight into the world which science is unable to penetrate requires reliance on sources that are outside of nature. The supernatural. God is, by definition, a supernatural being. He does not appear to be bound by the same laws of nature which we observe. Fortunately for us, He has deliberately revealed himself to humanity on many occasions throughout time. Although it is not my purpose here to delve into those occasions, it is relevant to note that He has repeatedly revealed some key facts which we could not discover on our own:</div><div><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>He exists</li><li>He is more powerful and wise than we can imagine</li><li>He cares about us</li><li>Each of us has both a spirit and a body</li></ol></div><div>He has revealed a lot more than this, but these are the relevant points for this essay.</div><div><br /></div><div>What animates our minds and bodies is our spirit. </div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Spiritual Junk Food</h2><div>My question today is, what happens if our spirit has the same kind of diet and exercise routine as we give our bodies? And what does a good, or bad, spiritual diet and exercise routine look like?</div><div><br /></div><div>I believe that if I feed my spirit a steady diet of spiritual junk food and give it very little spiritual exercise, it makes my spirit weak and sickly. It may even bring me to a form of spiritual death, perhaps before I am ready to leave mortality.</div><div><br /></div><div>On the other hand, if I feed my spirit healthy spiritual diet and at least moderate spiritual exercise I will enjoy a more robust physical and spiritual life. This leads to some important questions:</div><div><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>What is a good spiritual diet or a bad spiritual diet? </li><li>How can I know the difference between them?</li></ol></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Seeing Good and Bad</h3><div>I am going to start with the last question. How can I know the difference between things that are good for my spirit and those that are bad for my spirit?</div><div><br /></div><div>The answer is simpler, and harder, than people may imagine. It is encompassed in the teaching that "by [its] fruits you will know [it]"</div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Good Fruits</h4><div>In my experience, a good spiritual regimen has the following effects or fruits:</div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>I have more energy</li><li>Gratitude - My appreciation and enjoyment of the good things in your life is enhanced, making the bad things in my life more tolerable.</li><li>Patience / Tolerance - I feel more peaceful because I know that getting things wrong is a necessary part of growing and learning, both for me and others. I am inclined to kindness toward others who may not be able to anything for me. I am more patient with stupid people, selfish people, and mean people because I understand that I have my own flaws, which may not be the same as theirs and we are all trying to get through this life wearing a spiritual blindfold most of the time.</li><li>Optimism - While a good spiritual regimen doesn't give me an unrealistic outlook on the world, it makes me a more optimistic person. If God is real, and He cares about me, then, although I may not see what he does or understand it, I can trust that He is working for my well-being. And, if I have God in my corner rooting for me, how can I not get back on my feet when I have been knocked down and push forward when everything else seems to be trying to hold me back and drag me down?</li><li>Attractive - It attracts people who want or who have a good spiritual regimen. It is a natural fact that "birds of a feather flock together."</li></ul><h4 style="text-align: left;">Bad Fruits</h4><div>In my experience a bad spiritual regimen has the following fruit (and yes, I do have experience with bad spiritual regimens of myself and others):</div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Depression - a lack of energy</li><li>Pessimism - the expectation and outlook that good things don't stay in my life</li><li>Anxiety - the constant fear of getting it wrong and bringing extra pain and embarrassment into my life.</li><li>Impatience / Perfectionism - Life is too short to get anything wrong and others are constantly stealing my most precious and unrenewable resource in this life, my time. If they can't help me to get what I want, then they need to get out of the way and stop slowing me down. Also, I hate it when I get in my own way by not doing something perfectly and getting the exact outcome I desired.</li><li>Self-Righteousness / Intolerance - Anyone who doesn't see the world the way I do lacks the intelligence to be worthy of life and liberty or my time and attention. They will just waste their own and steal my time. Their biggest sin is their stupidity in not sharing my opinion.</li><li>Ingratitude - What I have is never enough. There is always more out there that I don't have in my grasp.</li><li>Envy and Covetousness - The worst part of life is that I can see that others, who aren't as deserving as me, have more and better in their life than I. I cannot celebrate their success, I can only mourn that theirs isn't mine.</li><li>Repulsive - Ironically, although like attracts like, no one truly enjoys the company of consistently negative or toxic people. Although I may accrue some power and followers, and some may love me despite myself, no one will enjoy being around me for long.</li></ul></div><div>So, look at the fruits above. Which list resonates more? Those fruits are the effects of a bad spiritual diet and exercise regimen.</div><h3 style="text-align: left;">The Good Food Diet</h3><div>This leads me to the first question: What is a good spiritual diet or a bad spiritual diet? </div><div><br /></div><div>I know, that is really two questions, but I will deal with them as one. They are one because the bad spiritual regimen is most often the absence of a good spiritual regimen. My spiritual regimen, good and bad, is what I do everyday, even if I am unaware of it.</div><div><br /></div><div>I am naturally more aware of my physical diet and exercise because it is right there front of my eyes. My spirit is unseen and I am often blithely unaware of my spiritual diet and exercise. Unlike my body which promptly gets my attention when I neglect it, the neglect of my spirit doesn't make me visibly collapse and put me in the hospital because I abused it.</div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Confessions and Disclaimers</h4><div>So, what is a good spiritual regimen (diet and exercise)? Before sharing this I must confess to whomever reads this two things:</div><div><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><b>I do not perfectly practice a good spiritual regimen.</b> I am not perfect. I have my flaws, some of which I enjoy and shouldn't. I am trying to want to be the person I should be.</li><li><b>I am an unapologetic believer in Jesus of Nazareth </b>as the Christ and the Only Begotten Son of God. I believe that Jesus was telling the truth when he said, "I am the way, the truth, and the light." He said "the" not "a" way. I also believe that the truths that lead us to Him are seeded in all the religions of the world. Because of that, regardless of your religious affiliation, a good spiritual regimen will bear good fruits for you.</li></ol><h2 style="text-align: left;">Good Eating</h2><div>Here are the parts of a good spiritual regimen, as I and many others have experienced them:</div></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>Wake up to what I am "eating." </b></li><ul><li>A diet of emotionally, sexually, and mentally numbing movies, video games, music, reading, and other entertainment is the spiritual equivalent of junk food.</li><li>In a physical diet, exercising the "table muscle" of pushing yourself away from the table before I feel full is an important part of not overeating. Likewise in my spiritual diet, I exercise my table muscle and push back from the junk food buffet being pushed at me by media and society. Instead of mindlessly eating what is being served up, I try to push back from the table. I take a look at what is available, and replace junk food with healthy food.</li></ul><li><b>Deliberately start putting good things into my spiritual diet.</b></li><ul><li>Try to make time each day to read (or listen to) the scriptures. Whether the scriptures of my religion are called the Quran, Bible, Torah, Shastras, Mahayana, or the myths of my ancestors, I need to make time each week (or daily at best) to read them.</li><li>While I am reading and listening, I think about how it might apply to my life and to my challenges and I write down or record my thoughts and impressions.</li><li>I have made (or borrowed) a list of the books which have been around for decades or centuries as examples of great literature and important reading. I pick one. I read it. I write down, or record, my thoughts as I read it and after I am done reading it. </li><li>Make time to think about what I am reading and listening to. I think about how it might apply to my life and to my challenges.</li><li>Then, I pick another book from the list and do it again. If I finish all the books on my list, I make another list and do it all again.</li></ul><li><b>Wake up to what I am thinking.</b></li><ul><li>Thinking is the spiritual equivalent of chewing. When I chew my food, I break it up into smaller pieces and taste it with my mouth. When I think, I am tasting with my imagination, my mind, and my spirit. </li><li>Are my idle thoughts filled with bitterness, revenge, self-indulgence, or self-pity? Or are they filled imaginings of me acting like the kind of person I want to become?</li><li>Your thoughts will become your words. Your words will turn into your deeds. Your deeds will make your destiny.</li><li>I want to be the hero of my story, not the victim, and certainly not the villain.</li></ul><li><b>Take more control of my thoughts.</b></li><ul><li>Meditate. I periodically make time to be still. Silence the noise and activity around me. I clear my mind for a time, focusing on slow and steady breathing and releasing the tensions in my body. </li></ul><li><b>Build inner self-awareness.</b></li><ul><li>I have tried to learn what are my "buttons" that others use to manipulate and control me. I pick up one thought, word, or action of my own in my life, recent or long past. Something I have thought, said, or done. I decide if is it something I am proud of and pleased about, or uncomfortable with. I seek to understand what seemed to compel me to think, say, or do that. Was that the only course I could have taken in that situation? I examine if my thought, word, or deed was the result of me letting something (or someone) control and compel me, a reaction? Or, was it a deliberate choice I made after quickly considering the alternatives and choosing the one that would likely have the outcome I desire most. </li></ul><li><b>Decide what kind of person I want to be.</b></li><ul><li>I strive to learn lessons from my past. If I could relive a moment, would I make the same choice? If not, then I decide how I want to handle any similar situation that may occur in my future. I imagine myself making the clear choice and imagine the probable outcomes of that choice. Do I like those outcomes? If not, then I do it again in my mind and make different choices.</li></ul></ul></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Conclusions</h2><div>Making conscious choices for ourselves is the most important part of maturity. Choosing the kind of person I want to become is the single most important choice I can make in my life. Everything else, every other choice is more chance than choice until I make that big choice. </div><div><br /></div><div>I am convinced that choosing the kind of person I want to become, for it to be worth the prices I pay, must be made for myself. To please me. It is foolish for me to choose what to become to please my spouse, children, parents, friends, or even God. Although all of those may have my best interests at heart, if I don't choose because that is what we want, I will never be happy or content either in my journey or my destiny / destination.</div><div><br /></div><div>For my part, I want to want to be like God. I struggle because there are moments when I want to do things that aren't at all godly. Every time I fail and fall down, I can hear God in my corner urging me on saying, "It's not over and you're not finished. Consider the lesson you just learned. Make it a part of you. Get back up on your feet. Face forward and press on. It's the journey that will make you fit for the destination I have prepared for you."</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><center><i>
See Tom's political views on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/TomSheppardPoliticalViews/
<br />
Follow Tom on X: @ThomasKSheppard
<br /><br />
Tom Sheppard is a business consultant and coach to small business owners and individuals. He is a recognized author with dozens of titles in business and fiction to his credit. One of his endeavors is to help those who want to see their own book in print. He does this through his trademarked Book Whispering Process (TM).
<br /><br />
The author is not an official spokesperson for any organization or person mentioned herein.
<br /><br /><b>
(c) Copyright 2020 A+ Results LLC. All Rights Reserved.</b>
<br /><br />
Your comments are welcome... Please observe some ground rules. No profanity, vulgarity, or personal attacks. Profanity, vulgarity and personal attacks not only betray a lack of vocabulary and imagination, they also are the hallmarks of bigotry, and bigotry is the hallmark of someone who is fundamentally insecure in their views. Facts are always welcome.</i></center>
<br />
<h2><center>
<i>If you believe Government is NOT the answer to all our problems, </i><i>you will want to read<br /> <a href="https://amzn.to/2SaZlyb" target="_blank">Godvernment: Government as God</a></i></center></h2>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Godvernment-Government-God-Tom-Sheppard-ebook/dp/B01MFAFZ9D/ref=as_li_ss_il?keywords=Godvernment+sheppard&qid=1553111331&s=gateway&sr=8-1-spell&linkCode=li3&tag=godandgove-20&linkId=9225ed931985e51d3f8fce325551fc91&language=en_US" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B01MFAFZ9D&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=godandgove-20&language=en_US" /></a></i></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">(c) Copyright 2017 A+ Results, LLC. All Rights Reserved.</div>Tom Sheppardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09835008483484789023noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2796884117961799742.post-23006296616732248702024-02-25T07:00:00.001-07:002024-02-25T07:04:20.402-07:00Choose Love<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiTEZT9CutMKJV6O6O62WEvOWNgfEvmA-PjUOlhQ5-15Olerj1XIWlZqTjlKVWbI3MIQIMAJB7l9YReqoxmk4rPNMbn_QonSt9JRLibqSlrS9PoEJMNLW9TnHMtjj5Ai8e3b7hTQ09ID7iUWf43XPLISfceXVdlUOF8QFrmxoIJf3pk53g1cwH3UJQYFkA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiTEZT9CutMKJV6O6O62WEvOWNgfEvmA-PjUOlhQ5-15Olerj1XIWlZqTjlKVWbI3MIQIMAJB7l9YReqoxmk4rPNMbn_QonSt9JRLibqSlrS9PoEJMNLW9TnHMtjj5Ai8e3b7hTQ09ID7iUWf43XPLISfceXVdlUOF8QFrmxoIJf3pk53g1cwH3UJQYFkA" width="240" /></a></div><br />The other day I was taking an Uber to the airport and chatted with the driver along the way. When I mentioned my wife, she asked how long I have been married. I told that this year will mark our 43rd anniversary. She immediately asked how I had managed to stay married for so long.</div><div>I told her that every day I chose to love my wife more than I love anyone else.</div><div><br /></div><div>"Love is a choice." I told her. "It is something you choose. It is not something that happens to you."</div><div><br /></div><div>Hollywood loves to sell us on the fabulous lie that we fall into (and out of) love. </div><div><br /></div><div>While it is true that sexual attraction can happen to you, love cannot. Sexual attraction may involve hormones, pheromones, and other stimuli that bombard you, so in that regard attraction can happen to you. Unlike sexual attraction, love doesn't happen to you, it is something you choose.</div><div><br /></div><div>And before we move off the topic of sexual attraction, while that can happen to you and catch you unawares, what you do about that attraction is entirely your choice. You can ignore it. Walk away from it. Or, you can indulge it. Regardless, after the initial unexpected jolt, what happens next depends entirely upon the choices you make. So, own it.</div><div><br /></div><div>When we foolishly and erroneously talk of love as something we fall into or out of, we willfully ignore and excuse ourselves for the choices we make. </div><div><br /></div><div>Love is not something you fall into. You are walking down the street, not watching you step and accidently step into an uncovered hole at the bottom of which is a pile of love. Likewise you aren't walking down the street covered in love and fall into a hole and the love you felt for someone is suddenly thrown off, out of reach on the street above you where you walked a moment before.</div><div><br /></div><div>Let's move off for a moment from the topic of the love that binds the lives of people together in a relationship that brings out the best in both of them. Let's talk about the broader situation where we need to choose to love.</div><div><br /></div><div>Choosing to love is the hard choice that makes life much easier. Just as choosing to hate is the easy choice that makes life harder.</div><div><br /></div><div>Today, we are living in a world that is being torn asunder with hatred and enmity. Too often our political and sometimes even our religious leaders teach us that those who don't agree with us are evil and hateful. They are bad people. </div><div><br /></div><div>This is taught in political rallies all the time. </div><div><br /></div><div>The people in the other party want to destroy you and your way of life. They must be stopped at any cost. Whatever you do to thwart them is good, and whatever they do is always bad. They are a threat to your very existence.</div><div><br /></div><div>In his Sermon on the Mount Jesus of Nazareth taught that we should love those that hate us and pray for those who despitefully use us. Christ showed that God hates the sin and loves the sinner.</div><div><br /></div><div>We can, and should, stand up for what we believe is right. However, we must not hate those who don't agree with us. In fact, we must choose to love them in spite of whatever "sin" they embrace and even in spite of however they may "despitefully use [us]."</div><div><br /></div><div>When others actually harm you, or even appear to be supporting things that may harm you, it is easy to hate them. Unfortunately, when you choose to hate, you fill your life with hate.</div><div><br /></div><div>Hate is the easy choice that makes your own life hard.</div><div><br /></div><div>In contrast, when you choose to love, you make a hard choice which ends up making your life so much easier because when your life is filled with love, everything is easier to bear.</div><div><br /></div><div>Just to be clear, I know that evil is real. I know that there absolute, cosmic standards which differentiate between right and wrong, good and evil. Yes, I believe that both Christ and Lucifer are real individuals, each with their own agendas and followers, both seen and unseen.</div><div><br /></div><div>I also know that there will come a great day of reckoning where each of us in turn will stand before God and account for our actions, choices, deeds, words, and thoughts in this life. </div><div><br /></div><div>While I can see the actions of a person and typically judge correctly if they are good or evil, I can never have the knowledge needed to be able to say if that person is good or evil. That judgement is left wholly to God, because he sees the entire picture of each of us.</div><div><br /></div><div>The great news is that each of is given the gift of choice. We have our own agency and freedom to choose. However, we don't have freedom from the consequences of our choices. Many of those consequences are as inevitable as the effects of gravity.</div><div><br /></div><div>When we choose to hate, the consequence is that our thoughts and feelings in all aspects of our lives become tainted with the grit of bad feelings. Too often this results in the destruction of the loving relationships we have in our lives. Then, we end up alone, bitter, and hateful, i.e., full of hate.</div><div><br /></div><div>When we choose to love, even when unlovely things happen or are done to us, our thoughts and feelings are lubricated with love. Bad things happen, but they don't destroy us. Others try to wound us with their words and deeds, but regardless of the harm they do us, we know that they are harming themselves even more and we feel sorrow for them. </div><div><br /></div><div>When we choose to respond with love to hate, it confuses people. It also deprives them of their opportunity to control us. If we only give love for love and harm for harm, then anyone can control us. They can lead us to destruction with words and deeds which appear to be kind and loving. They can drive is to do great evils by prodding us with anger and blatant harms.</div><div><br /></div><div>I could go on, but I believe I have made my point. I hope you will ponder my points and add your own. </div><div><br /></div><div>Our ability to choose how we act, instead of reacting, is a singular quality that sets us apart from the brute animals. The only way we will quell the divisive and violent nature of our society (and our lives) is to choose love.<br /><br /><center><i>
See Tom's political views on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/TomSheppardPoliticalViews/
<br />
Follow Tom on Twitter: @ThomasKSheppard
<br /><br />
Tom Sheppard is a business consultant and coach to small business owners and individuals. He is a recognized author with dozens of titles in business and fiction to his credit. One of his endeavors is to help those who want to see their own book in print. He does this through his trademarked Book Whispering Process (TM).
<br /><br />
The author is not an official spokesperson for any organization or person mentioned herein.
<br /><br /><b>
(c) Copyright 2020 A+ Results LLC. All Rights Reserved.</b>
<br /><br />
Your comments are welcome... Please observe some ground rules. No profanity, vulgarity, or personal attacks. Profanity, vulgarity and personal attacks not only betray a lack of vocabulary and imagination, they also are the hallmarks of bigotry, and bigotry is the hallmark of someone who is fundamentally insecure in their views. Facts are always welcome.</i></center>
<br />
<h2><center>
<i>If you believe Government is NOT the answer to all our problems, </i><i>you will want to read<br /> <a href="https://amzn.to/2SaZlyb" target="_blank">Godvernment: Government as God</a></i></center></h2>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Godvernment-Government-God-Tom-Sheppard-ebook/dp/B01MFAFZ9D/ref=as_li_ss_il?keywords=Godvernment+sheppard&qid=1553111331&s=gateway&sr=8-1-spell&linkCode=li3&tag=godandgove-20&linkId=9225ed931985e51d3f8fce325551fc91&language=en_US" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B01MFAFZ9D&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=godandgove-20&language=en_US" /></a></i></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">(c) Copyright 2017 A+ Results, LLC. All Rights Reserved.</div>Tom Sheppardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09835008483484789023noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2796884117961799742.post-47420397620512260082023-03-06T14:11:00.003-07:002023-03-06T14:11:35.842-07:00America the Great<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEist7-rHQyWSElqRjFY2VMJML3LFJKb8iptyvjxHLrz9CSXo4LIuYe9cdcbWyN-j0Hb0Y2GsEWhnZH0hrPC8oT-0PLHPH9Wd9GAx1eFCbFeTDRIJ9dMypq9ZVu5WBrm2zFBDmrpY8X6LV0YYmbJd8l6pygyqnfaInOoUQgXEg9K-P2QNgj6D3GHwd0J/s5616/Depositphotos_13442214_XL.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3744" data-original-width="5616" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEist7-rHQyWSElqRjFY2VMJML3LFJKb8iptyvjxHLrz9CSXo4LIuYe9cdcbWyN-j0Hb0Y2GsEWhnZH0hrPC8oT-0PLHPH9Wd9GAx1eFCbFeTDRIJ9dMypq9ZVu5WBrm2zFBDmrpY8X6LV0YYmbJd8l6pygyqnfaInOoUQgXEg9K-P2QNgj6D3GHwd0J/s320/Depositphotos_13442214_XL.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />The history of the United States of America has it share of unsightly stains. I categorize a "stain" on our history as things which run counter to the ideals and principles espoused in The Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of the United States of America, and the Bill of Rights.<div><br /></div><div>The most enduring and noteworthy stains have been slavery, racism, and elitism, which both run directly counter to the foundational principle that "all men are created equal." An emerging stain is the intolerant, and anti-democratic movements of 'social justice', critical race theory (CRT), and 'wokeness.'</div><div><br /></div><div>In spite of very real stains, the United States of America is unequaled in the history of the world for enabling the political liberty and economic prosperity of people all over the world.</div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><u>Part 1 - Slavery</u></h2><div>In fairness to the Founding Fathers, many of them recognized the hypocrisy of their egalitarian principles and the institution of slavery. They made some concessions in their principles to keep the states united as one nation. At the same time, they took steps to minimize the political leverage that might accrue to slave owners by <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/three-fifths-compromise" target="_blank">discounting the value of their human chattel with regards to apportioning legislative seats</a>. </div><div><br /></div><div>I believe the Founding Fathers also trusted that, over time, the principle of 'forming a more perfect union' would continue to erode slavery until it could be abolished entirely. Which is exactly what happened. </div><h3 style="text-align: left;">The Three-Fifths Compromise</h3><div>The so-called <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/three-fifths-compromise" target="_blank">three-fifths compromise</a>, alluded to above, is actually a racist statement, but it may surprise some to realize that it isn't racist towards blacks. It is racist toward Native Americans (Indians):</div><div><br /></div><blockquote><div><i>Representatives and direct Taxes shall be apportioned among the several States which may be included within this Union, according to their respective Numbers, which shall be determined by adding to the whole Number of free Persons, including those bound to Service for a term of years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three-fifths of all other Persons</i></div></blockquote><p>Note that the words 'slave' and 'black' are not used anywhere is the Constitution. Rather the terms used are "free Persons," persons "bound to service for a term of years" (i.e., indentured servants), and "all other Persons." Only the "Indians" (all Native Americans) who were undeniably free persons, were called out and excluded by race from either category.</p><p>As a matter of Constitutional law, slavery was not a racial matter. Slavery was a legal status.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;">US Civil War Ended Slavery</h3><div>The US Civil War was the slave owners' last ditch effort to preserve the institution of slavery which was, then, cornerstone to their economic livelihood. They had no way to know that less than thirty years after the Civil War (about 1894), Eli Whitney would invent the <a href="https://ehistory.osu.edu/articles/invention-cotton-gin" target="_blank">cotton gin</a>, which would effectively eliminate a significant reliance on manual labor for the production of cotton.</div><div><br /></div><div>Regardless of arguments over states' rights versus slavery as the proximate cause of the Civil War, it is incontrovertible that the <a href="https://www.archives.gov/milestone-documents/13th-amendment#:~:text=Passed%20by%20Congress%20on%20January,slavery%20in%20the%20United%20States." target="_blank">Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution</a> is directly linked to the Civil War. It was passed in January of 1865 and ratified in December of that same year. The amendment ensured that the debate over the legality of slavery would be ended when the Union prevailed over the Confederate States of America. The amendment converted the Emancipation Proclamation, a potentially temporary executive order using the wartime powers of President Abraham Lincoln, into the overarching law for all states in the United States of America.</div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Separating Racism and Slavery</h3><div>The 13th Amendment does not address racism, at all. It further perfects the Union by eliminating slavery. It also eliminates the portion of the US Constitution which discounted the voting power of slaves, because it eliminated the legal status of slavery.</div><div><div></div><blockquote><div><i>AMENDMENT XIII</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>Section 1.</i></div><div><i>Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>Section 2.</i></div><div><i>Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.</i></div></blockquote><p style="text-align: right;">Source: <a href="https://www.archives.gov/milestone-documents/13th-amendment#:~:text=Passed%20by%20Congress%20on%20January,slavery%20in%20the%20United%20States." target="_blank">National Archives</a> </p><p>Slavery is a legal status, not a racial one. </p><p>There is ample evidence in the historical record to support this assertion. If we accept the terms 'black' and 'white' as racial identifiers, then the fact that <a href="https://www.theroot.com/did-black-people-own-slaves-1790895436" target="_blank">blacks in America owned slaves</a> substantially destroys the argument that slavery is a racial issue. Further, the historical evidence supporting the involuntary servitude (i.e., slavery) of <a href="https://www.africaresource.com/rasta/sesostris-the-great-the-egyptian-hercules/the-irish-slave-trade-forgotten-white-slaves/" target="_blank">Irish prisoners brought to the American colonies by the English</a> destroys the remaining foundation of any argument that slavery in the Americas was purely a racist institution.</p><h2><u>Part 2 Racism</u></h2><h3 style="text-align: left;">Racism Defined</h3><div>Racism has existed from time-immemorial. It is based on prejudice.</div><p>The <a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/racism" target="_blank">Merriam Webster dictionary defines racism</a> as:</p><p></p><ul><li>Belief that race is a fundamental determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race</li><li>Behavior or attitudes that reflect and foster this belief : racial discrimination or prejudice</li><li>Systemic oppression of a racial group to the social, economic, and political advantage of another</li><li>A political or social system founded on racism and designed to execute its principles</li></ul><p></p><h3>Prejudice</h3><p>Webster defines <a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prejudice#h1" target="_blank">prejudice</a> as: </p><p></p><ul><li>injury or damage resulting from some judgment or action of another in disregard of one's rights</li><li>preconceived judgment or opinion</li><li>an adverse opinion or leaning formed without just grounds or before sufficient knowledge</li><li>an instance of such judgment or opinion</li><li>an irrational attitude of hostility directed against an individual, a group, a race, or their supposed characteristics</li></ul><p></p><div></div><div>Notice that prejudice is characterized by being based on lack of knowledge and irrationality.</div><div><br /></div><div>Prejudice and racism are nothing new. Throughout history, nearly every distinct tribe, people, and nation have fostered prejudice against others. </div><div><br /></div><div>Among the Native American tribes of the USA most nations referred to themselves as some variant of "the human beings." This implied that other nations were less than human.</div><div><br /></div><div>The peoples of the USA believed they had a "manifest destiny" to conquer and control all of North America (and at times beyond those limits).</div><div><br /></div><div>Romans considered themselves superior to the barbarian nations on their borders.</div><div><br /></div><div>Germans are better than the French. The French are better than the Germans.</div><div><br /></div><div>Before World War II, the racial prejudice of the Japanese led them declare themselves the "master race" and justify their conquest of Korea, China, and everywhere else as a logical outcome of their racial superiority and natural right to rule.</div><div><br /></div><div>Nearly everyone is aware of the Aryan master race theory promoted by Adolf Hitler as the rationalization for the subjugation of all "inferior" races and even the extermination of specific races. His delusion led to the death of more than six million Jews as well as contributing to the deaths of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II_casualties#:~:text=An%20estimated%20total%20of%2070,war%2Drelated%20disease%20and%20famine." target="_blank">75 to 80 million soldiers and civilians</a> in World War II.</div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Racial Slavery Justified</h3><div>Regardless of the legal nicety distinguishing the issues of slavery and racism, it is irrefutable that, in the years leading up to the Civil War, most slaves in the United States of America were of African descent. The ethnic characteristics of the Africans were often very different than the European ethnic characteristics of those in power. This facilitated the mental gymnastics of Bible-toting slave owners to justify their enslavement, even in the face of Christian mores condemning slavery.</div><div><br /></div><div>They reasoned that the ethnic differences between Africans and Europeans were outward manifestations of fundamental differences in the intellectual and spiritual capacities of Africans and Europeans.</div><div><br /></div><div>This ethnicity-driven attitude toward slavery contrasts sharply with the historical justification of slavery as the merciful fate of the weak at the hands of the strong. Throughout human history, those who survived the violent conquest of their people were enslaved.</div><h3 style="text-align: left;">The Root of Raced-Based Slavery</h3><div>Slave owners in the USA did not have the pretext of conquest to provide any moral justification for slavery, so they had to invent a moral pretext. If Africans were inherently inferior to Europeans, then enslaving Africans was an act of service, lifting them above their brute existence and into the lowest rungs of civilization. </div><div><br /></div><div>At best, this was a specious argument. At worst it was simply a lie and blatant rationalization to quell a guilty conscience. The suppression of teaching slaves to read and write was a necessary measure to prevent the refutation of this ethnic rationalization of slavery. Blacks who could read, write, and reason as well as any European would put the lie to the argument that they were inherently inhuman brutes, barely better than savage beasts, or other domesticated livestock.</div><div><br /></div><div>To support slavery in the USA, the ethnic differences of Africans and Europeans had to be portrayed as more than ethnic variations. Instead the Africans had to be transformed into a species that was similar to humans, but something slightly less. They had to be portrayed as a separate race of humans-like creatures with capabilities and potentials distinctly different, and less than European humans.</div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><u>Part 3 - Modern Stains</u></h2><h3 style="text-align: left;">Critical Race Theory (CRT)</h3><div>CRT is nothing more or less than racism. Its foundational concept is that individual and collective behavior is predestined based on skin color. But, CRT is not color-blind. It is specifically and particularly anti-white.</div><div><br /></div><div>Under the notions of CRT, white people are evil oppressors and black people are oppressed victims.</div><div><br /></div><div>A key premise is that any institution (such as the government of the United States of America) which has been created and supported by white people is inherently designed to promote white-supremacy. Further, such institutions are irredeemably corrupted by this racist purpose and cannot be corrected. Instead, they must be dismantled and replaced by institutions built by black people. The assumption inherent in the is either that black people will inherently create untainted institutions, or that building institutions which are anti-white is definitively "good" because white people are defined as "evil."</div><div><br /></div><div>It doesn't take a revelation from God to see that such vituperative views will inevitably lead to genocidal violence. Violent, genocide is the logical end of advocacy of any philosophy based on irrational hatred of others because of their inherent traits.</div><div><br /></div><div>Racial violence deriving from CRT will come from any or all of three sources:</div><div><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>As a natural extension of CRT as its advocates embrace their own version of Hitler's "Final Solution" and seek to exterminate whites.</li><li>White supremacists winning adherents and supporters to aggressively "protect" whites from increasingly threatening and militant CRT supporters.</li><li>Ordinary people who reject racism, embrace Constitutional principles, and band together to defend themselves against militant CRT black supremacists and militant white supremacists.</li></ol></div><div>When that happens, it will be another stain on the history of the USA.</div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Wokeness</h3><div>While the dictionary definition of wokeness sounds like a good thing, its practice is pretty vile. The <a href="https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/wokeness" target="_blank">Cambridge English Dictionary</a> defines wokeness as:</div><blockquote><div><i>Aa state of being aware, especially of social problems such as racism and inequality</i></div></blockquote><div>Being aware of social problems such as racism and inequality is a good thing. If we are unaware of problems, we are nearly incapable of resolving them. Unfortunately, in practice, wokeness is particularly centered in the notion of <a href="https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/intersectionality" target="_blank">intersectionality</a>. </div><blockquote><div><i>The way in which different types of discrimination (= unfair treatment because of a person's sex, race, etc.) are connected to and affect each other</i></div></blockquote><div>Intersectionality, in practice, is a game of one-upmanship where each person tries to show how much more (potentially) they are oppressed than others because of their unique behaviors or characteristics. The underlying motive is to secure preferential treatment for some intersections more than for others. The reasoning is that the greater preference is required to offset the greater degree of oppression or discrimination. The reality is that practitioners of intersectionality want to derive financial benefits based wholly on their characteristics (inherent or otherwise) without any effort or value-add to society. The narcissistic foundation of intersectionality is that society should pay for the enrichment is supposedly receives from the presence of such intersections.</div><h3 style="text-align: left;">The Irony of Wokeness</h3><div>The consummate irony of intersectionality is that when you carry it to its logical end point, you inevitably arrive at a doctrine which determines that the individual, is the ultimate expression of intersectionality and thus merits the greatest degree of societal protection and support. </div><div><br /></div><div>Individual worth and protection, regardless of other characteristics, is the cornerstone of the principles of Constitutional law and liberty. That is why the Constitution begins with the words, "We the People..." </div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Social Justice</h3><div>The Cambridge Dictionary defines <a href="https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/social-justice" target="_blank">social justice</a> as:</div><blockquote><div><i>"The idea that all people should have the same rights and opportunities and that a country's wealth and resources should benefit everyone in that country"</i></div></blockquote><p>Like wokeness, this is another movement that sounds right in its definition, but is totally wrong in its execution.</p><p>Let's unpack this definition to find out where it goes wrong.</p><blockquote><p> "<i>all people should have the same rights"</i></p></blockquote><p>That statement is totally in agreement with the founding principles of the USA. </p><blockquote><p> "<i>all people should have the same ... opportunities"</i></p></blockquote><h4 style="text-align: left;">Life Isn't Fair</h4><p>Here, we begin to skate on thin ice. Opportunities are often closely linked with circumstances and personal characteristics. Suggesting that everyone should be given the same opportunities is based on the false assumption that life is fair and evenhanded in the distribution of our circumstances and characteristics. </p><p>Some of us have greater intellectual capacity than others. The person with an IQ of 60 is unlikely to have the opportunity to attend MIT because that low IQ indicates the inability of that person to succeed at the level of intellectual endeavors needed to matriculate and succeed in studies at MIT.</p><p>Although there is not equivalent of and IQ for artistic talent, someone with my mediocre level of artistic skill is not going to benefit from, and hence not receive, an opportunity to attend Julliard. My abilities simply aren't sufficient to qualify me for attendance. </p><p>Legislating such "fairness" of opportunities without regard to abilities will have the end result of destroying excellence, and all the benefits that come from excellence. Excellent inventions such as smart phones, excellent art such as a Warhol (even mediocre art such as a Bob Rossi), and many other marvelous and beautiful enhancements to our lives will cease to occur.</p><h4 style="text-align: left;">Outcomes</h4><blockquote><p><i>"a country's wealth and resources should benefit everyone in that country"</i></p></blockquote><p>This component of social justice is focused on individual outcomes. Everyone, means every individual. The premise here is that we should all get the same outcomes. The assumption is that these outcomes are universally good, hence the word "benefit."</p><p>The bitter reality is that the only way you can ensure that everyone gets the same benefit is by denying all but the most rudimentary benefits to everyone. Worse, such enforced egalitarian poverty is at odds with basic human nature and thus is doomed to failure. Enforced poverty will inevitably lead to corruption as people seeks ways to manipulate the system to provide themselves with what levels of comfort they want (regardless of what they may, or may not, deserve).</p><h4 style="text-align: left;">Capitalism</h4><p>Worst of all, this phrase is totally anti-capitalist. </p><p>The beating heart of capitalism is sustained by two things:</p><p></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>the free and uncoerced exchange of goods and services</li><li>the natural principle of supply and demand</li></ol><div>While governments and individuals may strive, or succeed, to exert coercion in exchanges, the natural principles of supply and demand cannot be subverted. They are inexorable.</div><div><br /></div><div>Scarcity and utility are the natural drivers of value. People are willing to exchange more goods and services for those goods and services which are more scarce or of greater utility. They unwilling to exchange goods and services which are scarce or very useful and will do so only if the exchange is of equal or greater value to them.</div><div><br /></div><div>Because of this natural principle, those who provide the most scarce or most useful goods and services will inevitably accrue a greater abundance of other goods and services than others.</div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Socialism</h4><div>This is true even (or especially) in the halls of socialist governments, where valuable information or access is clandestinely and routinely traded for such goods and services as the holder of information or access desires. Political and economic power are commodities which are scarce and very useful. Thus, such egalitarian utopias almost immediately upon inception descend into corruption as illegal exchanges become the only means whereby anyone can rise above the enforced poverty dictated by the state.</div><div><br /></div><div>Even if equality of outcomes were possible, it would be undesirable. The behavior of slaves is especially instructive in this point.</div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Social Justice is Economic Slavery</h4><div>All slaves enjoy an equality of outcome from their labors. From their masters they get food, clothing, and shelter. The rewards do not increase in proportion to the success of the master's enterprise. As a result, when the master is not overseeing their work, slaves do only the minimal amount of work they are not forced to do.</div><div><br /></div><div>No one will exert themselves to excellent inventions, art, innovations, or anything else, unless it will directly increase the rewards they receive for their efforts. You may argue that this should not be how people behave. However, you can just as effectively argue that the sun should rise in the West as many days as it rises in the East, and have just as much success at changing things.</div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Equality of Outcomes Equals Destitution</h4><div>Equality of outcomes is both unattainable and undesirable. Equality of outcomes destroys initiative, innovation, excellence, and abundance. It leads only to universal poverty and destitution.</div><p></p><h2 style="text-align: left;"><u>Part 4 - The Greatness of America</u></h2><div>As I mentioned at the start of this essay, the United States of America is unequaled in the history of the world for enabling the political liberty and economic prosperity of people all over the world.</div><div><br /></div><div>The USA is the first nation in the history of the world which was founded on the principles of individual liberty. The US Constitution and Bill of Rights is the first government expressly designed to protect the rights of the people and preserve them from oppression by the state.</div><div><br /></div><div>The success of the American Revolution, and its founding principles, led directly to democratic revolutions all over the world, beginning first with France. It is arguable that if the American Revolution had failed, most of what we currently know as "the free world" would still be governed by powerful monarchies. Instead, they are republics, governed by leaders who are elected by the people to serve for a time while representing the best interests of the people. </div><div><br /></div><div>The USA has fought and won two world wars to defend the political liberty of people in other countries. Unlike conquering powers throughout history, the USA did not require political or economic subservience or servitude of its defeated foes. Rather, it expended its treasure to rebuild its former foes and encouraged their self-determination.</div><div><br /></div><div>In the wake of the successful imperial efforts of the USA (a stain in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries) instead of colonizing and retaining the servitude of countries such as the Philippines, Cuba, Mexico, and most of the Pacific Islands, in the twentieth century the USA relinquished control of these countries to self-governance.</div><div><br /></div><div>Through most of the twentieth century and now in the twenty-first century, the USA consistently eschews colonialism and imperialism. Preferring instead to encourage self-governance, the rule of law, and universal recognition and protection of the inalienable rights of humanity.</div><h3 style="text-align: left;">The Decline of America</h3><h4 style="text-align: left;">Nation Building</h4><div>Sadly, our national good intentions have been abused as politicians have been seduced into "nation building." We try to impose our economic and political values and structures of governance on other nations which have not reached a point of maturity where they have a majority of people who desire these. </div><div><br /></div><div>Most recently we see this failure in Afghanistan. Instead of using our military might to teach the Taliban that it is not in their best interests to support those who attack the people of the USA, we took over their country for a time. While there, we tried to encourage democratic government. We failed because democracy is never something that can be imposed upon a people. They must win it for themselves. True, they may need outside help, but it is worth noting that no French armies took the field with American revolutionaries against the British. The greatest share of bleeding for freedom was done by Americans.</div><div><br /></div><div>Previously, we saw this same lesson explained to us in Vietnam. Before that, it was taught to us in the jungles of Central America during the so-called wars of the Banana republics. In all those cases, after we removed our military, the governments of those countries collapsed and re-emerged in forms that the people of that country were willing to support.</div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Moral Decadence</h4><div>At the same time as we are seeking to build other nations, our national public persona has come to be widely portrayed by media and popular culture as dissolute, licentious, and pleasure seeking. Our movies, societal trends, and many of our laws seem to disregard the importance of the nuclear family, religion, and the sanctity of life. </div><div><br /></div><div>All these destructive societal trends were manifested preceding the destruction of the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire. They are clearly critical performance indicators for the survival of any nation. Many of our current trends, are repugnant to wholesome people of all nations. It isn't hard to understand how Muslim extremists can gain credibility with more mainstream people by calling the USA "the Great Satan." Our society is becoming increasingly devilish and degenerate.</div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><u>Conclusions</u></h2><div>We have many old, and some new, stains on our history. Slavery, racism, CRT, wokeness, social justice, and even some imperialism are all stains on our history. Many of our old stains have been removed. Some persist and are made worse by new stains. Although the old stains of slavery and imperialism have been vanquished, racism persists and is being exacerbated by things like CRT and wokeness. Before the rise of CRT, racism in the USA was on the wane and nearly extinct.</div><div> </div><div>Despite these stains on its robes, the USA is still the best place on earth to live. We enjoy a level of economic abundance, mobility, and liberty which is the envy of the world. Our political freedom (though rapidly eroding) is still substantially greater than anywhere else. The USA is still a shining city on a hill and a beacon of freedom. Those who say otherwise are either ignorant of the facts, or jealous and conniving for our downfall.</div><div><br /></div><div>We will solve our social ills by ensuring that the law applies equally to everyone, without any regard to their immutable characteristics, or their choice of religion.</div><div><br /></div><br /><center><i>
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Tom Sheppard is a business consultant and coach to small business owners and individuals. He is a recognized author with dozens of titles in business and fiction to his credit. One of his endeavors is to help those who want to see their own book in print. He does this through his trademarked Book Whispering Process (TM).
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<i>If you believe Government is NOT the answer to all our problems, </i><i>you will want to read<br /> <a href="https://amzn.to/3mxbbnE" target="_blank">Godvernment: Government as God</a></i></center></h2></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHhY_8PdmFLZGoACL9x51xCxFaIxdUum_uyj4PsxYrTT4yC4rAiQtX0SM7v4frQwqXkaUkDjsoYVv9R03RelYXKNTDOv_v0bXnq0SeO3NGoYwEFbcsCtlDO350QS_sUJhZMzVDB9uu5FH6puVJKpJHhgJR2XVh3xCiTqnBogoO7aWXZ7LOY3iRnxae/s1650/Godvernment%20Book%20View%20Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1650" data-original-width="1275" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHhY_8PdmFLZGoACL9x51xCxFaIxdUum_uyj4PsxYrTT4yC4rAiQtX0SM7v4frQwqXkaUkDjsoYVv9R03RelYXKNTDOv_v0bXnq0SeO3NGoYwEFbcsCtlDO350QS_sUJhZMzVDB9uu5FH6puVJKpJHhgJR2XVh3xCiTqnBogoO7aWXZ7LOY3iRnxae/s320/Godvernment%20Book%20View%20Cover.jpg" width="247" /></a></div><br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">(c) Copyright 2017 A+ Results, LLC. All Rights Reserved.</div>Tom Sheppardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09835008483484789023noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2796884117961799742.post-68864376474490567442022-12-12T08:15:00.003-07:002023-03-07T10:19:44.817-07:00Conspiracy Theory or Fact?<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgKGmGpXDCVhdl8Y-wx2C1y34tN_M4q0I1r-OLc_uAxI4KKZ9OhUq-HxtXgFdaBT4UaxrRsb4X34IJ2enYUVYZOtV5ogvR40MmkSjxTGYsq0SrI49UXxRphqFezXVAoLeEH-hCRrTUDGsQf5OjXSpzKfy_t1Zg-VGy5D-HaAc4JrMG1lHA7-UwPfkD/s5184/Depositphotos_61526527_XL.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgKGmGpXDCVhdl8Y-wx2C1y34tN_M4q0I1r-OLc_uAxI4KKZ9OhUq-HxtXgFdaBT4UaxrRsb4X34IJ2enYUVYZOtV5ogvR40MmkSjxTGYsq0SrI49UXxRphqFezXVAoLeEH-hCRrTUDGsQf5OjXSpzKfy_t1Zg-VGy5D-HaAc4JrMG1lHA7-UwPfkD/w464-h309/Depositphotos_61526527_XL.jpg" width="464" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">(c) 2014 by Stefan Kunert; Used under license from DepositPhotos.com</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p class="MsoNormal">When does a conspiracy theory become fact?</p><p class="MsoNormal">We have been conditioned to discount and deride accusations
of conspiracy. “Conspiracy theorists” are openly derided and automatically
depicted as tinfoil hat-wearing near-lunatics. For many years I, like so many others,
tended to adopt this same benign disregard for anything labeled a conspiracy or
conspiracy theory.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Recently, my thinking was challenged when I read an author
who asserted that throughout history conspiracies are the norm, not the
exception. I decided to test the validity of this assertion. To do that I
started with defining the word conspiracy. This forced me to first look at the
definition of the root word, conspire.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">A conspiracy is formed when people conspire. Self-referential
definitions are meaningless, by themselves. So, to define what is a conspiracy,
we must first determine what it means to conspire.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Per Dictionary.com conspire, a verb, means:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]-->1.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->to agree together, especially secretly, to do
something wrong, evil, or illegal:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]-->2.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->to act or work together toward the same result
or goal:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In today’s world the terms “wrong”, and “evil” are
considered relativistic value judgements; meaning what is considered wrong by
one person may be considered right, by another. This is epitomized in the
saying, “one man’s terrorist is another’s freedom fighter.” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This means, we must discard those values-based elements from
the definition. They become part of the connotation versus the denotation of
the word. We all know that the connotation of a conspiracy is that it has bad
intentions. Unfortunately, that connotation is preventing us from accurately
evaluating the truth of the notion that conspiracies are widespread and normal.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For similar reasons we can disregard the connotation of “illegal.”
What is legal varies too widely from one part of the world to another to
provide any help with this exercise. For
instance, is countries where Sharia Law prevails homosexuality is illegal and
punishable with death, while in the US it is legally recognized as a form of
marriage. Because of this variability we must discard the illegal modifier as
another value-based part of the connotation rather than a legitimate part of
the definition of conspire or conspiracy.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This leaves us with the simple elements of agreeing together,
acting or working together, toward the same goal or result. While “especially
secretly” is thrown in, that too is more of a connotation than the actual definition.
It isn’t reasonable to assert that a publicly viewable conspiracy is less of a
conspiracy than a private one. Public or private, they both meet the same
criteria of being two or more people working cooperatively toward a common
goal.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Per Dictionary.com a conspiracy, a verb and a noun is defined
as follows:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]-->1.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->the act of conspiring.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]-->2.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->an unlawful, harmful, or evil plan formulated in
secret by two or more persons; plot.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]-->3.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->a combination of persons for such an unlawful,
harmful, or evil purpose:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]-->4.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->He joined the conspiracy to overthrow the
government.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]-->5.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Law. an agreement by two or more persons to
commit a crime, fraud, or other wrongful act.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]-->6.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->any concurrence in action; combination in
bringing about a given result.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Again, to get at the definition we must strip away the
values-based connotations which have been used to modify the definition. When we
set aside “unlawful”, “evil”, and “harmful” that also allows us to disregard
the adjectives (or adverbs) of “crime, fraud, or other wrongful act.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">All this leads me to the unambiguous definition of conspire
(the verb) to be:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Two or more people agreeing to do something.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And conspiracy (the noun) becomes:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Two or more people cooperating to achieve a
common goal<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Stripping out relativistic values from the definition, we
are left with a definition that can apply as accurately to the Boy Scouts, or
the US Senate, as to Al Qaeda. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Well, perhaps the US Senate doesn’t qualify as a whole
because they seldom appear to be working toward the same result or goal.
However, the political parties of those Senators certainly qualify as conspiracies.
The members of their political parties conspire with each other to do what it
takes to elect their chosen minions to public offices and political
appointments where those conspirators can work to further the agenda of the
political party (the conspiracy).<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Interestingly, using this working definition, any business
that is more than a sole proprietorship is correctly defined as a conspiracy.
Add in the fact that the notes from board meetings of most companies are
routinely classified as corporate secrets, we can make a blanket inference that
secrecy is the same as “evil, illegal, criminal, fraudulent, etc.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The same could be said of almost any meeting of top
government officials (for all countries).<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">My point?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The next time someone seeks to denigrate a story as a “conspiracy
theory” instead of just going along with the potential smear-job consider the
fact that the accuser is almost certainly part of a different conspiracy that
has its own objective(s) and the conspiracy theorist is gumming things up for
the author’s pet conspiracy.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">© 2022 Thomas K Sheppard, All rights reserved.<o:p></o:p></p><br /><center><i>
See Tom's political views on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/TomSheppardPoliticalViews/
<br />
Follow Tom on Twitter: @ThomasKSheppard
<br /><br />
Tom Sheppard is a business consultant and coach to small business owners and individuals. He is a recognized author with dozens of titles in business and fiction to his credit. One of his endeavors is to help those who want to see their own book in print. He does this through his trademarked Book Whispering Process (TM).
<br /><br />
The author is not an official spokesperson for any organization or person mentioned herein.
<br /><br /><b>
(c) Copyright 2020 A+ Results LLC. All Rights Reserved.</b>
<br /><br />
Your comments are welcome... Please observe some ground rules. No profanity, vulgarity, or personal attacks. Profanity, vulgarity and personal attacks not only betray a lack of vocabulary and imagination, they also are the hallmarks of bigotry, and bigotry is the hallmark of someone who is fundamentally insecure in their views. Facts are always welcome.</i></center>
<br />
<h2><center>
<i>If you believe Government is NOT the answer to all our problems, </i><i>you will want to read<br /> <a href="https://amzn.to/2SaZlyb" target="_blank">Godvernment: Government as God</a></i></center></h2>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Godvernment-Government-God-Tom-Sheppard-ebook/dp/B01MFAFZ9D/ref=as_li_ss_il?keywords=Godvernment+sheppard&qid=1553111331&s=gateway&sr=8-1-spell&linkCode=li3&tag=godandgove-20&linkId=9225ed931985e51d3f8fce325551fc91&language=en_US" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B01MFAFZ9D&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=godandgove-20&language=en_US" /></a></i></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">(c) Copyright 2017 A+ Results, LLC. All Rights Reserved.</div>Tom Sheppardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09835008483484789023noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2796884117961799742.post-14148891785798151382022-06-15T08:59:00.002-06:002022-06-15T09:32:15.867-06:00The Roots of Liberty<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh18UY4HmPcRWnsn-dAvn_k8o1NifXYH5rIMJXbG1n4bzGEN6w4E3gWPOaEo-gnyG2Fmt_biMH_z_oa1vGOuTbvYFDhWZ722rgWvCcOt8eF2NR2c90zYd1QdeyEeV4c26Y4tXSPj5ZmMAbmpK0jNI2-5bMbpfZoi0YbSnwCHXDPUeZG6i7WHHIWeflm/s2000/Depositphotos_41132583_l-2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh18UY4HmPcRWnsn-dAvn_k8o1NifXYH5rIMJXbG1n4bzGEN6w4E3gWPOaEo-gnyG2Fmt_biMH_z_oa1vGOuTbvYFDhWZ722rgWvCcOt8eF2NR2c90zYd1QdeyEeV4c26Y4tXSPj5ZmMAbmpK0jNI2-5bMbpfZoi0YbSnwCHXDPUeZG6i7WHHIWeflm/s320/Depositphotos_41132583_l-2015.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Creation of Adam (C) Sergey Nivens licensed through DepositPhotos.com</span></div><div><br /></div>Most of my career has been focused on solving problems. First as a computer programmer, then as a systems analyst and later as a project and program manager my job was to solve problems for my clients. Early on I learned that if you can correctly define the problem you are about half way to solving it. However, correctly defining a problem is not as easy at is sounds. Problems are often so distracting, urgent, messy, volatile, or all of the above that it is difficult to separate the symptoms from the actual problem.<div><br /></div><div>To illustrate this concept consider a situation where fires are springing up all around you. What do you do first? Do you call the Fire Department, start throwing water, or, do you stop the arsonist from starting more fires? Good sense demands the latter. However, when you are distracted by all the smoke, flames, noise, panic, and confusion it is often easier to try to extinguish one fire and then another. Unfortunately, when you treat the symptoms (in this case the fire) your efforts are in vain because the real root of the problem keeps causing more symptoms.</div><div><br /></div><div><div><blockquote><b><i><span style="font-size: large;">There are a thousand hacking at the branches of evil to one who is striking at the root.</span></i></b></blockquote></div><div style="text-align: right;">Henry David Thoreau</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Thoreau's statement (above) illustrates the fact that, most of us are more than ready and willing to address symptoms while those who address the root of an issue are much more rare.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">As a professional problem solver I was trained in techniques of root cause analysis. I have used those tools and techniques many times to ensure that the time, energy, and money provided to me was used to resolve root causes instead of being wasted treating symptoms. Metaphorically, instead of simply putting out fires I made sure the arsonist was dealt with first, then we could move on to putting out the fires and repairing the damage.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">On July 4, 1776 The Declaration of Independence of the United States of America was published. Among the words of the Declaration it stated "... we are endowed by our Creator with certain inalienable rights..."</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Allow me, please, to unpack this a bit and in my own order and hopefully I can explain the connection between the elements in this phrase, symptoms, and roots.</div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Unalienable Rights</h2><div style="text-align: left;">Unalienable rights are rights ingrained into humanity. When governments seek to deprive people of these inherent, ingrained, and unalienable rights, they cannot rule in peace. They can only deprive people of these rights through the constant, consistent application of force and violence. Efforts to deprive people of these rights inevitably provoke strong resistance from people. Depending on the conditioning of the people this resistance can range from editorials in the press, petitions, peaceful protests in the streets, violent protests, assassinations, insurrections, and armed rebellions. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">If you look at the arc of events leading up to the American Revolution you see that same progression. The American Colonists first resorted to opinion pieces in the papers. From there to petitions sent to the government. When these seemed to be ignored, or worse used as pretext to attack them, they escalated to peaceful protests, then violent protests. Finally, finding their efforts only resulted in greater violence against them they came out in open rebellion against their government.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">When their rebellion prevailed and they were able to establish their own government, instead of embracing a monarchy where an elite few made and enforced the laws, they opted to form a constitutional republic. A government "... of the People, by the People, and for the People." Through the power of elections, Americans are given the power of rebellion. Every election we can throw off those leaders who fail to represent our interests over their own, or those of others. This electoral system balances the power of the majority against the rights of the minority, and is based on the foundational principle that either the rights of every individual are important, or none are important. </div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Endow</h2><div style="text-align: left;">To endow is to equip. An endowment, often associated with large contributions to charitable institutions, is to provide a financial source of income which keeps providing benefits in perpetuity, forever. Their value typically exceeds anything we could give in return for them. Endowments are gifts, not purchases. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">These unalienable rights are a gift that equips us to live our lives in a manner that makes us responsible for our own outcomes, rather than allowing us to be victims of others' actions.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The most fundamental of our unalienable rights is freedom of conscience. The right to embrace and act on our own beliefs. This is only restrained if our actions have the effect of depriving others of their unalienable rights.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, mentioned specifically in the Declaration, all rest upon our freedom of conscience.</div><h2 style="text-align: left;">By the Creator</h2><div style="text-align: left;">Monarchies prevailed across the world at the time of the American Revolution. Under a monarchy (and other forms of dictatorship) all rights flow from the monarch (the King or Queen). If the ruler grants a right, s/he can subsequently revoke that right. History shows monarchs and dictators have rescinded rights and privileges from their people almost as often as they granted them.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">In blatant defiance of all forms of dictatorship (monarchies or otherwise) the Declaration of Independence states that the Creator gifted these rights to humanity and no government has the authority to revoke them. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Here we arrive at the root.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The implications of acknowledging a "Creator" are significant and affect everything that comes after that acknowledgement.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Many today embrace the notion that there is no Creator. They argue that against all the mathematical odds the extremely complex creatures and ecosystems which surround us came into being spontaneously and over eons of time have self-modified to result in the current state. If one of these advocates of wholly natural evolution were somehow transported to a distant, uninhabited planet and there, amid the sands of a desert came upon a digital camera their reason would conclude that the camera was the product of a creator, an intelligent designer. They would never accept the argument that the cosmos had shaken the sand of that desert so long that the minerals and crystals there had spontaneously formed to make this camera. And yet, they can look at the human optic system, which is much more complicated than that of a camera and assert that it was not created, it evolved.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The root reason why many people today reject the notion of an intelligent Creator is not through lack of evidence. Rather they reject the Creator out of fear. What people fear the most is the unknown.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">A mind which can create the cosmos we see is infinitely more capable than us. If we cannot comprehend the cosmos, its origins, its rules, its destination, its purpose, then we certainly cannot comprehend the intelligence which set it all up. Living in the shadow of such an unfathomable and powerful intelligence is naturally very frightening. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">If you acknowledge the existence of a Creator, what choices does that lead to?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">A) You can choose to pretend that the Creator doesn't exist. Because you cannot fathom the mind of the Creator you can imagine that you are of no consequence. The Creator takes no notice of you, so you are free to do as you please.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">B) You can choose to cower in fear of unwittingly offending such a being and finding yourself on the wrong end of the wrath of a cosmic power. Down this road lies a life of superstition. Like the ancient Greeks, you erect altars to all aspects of the Creator you can imagine. To cover your bases you even set up an altar to "the Unknown God" mentioned by Paul in Acts 17:23.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">C) You can seek to find the Creator in order to either align your life with the Creator's purposes or defy that power, seeking to thwart it. This course is quite challenging because there is nothing you can do which will uncover the existence of the Creator. You cannot force the Creator into the light of day under a microscope or a telescope. You can only find the Creator if the Creator chooses to reveal himself to you, and the very concept of revelation really scares most people and is easily faked by someone seeking power.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">For now, allow me to set aside the issue of revelation. Instead, let's focus on the implications from our being endowed by our Creator with these inalienable rights.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">If the Creator thought it worthwhile to give us these rights, then it stands to reason the Creator will hold us accountable for what we do with these rights. It is logical that it is especially important whether or not we seek to preserve them, or seek to deprive others of them.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">It seems clear to me that the Declaration of Independence makes clear that the Creator is the root of our rights and the associated duty to preserve those rights. We may ignore the many witnesses in nature, history, and word which bear witness to the intelligent hand of a Creator but our willful ignorance does not alleviate us one whit from our accountability to honor and defend these unalienable rights.</div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Divisiveness</h2><div style="text-align: left;">Today we are in the midst of what is still a largely civil conflict over these rights. At the root of this conflict is the belief in a Creator. If you acknowledge a Creator then you must deliberately defy that Creator or seek to align with that Creator. It becomes an important, conscious choice with significant consequences.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Those who seek to deprive us of our rights almost unanimously also seek to deny us the rights of conscience, particularly when it comes to religion. If our religion will adapt to not oppose their views then it is marginally acceptable. However, if our religion doesn't admit of compromise on fundamental issues, then we are to be redefined as dangerous extremists and turned into enemies of the state. Once that latter indictment sticks, then the full power of government can be unleashed to exterminate us and eradicate our views.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Our best defense against being destroyed (spiritually and physically) by this escalating conflict is to speak up in defense of our rights. Silence is acceptance. Show your gratitude to the Creator by speaking up in defense of the rights endowed to us. Use your voice. Use your vote. Use your time and money to support people and organizations who are trying to defend our rights.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">When you speak up in defense of our rights you will definitely offend some people and incur the anger of others. Speak up and defend rights politely, but firmly. Don't resort to demonization and name calling. If they are offended when you are not being offensive it is their choice, not yours. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">When you remain silent and inactive in the defense of our rights you will offend your Creator and may incur that divine wrath.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><center><i>
See Tom's political views on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/TomSheppardPoliticalViews/
<br />
Follow Tom on Twitter: @ThomasKSheppard
<br /><br />
Tom Sheppard is a business consultant and coach to small business owners and individuals. He is a recognized author with dozens of titles in business and fiction to his credit. One of his endeavors is to help those who want to see their own book in print. He does this through his trademarked Book Whispering Process (TM).
<br /><br />
The author is not an official spokesperson for any organization or person mentioned herein.
<br /><br /><b>
(c) Copyright 2020 A+ Results LLC. All Rights Reserved.</b>
<br /><br />
Your comments are welcome... Please observe some ground rules. No profanity, vulgarity, or personal attacks. Profanity, vulgarity and personal attacks not only betray a lack of vocabulary and imagination, they also are the hallmarks of bigotry, and bigotry is the hallmark of someone who is fundamentally insecure in their views. Facts are always welcome.</i></center>
<br />
<h2><center>
<i>If you believe Government is NOT the answer to all our problems, </i><i>you will want to read<br /> <a href="https://amzn.to/2SaZlyb" target="_blank">Godvernment: Government as God</a></i></center></h2>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Godvernment-Government-God-Tom-Sheppard-ebook/dp/B01MFAFZ9D/ref=as_li_ss_il?keywords=Godvernment+sheppard&qid=1553111331&s=gateway&sr=8-1-spell&linkCode=li3&tag=godandgove-20&linkId=9225ed931985e51d3f8fce325551fc91&language=en_US" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B01MFAFZ9D&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=godandgove-20&language=en_US" /></a></i></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">(c) Copyright 2017 A+ Results, LLC. All Rights Reserved.</div>Tom Sheppardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09835008483484789023noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2796884117961799742.post-89369114288962676962022-04-07T05:39:00.002-06:002022-04-07T05:39:38.089-06:00Give to Get<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="5u31v" data-offset-key="fjr9l-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="fjr9l-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="fjr9l-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Truth persists regardless of our beliefs, feelings, complaints, or votes.</b></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="5u31v" data-offset-key="7iq85-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="7iq85-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="7iq85-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><br data-text="true" /></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="5u31v" data-offset-key="erujm-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="erujm-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="erujm-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;">Without regard to your beliefs, feelings, or complaints, gravity keeps you from floating off the planet to asphyxiate in space. Gravity is a physical law of the universe. To live a happy and healthy life we have to adjust our lives to the inexorable law of gravity.</span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="5u31v" data-offset-key="2d3uk-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="2d3uk-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="2d3uk-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><br data-text="true" /></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="5u31v" data-offset-key="6o00k-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="6o00k-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="6o00k-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;">There is a force which animates each of us. It turns this lump of clay we call our body into a living organism. When that force departs, our body dies. This essence which animates each of us is undeniably real, though we don’t seem to be able to detect it with our five senses or any of the scientific instruments we have built to extend those senses. Whether you call it a soul, a spirit, or don’t believe it exists, it exists. Its effects on our body are undeniable and our death when it departs is unavoidable.</span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="5u31v" data-offset-key="oa76-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="oa76-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="oa76-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><br data-text="true" /></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="5u31v" data-offset-key="db5f2-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="db5f2-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="db5f2-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;">Just as the universe abounds with laws our bodies must accommodate, such as the law of gravity, there are laws in the universe which our spirit must accommodate. Perhaps the most important of these is known in western religions as the law of the harvest, or in the eastern, karma.</span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="5u31v" data-offset-key="24odr-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="24odr-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="24odr-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><br data-text="true" /></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="5u31v" data-offset-key="eqs3i-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="eqs3i-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="eqs3i-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;">This universal spiritual law is that we get what we give. We reap what we sow. And, just as the harvest does not come immediately after planting the seed, usually the receipt of what we have given is delayed.</span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="5u31v" data-offset-key="crg55-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="crg55-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="crg55-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><br data-text="true" /></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="5u31v" data-offset-key="5l668-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5l668-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="5l668-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Whether you believe it, or not, this law affects your life.</b></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="5u31v" data-offset-key="3f8rs-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="3f8rs-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="3f8rs-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><br data-text="true" /></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="5u31v" data-offset-key="5v5s7-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5v5s7-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span data-offset-key="5v5s7-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;">If you want love in your life, give forgiveness.</span></li></ul></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="5u31v" data-offset-key="6r9p-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="6r9p-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="6r9p-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><br data-text="true" /></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="5u31v" data-offset-key="5mu9u-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5mu9u-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span data-offset-key="5mu9u-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;">If you want peace in your life, give kindness.</span></li></ul></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="5u31v" data-offset-key="6pebn-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="6pebn-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="6pebn-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><br data-text="true" /></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="5u31v" data-offset-key="6g3ca-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="6g3ca-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span data-offset-key="6g3ca-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;">If you want abundance in your life, be generous.</span></li></ul></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="5u31v" data-offset-key="11n8j-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="11n8j-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="11n8j-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><br data-text="true" /></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="5u31v" data-offset-key="abiff-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="abiff-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span data-offset-key="abiff-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;">If you don’t feel forgiving, kind, or generous, fake it until you make it. Over time you will become what you do.</span></li></ul></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="5u31v" data-offset-key="dn195-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="dn195-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="dn195-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><br data-text="true" /></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="5u31v" data-offset-key="62eu2-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="62eu2-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="62eu2-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;">What you give may not come back into your life immediately. It may take a lifetime. It may come to those you love, who you leave behind when you are dead. The effects it has upon your spirit are immediate. </span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="5u31v" data-offset-key="f7nkj-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="f7nkj-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="f7nkj-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><br data-text="true" /></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="5u31v" data-offset-key="7ku26-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="7ku26-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="7ku26-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Try it. You’ll like it.</b></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="5u31v" data-offset-key="cndqn-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="cndqn-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="cndqn-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><br data-text="true" /></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="5u31v" data-offset-key="dso9e-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="dso9e-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><br /></div></div><br /><center><i>
See Tom's political views on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/TomSheppardPoliticalViews/
<br />
Follow Tom on Twitter: @ThomasKSheppard
<br /><br />
Tom Sheppard is a business consultant and coach to small business owners and individuals. He is a recognized author with dozens of titles in business and fiction to his credit. One of his endeavors is to help those who want to see their own book in print. He does this through his trademarked Book Whispering Process (TM).
<br /><br />
The author is not an official spokesperson for any organization or person mentioned herein.
<br /><br /><b>
(c) Copyright 2020 A+ Results LLC. All Rights Reserved.</b>
<br /><br />
Your comments are welcome... Please observe some ground rules. No profanity, vulgarity, or personal attacks. Profanity, vulgarity and personal attacks not only betray a lack of vocabulary and imagination, they also are the hallmarks of bigotry, and bigotry is the hallmark of someone who is fundamentally insecure in their views. Facts are always welcome.</i></center>
<br />
<h2><center>
<i>If you believe Government is NOT the answer to all our problems, </i><i>you will want to read<br /> <a href="https://amzn.to/2SaZlyb" target="_blank">Godvernment: Government as God</a></i></center></h2>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Godvernment-Government-God-Tom-Sheppard-ebook/dp/B01MFAFZ9D/ref=as_li_ss_il?keywords=Godvernment+sheppard&qid=1553111331&s=gateway&sr=8-1-spell&linkCode=li3&tag=godandgove-20&linkId=9225ed931985e51d3f8fce325551fc91&language=en_US" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B01MFAFZ9D&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=godandgove-20&language=en_US" /></a></i></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">(c) Copyright 2017 A+ Results, LLC. All Rights Reserved.</div>Tom Sheppardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09835008483484789023noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2796884117961799742.post-21648557640620173402022-03-20T08:36:00.000-06:002022-03-20T08:36:01.170-06:00Man Didn't Make GodRecently I was relaxing and enjoying watching a relatively successful and very well-done science fiction series about people and true artificially intelligent robots. One of the main characters asserted that man created Heaven and Hell, God and the Devil to keep everyone else in line. Holding over their heads the notion that their disobedience could result in an eternal punishment.<div><br /></div><div>This atheist's article of faith is what Karl Marx alluded to when he said that religion is the opiate of the masses.</div><div><br /></div><div>While it is true that throughout history many people have cynically used religion as a tool to bolster their power over others, the fundamental notion that man invented God is a theory without a single shred of evidence to support it it actually flies in the face of countless evidences which contradict this prideful and hopeless premise.</div><div><br /></div><div>The fact that those who reject God reject the evidences and witnesses of God does not obliterate those witnesses, rather it shows the lack of rationality of those who reject those witnesses.</div><div><br /></div><div>Those who say that no one has returned from death to tell us what is on the other side are liars or ignorant of the facts. I am not talking here about ghosts and phantasms. I am speaking of the fact that Jesus of Nazareth was publicly put to death and three days later ate food and conversed with people who had seen him die and laid his body in the grave.</div><div><br /></div><div>But that is not the only person to pass the portal of death and return. The New Testament (Matthew 27:52, 53) notes that after the resurrection of Jesus:</div><div></div><blockquote><div> "And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, and came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many."</div></blockquote><div></div><div><div>Note the word "many" which is repeated. Many arose from the dead and appeared to many people. So, aside from those who witnessed the resurrection of Jesus many others witnessed the resurrection of many who they knew to have died.</div><div><br /></div><div>Further, the appearance of Jesus was not limited to just one instance or a few people. He appeared many times after his crucifixion and at one point (1 Corinthians 15:6) appeared to more than 500 people in one meeting.</div><div><br /></div><div>In The Book of Mormon (3 Nephi 11) the resurrected Jesus appears, shortly after his death and resurrection, to people gathered in the Americas. Upwards of 2,000 people were present.</div><div><br /></div><div>In more recent times we have several people who have testified that they have had dealings with people who were long dead and appeared as resurrected beings. These include John the Baptist, Peter, James and John the Apostles of Jesus, Moroni, a prophet among God's people in ancient America, Moses, Elias, Elijah, and others. At the apex of these appearances we have the resurrected Jesus having appeared more than once since 1820.</div><div><br /></div><div>No rational person could not consider the testimony of so many first-hand witnesses and dismiss them based solely on the power of their own prejudices. </div><div><br /></div><div>Further, those who purport, against the evidence, that the concept of God evolved over time, the records show that God revealed himself to Adam, our first father, and again to Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Jacob, Moses, and others. When they saw God they understood, because He told them, that He is our parent. They could see Him and discern that He and we are of the same species, so we are created in His image.</div><div><br /></div><div>God put Man on this Earth and did not leave him ignorant of our relationship to Him or His expectations of us. It is Man who has attempted to reinvent God to be something more of their liking. Finally coming to the point of a devolution of thought which purports that we created God in our own image and for wholly our own purposes. Which is to say, there is no god, only Man.</div><div><br /></div><div>I will concede that good and evil exist independent of God and Satan. By God's command and design every human being (Man) is an agent unto ourselves and able to choose and act. Sometimes we choose to do good, sometimes evil. Sometimes we know what we are doing and other times the good or evil that comes from our choices is unintended.</div><div><br /></div><div>God and Satan each tempt us. God tempts us to choose to do good. Satan tempts us to choose to do evil. When we do either, it is our choice, not the will of God or Satan forcing us to act one way or another. So, the evil in the world which so many ascribe to the acts of religionists are not the evil acts of God, nor are they the evil acts of Satan. They are the evil acts of people who followed inclinations of their own. Inclinations which we are free to indulge in a world where we live with a significant degree of uncertainty regarding the existence of God and Satan, Heaven, and Hell.</div><div><br /></div><div>It may seem like the safest course is to try to choose the middle ground between these two extremes. Many who reject God and Satan and religion in general think they are choosing a middle way. They end up choosing themselves. They worship themselves and others like them. They put people as their deities and worship at the temples of human government and human institutions. </div><div><br /></div><div>Unfortunately, rejecting God is not a middle ground. Putting yourself, or another human, in the place of God is not a middle ground. It is opposing God. It has the net effect of tempting people to reject God. In this rejection, the temptations of Satan are heeded. </div><div><br /></div><div>Satan doesn't need us to worship him to achieve his ends. He only needs us to reject God.</div><div><br /></div><div>Notice, I didn't say Satan wins. Satan doesn't win in any scenario. He lost when he opposed God before Adam ever walked this Earth. He and his followers were cast out and lost their opportunities to grow more like God. They lost the opportunity to fulfill their genetic potential as children of God.</div><div><br /></div><div>Because of that loss Satan and his hosts are bitter. They know that they cannot win. What they want is for you and I to make the same choices they did and cast aside our divine potential. </div><div><br /></div><div>God will win. Those who follow God will win because of His victory and their faith. </div><div><br /></div><div>Satan will lose. Those who reject God will lose, whether or not they embrace Satan. Inasmuch as they think they are smarter than God they become like Satan and embrace his destiny.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /><center><i>
See Tom's political views on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/TomSheppardPoliticalViews/
<br />
Follow Tom on Twitter: @ThomasKSheppard
<br /><br />
Tom Sheppard is a business consultant and coach to small business owners and individuals. He is a recognized author with dozens of titles in business and fiction to his credit. One of his endeavors is to help those who want to see their own book in print. He does this through his trademarked Book Whispering Process (TM).
<br /><br />
The author is not an official spokesperson for any organization or person mentioned herein.
<br /><br /><b>
(c) Copyright 2020 A+ Results LLC. All Rights Reserved.</b>
<br /><br />
Your comments are welcome... Please observe some ground rules. No profanity, vulgarity, or personal attacks. Profanity, vulgarity and personal attacks not only betray a lack of vocabulary and imagination, they also are the hallmarks of bigotry, and bigotry is the hallmark of someone who is fundamentally insecure in their views. Facts are always welcome.</i></center>
<br />
<h2><center>
<i>If you believe Government is NOT the answer to all our problems, </i><i>you will want to read<br /> <a href="https://amzn.to/2SaZlyb" target="_blank">Godvernment: Government as God</a></i></center></h2>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Godvernment-Government-God-Tom-Sheppard-ebook/dp/B01MFAFZ9D/ref=as_li_ss_il?keywords=Godvernment+sheppard&qid=1553111331&s=gateway&sr=8-1-spell&linkCode=li3&tag=godandgove-20&linkId=9225ed931985e51d3f8fce325551fc91&language=en_US" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B01MFAFZ9D&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=godandgove-20&language=en_US" /></a></i></div></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">(c) Copyright 2017 A+ Results, LLC. All Rights Reserved.</div>Tom Sheppardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09835008483484789023noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2796884117961799742.post-42529121054264351472022-03-06T07:17:00.001-07:002022-03-06T07:17:11.605-07:00Objectification 101Some years ago my youngest daughter got a tattoo. Expressing my disapproval I told her, "people don't put bumper stickers on Ferraris." She retorted that the only person in her life who had every objectified her was me, when I compared her to a Ferrari.<div><br /></div><div>She was wrong. I am reasonably certain that every man and boy who ever wanted to bed her objectified her. Further, she missed the definition of objectification, and so took offense when none was offered.</div><div><br /></div><div>Objectification happens when a person is reduced to being considered like an object, without thought for their real self, their intelligence, and their feelings. When a woman (or a man) is objectified as a sex object they are only considered for how their body can be used to gratify the sexual desires of another person, without regard to the needs, feelings, and intelligence of the person being objectified.</div><div><br /></div><div>Here is the real lesson in Objectification 101 - you can't objectify an object. </div><div><br /></div><div>When I compared my daughter's body to a Ferrari, I was referring to the object that is her body and comparing it to another object. A car body. I was not saying anything about her intelligence, her needs, or her feelings. I was questioning her judgement in how she was using one of the most important objects in her life. I was making an analogy that points out the fact that when you have a very expensive and valuable object you don't mark it up with graffiti or stickers. Our bodies are very expensive and valuable objects, but they are objects after all.</div><div><br /></div><div>The Apostle Paul said that our bodies are temples for the spirit of God and that if we defile that temple God will destroy us. (1 Corinthians 3:17 & 6:19-20). So, at least as far back as the first century AD it has been understood that our bodies are objects provided for our use by God, and He will hold us accountable for what we do with them.</div><div><br /></div><div>The confusion conflating making an analogy about our body and objectification of our self arises because most of us identify ourselves too much with our bodies, rather than looking on our bodies for what they are, a home for our spirit and mind. While it is true that our spirit, mind, and body are intertwined, our body does not truly represent our self.</div><div><br /></div><div>A body may, like that of Stephen Hawking, be broken, weak, or twisted. Or, like Arnold Schwarzenegger's be well formed, agile, and muscular. But, neither the broken body, nor the well-formed one is a reflection of our mind and spirit. The body is a temporary home for our mortal probation.</div><div><br /></div><div>The world does its best to conflate our physical appearance with our self, and our self-worth. Fashion models are worshipped and esteemed because of their bodies, rather than because of any particular intelligence or goodness they manifest.</div><div><br /></div><div>When I was a young man Kathy Ireland was a world-famous fashion model. At the time, her fame and fortune was wholly based on the attractiveness of her body. Many years later I met Kathy Ireland in person. When I met her I found that she was someone worthy of admiration. She is a woman of intelligence, integrity, and ingenuity. She took the monies she earned from her fashion career and turned them into a business empire which she runs. She invested her money and her intelligence wisely. Now that she is far beyond competing with young girls for the lustful attentions of the world, her brilliance, and her goodness are evident in both her deeds and her words. When I met she expressly warned people about the false doctrine of the "prosperity Gospel" which equates righteousness with financial and physical well-being.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjZvyi83TjgPRXmxM5pulZX1a6Y_XLfQ5-1S5jgGvduyLpvpWyKko6aBxPJxEspEZgh04UuXU0jK3EWR08DiLwhYZAa7oCrqP99hNbNOCL8g8Ijv3_Fa1WDPQLiLYLX4kScMddOU2Jr6YUzIZ8VQ6OULLhJh-eJHN7dL4_GvIkpfqe8MPAIKAXuxYY5" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1193" data-original-width="1014" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjZvyi83TjgPRXmxM5pulZX1a6Y_XLfQ5-1S5jgGvduyLpvpWyKko6aBxPJxEspEZgh04UuXU0jK3EWR08DiLwhYZAa7oCrqP99hNbNOCL8g8Ijv3_Fa1WDPQLiLYLX4kScMddOU2Jr6YUzIZ8VQ6OULLhJh-eJHN7dL4_GvIkpfqe8MPAIKAXuxYY5" width="204" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Kathy Ireland and Tom Sheppard</div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>After we resurrect our bodies will be glorified and perfected and then they will reflect our true selves. Until then, our body is an object, a mobile home, a Ferrari in which we travel through this life.</div><div><br /></div><div>What is more is it is given to us as a loaner, and the true owner will hold us accountable for what we do with it. God gives us our body, whether it is bent or straight, sickly or healthy, weak or strong. He gives us a body out of his wisdom and love according to what he sees we need to help us grow more like Him. Just as He gives us the circumstances of our life. </div><div><br /></div><div>When life is over we will face him again with all the bandages of self-deception ripped away and we will account to Him for what use we made of what He provided us. </div><div><br /></div><div>He won't judge us for the objects in our life. Our physical frailties won't define us. What we did with what He gave us will define us. Did we trash it, hide it away, or do our best to use it well and honorably until it was no longer in our grasp?</div><div><br /></div><div>Most of our world is comprised of objects. Our bodies are objects. Our minds, our feelings, our thoughts, our intentions, our imaginations, our will, those are not objects. Those are the powers inherent in us that we apply to the objects in our life to shape and change the world. <br /><br /><center><i>
See Tom's political views on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/TomSheppardPoliticalViews/
<br />
Follow Tom on Twitter: @ThomasKSheppard
<br /><br />
Tom Sheppard is a business consultant and coach to small business owners and individuals. He is a recognized author with dozens of titles in business and fiction to his credit. One of his endeavors is to help those who want to see their own book in print. He does this through his trademarked Book Whispering Process (TM).
<br /><br />
The author is not an official spokesperson for any organization or person mentioned herein.
<br /><br /><b>
(c) Copyright 2020 A+ Results LLC. All Rights Reserved.</b>
<br /><br />
Your comments are welcome... Please observe some ground rules. No profanity, vulgarity, or personal attacks. Profanity, vulgarity and personal attacks not only betray a lack of vocabulary and imagination, they also are the hallmarks of bigotry, and bigotry is the hallmark of someone who is fundamentally insecure in their views. Facts are always welcome.</i></center>
<br />
<h2><center>
<i>If you believe Government is NOT the answer to all our problems, </i><i>you will want to read<br /> <a href="https://amzn.to/2SaZlyb" target="_blank">Godvernment: Government as God</a></i></center></h2>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Godvernment-Government-God-Tom-Sheppard-ebook/dp/B01MFAFZ9D/ref=as_li_ss_il?keywords=Godvernment+sheppard&qid=1553111331&s=gateway&sr=8-1-spell&linkCode=li3&tag=godandgove-20&linkId=9225ed931985e51d3f8fce325551fc91&language=en_US" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B01MFAFZ9D&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=godandgove-20&language=en_US" /></a></i></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">(c) Copyright 2017 A+ Results, LLC. All Rights Reserved.</div>Tom Sheppardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09835008483484789023noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2796884117961799742.post-54340937686364734442021-12-17T11:19:00.003-07:002021-12-17T11:22:12.590-07:00Socialism is Not the United Order<div class="WordSection1">
<h1 style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;"><b>Socialism and the United Order</b></h1>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none; text-indent: 0in;"><b style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Elder Marion G. Romney of the Council of the
Twelve Apostles</span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none; text-indent: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">The One Hundred and Thirty-sixth Annual Conference
of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none; text-indent: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Saturday Evening Session, General Priesthood
Session<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none; text-indent: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">April 9, 1966<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="text-indent: 0in;">As found in the report of discourses
for this conference pp. 95 - 101</span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none; text-indent: 0in;"><b style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 9pt;"><a href="https://ia600604.us.archive.org/31/items/conferencereport1966a/conferencereport1966a.pdf">https://ia600604.us.archive.org/31/items/conferencereport1966a/conferencereport1966a.pdf</a>,
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 9pt; text-indent: 0in;">viewed 12/172021</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p><span style="text-indent: 0in;">What I am going to give you now is a statement I have prepared in answer
to the question, "Is Socialism the United Order?" Some of you may
have already heard it. This is the first time I have ever attempted to give a
talk a second time. My excuse is that the Brethren have asked me to give this
talk here tonight.</span></p></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">I suppose the best way to start a comparison of socialism
and the United Order is with a definition of the terms. Webster defines
socialism as:<o:p></o:p></p>
<h2 style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;"><b>Socialism
defined</b></h2>
<p class="MsoQuote"></p><blockquote>"A
political and economic theory of social organization based on collective or
governmental ownership and democratic management of the essential means for the
production and distribution of goods; also, a policy or practice based on this
theory." </blockquote><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">(Webster's New International Dictionary, 2nd ed.
unabridged, 1951.)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">George
Bernard Shaw, the noted Fabian Socialist, said that:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoQuote"></p><blockquote>"Socialism,
reduced to its simplest legal and practical expression, means the complete discarding
of the institution of private property by transforming it into public property
and the division of the resultant income equally and indiscriminately among the
entire population."</blockquote><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">(Encyclopedia Britannica, 1946 ed., Vol. 20, p.
895.)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">George
Douglas Howard Cole, M.A. noted author and university reader in economics at Oxford,
who treats socialism for the Encyclopedia Britannica, says that because of the
shifting sense in which the word has been used, "a short and comprehensive
definition is impossible. We can only say," he concludes, "that
Socialism is essentially a doctrine and a movement aiming at the collective
organization of the community in the interest of the mass of the people by
means of the common ownership and collective control of the means of production
and exchange." (Ibid., p. 888.)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Socialism
arose "out of the economic division in society." During the
nineteenth century its growth was accelerated as a protest against "the
appalling conditions prevailing in the workshops and factories and the
unchristian spirit of the spreading industrial system."<o:p></o:p></p>
<h2 style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;"><b>Communism,
starting point </b></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal">The
"Communist Manifesto" drafted by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels for
the Communist League in 1848 is generally regarded as the starting point of
modern socialism. (Ibid., p. 890.)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The
distinction between socialism, as represented by the various Socialist and
Labour parties of Europe and the New World, and Communism, as represented by
the Russians, is one of tactics and strategy rather than of objective. Communism
is indeed only socialism pursued by revolutionary means and making its
revolutionary method a canon of faith. Communists like other socialists, (1)
believe in the collective control and ownership of the vital means of production
and (2) seek to achieve through state action the coordinated control of the
economic forces of society. They (the Communists) differ from other socialists
in believing that this control can be secured, and its use in the interests of
the workers ensured, only by revolutionary action leading to the dictatorship of
the proletariat and the creation of a new proletarian state as the instrument
of change. (Ibid.)<o:p></o:p></p>
<h2 style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;"><b>German
Socialism</b></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal">A major rift
between so-called orthodox socialism and communist socialism occurred in 1875 when
the German Social Democratic<i> </i>party set forth its objective of winning
power by taking over control of the bourgeois state, rather than by
overthrowing it. In effect, the German Social Democratic party became a
parliamentary party, aiming at the assumption of political power by constitutional
means.<o:p></o:p></p>
<h2 style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;"><b>Fabian
Society</b></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal">In the 1880's
a small group of intellectuals set up in England the Fabian Society, which has
had a major influence on the development of modern orthodox socialism.
Fabianism stands "for the evolutionary conception of socialism . . .
endeavoring by progressive reforms and the nationalization of industries, to
turn the existing state into a `welfare state.'" Somewhat on the order of
the German Social Democrats Fabians aim "at permeating the existing
parties with socialistic ideas [rather] than at creating a definitely
socialistic party." They appeal "to the electorate not as
revolutionaries but as constitutional reformers seeking a peaceful
transformation of the system." (Ibid.)<o:p></o:p></p>
<h2 style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;"><b>Forms
and policies of socialism</b></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal">The
differences in forms and policies of socialism occur principally in the manner
in which they seek to implement their theories. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">They all
advocate:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: 0.25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]-->(1)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->That
private ownership of the vital means of production be abolished and that all
such property "pass under some form of coordinated public control."<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0.25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]-->(2)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->That
the power of the state be used to achieve their aims. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 0.25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]-->(3)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->"That
with a change in the control of industry will go a change in the motives which
operate in the industrial system. . . ." (Ibid.)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So much now
for the definition of socialism. I have given you these statements in the words
of socialists and scholars, not my words, so they have had their hearing.<o:p></o:p></p>
<h2 style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;"><b>The
United Order</b></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal">Now as to the
United Order, and here I will give the words of the Lord and not my words. The United
Order the Lord's program for eliminating the inequalities among men, is based
upon the underlying concept that the earth and all things therein belong to the
Lord and that men hold earthly possessions as stewards accountable to God.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">On January 2,
1831, the Lord revealed to the Prophet Joseph Smith that the Church was under obligation
to care for the poor. (See D&C 38.) Later he said:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoQuote"></p><blockquote>"I, the Lord, stretched out the heavens, and built the
earth, . . .and all things therein are mine. "And it is my purpose to
provide for my saints, for all things are mine. "But it must needs be done
in mine own way. . . ." (D&C 104:14-16.)</blockquote><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<h2 style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;"><b>Consecration
and stewardship</b></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal">On February
9, 1831, the Lord revealed to the Prophet what his way was. (See D&C 42.)
In his way there were two cardinal principles: (1) consecration and (2)
stewardship.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">To enter the
United Order, when it was being tried, one consecrated all his possessions to
the Church by a "covenant and a deed which" could not "be
broken." (D&C 42:30.) That is, he completely divested himself of all
of his property by conveying it to the Church.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Having thus
voluntarily divested himself of title to all his property, the consecrator
received from the Church a stewardship by a like conveyance. This stewardship
could be more or less than his original consecration, the object being to make
"every man equal according to his family, according to his circumstances
and his wants and needs." (D&C 51:3.)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This
procedure preserved in every man the right to private ownership and management
of his property. At his own option he could alienate it or keep and operate it
and pass it on to his heirs.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The intent
was, however, for him to so operate his property as to produce a living for
himself and his dependents. So long as he remained in the order, he consecrated
to the Church the surplus he produced above the needs and wants of his family.
This surplus went into a storehouse from which stewardships were given to
others and from which the needs of the poor were supplied.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">These divine
principles are very simple and easily understood. A comparison of them with the
underlying principles of socialism reveal similarities and basic differences.<o:p></o:p></p>
<h2 style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;"><b>Comparisons
and contrasts: Similarities</b></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal">The following
are similarities: Both <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: 0.25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]-->(1)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->deal
with production and distribution of goods; <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0.25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]-->(2)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->aim
to promote the well-being of men by eliminating their economic inequalities; <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 0.25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]-->(3)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->envision
the elimination of the selfish motives in our private capitalistic industrial
system.<o:p></o:p></p>
<h2 style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;"><b>Differences</b></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal">Now the differences:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">(1) The cornerstone of the United Order is belief in God and acceptance
of him as Lord of the earth and the author of the United Order.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Socialism,
wholly materialistic, is founded in the wisdom of men and not of God. Although
all socialists may not be atheists, none of them in theory or practice seek the
Lord to establish his righteousness.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">(2) The United Order is implemented by the voluntary free-will actions
of men, evidenced by a consecration of all their property to the Church of God.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">One time the
Prophet Joseph Smith asked a question by the brethren about the inventories
they were taking. His answer was to the effect, "You don't need to be
concerned about the inventories. Unless a man is willing to consecrate
everything he has, he doesn't come into the United Order." (Documentary
History of the Church, Vol. 7, pp. 412-13.) On the other hand, socialism is implemented
by external force, the power of the state.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">(3) In harmony with church belief, as set forth in the Doctrine and
Covenants, "that no government can exist in peace, except such laws are
framed and held inviolate as will secure to each individual the free exercise
of conscience, the right and control of property" (D&C 134:2), the
United Order is operated upon the principle of private ownership and individual
management.<i><o:p></o:p></i></p>
<h2 style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;"><b>God-given
agency preserved in United Order</b></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal">Thus in both
implementation and ownership and management of property, the United Order preserves
to men their God-given agency, while socialism deprives them of it.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">(4) The United Order is non-political.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Socialism is
political, both in theory and practice. It is thus exposed to, and riddled by,
the corruption that plagues and finally destroys all political governments that
undertake to abridge man's agency.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">(5) A righteous people is a prerequisite to the United Order.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Socialism
argues that it as a system will eliminate the evils of the profit motive. The
United Order exalts the poor and humbles the rich. In the process both are
sanctified. The poor, released from the bondage and humiliating limitations of
poverty, are enabled as free men to rise to their full potential, both
temporally and spiritually. The rich, by consecration and by imparting of their
surplus for the benefit of the poor, not by constraint but willingly as an act
of free will, evidence that charity for their fellowmen characterized by Mormon
as "the pure love of Christ." (Moro. 7:47.)<o:p></o:p></p>
<h2 style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;"><b>Socialism
not United Order</b></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal">No, brethren,
socialism is not the United Order. However, notwithstanding my abhorrence of
it, I am persuaded that socialism is the wave of the present and of the
foreseeable future. It has already taken over or is contending for control in
most nations.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoQuote"></p><blockquote>"At the end of the year [1964] parties affiliated with
the [Socialist] International were in control of the governments of Great
Britain, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Israel, and the Malagasy Republic. They had
representatives in coalition cabinets in Austria, Belgium, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg,
and Switzerland, constituted the chief opposition in France, India, Japan, the Netherlands,
New Zealand and West Germany; and were significant political forces in numerous
other countries. Many parties dominant in governments in Africa, Asia, and
Latin America announced that their aim was a socialist society."
(Encyclopedia Britannica, 1965 Book of the Year, p. 736.)</blockquote><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<h2 style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;"><b>United
States has adopted much socialism</b></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal">We here in
the United States, in converting our government into a social welfare state,
have ourselves adopted much of socialism. Specifically, we have to an alarming
degree adopted the use of the power of the state in the control and
distribution of the fruits of industry. We are on notice according to the words
of the President, that we are going much further, for he is quoted as saying:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoQuote"></p><blockquote>"We're going to take all the money we think is
unnecessarily being spent and take it from the `haves' and give it to the `have
nots.'" (1964 Congressional Record, p. 6142, Remarks of the President to a
Group of Leaders of Organizations of Senior Citizens in the Fish Room, March
24, 1964.)</blockquote><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<h2 style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;"><b>Socialism
takes: United Order gives</b></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal">That is the
spirit of socialism: We're going to take. The spirit of the United Order is:
We're going to give.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We have also
gone a long way on the road to public ownership and management of the vital means
of production. In both of these areas the free agency of Americans has been
greatly abridged. Some argue that we have voluntarily surrendered this power to
government. Be this as it may, the fact remains that the loss of freedom with
the consent of the enslaved, or even at their request, is nonetheless slavery.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As to the
fruits of socialism,
we all have our own opinions. I myself have watched its growth in our own
country and observed it in operation in many other lands. But I have yet to see
or hear of its freeing the hearts of men of selfishness and greed or of its
bringing peace, plenty, or freedom. These things it will never bring, nor will
it do away with idleness and promote "industry, thrift and
self-respect," for it is founded, in theory and in practice, on force, the
principle of the evil one.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As to the
fruits of the United Order I suggest you read Moses 7:16-18 and 4 Nephi 2-3, 15-16. If we had time
we could review the history, what little we know, of Zion in the days of Enoch and
about what happened among the Nephites under those principles of the United
Order in the first two centuries following the time of the Savior.<o:p></o:p></p>
<h2 style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;"><b>What
can we do?</b></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal">Now what can
we do about it?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As I recently
reminded my wife of the moratorium on the United Order, which the Lord placed in
1834 (D&C 105:34), that socialism is taking over in the nations and that
its expressed aims will surely fail, she spiritedly put to me the question:
"Well, then, what would you suggest, that we just sit on our hands in
despair and do nothing?" Perhaps similar questions have occurred to you. The
answer is, "No, by no means!" We have much to do, and fortunately for
us the Lord has definitely prescribed the course we should follow with respect
to socialism and the United Order.<o:p></o:p></p>
<h2 style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;"><b>Constitution
God-inspired</b></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal">He has told
us that in preparation for the restoration of the gospel, he himself
established the Constitution of the United States, and he has plainly told us
why he established it. I hope I can get this point over to you. He said he
established the Constitution to preserve to men their free agency, because the
whole gospel of Jesus Christ presupposes man's untrammeled exercise of free
agency. Man is in the earth to be tested. The issue as to whether he succeeds or
fails will be determined by how he uses his agency. His whole future, through
all eternity, is at stake. Abridge man's agency, and the whole purpose of his
mortality is thwarted. Without it, the Lord says, there is no existence. (See
D&C 93:30.) The Lord so valued our agency that he designed and dictated
"the laws and constitution" required to guarantee it. This he
explained in the revelation in which he instructed the Prophet Joseph Smith to
appeal for help,<o:p></o:p></p>
<h2 style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;"><b>Just
and holy principles</b></h2>
<p class="MsoQuote"></p><blockquote><p class="MsoQuote">"According to the laws and constitution of the people,
which I have suffered to be established, and should be maintained for the
rights and protection of all flesh, according to just and holy principles; <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoQuote">"That every man may act in doctrine and principle
pertaining to futurity, according to the moral agency which I have given unto
him, that every man may be accountable for his own sins in the day of judgment.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoQuote">"And for this purpose have I established the
Constitution of this land by the hands of wise men whom I raised up unto this
very purpose. . . ." (D&C 101:77-78, 80.)</p></blockquote><p class="MsoQuote"><o:p></o:p></p>
<h2 style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;"><b>Sustain
Constitutional law</b></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal">Previously he
had said:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoQuote"></p><blockquote><p class="MsoQuote">"And now, verily I say unto you concerning the laws of
the land, it is my will that my people should observe to do all things
whatsoever I command them. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoQuote">"And that law of the land which is constitutional,
supporting that principle of freedom in maintaining rights and privileges,
belongs to all mankind and is justifiable before me. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoQuote">"Therefore, I, the Lord, justify you, and your brethren
of my church, in befriending that law which is the constitutional law of the
land [the test of its constitutionality in the words of the Lord here is
whether it preserves man's agency]; <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoQuote">"And as pertaining to law of man, whatsoever is more or
less than this cometh of evil. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoQuote">"I, the Lord God, make you free therefore ye are free
indeed; and the law [that is, constitutional law] also maketh you free. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoQuote">"Nevertheless, when the wicked rule the people mourn. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoQuote">"Wherefore, honest men and wise men should be sought for
diligently, and good men and wise men ye should observe to uphold; otherwise
whatsoever is less than these cometh of evil." (D&C 98:4-10.)</p></blockquote><p class="MsoQuote"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">These
scriptures declare the Constitution to be a divine document. They tell us that "according
to just and holy principles," the Constitution and the law of the land
which supports the "principle of freedom in maintaining rights and
privileges, belongs to all mankind, and is justifiable before" God; that,
"as pertaining to [the] law of man whatsoever is more or less than this,
cometh of evil." They remind us that the Lord has made us free and that
laws that are constitutional will also make us free.<o:p></o:p></p>
<h2 style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;"><b>"When
the wicked rule, the people mourn"</b></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal">Right at this
point, almost as if he were warning us against what is happening today, the
Lord said: "Nevertheless, when the wicked rule the people mourn."
Then, that we might know with certainty what we should do about it, he
concluded: "Wherefore, honest men and wise men should be sought for
diligently, and good men and wise men ye should observe to uphold. . . ."<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In its
context this instruction, according to my interpretation, can only mean that we
should seek diligently for and support men to represent us in government who
are "wise" enough to understand freedom—as provided for in the
Constitution and as implemented in the United Order—and who are honest enough
and good enough to fight to preserve it.</p><p class="MsoNormal">". . . under no other government in the world could the Church have been established," said President J. Reuben Clark, Jr., and he continued:</p><blockquote><p class="MsoNormal">". . .
if we are to live as a Church, and progress, and have the right to worship as
we are worshipping here today, we must have the great guarantees that are set
up by our Constitution. There is no other way in which we can secure these
guarantees." (Conference Report, October 1942, pp. 58-59.)</p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Now, not
forgetting our duty to eschew socialism and support the just and holy
principles of the Constitution, as directed by the Lord, I shall conclude these
remarks with a few comments concerning what we should do about the United
Order.<o:p></o:p></p>
<h2 style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;"><b>What
to do about United Order</b></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal">The final
words of the Lord in suspending the order were: "And let those
commandments which I have given concerning Zion and her law be executed and
fulfilled, after her redemption." (D&C 105:34.)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Further
implementation of the order must therefore await the redemption of Zion. Here
Zion means Jackson County, Missouri. When Zion is redeemed, as it most
certainly shall be, it will be redeemed under a government and by a people
strictly observing those "just and holy principles" of the
Constitution that accord to men their God-given moral agency, including the
right to private property. If, in the meantime, socialism takes over in
America, it will have to be displaced, if need be, by the power of God, because
the United Order can never function under socialism or "the welfare
state," for the good and sufficient reason that the principles upon which
socialism and the United Order are conceived and operated are inimical.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In the
meantime, while we await the redemption of Zion and the earth and the
establishment of the United Order, we as bearers of the priesthood should live
strictly by the principles of the United Order insofar as they are embodied in
present church practices, such as the fast offering, tithing, and the welfare
activities. Through these practices we could as individuals, if we were of a
mind to do so, implement in our own lives all the basic principles of the
United Order.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As you will
recall, the principles underlying the United Order are consecration and stewardships
and then the contribution of surpluses into the bishop's storehouse. When the
law of tithing was instituted four years after the United Order experiment was
suspended, the Lord required the people to put "all their surplus property
. . . into the hands of the bishop" (D&C 119:1); thereafter they were
to "pay one-tenth of all their interest annually. . . ." (D&C
119:4.) This law, still in force, implements to a degree at least the United
Order principle of stewardships, for it leaves in the hands of each person the
ownership and management of the property from which he produces the needs of
himself and family. Furthermore to use again the words of President Clark:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoQuote"></p><blockquote>". . . in lieu of residues and surpluses which were
accumulated and built up under the United Order, we, today, have our fast
offerings, our Welfare donations, and our tithing all of which may be devoted
to the care of the poor, as well as for the carrying on of the activities and business
of the Church."</blockquote><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">What
prohibits us from giving as much in fast offerings as we would have given in
surpluses under the United Order? Nothing but our own limitations.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Furthermore,
we had under the United Order a bishop's storehouse in which were collected the
materials from which to supply the needs and the wants of the poor. We have a
bishop's storehouse under the Welfare Plan, used for the same purpose. . . . "We
have now under the Welfare Plan all over the Church, . . . land projects . . .
farmed for the benefit of the poor. . . .<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><blockquote>"Thus .
. . in many of its great essentials, we have, [in] the Welfare Plan . . . the
broad essentials of the United Order. Furthermore, having in mind the
assistance which is being given from time to time . . . to help set people up
in business or in farming, we have a plan which is not essentially unlike that
which was in the United Order when the poor were given portions from the common
fund."</blockquote><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It is thus
apparent that when the principles of tithing and the fast are properly observed
and the Welfare Plan gets fully developed and wholly into operation, "we
shall not be so very far from carrying out the great fundamentals of the United
Order." (Conference Report, October 1942, pp. 51-58.)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The only
limitation on you and me is within ourselves.<o:p></o:p></p>
<h2 style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;"><b>A
Prayer:</b></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal">And now in
line with these remarks for three things I pray:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: 0.25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]-->(1)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->That
the Lord will somehow quicken our understanding of the differences between socialism
and the United Order and give us a vivid awareness of the awful portent of
those differences.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0.25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]-->(2)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->That
we will develop the understanding, the desire, and the courage born of the
Spirit, to eschew socialism and to support and sustain, in the manner revealed
and as interpreted by the Lord, those just and holy principles embodied in the
Constitution of the United States for the protection of all flesh, in the
exercise of their God-given agency.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 0.25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]-->(3)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->That
through faithful observance of the principles of tithing, the fast, and the
welfare program, we will prepare ourselves to redeem Zion and ultimately live
the United Order, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.<o:p></o:p></p><div>----- END ----</div><div><br /></div><div>The editor previously published a blog post directly related to this topic title <i><a href="https://mygodandgovernment.blogspot.com/2020/09/socialism-is-anti-christian.html" target="_blank">Socialism is Anti-Christian</a></i></div><div><br /></div><br /><center><i>
See Tom's political views on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/TomSheppardPoliticalViews/
<br />
Follow Tom on Twitter: @ThomasKSheppard
<br /><br />
Tom Sheppard is a business consultant and coach to small business owners and individuals. He is a recognized author with dozens of titles in business and fiction to his credit. One of his endeavors is to help those who want to see their own book in print. He does this through his trademarked Book Whispering Process (TM).
<br /><br />
The author is not an official spokesperson for any organization or person mentioned herein.
<br /><br /><b>
(c) Copyright 2020 A+ Results LLC. All Rights Reserved.</b>
<br /><br />
Your comments are welcome... Please observe some ground rules. No profanity, vulgarity, or personal attacks. Profanity, vulgarity and personal attacks not only betray a lack of vocabulary and imagination, they also are the hallmarks of bigotry, and bigotry is the hallmark of someone who is fundamentally insecure in their views. Facts are always welcome.</i></center>
<br />
<h2><center>
<i>If you believe Government is NOT the answer to all our problems, </i><i>you will want to read<br /> <a href="https://amzn.to/2SaZlyb" target="_blank">Godvernment: Government as God</a></i></center></h2>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Godvernment-Government-God-Tom-Sheppard-ebook/dp/B01MFAFZ9D/ref=as_li_ss_il?keywords=Godvernment+sheppard&qid=1553111331&s=gateway&sr=8-1-spell&linkCode=li3&tag=godandgove-20&linkId=9225ed931985e51d3f8fce325551fc91&language=en_US" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B01MFAFZ9D&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=godandgove-20&language=en_US" /></a></i></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">(c) Copyright 2017 A+ Results, LLC. All Rights Reserved.</div>Tom Sheppardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09835008483484789023noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2796884117961799742.post-55633670015225630442021-11-30T07:11:00.002-07:002021-12-14T12:10:42.002-07:00The MOST Important Thing for Fulfillment<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLIj0bhDNPBFjbS04Xy7gXBA_K636FOn9lQvAP4NO0mHdNXccDhjA_Pl63u9b7hdZT-CIfcbIkxWtoyepyh1cNOyW-B2gJRL2ii19lBMqlhHHMcq_b-HCbCaRYvQWETuyLqsrlxZ7_AFg/s600/Abundance.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLIj0bhDNPBFjbS04Xy7gXBA_K636FOn9lQvAP4NO0mHdNXccDhjA_Pl63u9b7hdZT-CIfcbIkxWtoyepyh1cNOyW-B2gJRL2ii19lBMqlhHHMcq_b-HCbCaRYvQWETuyLqsrlxZ7_AFg/s320/Abundance.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;"><b><i>Tom Sheppard</i></b></span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;"><b><i>11/30/2021</i></b></span><br /><div><br /></div><div>The single most important thing you need to know to help you live a happy and fulfilling life is that you are a literal child of God.<div><br /></div><div>Even many of those who believe in God don't believe or understand that we are literally his children. They have bought into the tripe peddled by philosophers and apostates that says we are creations of God and thus his metaphorical children.</div><div><br /></div><div>They deny the explicit language in the Holy Bible and other scriptures which tell us the humanity is created in the image of God. We are in the image of God in the same way children are created by their parents in the image of their parents.</div><div><br /></div><div>I will concede that if we were just guessing about all this, or making it up, it would be the pinnacle of pretention to assert that we are literal children of God. Unfortunately for all the philosophers who try to dilute scriptural truths by calling them metaphors, the idea that we are created in the image of God and are his children came directly from God himself. It is a message he has reiterated throughout time.</div><div><br /></div><div>When Adam first opened his eyes in the Garden of Eden, he saw God. He and Eve walked and talked with God. They could see that they looked like him and he told them they were his children. That knowledge wasn't wiped from their minds when they were cast out of Eden. They carried it with them and taught their children the true nature of God and our relationship to Him.</div><div><br /></div><div>The scriptures record that some time later God revealed himself to the prophet Enoch. Enoch walked with God. Just as Adam had, Enoch was able to bear first hand witness of the true nature of God and our relationship to Him. Although Enoch had likely been taught all these things before he was called, after his call, he could testify of them through his first-hand knowledge.</div><div><br /></div><div>Abraham is called the Father of the Faithful. He obtained great promises from God and talked with God face-to-face on several occasions. This would allow him too as a first-hand witness of the true nature of God and our relationship to Him.</div><div><br /></div><div>Moses talked with God face to face as a man talks with his friend, according to the scriptures. That means that when the Israelites were led out of Egypt they were led by someone who was able to tell them from personal experience the true nature of God and our relationship to Him. Those Israelites who tried to make it all a metaphor and set up a golden calf and called it God, were destroyed. Likewise all those who think that God as our father is a metaphor wander in a wilderness of doubt and are destroyed by their despair. That is a metaphor.</div><div><br /></div><div>Jesus of Nazareth was threatened with death more than once because of his assertion that he was a literal son of God. He repeatedly taught the true nature of God and our relationship to Him. He said, "if you have seen me, you have seen the Father." Further, when Jesus appeared to his Apostles after his resurrection from the dead it was clear that they recognized him and saw him as a man, similar to them.</div><div><br /></div><div>In these latter days we are not left without witnesses to this key point either. In the Spring of 1820 a young boy in upstate New York had the heavens opened to him in response to his earnest prayer. He saw God the Father and Jesus Christ as two separate and distinct personages, in form and shape like man. In seconds that young boy knew as fact more about the nature of God and our relationship to Him than all the religious doctors for the past 1,500 years combined. He knew first hand, while they were struggling to reconcile what they could imagine with what they read, and so dismissed this foundational fact as a metaphor.</div><div><br /></div><div>Understanding the true nature of God and our relationship to Him is foundational to our happiness because that one fact alone gives meaning to everything else. This fact lets us know that God is our parent and as a perfect parent all he does is designed to help us fulfil our greatest potentials and to be happy. It means that God created this amazing world, with all its beauty and complexity, out of love for us, his children. It means that he allows the presence of evil in this world because of his wisdom and love for us requires that we have freedom of choice and the ability to learn from our mistakes, and the mistakes of others. It means that He will not leave us without the benefit of his personal guidance and tender care over our lives.</div><div><br /></div><div>As children we often misunderstand or fail to comprehend the reasons and objectives driving the actions of our parents. Further, our parents are imperfect and so their intentions and actions may go astray. God is a perfect parent and loves us perfectly. We may not understand all his actions, but we can have perfect faith that all He does and allows to happen will, if we heed Him, be turned to our ultimate benefit.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>#MyGodAndGovernment #ChildofGod</div><div><br /><center><i>
See Tom's political views on Facebook at:<a href="https://www.facebook.com/TomSheppardPoliticalViews" target="_blank"> https://www.facebook.com/TomSheppardPoliticalViews/</a><br />
Follow Tom on Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/ThomasKSheppard" target="_blank">@ThomasKSheppard</a></i></center><center><i>Follow Tom on Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/thomasksheppard/" target="_blank">ThomasKSheppard</a><br /><br />
Tom Sheppard is a business consultant and coach to small business owners and individuals. He is a recognized author with dozens of titles in business and fiction to his credit. One of his endeavors is to help those who want to see their own book in print. He does this through his trademarked Book Whispering Process (TM).
<br /><br />
The author is not an official spokesperson for any organization or person mentioned herein.
<br /><br /><b>
(c) Copyright 2020 A+ Results LLC. All Rights Reserved.</b>
<br /><br />
Your comments are welcome... Please observe some ground rules. No profanity, vulgarity, or personal attacks. Profanity, vulgarity and personal attacks not only betray a lack of vocabulary and imagination, they also are the hallmarks of bigotry, and bigotry is the hallmark of someone who is fundamentally insecure in their views. Facts are always welcome.</i></center>
<br />
<h2><center>
<i>If you believe Government is NOT the answer to all our problems, </i><i>you will want to read<br /> <a href="https://amzn.to/2SaZlyb" target="_blank">Godvernment: Government as God</a></i></center></h2>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Godvernment-Government-God-Tom-Sheppard-ebook/dp/B01MFAFZ9D/ref=as_li_ss_il?keywords=Godvernment+sheppard&qid=1553111331&s=gateway&sr=8-1-spell&linkCode=li3&tag=godandgove-20&linkId=9225ed931985e51d3f8fce325551fc91&language=en_US" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B01MFAFZ9D&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=godandgove-20&language=en_US" /></a></i></div></div></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">(c) Copyright 2017 A+ Results, LLC. All Rights Reserved.</div>Tom Sheppardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09835008483484789023noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2796884117961799742.post-53667408470486955552021-11-18T11:16:00.004-07:002021-12-14T12:11:05.179-07:00Unalienable Rights. Unavoidable Responsiblities.<div class="WordSection1">
<h1 style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxgYZ82tEPHecHxgFYawLal6w_1a-jqMEVn6AIj9KnjQ083q9QVwAuBSUt8s462xtQSrWhwveC_SQATZAmokGsrGvT-NjnYzuxIuZ3nwsVgtpFjl2bzPqcusm9urAR_GZWcQDVzIVaKbQ/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxgYZ82tEPHecHxgFYawLal6w_1a-jqMEVn6AIj9KnjQ083q9QVwAuBSUt8s462xtQSrWhwveC_SQATZAmokGsrGvT-NjnYzuxIuZ3nwsVgtpFjl2bzPqcusm9urAR_GZWcQDVzIVaKbQ/w640-h426/Depositphotos_13442214_XL.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><div style="text-align: center;">Photo used with permission (C) DepositPhotos.com</div></span></h1><h1 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small; font-weight: 400;"><b><i>Tom Sheppard</i></b></span><div style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;"><b><i>11/18/2021</i></b></span></div></h1>Unalienable Rights<p class="MsoNormal">The Declaration of Independence declares that all people are
“endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights. That among these are
life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”
Please note, although The Declaration of Independence lists some
specific rights, it expressly states that this list is not exhaustive.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">What does unalienable mean?
Dictionary.com gives one definition for inalienable as: “not
transferable to another or not capable of being taken away or denied.”<a href="https://d.docs.live.net/c3eeb0c5fdbba28f/Documents/Unalienable%20Rights.docx#_edn1" name="_ednref1" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[1]</span></span></span></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Declaration of Independence goes on to assert that legitimate
governments exist only to preserve these rights. When a government becomes “destructive of these
ends” it is the right of the people to abolish that government and form a new
one. This latter point is effectively
calling out another inalienable right, the right to rebel against any
government that is seeking to deprive the people of their inalienable
rights. This has been called “the right
of revolution.” Jefferson actually list
this as a responsibility. One author
pointed out that citizens of the United States of America exercise this right
of revolution every time they vote.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The earliest reference I could find to unalienable rights
comes from John Locke. In 1689, Locke
argued in Two Treatises of Government that political society existed for the
sake of protecting "property", which he defined as a person's
"life, liberty, and estate".<a href="https://d.docs.live.net/c3eeb0c5fdbba28f/Documents/Unalienable%20Rights.docx#_edn2" name="_ednref2" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
In A Letter Concerning Toleration, he wrote that the magistrate's power was
limited to preserving a person's "civil interest", which he described
as "life, liberty, health, and indolency<a href="https://d.docs.live.net/c3eeb0c5fdbba28f/Documents/Unalienable%20Rights.docx#_edn3" name="_ednref3" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[3]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
of body; and the possession of outward things".<a href="https://d.docs.live.net/c3eeb0c5fdbba28f/Documents/Unalienable%20Rights.docx#_edn4" name="_ednref4" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[4]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
He declared in his Essay Concerning Human Understanding that "the highest
perfection of intellectual nature lies in a careful and constant pursuit of
true and solid happiness".<a href="https://d.docs.live.net/c3eeb0c5fdbba28f/Documents/Unalienable%20Rights.docx#_edn5" name="_ednref5" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[5]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In Section 134 of The Doctrine and Covenants<a href="https://d.docs.live.net/c3eeb0c5fdbba28f/Documents/Unalienable%20Rights.docx#_edn6" name="_ednref6" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[6]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>,
Joseph Smith, Jr. sets forth the lawful purposes of governments and what they
must do to retain the loyalty of the governed.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">He begins by asserting that governments are not an invention
of humanity, rather they are instituted by God for the benefit of humanity. He further states that God holds us
accountable for our actions relating to both making and administering
laws. This places a solemn and eternal responsibility
on those in government to use their offices “for the good and safety of
society.”<a href="https://d.docs.live.net/c3eeb0c5fdbba28f/Documents/Unalienable%20Rights.docx#_edn7" name="_ednref7" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[7]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In the second verse of this section, Joseph, speaking on behalf
of the Saints and according to the will of God goes on to define what
governments must do to merit the allegiance of the governed.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 8pt;"><span class="QuoteChar"></span></p><blockquote><span class="QuoteChar">“We believe that no government can
exist in peace, except such laws are framed and held inviolate as will secure
to each individual the free exercise of conscience, the right and control of
property, and the protection of life</span>.”<a href="https://d.docs.live.net/c3eeb0c5fdbba28f/Documents/Unalienable%20Rights.docx#_edn8" name="_ednref8" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[8]</span></span></span></a></blockquote><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/c3eeb0c5fdbba28f/Documents/Unalienable%20Rights.docx#_edn8" name="_ednref8" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Joseph lists as inviolate, the rights to free exercise of
conscience, control of property, and protection of life. These are entirely consistent with the views
expressed in The Declaration of Independence and by John Locke. We further see these rights explicitly
defended in The Bill of Rights which amended the US Constitution for the
express purpose of clarifying exactly what the people were expecting from the
government defined by the US Constitution.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The First Amendment directly addresses the importance of the
free exercise of conscience:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoQuote"></p><blockquote>“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of
religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of
speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and
to petition the government for a redress of grievances.”<a href="https://d.docs.live.net/c3eeb0c5fdbba28f/Documents/Unalienable%20Rights.docx#_edn9" name="_ednref9" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><b><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="color: #404040; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 191;">[9]</span></b></span></span></a></blockquote><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/c3eeb0c5fdbba28f/Documents/Unalienable%20Rights.docx#_edn9" name="_ednref9" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><b><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="color: #404040; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 191;"></span></b></span><!--[endif]--></span></a><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Founders of our nation encapsulated this right in the freedom
of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petitioning the government over grievances. Their language is clear in prohibiting the
government from making any laws in these areas.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Joseph Smith elaborated and clarified the freedom of
religion.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoQuote"></p><blockquote>“We believe that religion is instituted of God; and that men
are amenable to him, and to him only, for the exercise of it, unless their
religious opinions prompt them to infringe upon the rights and liberties of
others; but we do not believe that human law has a right to interfere in
prescribing rules of worship to bind the consciences of men, nor dictate forms
for public or private devotion; that the civil magistrate should restrain
crime, but never control conscience; should punish guilt, but never suppress
the freedom of the soul.”<a href="https://d.docs.live.net/c3eeb0c5fdbba28f/Documents/Unalienable%20Rights.docx#_edn10" name="_ednref10" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><b><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="color: #404040; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 191;">[10]</span></b></span></span></a></blockquote><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/c3eeb0c5fdbba28f/Documents/Unalienable%20Rights.docx#_edn10" name="_ednref10" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><b><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="color: #404040; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 191;"></span></b></span><!--[endif]--></span></a><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Some key points are worthy of call outs.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->Men are accountable only to God for their
exercise of religion.</li><li><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->Government can only interfere with religion when
religion is infringing on the rights and liberties of others.</li></ol><!--[if !supportLists]--><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This latter point helps to clarify further the proper relationship
between religions and government. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It also serves to highlight the fact that government exists
to protect the rights and liberties of each individual against all forces seeking
to deprive them of their rights and liberties. These forces may be foreign governments,
corporations, individuals, or even domestic governments. This latter point is one of the rare
instances where the Federal Government, usually after a ruling from the US
Supreme Court, is authorized to interfere with actions or ordinances enacted by
the sovereign governments of our state and local governments.<o:p></o:p></p>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">An additional right:</h2><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->The right to self-defense: “…all men are
justified in defending themselves, their friends, and property, and the
government, from the unlawful assaults and encroachments of all persons in
times of exigency, where immediate appeal cannot be made to the laws, and
relief afforded.”<a href="https://d.docs.live.net/c3eeb0c5fdbba28f/Documents/Unalienable%20Rights.docx#_edn11" name="_ednref11" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[11]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Second Amendment in the Bill of Rights speaks directly
to this point. It reads:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoQuote"></p><blockquote>“A well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of
a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be
infringed.”<a href="https://d.docs.live.net/c3eeb0c5fdbba28f/Documents/Unalienable%20Rights.docx#_edn12" name="_ednref12" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><b><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="color: #404040; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 191;">[12]</span></b></span></span></a></blockquote><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/c3eeb0c5fdbba28f/Documents/Unalienable%20Rights.docx#_edn12" name="_ednref12" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><b><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="color: #404040; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 191;"></span></b></span><!--[endif]--></span></a><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Many people have gotten themselves so wrapped up in the word
“militia” in this amendment that they often ignore the mandate that this right “shall
not be infringed.” The facts are that a posse which consisted of deputized citizens acting under the leadership and
authority of law enforcement, have often been referred to a militia. A militia is simply a group of citizens
organized to defend their rights against one or more individuals threatening to
deprive them of their unalienable rights.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Second Amendment asserts that the right of the people to
defend their inalienable rights by the use of deadly force, if necessary, is
not negotiable. No sane person doubts
the right of one nation to defend itself against the unlawful aggression of
another nation. This sovereign right to self-defense
is not one of the rights ceded by the sovereign people of the United States of
America as part of our social compact.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Joseph’s teachings curtail this right to “…times of
exigency, where immediate appeal cannot be made to the laws, and relief
afforded.”<a href="https://d.docs.live.net/c3eeb0c5fdbba28f/Documents/Unalienable%20Rights.docx#_edn13" name="_ednref13" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[13]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> <o:p></o:p></p>
<h1 style="text-align: left;"><b>Unavoidable Responsibilities</b></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal">Unavoidable means: “unable to be avoided; inevitable.”</p><p class="MsoNormal">In verse 5 of Section 133 Joseph notes responsibilities that
people have whose rights are protected by their government. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoQuote"></p><blockquote>“We believe that all men are bound to sustain and uphold the
respective governments in which they reside, while protected in their inherent
and inalienable rights by the laws of such governments; and that sedition and rebellion
are unbecoming every citizen thus protected, and should be punished
accordingly; and that all governments have a right to enact such laws as in
their own judgments are best calculated to secure the public interest; at the
same time, however, holding sacred the freedom of conscience.”<a href="https://d.docs.live.net/c3eeb0c5fdbba28f/Documents/Unalienable%20Rights.docx#_edn14" name="_ednref14" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><b><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="color: #404040; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 191;">[14]</span></b></span></span></a></blockquote><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/c3eeb0c5fdbba28f/Documents/Unalienable%20Rights.docx#_edn14" name="_ednref14" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><b><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="color: #404040; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 191;"></span></b></span><!--[endif]--></span></a><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">He notes that we are “bound to sustain and uphold” our
governments. What binds us is often
referred to as a social compact. In our
case the social compact is our Constitution.
It is a bilateral contract. The sovereign
individuals cede specific portions of their individual sovereignty to the
government in exchange for the commitment that the government will protect and preserve
the rights of the individuals against all enemies, foreign and domestic. To make the bilateral nature of this contract
clear, Joseph notes that the individuals are bound to support the government “while
protected in their inherent and inalienable rights.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">He goes on to point out that sedition and rebellion, seeking
to destroy the government, is a violation of this contract as long as the
government is doing its part.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In verse 6 he addresses an issue which is currently rocking
our nation. Today, many are calling for
the defunding of police departments and the abolition of them. Many people vilify the police and the courts,
regardless of their diligence while enforcing the law equally on all.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoQuote"></p><blockquote>“We believe that every man should be honored in his station,
rulers and magistrates as such, being placed for the protection of the innocent
and the punishment of the guilty;”<a href="https://d.docs.live.net/c3eeb0c5fdbba28f/Documents/Unalienable%20Rights.docx#_edn15" name="_ednref15" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><b><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="color: #404040; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 191;">[15]</span></b></span></span></a></blockquote><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/c3eeb0c5fdbba28f/Documents/Unalienable%20Rights.docx#_edn15" name="_ednref15" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><b><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="color: #404040; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 191;"></span></b></span><!--[endif]--></span></a><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Can any rational person deny that our police departments fall
within the broad category of “magistrates?”
While they are not judges, without police to investigate crimes and
apprehend criminals, magistrates would be a title without function.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Joseph goes on to explain why we need civil laws and civil
governments.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoQuote"></p><blockquote>“…human laws being instituted for the express purpose of
regulating our interests as individuals and nations, between man and man;”<a href="https://d.docs.live.net/c3eeb0c5fdbba28f/Documents/Unalienable%20Rights.docx#_edn16" name="_ednref16" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><b><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="color: #404040; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 191;">[16]</span></b></span></span></a></blockquote><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/c3eeb0c5fdbba28f/Documents/Unalienable%20Rights.docx#_edn16" name="_ednref16" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><b><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="color: #404040; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 191;"></span></b></span><!--[endif]--></span></a><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Our civil laws, rightfully regulate interests and actions
between people, one to another, and nations one to another. He goes on to note that religious laws govern
our interests and actions between us and God, and that God holds us accountable
for our obedience to both civil and religious laws. However, he notes that religion has no right
to deprive people of their property, opinions, or lives and their lawful
punishments extend only to withdraw their fellowship and excommunicate them
from their society.<a href="https://d.docs.live.net/c3eeb0c5fdbba28f/Documents/Unalienable%20Rights.docx#_edn17" name="_ednref17" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[17]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In verse 9 the issue of the appropriate separation of church
and state is plainly addressed.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoQuote">“We do not believe it just to mingle religious influence with
civil government, whereby one religious society is fostered and another
proscribed in its spiritual privileges, and the individual rights of its
members, as citizens, denied.”<a href="https://d.docs.live.net/c3eeb0c5fdbba28f/Documents/Unalienable%20Rights.docx#_edn18" name="_ednref18" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><b><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="color: #404040; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 191;">[18]</span></b></span><!--[endif]--></span></a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This is clarified by a portion of verse 4:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoQuote"></p><blockquote>“…we do not believe that human law has a right to interfere
in prescribing rules of worship to bind the consciences of men, nor dictate
forms for public or private devotion;”<a href="https://d.docs.live.net/c3eeb0c5fdbba28f/Documents/Unalienable%20Rights.docx#_edn19" name="_ednref19" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><b><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="color: #404040; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 191;">[19]</span></b></span></span></a></blockquote><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/c3eeb0c5fdbba28f/Documents/Unalienable%20Rights.docx#_edn19" name="_ednref19" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><b><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="color: #404040; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 191;"></span></b></span><!--[endif]--></span></a><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This makes clear that religion is not to be banished from the
public square. Rather, government means
should not be used to curtail the rights of one religion versus another. All have equal right to be heard and to
influence, as long as they are not preaching sedition or infringing on the
rights of individuals.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I note that these principles stand in sharp contrast to Sharia
Law promulgated by Islam. Sharia asserts
that religious government is the only legitimate government and that the ruler
has the obligation to kill those who do not believe in Islam. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Likewise what Joseph is teaching is sharply contrasting to
the current “Cancel Culture” which seeks to deprive people of their rights
because their views are not acceptable to a certain segment of society. They seek to force individual and collective conformance
with their views by threatening to deprive those who dissent of the safety of
their homes and their ability to provide for themselves and their family.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">A few other responsibilities called out in Section 133 are:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l3 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span>All men should step forward and use their
ability in bringing offenders against good laws to punishment.<a href="https://d.docs.live.net/c3eeb0c5fdbba28f/Documents/Unalienable%20Rights.docx#_edn20" name="_ednref20" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[20]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a></li><li><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]-->Vigilantism is condemned, “…men should appeal to
the civil law for redress of all wrongs and grievances, where personal abuse is
inflicted or the right of property or character infringed, where such laws
exist as will protect the same;”<a href="https://d.docs.live.net/c3eeb0c5fdbba28f/Documents/Unalienable%20Rights.docx#_edn21" name="_ednref21" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[21]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a></li></ul><!--[if !supportLists]--><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l3 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<h2 style="text-align: left;"><b>Invented Rights</b></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal">Today, the words rights and entitlements are often used interchangeably,
and perhaps incorrectly. Too often our political
leaders speak only of entitlements and not of responsibilities. We are told today that we have a right to affordable
health care. We have a right to a dignified
retirement. We have a right to choose
our gender. These are invented rights,
not inalienable ones. As evidence, note
how many governments have existed in relative peace when these so-called rights
didn’t exist. Regardless, if these
invented rights done come with commensurate responsibilities, they are not real
rights. Instead, they are issues used by power-mongers to enhance their power
and wealth at the expense of others.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Rights are wonderful things.
A right bespeaks of an entitlement.
Something which should not be abridged or denied. It is also an often-misused word today. Rights or entitlements are used to justify
massive transfers of wealth from the hands of those who worked to earn the wealth
into the hands of those who want to administer these entitlements.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Throughout history healthcare has often been unavailable no
matter how much you were willing to pay for it.
Sometimes, what passed for healthcare, bought by the wealthy, was horrible
and counterproductive. Hospitals in the
USA are not allowed to refuse basic, emergency health care to anyone, without
regard to their ability to pay for it. In
the past, these treatments were often paid for by charitable organizations or
reserve funds of the hospitals set up specifically for this purpose.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Affordable healthcare is a mantra designed to disguise
forcing doctors and medical institutions to give up their compensation for the
services they provide.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Retirement, dignified or otherwise, has never been a
right. Throughout history, most people
were compelled by necessity to work for their food and shelter until death
claimed them. Retirement was a term used
to refer to one force leaving a battlefield, usually in defeat. Pensions from industry or for military
service were typically more of a token payment than anything that could keep people
housed and fed. Personal retirement required
prudent and successful financial management throughout life. In most cases retirement plans consisted of
having many children who would continue to work the land or business and
support their infirm parents and their own children. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">During The Great Depression images of aged and infirm people
unable to support themselves were used to motivate lawmakers in the USA to shift
the responsibility of planning for retirement from individuals to the
government. Wise individuals can look at
the Social Security system of the USA and see through the words “Trust Fund” to
realize it for the Ponzi Scheme it is.
At some point, such a system will inevitably collapse because it is not
built on honest and sustainable financial principles or practices.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Individuals have a responsibility to take measures to
provide for their own retirement. While
it is arguable that their children may owe them support in their retirement,
their neighbors certainly have no such legal obligation to impoverish
themselves to any degree for the benefit of others. Only the laws of God can, and should, drive
us to sacrifice our own means to assist the poor among us, so that they can
have the food, shelter, and clothing they need.
Government exists to protect our inalienable rights from predators, not
to provide for our shelter and feeding.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The right to choose your gender is something very recent and
utterly unscientific. This notion,
concocted for the sole purpose of destroying the nuclear family and societies
built on that family, purports that the genetic dictates of biology can somehow
be obviated simply by an act of will.
While we all have our rights of conscience, those who believe in things
which are demonstrably and invariably false have always been considered irrational
and insane. To believe we can choose our
gender, in the face of biological facts to the contrary, is akin to believing
we can choose for the world around us to be dark at mid-day simply because we believe
it should be nighttime.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">These invented rights all have the commonality that they are
presented devoid of any responsibilities.
Affordable healthcare is presented as a right without the responsibility
to pay for it. Dignified retirement is
presented as a right without the responsibility to manage your own resources and
appetites to provide for it. Gender-preference
is presented as a right without the responsibility to acknowledge and
accommodate biological reality.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Another current trend is the notion that the needs of the
many outweigh the rights of the few, or the one. Progressives today are touting a social doctrine
call intersectionality to identify new minorities. Proponents of Intersectionality push the notion
that the rights of those within the categories which overlap must be protected
even if it destroys the rights of the individual. They posit that these group rights are more
important than individual rights.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The dictionary defines intersectionality as “the
interconnected nature of social categorizations such as race, class, and gender
as they apply to a given individual or group, regarded as creating overlapping
and interdependent systems of discrimination or disadvantage.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As noted in the definition, each category is assumed to
carry with it some elements of discrimination or disadvantage. Advantages which
may come from any category, or categories, are discounted, except when
attempting to broadly paint another categorical intersection as inherently and
uniformly oppressive to others. Oppression
is another way of expressing the notion that someone is interfering with the
inalienable rights of another.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The irony of intersectionality is that if you apply enough categories,
you eventually will reduce the size of the minority down to a group of one
individual<a href="https://d.docs.live.net/c3eeb0c5fdbba28f/Documents/Unalienable%20Rights.docx#_edn22" name="_ednref22" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[22]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>. Carrying through their logic to its inevitable conclusion brings us full circle to the notion that government
exists to protect the rights of the individual. In fact,
the only meaningful protection of our inalienable rights must be carried out at
the individual level, because within any group there are some individuals who
suffer from oppression and other individuals who oppress.</p></div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<h1 style="text-align: left;"><b>Conclusions</b></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal">An examination of the rights enumerated in this category as
unalienable will reveal that they support the underlying, eternal principle of the
sacrosanct moral agency of every individual.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Atoning Sacrifice of Jesus Christ was done for the sole
purpose of preserving our agency and making it both real and worthwhile. When Adam fell, he and all his descendants were
forever cut off from the ability to return to God because the justice of God
says that no unclean thing can dwell in His presence. There is nothing any of
us can do to subvert the justice of that law.
Uncleanliness would be burnt up in the presence of God. It would be a never-ending torment to be
unclean in the presence of God.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Atonement of Jesus Christ opened an avenue whereby, if
we heed the Savior, he will make us clean before we are presented to the
Father. In that cleaned condition, we
can dwell with Him forever in happiness and joy.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Every truly inalienable right inevitably brings with it unavoidable
responsibilities.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Our unalienable rights to life, liberty, property, and the
pursuit of happiness bring with them the unavoidable responsibilities. Our rights may be gifted to us by God, but as
with any gift they bring with them a responsibility to preserve and defend
them. To preserve and protect our rights
we must:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -0.25in;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]-->Not infringe the rights of other individuals</li><li><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]-->Protect, assert, and practice the exercise of our
own rights both in private and public</li><li><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]-->Protect the rights of all others both in private
and public</li><li><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]-->Support governments which are protecting our
rights</li><li><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]-->Abide by the laws of man which are designed to
protect individual inalienable rights</li><li><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]-->Do our part to enact and support laws which protect
the inalienable rights of all individuals</li></ul><!--[if !supportLists]--><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -0.25in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -0.25in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -0.25in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -0.25in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -0.25in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span>Honor those who are acting in roles expressly
needed to protect our rights such as elected officials, judges, magistrates,
police, and military<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast">Joseph Smith, and the Founding Fathers both spoke of
unalienable rights which come to us from God, meaning we own them and are responsible
for our use and preservation of them.
They do not come to us from other men, or from our governments. Therefore, we cannot utterly delegate our responsibilities
for these rights either to our neighbors or our government. If we accept the rights, we must also own the
ultimate responsibility to maintain them.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2 style="text-align: left;"><b>Endnotes</b></h2><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<div>
<!--[endif]-->
<div id="edn1">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/c3eeb0c5fdbba28f/Documents/Unalienable%20Rights.docx#_ednref1" name="_edn1" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
Dictionary.com, Unalienable, as seen 18 November 2021<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn2">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/c3eeb0c5fdbba28f/Documents/Unalienable%20Rights.docx#_ednref2" name="_edn2" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> Locke,
John (1988) [1689]. Laslett, Peter (ed.). Two Treatises of Government.
Cambridge, NY: Cambridge University Press. Sec. 87, 123, 209, 222. ISBN
052135448X.<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn3">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/c3eeb0c5fdbba28f/Documents/Unalienable%20Rights.docx#_ednref3" name="_edn3" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[3]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> As
near as I can equate, indolency is referring to leisurely pursuits, which could
be considered equivalent with happiness.<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn4">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/c3eeb0c5fdbba28f/Documents/Unalienable%20Rights.docx#_ednref4" name="_edn4" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[4]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> Locke,
John (1983) [1689]. Tully, James H. (ed.). A Letter Concerning Toleration.
Indianapolis, IN: Hackett Publishing. p. 26. ISBN 091514560X.<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn5">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/c3eeb0c5fdbba28f/Documents/Unalienable%20Rights.docx#_ednref5" name="_edn5" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[5]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> Locke,
John (1975) [1689]. Nidditch, Peter H. (ed.). Essay Concerning Human
Understanding. Oxford, UK: Clarendon Press. Book 2, Chapter 21, Section 51.
ISBN 0198245955.<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn6">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/c3eeb0c5fdbba28f/Documents/Unalienable%20Rights.docx#_ednref6" name="_edn6" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[6]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> The
Doctrine and Covenants of The Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints. Salt Lake City, UT: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints, 1981.<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn7">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/c3eeb0c5fdbba28f/Documents/Unalienable%20Rights.docx#_ednref7" name="_edn7" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[7]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> Ibid,
Section 134, Verse 1<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn8">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/c3eeb0c5fdbba28f/Documents/Unalienable%20Rights.docx#_ednref8" name="_edn8" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[8]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
Ibid, Verse 2<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn9">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/c3eeb0c5fdbba28f/Documents/Unalienable%20Rights.docx#_ednref9" name="_edn9" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[9]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> US
Bill of Rights<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn10">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/c3eeb0c5fdbba28f/Documents/Unalienable%20Rights.docx#_ednref10" name="_edn10" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[10]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> Doctrine
and Covenants, 134, verse 4<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn11">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/c3eeb0c5fdbba28f/Documents/Unalienable%20Rights.docx#_ednref11" name="_edn11" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[11]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
Ibid, verse 11<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn12">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/c3eeb0c5fdbba28f/Documents/Unalienable%20Rights.docx#_ednref12" name="_edn12" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[12]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
US Bill of Rights<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn13">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/c3eeb0c5fdbba28f/Documents/Unalienable%20Rights.docx#_ednref13" name="_edn13" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[13]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
Ibid, verse 11<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn14">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/c3eeb0c5fdbba28f/Documents/Unalienable%20Rights.docx#_ednref14" name="_edn14" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[14]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> Doctrine
and Covenants, Section 134, verse 5<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn15">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/c3eeb0c5fdbba28f/Documents/Unalienable%20Rights.docx#_ednref15" name="_edn15" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[15]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
Ibid verse 6<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn16">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/c3eeb0c5fdbba28f/Documents/Unalienable%20Rights.docx#_ednref16" name="_edn16" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[16]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> Ibid<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn17">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/c3eeb0c5fdbba28f/Documents/Unalienable%20Rights.docx#_ednref17" name="_edn17" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[17]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
Ibid, verse 10<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn18">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/c3eeb0c5fdbba28f/Documents/Unalienable%20Rights.docx#_ednref18" name="_edn18" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[18]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
Ibid, verse 9<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn19">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/c3eeb0c5fdbba28f/Documents/Unalienable%20Rights.docx#_ednref19" name="_edn19" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[19]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
Ibid, verse 4<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn20">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/c3eeb0c5fdbba28f/Documents/Unalienable%20Rights.docx#_ednref20" name="_edn20" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[20]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
Ibid, verse 8<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn21">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/c3eeb0c5fdbba28f/Documents/Unalienable%20Rights.docx#_ednref21" name="_edn21" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[21]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
Ibid, verse 11<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn22">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/c3eeb0c5fdbba28f/Documents/Unalienable%20Rights.docx#_ednref22" name="_edn22" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[22]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> Consider
the following intersectionality’s and their effects. If you identify all white
males born in a specific year, month, and day, whose grandfather is a
naturalized citizen, living in a certain county and town in north-central Montana
where the failure of the family business forced them to move to another
specific neighborhood, town, and county in western-central Montana during the
middle of the second year of elementary school you will find the author stands
alone at that intersection as a minority of one. A minority whose rights should be protected
by the government. A similar
intersectional analysis can be performed to identify every individual as a
minority group with a membership of exactly one person, except perhaps for identical
twins, triplets, etc.<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
</div><br /><center><i>
See Tom's political views on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/TomSheppardPoliticalViews/
<br />
Follow Tom on Twitter: @ThomasKSheppard
<br /><br />
Tom Sheppard is a business consultant and coach to small business owners and individuals. He is a recognized author with dozens of titles in business and fiction to his credit. One of his endeavors is to help those who want to see their own book in print. He does this through his trademarked Book Whispering Process (TM).
<br /><br />
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<br /><br /><b>
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<br /><br />
Your comments are welcome... Please observe some ground rules. No profanity, vulgarity, or personal attacks. Profanity, vulgarity and personal attacks not only betray a lack of vocabulary and imagination, they also are the hallmarks of bigotry, and bigotry is the hallmark of someone who is fundamentally insecure in their views. Facts are always welcome.</i></center>
<br />
<h2><center>
<i>If you believe Government is NOT the answer to all our problems, </i><i>you will want to read<br /> <a href="https://amzn.to/2SaZlyb" target="_blank">Godvernment: Government as God</a></i></center></h2>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Godvernment-Government-God-Tom-Sheppard-ebook/dp/B01MFAFZ9D/ref=as_li_ss_il?keywords=Godvernment+sheppard&qid=1553111331&s=gateway&sr=8-1-spell&linkCode=li3&tag=godandgove-20&linkId=9225ed931985e51d3f8fce325551fc91&language=en_US" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B01MFAFZ9D&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=godandgove-20&language=en_US" /></a></i></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">(c) Copyright 2017 A+ Results, LLC. All Rights Reserved.</div>Tom Sheppardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09835008483484789023noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2796884117961799742.post-52574129476550027152021-09-10T14:27:00.004-06:002021-12-14T12:11:27.647-07:00Withdrawing from Afghanistan and Nation Building<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeRp4Mz9rULp6T0sAFYXN0W4-4JxhRi5sE7o3UwaxBi3xYIZMuCTlPbyGVYdgUVIlYYjfDGQ7oLDlhx7fbkvQum4ngEjfMp2b0LI9G1_hScs53FSfIYRQ2Y8AVsnbl_uZx727YiQXf6Us/s2048/burning+warrior+Depositphotos_1244814_XL.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1734" data-original-width="2048" height="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeRp4Mz9rULp6T0sAFYXN0W4-4JxhRi5sE7o3UwaxBi3xYIZMuCTlPbyGVYdgUVIlYYjfDGQ7oLDlhx7fbkvQum4ngEjfMp2b0LI9G1_hScs53FSfIYRQ2Y8AVsnbl_uZx727YiQXf6Us/w461-h390/burning+warrior+Depositphotos_1244814_XL.jpg" width="461" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Burning Warrior Image (C) DepositPhotos.com Used with Permission</span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;"><b><i>Tom Sheppard</i></b></span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;"><b><i>9/10/2021</i></b></span></div></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div>As we consider the chaotic and blame-riddled scene of our withdrawal from Afghanistan it may be worthwhile to consider why we went there in the fist place, and why we stayed nearly 20 years.<div><br /></div><div>This <a href="https://www.prageru.com/video/9-11-we-must-never-forget" target="_blank">video from PragerU</a> succinctly describes what happened on September 11, 2001 which began the chain of events that led us into fighting in Afghanistan. If you don't want to watch the video, the short version is that more than 3,000 civilians and some military were attacked and killed on that day by terrorists sponsored by Al Queda. Military intelligence revealed that the head of Al Queada, and their strongest presence was in Afghanistan.</div><div><br /></div><div>Through diplomatic and other channels the US Government requested that the government of Afghanistan eject Al Queda from their country. The Taliban was running Afghanistan at the time and they refused to sanction Al Queda in any way. As a result, we went to war with Al Queda and their ally, the Taliban.</div><div><br /></div><div>Over the next several weeks and months the US Military succeeded in effectively destroying nearly all offensive military capabilities of the Taliban and killed many in Al Queda.</div><div><br /></div><div>US leaders, pondering their next steps, decided that the best way to make sure that Afghanistan would never again become a haven for terrorists was to reshape that country into a democratic republic. They made this decision based on a view of history that reveals that democratic governments rarely initiate wars on other democratic countries.</div><div><br /></div><div>With that decision, the mission of the US Military changed from pursuing, killing, or capturing Al Queda members and their allies to building the nation of Afghanistan.</div><div><br /></div><div>It is worth noting that after World World II the US successfully brought on more than a half century of peace in Europe by rebuilding Germany and brought a significant degree of stability to the Far East by converting Japan from a monarchy into a democratic republic. Likewise, the nation-building efforts in South Korea have resulted in a powerful ally, an economic miracle in Asia, and a strong democratic tradition there.</div><div><br /></div><div>Of course, our efforts in Vietnam and later in Afghanistan did not result in the same stellar effects as seen in Germany, Japan, and South Korea. Why not?</div><div><br /></div><div>From my analysis of these situations it seems clear that the failures in South Vietnam and Afghanistan both have the same root cause - lack of long-term commitment.</div><div><br /></div><div>Some will laugh at that and say, "Aren't 20 years enough of a commitment?" The simple answer to that is "No."</div><div><br /></div><div>A frank analysis of the successful nation building in Germany, Japan, and South Korea reveals several one telling fact.</div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>After more than 50 years we still have a military presence in all three of those countries.</li></ul></div><div>In 2021 the US has about 200,000 military personnel in Europe. We have 28,000 in Korea. We have 55,000 in Japan. </div><div><br /></div><div>According to <a href="https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2016/07/06/a-timeline-of-u-s-troop-levels-in-afghanistan-since-2001/" target="_blank">The Military Times</a> our peak of engagement in Afghanistan we had about 100,000 troops there.</div><div><br /></div><div>It is worth noting that we have also engaged in nation building in Iraq. If you recall, we went in there for very different reasons than we did in Afghanistan. However, once we took Saddam Hussein out of power we helped secure the peace while Iraqis established a democratic government. However, when we withdrew our military, they were nearly overrun by ISIS. The collapse of Iraq was only prevented by a significant re-engagement of our military there. The Iraqis seem to be continuing on a path to building a stable democracy, but it still seems that if we withdrew, they might collapse, just as happened in Afghanistan.</div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Conclusions</h3><div>My experience as a project manager and in process improvement has taught me that if you don't fix the root cause of problems, then you are just treating the symptoms. I refer to this as putting out fires while not stopping the arsonist. The initial impetus for our engagement in Afghanistan was to put out a fire. Our objective was changed to getting rid of the arsonist. However, in a country where arsonists abound and are often in charge of large groups of people, it will literally take a couple of generations (or more) of work to not only stop the arsonists, but to get rid of the tradition of people following arsonists.</div><div><br /></div><div>I fully believe that we should have taken the actions we did to put out the fire and make life unbearable for those who attacked us on September 11, 2001, or any who would do so again. However, if we want to get rid of the arsonists, we need to count the cost in advance and be prepared to invest 50 years or more of our blood and treasure to make that happen. That is the real cost of nation building.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /><center><i>
See Tom's political views on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/TomSheppardPoliticalViews/
<br />
Follow Tom on Twitter: @ThomasKSheppard
<br /><br />
Tom Sheppard is a business consultant and coach to small business owners and individuals. He is a recognized author with dozens of titles in business and fiction to his credit. One of his endeavors is to help those who want to see their own book in print. He does this through his trademarked Book Whispering Process (TM).
<br /><br />
The author is not an official spokesperson for any organization or person mentioned herein.
<br /><br /><b>
(c) Copyright 2021 A+ Results LLC. All Rights Reserved.</b>
<br /><br />
Your comments are welcome... Please observe some ground rules. No profanity, vulgarity, or personal attacks. Profanity, vulgarity and personal attacks not only betray a lack of vocabulary and imagination, they also are the hallmarks of bigotry, and bigotry is the hallmark of someone who is fundamentally insecure in their views. Facts are always welcome.</i></center>
<br />
<h2><center>
<i>If you believe Government is NOT the answer to all our problems, </i><i>you will want to read<br /> <a href="https://amzn.to/2SaZlyb" target="_blank">Godvernment: Government as God</a></i></center></h2>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Godvernment-Government-God-Tom-Sheppard-ebook/dp/B01MFAFZ9D/ref=as_li_ss_il?keywords=Godvernment+sheppard&qid=1553111331&s=gateway&sr=8-1-spell&linkCode=li3&tag=godandgove-20&linkId=9225ed931985e51d3f8fce325551fc91&language=en_US" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B01MFAFZ9D&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=godandgove-20&language=en_US" /></a></i></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">(c) Copyright 2017 A+ Results, LLC. All Rights Reserved.</div>Tom Sheppardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09835008483484789023noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2796884117961799742.post-5466015560325495762021-02-14T14:03:00.007-07:002021-12-14T12:11:51.061-07:00Kudos for Christianity<h1 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small; font-weight: 400;"><b><i>Tom Sheppard</i></b></span><div style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;"><b><i>2/14/2021</i></b></span></div></h1><h1 style="text-align: left;">Kudos for Christianity</h1><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Because Christianity has dominated European and American
cultures so thoroughly and for some many centuries we often focus on current
shortcomings and fail to see what massively good changes it has made in our
world.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Psychologist and philosopher Dr. Jordan B Peterson, in his
book <i>12 Rules for Life: An Antidote for Chaos</i> points out five important and
truly good changes Christianity has made in our world.<o:p></o:p></p>
<h2 style="text-align: left;"><b>KUDO #1 We are all equal before God</b></h2>
<p class="MsoQuote">Christian
doctrine elevated the individual soul, placing slave and master and commoner
and nobleman alike on the same metaphysical footing, rendering them equal
before God and the law…. Whatever its limitations, the development of such
doctrine prevented king, aristocrat and wealthy merchant alike from lording it
morally over the commoner.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;">Peterson, Jordan B.. 12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos (Kindle
Locations 3614-3615). Random House of Canada. Kindle Edition.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The United States of America was founded on the notion that “All
men are created equal…” History shows that
such an idea was totally the opposite of the prevailing political thoughts of
the day. At the time of our nation’s
founding the principle of the “divine right of kings” and the ideas that aristocrats
were put in place by God as his proxies to govern their subjects were the
prevailing doctrines of governments, almost without exception, all over the world.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Peterson makes this point as well:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>[Christianity’s]
metaphysical conception of the implicit transcendent worth of each and every
soul established itself against impossible odds as the fundamental
presupposition of Western law and society.<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;">Peterson, Jordan B.. 12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos (Kindle
Locations 3620-3621). Random House of Canada. Kindle Edition.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<h2 style="text-align: left;"><b>KUDO #2 We have individual worth outside of any
collective</b></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal">Granted, Christianity failed to enshrine this concept into
government until the rise of the United States of America, and so people suffered
for nearly 1,800 years. This simply
highlights what a remarkable and highly principled group of men set out to draft
the documents guiding the foundation of this nation and those who fought for
its founding. They were united in their
belief that the monarch was no better before God than any of them.<o:p></o:p></p>
<h2 style="text-align: left;"><b>KUDO #3 Government exists to protect our individual rights</b></h2>
<p class="MsoQuote">Christianity
made explicit the surprising claim that even the lowliest person had rights,
genuine rights— and that sovereign and state were morally charged, at a
fundamental level, to recognize those rights.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;">Peterson, Jordan B.. 12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos (Kindle
Locations 3628-3629). Random House of Canada. Kindle Edition.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In the Declaration of Independence the phrase that immediately
follows the statement of equality of all come the statement that God has given
us individual rights. We “… and are
endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights.” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The notion that people have rights which are not granted to
them by their government but came instead directly and individually from God
further undermined the prevailing political order which had governed nearly
every nation in history before then, and most of those which came after, even
up to our present day. Further, the assertion
that every individual had those rights regardless of their social standing, or
political leanings, was a slap in the face to the prevailing orders. Finally, the idea that governments had a
moral obligation to recognize and protect those individual rights established
the legitimate bounds beyond which government should not go and the legitimate
purposes which it could, with God’s support, pursue.<o:p></o:p></p>
<h2 style="text-align: left;"><b>KUDO #4 Slavery is bad</b></h2>
<p class="MsoQuote">Christianity
put forward, explicitly, the even more incomprehensible idea that the act of
human ownership degraded the slaver (previously viewed as admirable nobility)
as much or even more than the slave.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;">Peterson, Jordan B.. 12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos (Kindle
Locations 3629-3631). Random House of Canada. Kindle Edition.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">During these days when the cry of “systemic racism” is
rampant it is worth noting that Christianity has quietly done the most good
towards eliminating systemic racism than any other world religion. It expressly elevated the inherent worth of
the soul of the slave to the same level as that of the master. Further, in the face of millennia of human
history where enslavement of the enemy was the norm, it ran totally counter to
the notion that might and power determines what is right and wrong. Instead, it established the standard that
doing good to others, regardless of their social standing or political views is
right, while deliberately harming them, denigrating them, or enslaving them is
wrong.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoQuote"></p><blockquote>“The laborer
is worthy of his hire.” 1 Timothy 5:18</blockquote><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Conclusions</h2><p class="MsoNormal">I know some will take exception with these assertions. Especially because they are so clearly
pro-Christian. The ignorance of facts
manifested in the long-run of history does not justify the vilification of either
Christianity or of this nation.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">If it were not for these fundamental notions of Christianity
it is doubtful that the United States of America would exist as it does
today. Without the United States of
America and its attendant founding charters of the Declaration of Independence,
the US Constitution, and The Bill of Rights, it is almost a certainty that the
world today would be an uninterrupted patchwork of empires, kingdoms, and fiefdoms. Nowhere would the twin notions of universal individual
liberty, and universal individual responsibility stand protected by the armies and
government of a nation. The shining
light on a hill that is the USA would not exist. In fact, there would be no shining light on a
hill, anywhere.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">These kudos for Christianity are things that every non-elitist,
every where in the world should recognize and revere, regardless of their
religion or political views. Without
them, our religion and our politics would always be whatever the ruling elite
told us they should be.<o:p></o:p></p><br /><center><i>
See Tom's political views on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/TomSheppardPoliticalViews/
<br />
Follow Tom on Twitter: @ThomasKSheppard
<br /><br />
Tom Sheppard is a business consultant and coach to small business owners and individuals. He is a recognized author with dozens of titles in business and fiction to his credit. One of his endeavors is to help those who want to see their own book in print. He does this through his trademarked Book Whispering Process (TM).
<br /><br />
The author is not an official spokesperson for any organization or person mentioned herein.
<br /><br /><b>
(c) Copyright 2020 A+ Results LLC. All Rights Reserved.</b>
<br /><br />
Your comments are welcome... Please observe some ground rules. No profanity, vulgarity, or personal attacks. Profanity, vulgarity and personal attacks not only betray a lack of vocabulary and imagination, they also are the hallmarks of bigotry, and bigotry is the hallmark of someone who is fundamentally insecure in their views. Facts are always welcome.</i></center>
<br />
<h2><center>
<i>If you believe Government is NOT the answer to all our problems, </i><i>you will want to read<br /> <a href="https://amzn.to/2SaZlyb" target="_blank">Godvernment: Government as God</a></i></center></h2>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Godvernment-Government-God-Tom-Sheppard-ebook/dp/B01MFAFZ9D/ref=as_li_ss_il?keywords=Godvernment+sheppard&qid=1553111331&s=gateway&sr=8-1-spell&linkCode=li3&tag=godandgove-20&linkId=9225ed931985e51d3f8fce325551fc91&language=en_US" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B01MFAFZ9D&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=godandgove-20&language=en_US" /></a></i></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">(c) Copyright 2017 A+ Results, LLC. All Rights Reserved.</div>Tom Sheppardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09835008483484789023noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2796884117961799742.post-9464379133270801402020-12-13T08:26:00.004-07:002021-12-14T12:12:28.324-07:00The Next US Civil War<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6P5Tzm5hQrWB62hONm5BrSFqZf1Bbp5BpGFnRln6VNBQfjHPeqRJo4QWdVN5j194MCbuHQubzad_QRS-FFI7uRWuBG1u923xuAAZ2SoDms8x7RIRtJmKqadgiNBmiN_Iw87nzzlkJyQA/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="920" data-original-width="640" height="532" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6P5Tzm5hQrWB62hONm5BrSFqZf1Bbp5BpGFnRln6VNBQfjHPeqRJo4QWdVN5j194MCbuHQubzad_QRS-FFI7uRWuBG1u923xuAAZ2SoDms8x7RIRtJmKqadgiNBmiN_Iw87nzzlkJyQA/w370-h532/image.png" width="370" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;"><b><i>Tom Sheppard</i></b></span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;"><b><i>12/13/2020</i></b></span></div></div><div><br /></div><div>During the first Civil War of the United States of America slavery was a central issue triggering the war. In like manner, the next civil war of the United States of America will be triggered by slavery.</div><div>Where the first civil war was triggered by the issue of chattel slavery, where human beings were owned, bought, sold, and discarded in the same manner as we handle automobiles today, the second civil war will be triggered by economic slavery.</div><div><br /></div><div>Socialism enslaves the entire populace in much the same manner as serfs were enslaved by the aristocrats. The aristocrats were the governing class and all the economic output of the serfs was directed for the benefit of the rulers. Serfs were unable to move from place to place and were committed to whatever role the local aristocrat assigned them.</div><div><br /></div><div>Socialist countries have operated in much the same manner. Ordinary people had no freedom of movement with permits and they worked at whatever role the local party leader assigned them. Meanwhile the fruits of their labors were not shared with them until after the ruling class took their fill off the top. Whatever dregs remained was "generously provided" by the state for the workers to live on.</div><div><br /></div><div>Today, in America we see a huge rise in ignorant youth led by calculating oldsters into embracing socialism. I call them ignorant youth because they seem utterly uninformed about the horrors, depravity, scarcity, and oppression which socialism has inevitably visited on every country where it has been implemented throughout history. I call them calculating oldsters because they are generally baby boomers who have been thwarted by democratic institutions and the US Constitution in their desires to exercise life and death power over others and understand that only by overturning the US Constitution can they gain the power they so desperately crave. Many of them even feel that they deserve this power because they are so much smarter than everyone else and should rule over us because of that virtue alone. These power-hungry socialist leaders presume that they know what is better for us than we ourselves can decide. They see us as the ignorant, unwashed masses who will only prosper under their benevolent despotism.</div><div><br /></div><div>The ignorant youth and calculating, self-infatuated oldsters are all victims of their own echo chambers. They surround themselves with like-minded and sycophants and banish all opposing voices. Then, they point to the overwhelmingly supportive voices around them as evidence of the correctness of all their assumptions.</div><div><br /></div><div>Unfortunately for them, there are three primary facts which they are ignoring at their own peril. The first is that the actual number and percentage of Americans who fall into the category of "unwashed, ignorant, masses" are extremely few and most of them are in the camp of the socialists because the false promises of stolen wealth are more attractive than the prospect of having to work hard for a better life. The silent majority who oppose the depredation and economic enslavement of socialism are far from being ignorant, they are however, long suffering, patient, and generally civil. However, there is a wise saying that the socialists should remember, "beware the wrath of a patient man."</div><div><br /></div><div>The socialists envision themselves as a storm of social change led by social justice warriors (SJWs). Just as the swirling leaves dancing in the wind amid the first raindrops are just the harbingers of the real storm so too are these SJWs and their socialist overlords no more than leaves in the wind. When the real storm comes, it will be the silent majority of freedom-loving Americans who are the storm.</div><div><br /></div><div>The SJWs and socialists jeer at the silent majority and chant "Beware, the storm is coming." The silent majority quietly whisper back, "We are the storm."<br /><div><br /><center><i>
See Tom's political views on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/TomSheppardPoliticalViews/
<br />
Follow Tom on Twitter: @ThomasKSheppard
<br /><br />
Tom Sheppard is a business consultant and coach to small business owners and individuals. He is a recognized author with dozens of titles in business and fiction to his credit. One of his endeavors is to help those who want to see their own book in print. He does this through his trademarked Book Whispering Process (TM).
<br /><br />
The author is not an official spokesperson for any organization or person mentioned herein.
<br /><br /><b>
(c) Copyright 2020 A+ Results LLC. All Rights Reserved.</b>
<br /><br />
Your comments are welcome... Please observe some ground rules. No profanity, vulgarity, or personal attacks. Profanity, vulgarity and personal attacks not only betray a lack of vocabulary and imagination, they also are the hallmarks of bigotry, and bigotry is the hallmark of someone who is fundamentally insecure in their views. Facts are always welcome.</i></center>
<br />
<h2><center>
<i>If you believe Government is NOT the answer to all our problems, </i><i>you will want to read<br /> <a href="https://amzn.to/2SaZlyb" target="_blank">Godvernment: Government as God</a></i></center></h2>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Godvernment-Government-God-Tom-Sheppard-ebook/dp/B01MFAFZ9D/ref=as_li_ss_il?keywords=Godvernment+sheppard&qid=1553111331&s=gateway&sr=8-1-spell&linkCode=li3&tag=godandgove-20&linkId=9225ed931985e51d3f8fce325551fc91&language=en_US" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B01MFAFZ9D&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=godandgove-20&language=en_US" /></a></i></div></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">(c) Copyright 2017 A+ Results, LLC. All Rights Reserved.</div>Tom Sheppardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09835008483484789023noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2796884117961799742.post-41335018649839187962020-10-21T08:26:00.008-06:002021-12-14T12:12:56.274-07:00Why is Roe v Wade Important? It's not what you think.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1LyW9EsUCEYF_oQnkhwLdYo0jwf74cZlDNs6b8bz8qQ_w2BIhCXh3wXLtm2AGpzl59woFqnNkDAdC7ciuqZfruKiVV3tp9NAAzGh7C-kqztmbUH2uiJBP8efatYZtvUmgwh3LXGVLVnU/s2048/Depositphotos_21972777_xl-2015.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1LyW9EsUCEYF_oQnkhwLdYo0jwf74cZlDNs6b8bz8qQ_w2BIhCXh3wXLtm2AGpzl59woFqnNkDAdC7ciuqZfruKiVV3tp9NAAzGh7C-kqztmbUH2uiJBP8efatYZtvUmgwh3LXGVLVnU/w419-h279/Depositphotos_21972777_xl-2015.jpg" width="419" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo (C) DepositPhotos.com</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;"><b><i>Tom Sheppard</i></b></span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;"><b><i>10/21/2020</i></b></span></div></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div>As the confirmation hearings for Amy Coney Barrett proceed there has been a lot of chatter in the news about Roe v Wade. For many years now, as candidates for the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) have been considered their stance on the landmark case of Roe v Wade has been used as a litmus test to determine if they would have support from liberals and Democratic politicians.<div><br /></div><div>Most of us hear "Roe v Wade" and we translate that into "Pro-Abortion and Anti-Abortion." Unfortunately, we are missing the mark.<br /><div><br /></div><div>Most people know that Roe v Wade is the case where SCOTUS determined that women have a right to abortion on demand. This 'right' can be phrased as reproductive rights, or the right to control her own body, or abortion rights.</div><div><br /></div><div>When most of us hear about Roe v Wade, and whether or not someone supports it, our minds are focused on the topic of abortion. However, the real importance of Roe v Wade is not about abortion.</div><div><br /></div><div>When politicians focus on the potential of overturning Roe v Wade, they are not actually worried about abortion. </div><div><br /></div><div>The biggest issue embedded in Roe v Wade is not abortion. The biggest issue is whether or not the judiciary branch is allowed to violate the Constitutional separation of powers and create laws in addition to interpreting the laws. </div><div><br /></div><div>As divisive and important as is the issue of abortion it is being used to mask this much bigger problem.</div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Abortion and Inalienable Constitutional Rights</h2><div>Regardless of the moral issues of abortion, fundamentally it is a medical procedure. It it irrefutable that the Constitution is silent of medical issues. It neither grants, nor denies any medical procedure. In short, our medical care is not one of our inalienable rights.</div><div><br /></div><div>Similarly, the Constitution is silent on matters of financial security. While we have the right to pursue life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness (as noted in The Declaration of Independence) nowhere in the Declaration of Independence, the US Constitution, or the Bill of Rights is there any acknowledgement that financial security is a basic right. </div><div><br /></div><div>Separation of Powers</div><div>The biggest issue embedded in Roe v Wade is the separation of powers. </div><div><br /></div><div>In a monarchy the king or queen hold all three powers of government in themselves. The monarch writes the laws, enforces the laws, and interprets (judges) whether or not the laws are being applied correctly. </div><div><br /></div><div>The separation of these powers out of the hands of monarchs are the greatest accomplishments of Western Civilization.</div><div><br /></div><div>The importance of the Magna Charta is that King John was forced to give up both judicial power and legislative power. The right to trial by a jury of peers was a direct removal of judicial power out of the hands of the King. The perpetual establishment of Parliament was a direct removal of legislative power out of the hands of the King.</div><div><br /></div><div>When the Founders wrote the Constitution, they built a government that exercised all three of these governmental powers in ways that allowed each branch of government to serve as a check on the power of the other branches.</div><div><br /></div><div>In recent years we have seen substantial erosion of the separation of powers in several ways.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>The Executive Branch Has Legislated</b></div><div>Executive Orders and regulations have the power of legislation. When they are promulgated as clarification of implementation of legislation that may be proper. However, in recent years we have seen Executive Orders from Presidents of both parties enacted in the absence of legislation. The so-called Dreamers Act of DACA is one such order which, strangely, SCOTUS sustained as lawful when a subsequent President attempted to remove it through an Executive Order.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>The Legislative Branch Has Executed</b></div><div>Recent years have seen the Legislative Branch enact laws to take over certain powers of the Executive by curtailing the Constitutional powers of the Executive relative to dealing with other nations.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>The Judicial Branch Has Legislated</b></div><div>Here is the crux of this discussion. When the Judicial Branch legislates, there is no effective check on their power by either the Executive or the Legislative except through defiance, censure, or attempts at counter-legislation.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>They Key Question in Abortion</b></div><div>The pivotal issue of abortion revolves around the rights of the unborn. The rights of the unborn hinge, in turn, on the question of when does the unborn become a "person." Once the point of personhood is reached, then all the protections of rights by the State come into play and the rights of the mother versus the rights of the child must be mediated. Today, many believe personhood is established at conception. Others argue it happens only at birth. Still others take stances in between those two extremes.</div><div><br /></div><div>This question of personhood was the key issue for abortion debates in states across the US until SCOTUS codified it at the start of the third trimester, based primarily on the notion that from that point forward the unborn might survive outside the womb, albeit with assistance. This survival concept is referred to as viability.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/410/113/#tab-opinion-1950137" target="_blank">https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/410/113/#tab-opinion-1950137</a></div><div><br /></div><div><div></div><blockquote><div>"To reach its result, the Court necessarily has had to find within the scope of the Fourteenth Amendment a right that was apparently completely unknown to the drafters of the Amendment. As early as 1821, the first state law dealing directly with abortion was enacted by the Connecticut Legislature. Conn.Stat., Tit. 22, §§ 14, 16. By the time of the adoption of the Fourteenth Amendment in 1868, there were at least 36 laws enacted by state or territorial legislatures limiting abortion. [Footnote 1] While many States have amended or updated their laws, 21 of the laws on the books in 1868 remain in effect today. [Footnote 3-2] Indeed, the Texas statute struck down today was, as the majority notes, first enacted in 1857, and "has remained substantially unchanged to the present time." Ante at 119.</div><div><br /></div><div>There apparently was no question concerning the validity of this provision or of any of the other state statutes when the Fourteenth Amendment was adopted. The only conclusion possible from this history is that the drafters did not intend to have the Fourteenth Amendment withdraw from the States the power to legislate with respect to this matter."</div></blockquote><div></div></div><div><br /></div><div>When SCOTUS decided Roe v Wade they established a right which had been rejected as such by the Founders. From the previous quote, the research of Justice Rehnquist revealed that the Founders reasonably knew about laws on the books controlling abortion, yet they did nothing to establish it as a legal right. I will grant here that at this point in time the rights of women were largely neglected. They had no vote and their property rights were often violated. So, it is arguable that, in this instance, the right to abortion was being ignored. </div><div><br /></div><div>If a woman's right to abortion were the only issue with Roe v Wade, I would happily leave it there and focus this discussion on the crux of that matter, i.e., when does the right of a woman for an abortion conflict with the right of the child within her to not be deprived of life without due process? That is the real question behind the question of viability and personhood.</div><div><br /></div><div>To be blunt, science cannot answer the question of personhood. Science is unable to accurately determine when a 'fetus' becomes a person. Religion too has difficulty in this arena. Short of God granting a direct and incontrovertible revelation detailing when the spirit becomes a permanent tenant in the body there is no way for us to know when the transformation occurs from mere flesh and bone to a living soul.</div><div><br /></div><div>The debate over personhood is critical because personhood is necessary for legal acknowledgement and protection of rights. In other words, the right of a woman to end a pregnancy infringes on the right of a child to life at the moment the child becomes a person. If that personhood doesn't occur until birth, or if it occurs at conception, then the rights of the woman must be balanced against the rights of the person being born.</div><div><br /></div><div>Some of the research by the majority opinion on Roe v Wade makes it clear that religions too, including Christianity and Judaism have differed in their views over time. Traditionally, they focused on the moment of birth, or when the baby "quickens" and begins to actively move and respond to external stimuli while still within the womb. The focus on personhood at conception is a relatively recent standard for religion.</div><div><br /></div><div>Because the debate over personhood is so critical (and essentially unknowable) it becomes a matter of conscience and is appropriately left to the People to decide as they debate, implement, and amend laws intended to protect the right to life of an unborn child within their various states, or even at a national level through the Congress of the United States.</div><div><br /></div><div>They can change these laws as their understanding changes. They can elect or throw out representatives who support or oppose their views, and thus the rights of women and unborn children can be dictated by the collective conscience of the People.</div><div><br /></div><div>When SCOTUS ruled in Roe v Wade, they took this debate out of the hands of the People. Rather than letting the People use the legal means available to them through our Constitution, by judicial fiat SCOTUS wrote law to establish a legal thresholds for abortion across all the States at once. </div><div><br /></div><div>In Roe v Wade SCOTUS ruled that during the first trimester of pregnancy it can be terminated at the will of the woman without any prohibition. During the second trimester some concerns had to be addressed, and during the third trimester the only justification was the choice between the life of the mother and the life of the unborn. </div><div><br /></div><div>Justice Rehnquist's dissent puts the point on this issue. "The decision here to break pregnancy into three distinct terms and to outline the permissible restrictions the State may impose in each one, for example, <b>partakes more of judicial legislation</b> than it does of a determination of the intent of the drafters of the Fourteenth Amendment." [my emphasis]</div><div><br /></div><div>To be clear, the real reason why Roe v Wade is important to liberals is not because of abortion. Liberals want Roe v Wade to be considered inviolate because it establishes a precedent of judicial legislation. </div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Two Steps to Monarchy</h3><div>The United States of America rebelled against Great Britain because they felt that their rights were being trampled upon. When the Founders crafted the Constitution and the Bill of Rights it was to establish a government which would protect the rights of the People from injustice by their government. They rejected monarchy, democracy, pure republicanism, and other forms of government and instead opted for a Constitutional Republic. </div><div><br /></div><div>A republic allows the people to elect representatives who govern on their behalf. A Constitutional Republic limits what those representatives can do in the name of the the People. Unfortunately, as our country has grown is size our government has also grown in complexity. The size of the Executive Branch has grown along with our country and the need to execute the laws has morphed into the creation of regulations which have the force of law. This has led to the rise of an army of government bureaucrats whose sole reason for existing is to create, administer, and adjudicate the regulations of our government.</div><div><br /></div><div>At any point we are just two steps away from being hurled from being a constitutional republic into becoming a de facto monarchy. Those two steps are the absorption of the powers of government from one branch of government into the other. </div><div><br /></div><div>There are some who argue we are already dealing with lots of little monarchs in the form of unelected government bureaucrats who can write regulations, enforce those regulations, and rule on the proper application of those same regulations. <a href="https://youtu.be/ZwmUH5AGydQ" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/ZwmUH5AGydQ</a> </div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCv2EH-bnH8CGEGl-TkQVEMczc4ol0QQQhaW7KkYfHjue297kE-bXD9YqZHNyobgKsLGeBa3bP-GWHVVdDDNjz6iKmp1BHZFjccS8ERfUdTYEYcS_5z9dwdFWJiob6ox8crpGjQuKGwxo/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="https://youtu.be/ZwmUH5AGydQ" data-original-height="392" data-original-width="732" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCv2EH-bnH8CGEGl-TkQVEMczc4ol0QQQhaW7KkYfHjue297kE-bXD9YqZHNyobgKsLGeBa3bP-GWHVVdDDNjz6iKmp1BHZFjccS8ERfUdTYEYcS_5z9dwdFWJiob6ox8crpGjQuKGwxo/w400-h214/image.png" title="PragerU Video" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Source: PragerU</div><br /></div><div>Fortunately, Congress has enacted laws which can be used to limit regulations allow Congress to review and strike them down, although it hasn't happened very often.</div><div><br /></div><div>However, when the judiciary legislates, there is no one outside the judiciary who has the power to nullify or roll that back. Congress can pass laws to contradict or clarify, but a legislative judiciary can simply ignore all that and rule according to their own whims, rather than limiting themselves to their legitimate role.</div><h1 style="text-align: left;">Conclusions</h1><div>Judicial legislation is a serious threat to our rights because it violates the separation of powers in the US Constitution. It removes one of the essential checks and balances designed to protect us from a rapacious government.</div><div><br /></div><div>The real importance of Roe v Wade is not whether or not a woman has a right to an abortion. The real importance, and the reason liberals use it as a litmus test, is that the way the decision was framed was a broad act of judicial legislation. As such, it is a key lever progressives want to keep using to subjugate individual rights and individual will to their own will and whims. When a candidate for SCOTUS embraces Roe v Wade, they aren't embracing abortion. They are actually embracing judicial legislation.</div><div><br /><center><i>
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Tom Sheppard is a business consultant and coach to small business owners and individuals. He is a recognized author with dozens of titles in business and fiction to his credit. One of his endeavors is to help those who want to see their own book in print. He does this through his trademarked Book Whispering Process (TM).
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Your comments are welcome... Please observe some ground rules. No profanity, vulgarity, or personal attacks. Profanity, vulgarity and personal attacks not only betray a lack of vocabulary and imagination, they also are the hallmarks of bigotry, and bigotry is the hallmark of someone who is fundamentally insecure in their views. Facts are always welcome.</i></center>
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<i>If you believe Government is NOT the answer to all our problems, </i><i>you will want to read<br /> <a href="https://amzn.to/2SaZlyb" target="_blank">Godvernment: Government as God</a></i></center></h2>
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<i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Godvernment-Government-God-Tom-Sheppard-ebook/dp/B01MFAFZ9D/ref=as_li_ss_il?keywords=Godvernment+sheppard&qid=1553111331&s=gateway&sr=8-1-spell&linkCode=li3&tag=godandgove-20&linkId=9225ed931985e51d3f8fce325551fc91&language=en_US" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B01MFAFZ9D&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=godandgove-20&language=en_US" /></a></i></div></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">(c) Copyright 2017 A+ Results, LLC. All Rights Reserved.</div>Tom Sheppardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09835008483484789023noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2796884117961799742.post-36117101194665116572020-10-16T07:46:00.002-06:002021-12-14T12:13:13.507-07:00Two Things You Can Do to Make the World a Better Place Today<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4JcgkgB6anb1lx2tEVBsW8psiZMOd845eACD1Ku-s3Ewg-M3vNPHqf6AvFPaeBCT8HOPMiDHesbkJzYjWtOV45O4PE5OkgSjkY2vmQFURIgMaN4N8dX9fVcdkTLwL0XnWJ_hc-TFeDys/s2000/Depositphotos_176267624_l-2015.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1335" data-original-width="2000" height="353" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4JcgkgB6anb1lx2tEVBsW8psiZMOd845eACD1Ku-s3Ewg-M3vNPHqf6AvFPaeBCT8HOPMiDHesbkJzYjWtOV45O4PE5OkgSjkY2vmQFURIgMaN4N8dX9fVcdkTLwL0XnWJ_hc-TFeDys/w529-h353/Depositphotos_176267624_l-2015.jpg" width="529" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;"><b><i>Tom Sheppard</i></b></span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;"><b><i>10/16/2020</i></b></span></div><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;">Many people today are very agitated about the state of our nation and the world. Everyone has their own reasons for being distraught. Some are so upset that they are taking to the streets in protests. Others are engaging in violent and riotous behavior, either believing that violence is the only way to effect change, or because they feel others have no right to their own views or property.<br /><br />For many Americans taking to the streets is either too extreme, ineffective, or dangerous. They feel helpless in the face of these strong storm winds of change. Typically, the silent majority remains silent, speaking only through their votes, rather than carrying placards, or guns, in the streets. However, times like these seem to require more than just silently casting our votes, because many interpret silence as acceptance. That implicit acceptance feeds their belief that they are a majority rather than a minority view.<br /><br />The reality is that the protestors and violent actors represent a small, but very vocal and active minority in this country. The majority of people believe that change can, and should be enacted through non-violent, civil means.</p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"></p><h2 style="text-align: left;">What is Fundamental Change?</h2>While some of those espousing the need for change are calling for "fundamental" changes in this country, the majority of people are understandably reluctant and resistant to fundamental changes in our country. They have good reason for their reticence.<br /><br />The phrase "fundamental change" literally means changing our foundations. To be clear, the foundation of our nation is the US Constitution and the Bill of Rights and other Constitutional Amendments. So, anyone calling for fundamental change is calling for the abolition of the US Constitution either in whole or in large part.<br /><br />The publicly stated premise of the need for this fundamental change is a false charge that the United States is fundamentally flawed and supports racism and other unjustices through the very concepts, ideals, and organization framed in our Constitution.<p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;">When you liken the Constitution to the foundation of country you can fully understand what people like CNN correspondent Don Limon means when he talks of "burn[ing] it all down." If you want to replace the foundation of a building, in most cases, you have to tear down the whole building and start over. This is exactly what these activists are talking about. What is more, the new foundation they want to install is Marxism, also known as communism, socialism, statism, fascism, progressivism, liberalism, etc.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Institutional Racism Has Been Removed</h3><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;">I stated above that a key driver of demand for all this change is a <b>false</b> charge of fundamental racism. This cry of fundamental racism is an extension of a similarly false charge of systemic racism pervading our nation and its institutions.</p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;">I say these charges are false based on the mountains of evidence which refute these charges. Although there is not sufficient space in this short column (or in a whole library) to demonstrate all the evidence refuting these claims I will provide a few counterpoints to support my belief that these are false charges.</p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;">The Declaration of Independence which set forth the guiding principles which led to the creation of our Constitution boldly declares that, "all men are created equal" and all have the same rights. Further it states that the source of these rights come to individuals by right of birth, not dispensed or revoked by any government of men. These declarations exempted no one. </p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;">While it is true that the protection of these rights was imperfectly implemented in the Constitution, those imperfections which supported slavery and the limitation of rights based on race were cured with both the blood shed in the US Civil War and legislation in subsequent years including amendments to the constitution ensuring equal rights for all citizens without regard to gender, race, or religion. The fact that those imperfections were cured within the current framework demonstrates that the foundation is both strong and worthy of continued support.</p><h4 style="text-align: left;">Racism Persists</h4><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;">While it is inarguable that racist and sexist behaviors continue to persist in individuals and even in some societies and businesses, the purging of racism and sexism from the halls of federal, state, county, and city governments across the United States of America is clearly demonstrated in both statute and court cases where such anti-social behaviors have been punished with both criminal and civil penalties. Likewise court cases demonstrate that the weight of law has been consistently been brought to bear to rectify racist and sexist discrimination in both public and private institutions and societies wherever it has been found.</p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;">In short, the history of our nation shows over and over again that our system of government is very effective in the ongoing perfection of the defenses of our rights. </p><h3 style="text-align: left;">A More Perfect Union</h3><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;">Some seek to discredit the Constitution and our national foundation by pointing out the flaws of the founders. Noting how some of their behaviors were in greater or lesser degree in conflict with the ideals they embodied in the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. The notion here is that their creation could not be less flawed than the founders.</p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;">The reality is that the founders were not perfect. Many of them had aspects of their lives which were not in full harmony with the principles they put forward in the framing of our government. As noted above, some of their imperfections were passed on through the Constitution. </p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;">While individuals have the option of repenting and changing their behaviors to align their actions more closely with their principles, those attacking the foundation of our nation would have you believe that no such means to remedy defects exists for our government. However, as I mentioned above, those means not only exist, they have been applied and continue to be applied. </p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;">Because of its amendments, our Constitution today is a more perfect document than it was when it and the The Bill of Rights were ratified back in 1787. </p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;">Our founders declared their intent was to create "a more perfect union." What the created was not perfect. It was, however, more perfect than what it replaced. And since then, it has been perfected further.</p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;">The world today is so much better than it ever has been before because of the existence and rise of the United States of America.</p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;">To this point in my column I have explained why our union does not require fundamental change. What follows is to help to take action to protect our foundation from those who want to burn down our nation and rip up the US Constitution.</p><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Action #1 - Stop looking to government to solve societal
problems.</span></h2><div><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Those who are seeking to "burn it all down" are rationalizing their efforts on the basis that the government is not adequately addressing societal ills. This argument rests on a false foundational premise. It assumes that it is the role of government to cure the ailments of our society. </span></div><div><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">The problem with this assumption is that our societal ailments are neither more nor less than manifestations of our own human imperfections and bad actions driven by ungodly defects in human nature. When I say ungodly, I mean that literally. </span></div><div><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><b>Ungodly defects</b> in human nature are those motives, thoughts, and actions which are in conflict with the best attributes we believe are inherent in deity, e.g., love, charity, kindness, generosity, etc. Any efforts which profess to be attempting to rid us of these ungodly defects are reflexively wrapped in a mantle of altruism because they appear to be aimed at making us better people and thus making the world a better place.</span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Government Cannot Change Human Nature</span></h4><div><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Unfortunately, there is no government or economic architecture which has ever been devised and tested in the history of this world which is capable of transforming human nature into a more godly version of itself. That is the realm of religion, not government.</span></div><div><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">The reason governments fail to effect this transformation is because they, necessarily, are only able to control the outward behaviors of people and cannot force thoughts and beliefs to change on demand. Those which have tried, notably communism is in this camp, have used mass extermination to eradicate those whose manifested thoughts and beliefs, or behaviors, failed to conform.</span></div><div><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">In contrast with the universal failure of government in this regard, religion has achieved the transformation of man's nature on several individual and at least two documented collective occasions. However, the ability to sustain a community of such transformed individuals has been, at a minimum limited by individual life spans and sometimes they were exterminated by those with differing beliefs or agendas. </span><br /><br /><h3 style="text-align: left;">Successful Individual Transformations Achieved by Religion</h3><div>According to Buddhism, the Buddha successfully transformed his nature, and then taught others.</div><div><br /></div><div>According to Islam, Mohammed's nature was changed as he became the prophet, and he then taught others.</div><div><br /></div><div>Judaism and Christianity teach that Enoch, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Peter, Saul/Paul, and John the Revelator all overcame the defects in their human nature to transform into the kind of people we should be. I omit Jesus of Nazareth from this list because although "he learned wisdom" in this life, his disciples believe he was perfect from birth, rather than achieving some transformation during his mortal life. It is his nature that Christians seek to emulate.</div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Successful Collective Transformations Achieved by Religion</h3>According to the Old Testament, not only did Enoch achieve personal transformation to the point where he "walked with God," the entire city of Zion, people led by Enoch, achieved that transformation to the point where all of them were "caught up into heaven."<br /><br />The New Testament records a period where the disciples of Christ, for a time at least, achieved a very happy state where they had all things in common and had no poor among them.</div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Successful Individual or Collective Transformations Achieved by Socialism</h3><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>The Soviet Union - NO 20+ million killed (just by Stalin) trying to make it work.</li><li>Cambodia - NO 2+ million killed trying under Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge to make it work.</li><li>Cuba - NO with nearly 100,000 dissidents dead, the country still looks like it is living in the early 1950's, at best. </li><li>Venezuela - NO 7,000+ dead by "security forces" with violent unrest and rampant poverty</li><li>China - NO 45+ millions killed already with tens of thousands more in "re-education" camps right now.</li></ul></div><div>With this sort of proven track record shown in this scorecard you would think that socialism in all its forms would be dead and buried, never to rise again. However, like some shambling, shuffling, half-decayed horrifying walking-dead zombie in a B-grade film socialism continues to rise up and threaten the lives of us all.<br /> <br />If the zombie of socialism were as blatantly distinct from our current government it would be easy to hunt it down and kill it. However, at least since FDR's New Deal, socialism has been making massive inroads into the American government. So many socialist solutions have been implemented to lesser degrees that nearly the whole economy and government has been converted over to socialism piecemeal. Don't believe me? Take a good hard look through this lens.</div><div><br /></div><div>Anytime government is tasked with doing something for people which they should be doing for themselves, that is a form of socialism.</div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Social Security is Socialism</h4><div>The Great Depression threw many people into poverty and highlighted the fact that many of the elderly lacked sufficient means to support themselves in their waning years. In response, Congress passed the Social Security Act and FDR signed it into law on August 14, 1935. The underlying notion of Social Security is that we somehow have a life-long right to economic security and everyone around us is responsible to protect that right.</div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Economic Security is Not a Right</h4><div>Take note that economic security was not listed in The Declaration of Independence as one of our inalienable rights, nor did it appear in any form in The Bill of Rights, or any constitutional amendment. The notion of this "right" is based on the idea that it is the "right" thing for us to care for the less fortunate among us.</div><div><br /></div><div>This is not only a perversion of transforming morally right behavior into a legally defensible right it uses immoral means to support this morality. In the past, impoverished people, if they were unable to rectify their own situation turned first to family and then to the community through private charities. </div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Private Charity Beats Government Programs</h4><div>Private charities and families rely on morally impelled charity to help the impoverished. Government uses forced taxation and income redistribution, which are immoral means to try to remedy a moral wrong.</div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Healthcare is Not a Right</h4><div>Medicare and Medicaid likewise are state sponsored charity. Both are aimed at setting right a morally wrong situation where people are unable to afford their health care. In fact the whole notion currently being promoted around "Medicare for All" is just a logical extension of this usurpation of private charity by the state. Are you seeing a pattern here? </div><div><br /></div><div>Congressman Bernie Sanders, a self-proclaimed socialist and erstwhile Presidential candidate has proclaimed that from the socialist view private charities should be abolished. The socialist view is that all "charity" is handled by the state by using tax dollars pulled from the pockets of working people.</div><div><br /></div><div>When President Johnson declared the "war on poverty" he integrated a whole new raft of government programs to "right" a moral wrong of people living in poverty. He attacked the problem through taxes and government programs instead of promoting what was already working to reduce the number and percentage of people in poverty - self-reliance, hard work, thrift, and the safety net of the nuclear family. The results speak for themselves - destruction of the nuclear family among the poor, rising poverty levels, rising crime rates in poor areas, and the list of human misery just keeps mounting with every new wrong that socialists want to make right with the power of government. </div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><b>How can you determine if a politician or social movement is promoting good or bad solutions?</b> </h2><div>Use the simple question, will the implementation of this result in increased dependence on government or increased emphasis on self-reliance? </div><div><br /></div><div>Take note, I ask you to consider not just the hype, but to consider how it will look once it is implemented. If it is the former, oppose it. If the latter, support it. </div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Here are some practical ways to implement Action #1.</h2><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Read and analyze party platforms </b>(national and state) to uncover whether the party philosophy trends toward reliance on government or self-reliance of individuals. Most parties post their platforms online now so they are relatively easy to find.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div><b>Read and analyze proposed and actual legislation and ordinances</b> to uncover whether they tend to increase the intrusion of government into private lives or to protect individual and states’ rights.</div><div><br /><b>Study the effects of existing laws and ordinances</b> to uncover whether they tend to support self-reliance and individual industry or government dependence. Look at key demographic trends before and after a given piece of legislation was introduced.</div><div><br /></div><div>For example, if you look at poverty rates in the US, particularly in the Black American community you will see that the rates were falling steadily for many years prior to LBJ's War nn Poverty. After, the rates leveled out, instead of continuing to decline, and have begun to climb. </div><div><br /></div><div>It is telling that a key indicator of poverty is whether or not there are two parents in the home. Prior to The War on Poverty, the percentage of single mothers in the Black American community was less than 10%, now it is well above 50%. It seems pretty clear that the economic incentives in this legislation had the effect of encouraging out-of-wedlock marriages and the dissolution of the nuclear family. </div><div><br /></div><div>The results have been devastating the the Black American community, locking multiple generations into poverty and enforcing the soft bigotry of low expectations to exacerbate the problem by discouraging academic achievement by children.</div><div><br /><b>Study and analyze both the voting records and pronouncements of candidates and politicians</b> to uncover where their words and deeds align with the protection of individual and states’ rights and encourage self-reliance or government dependency.<br /><h2 style="text-align: left;">Action #2 - Make Your Views Known</h2>Exert your influence to encou<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">rage the cause of
liberty, self-reliance, charity, and decreased worship of government as the
cure for all our ills. Bear in mind, this step is neither passive nor free of costs. The biggest costs may be the loss of friends and the vitriol of those who disagree with your views. Whenever you take a stand, there are inevitably those who will oppose you. These days, that opposition has proven to be particularly nasty and uncivil.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Whether or not others become uncivil is irrelevant. If you want to maintain the moral high ground that comes with supporting our unalienable rights (and their attendant responsibilities) you need to maintain high standards of civility and decorum. Descending to the level of those who oppose you degrades you and your position, creating a semblance of moral equivalence between the principles you promote and those you oppose.</span><br /><h3 style="text-align: left;">Use social media appropriately – don’t go negative. </h3>Most of us are far too familiar with how nasty people can be on the internet. Don't be one of those folks. When you use social media, keep it positive and uplifting.</div><div><br /></div><div>Many years ago while I was serving as a missionary, one of my trainers pointed out a very important principle to me. He taught me that there are two ways to attempt to win people to your view. </div><div><br /></div><div>One way is to tear down the view of others while touting the brilliance of your view. He pointed out that this seldom works because it puts people on the defensive. They tend to become reactive and are so busy thinking of how to defend or attack that they often quit listening to the positive points you are trying to make.</div><div><br /></div><div>The alternative is to largely ignore the view of others while simply talking up the good points and benefits of your view. Many times, this wholly positive approach disarms them a bit and draws them in to look at your view more deeply and begin to ask questions.</div><div><br /></div><div>To that end, here are a few rules of the road to remember:</div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"></blockquote><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Make sure your posts and comments encourage support for your views without denigrating others</li><li>Make complimentary comments, likes, follows, and shares of posts which support your views without denigrating others.</li><li>Engage in civil discourse instead of uncivil discourse.</li></ul><div>Please note, avoiding denigrating other view points does not mean avoiding disagreeing with them. I am not calling for the total avoidance of conflict. Rather, I am calling for the use of constructive conflict instead of destructive conflict. </div><div><br /></div><div>Constructive conflict is conflict that doesn't leave people damaged in its wake.</div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Civil discourse means learning how to disagree without being disagreeable. </span></h3><div style="text-align: left;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Use facts as much as possible. Don't blindly repost memes either for or against. Make the time to do a little research and try to verify facts before sharing them.</li><li>When you move from fact to belief, state it as a belief. This clarity bolsters your use of facts and deprives opponents of the opportunity to justifiably call you out for substituting beliefs for facts.</li><li>Do not use insults or name-calling (ad hominem attacks). When you resort to hurling insults at your opponents it is because you have lost your ability to use facts and reason and are resorting wholly to emotion to exert influence. While emotion has its place, all too often it leads people into indefensible and ill-considered positions.</li><li>Engage with and support political candidates and parties that align with your views.</li></ul></div><div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Consider Running for Public Office</h3><div>Having run for office I can tell you it is no picnic. It takes some money, good support, and a lot of hustle. As nasty as it may sound, running for office is all about marketing, and you are the product.</div><div><br /></div><div>Perhaps the worst aspect of running for office is the very negative views many people have about politicians. As soon as you run for office, you are now a politician. All those unkind things you may have said or heard about lying, dishonest politicians will now be said to you and about you.</div><div><br /></div>Look local first. School Board, City Council, Mayor, County Council, County Clerk, etc.</div><div><br /></div><div>It sounds trite, but it is true, the higher you go in politics the less you can actually affect. You can have the most significant impact at the local levels rather than at state and federal levels.</div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Summary</h2><div>Two things you can do to make the world a better place today are to stop looking for a governmental solution to societal ills and make your influence felt in a positive way. These are pretty simple, but not particularly easy steps. However, you can do them and they will begin to immediately make your tiny corner of the universe a bit better.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><center><i>
See Tom's political views on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/TomSheppardPoliticalViews/
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Follow Tom on Twitter: @ThomasKSheppard
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Tom Sheppard is a business consultant and coach to small business owners and individuals. He is a recognized author with dozens of titles in business and fiction to his credit. One of his endeavors is to help those who want to see their own book in print. He does this through his trademarked Book Whispering Process (TM).
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The author is not an official spokesperson for any organization or person mentioned herein.
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(c) Copyright 2020 A+ Results LLC. All Rights Reserved.</b>
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Your comments are welcome... Please observe some ground rules. No profanity, vulgarity, or personal attacks. Profanity, vulgarity and personal attacks not only betray a lack of vocabulary and imagination, they also are the hallmarks of bigotry, and bigotry is the hallmark of someone who is fundamentally insecure in their views. Facts are always welcome.</i></center>
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<h2><center>
<i>If you believe Government is NOT the answer to all our problems, </i><i>you will want to read<br /> <a href="https://amzn.to/2SaZlyb" target="_blank">Godvernment: Government as God</a></i></center></h2>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Godvernment-Government-God-Tom-Sheppard-ebook/dp/B01MFAFZ9D/ref=as_li_ss_il?keywords=Godvernment+sheppard&qid=1553111331&s=gateway&sr=8-1-spell&linkCode=li3&tag=godandgove-20&linkId=9225ed931985e51d3f8fce325551fc91&language=en_US" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B01MFAFZ9D&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=godandgove-20&language=en_US" /></a></i></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">(c) Copyright 2017 A+ Results, LLC. All Rights Reserved.</div>Tom Sheppardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09835008483484789023noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2796884117961799742.post-55975273464965806302020-09-04T12:53:00.007-06:002021-12-14T12:13:56.347-07:00Socialism = Slavery<h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhedkFeCrY_P-2974ev5mSwfUA5gD01bxofFMo6MwkXLC98CwSoRvV8BsWStxbczLuSlwOLTHINianlBa9cYla4Y3pADHe0u9JXJ6sjOFydkuP2oBqDrpSmVnHYr27kT_2XK4EPIBfnRJw/s289/Knee+on+neck.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="285" data-original-width="289" height="556" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhedkFeCrY_P-2974ev5mSwfUA5gD01bxofFMo6MwkXLC98CwSoRvV8BsWStxbczLuSlwOLTHINianlBa9cYla4Y3pADHe0u9JXJ6sjOFydkuP2oBqDrpSmVnHYr27kT_2XK4EPIBfnRJw/w564-h556/Knee+on+neck.jpg" width="564" /></a></div></h2><h1><span style="font-size: xx-small; font-weight: normal;"><div style="text-align: center;">Image (c) AFP</div></span><a name="_Toc465190412"><i style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; text-align: center; text-indent: 28.8px;"> This article is an excerpt from </i></a><i style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; text-align: center; text-indent: 28.8px;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2SaZlyb" target="_blank">Godvernment: Government as God</a></i><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;"> </span></h1><h1><b style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: small;"><i>T</i></b><b style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: small;"><i>om Sheppard</i></b></h1><h1 style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.3in;"><div style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;"><b><i>9/4/2020</i></b></span></div></h1><h1 style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.3in;">Socialism makes citizens into slaves.
</h1><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">You don't believe me? Consider the state of the slave and his family.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;"><b>Slaves are always fully employed: </b>Slaves don't ever have to worry about
unemployment. Mom and Dad, and even the children,
work when they become old enough. Moms don't
have the option of one of them staying at home to raise the kids while the other
brings home the bacon. If they don't all
work, the master punishes them.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;"><b>Slaves are all economically equal: </b>No matter how hard they work, or
how much they produce, they get paid the same as the slaves who do nothing every
time the master looks away. They are taxed
100 percent, and then the master gives them what she or he thinks is appropriate
to keep them healthy enough to keep working.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;"><b>Slaves have completely equal opportunity: </b>Slaves don't get to keep the
fruits of their labors. No matter how hard
they work, or how smart they are, it won't automatically make their situation better. Did you know that it is probable that Eli Whitney,
the inventor of the cotton gin—an invention that gave the Southern cotton industry
real economic legs and is credited with "reinvigorating slavery," actually
took credit for an invention made by his slave?
You don't hear that story in American History class—do you?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;"><b>Slaves have totally free healthcare: </b>The slaves don't have to pay for
healthcare. The master gives them whatever
level of healthcare that the master decides is suitable for them, even though the
master may have access to a much better level of care than is provided for the slaves.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;"><b>Slaves have free housing: </b>The slaves don't have to pay for their food
and shelter. They get whatever food and shelter
the master decides to give them.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;"><b>Slaves are safe from crime: </b>The slaves don't get to have access to guns. That might not bode well for the master, making
it hard for him to keep the slaves in line.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;"><b>Slaves have totally free education: </b>The slaves don't have to pay for
education. They get whatever education the
master thinks they need to be effective in the work he assigns them.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;"><b>Slaves get free clothing: </b>The slaves don't even have to pay for their
clothes. The master sees to it that they
have whatever clothing he or she feels is appropriate for the work they do.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;"><b>Slaves get rewarded for government service: </b>There is opportunity for
a better life for slaves. Slaves that are
especially pleasing to the Master can work in the "big house." There, they get better clothes and food and education,
because they are directly serving the master.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">Doesn't that list of "government
benefits" sound a lot like the liberal agenda for this country? It does to me.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">Star Parker describes herself as "a
welfare, crack ho." The story she tells
of her gradual realization that the welfare system has the "unintended consequence"
of enslaving its recipients is enlightening.
Now, she is a champion of capitalism and freedom, which causes many people
of color to decry her as an "Oreo"—black on the outside, but white on
the inside. That kind of thinking is another
tool used by liberals to snatch economic freedom and victory from the hands of the
poor and keep them in poverty.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">The socialism in this country was championed
by the Democratic Party by the likes of Woodrow Wilson and his protégé Franklin
D. Roosevelt. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">It should not be forgotten that it is
the Democratic Party that pushed to keep slavery in place. It is the Democratic Party that passed the infamous
Jim Crow Laws, and it is the Democratic Party that initiated "The War on Poverty"
under Lyndon B. Johnson. It is now and always
has been the aim of the Democratic Party to keep people of color under their thumb
and their control.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">I wish I could say that the Republican
Party has staunchly opposed this creeping socialism and reprehensible oppression
of people of color. Unfortunately, the party
of Lincoln and Frederick Douglass has largely been won over into the camp of socialism
too. Most presidential elections, we are
given the choice between a socialist (Democrat) and a lite-socialist (Republican).<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">Neither choice is very appealing, and
neither turns back the tide of socialism and slavery that is rolling in on us.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">What is the answer?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">Constitutional conservatives need to
quit viewing politics as a spectator sport.
They need to overcome their natural revulsion over running for office and
get into the ring. They need to run for offices
at all levels—local and state mostly—and take back our country, one city and county
at a time.<o:p></o:p></p><br /><center><center><div><b>Food for thought!</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><center><i>See Tom's political views on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/TomSheppardPoliticalViews/ <br />Follow Tom on Twitter: @ThomasKSheppard <br /><br />Tom Sheppard is a business consultant and coach to small business owners and individuals. He is a recognized author with dozens of titles in business and fiction to his credit. One of his endeavors is to help those who want to see their own book in print. He does this through his trademarked Book Whispering Process (TM). <br /><br />The author is not an official spokesperson for any organization or person mentioned herein. <br /><br /><b>(c) Copyright 2020 A+ Results LLC. All Rights Reserved.</b> <br /><br /><b>Your comments are welcome.</b> Please observe some ground rules. No profanity, vulgarity, or personal attacks. Profanity, vulgarity and personal attacks not only betray a lack of vocabulary and imagination, they also are the hallmarks of bigotry, and bigotry is the hallmark of someone who is fundamentally insecure in their views. Facts are always welcome.</i></center><br /><h2><center><i>If you believe Government is NOT the answer to all our problems, </i><i>you will want to read<br /> <a href="https://amzn.to/2SaZlyb" target="_blank">Godvernment: Government as God</a></i></center><center><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Click on the image below to buy your copy today</span></center></h2><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2SaZlyb" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1650" data-original-width="1275" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcit3aZ_v4qwGm8d7i775JwroCGyJWCLf1Dq0eIxSeRBZeNxlpWlLIUPsGmLS8oOqvSQYPKuVp1fWnL8Graso20piDzPtsJNXMlxMOvbGBO-enz9GkjFPBQvyDv7RARJaBpEq3CYzMuuI/s320/Godvernment+Book+View+Cover.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Godvernment is available in both paperback and ebook format through Amazon.</b></div></div></center><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div></center><div class="blogger-post-footer">(c) Copyright 2017 A+ Results, LLC. All Rights Reserved.</div>Tom Sheppardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09835008483484789023noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2796884117961799742.post-5356979047640797162020-09-04T12:41:00.004-06:002021-12-14T12:14:19.757-07:00Lying Liberal Altruists<h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBNsMpwnEoWW29Xeq6Ar_Y1DtI4RJ6EtO6909p3I42GMtTaSzYts9z49-d7VbcfR2AP-xRGGBBiHM3JEC4yQFBD6hALwjkDWbqQGKHmcNz1YJBJPoMBH_ivBm_To2eSrzCCSKkRrcGxUU/s2000/Depositphotos_6269969_l-2015.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="2000" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBNsMpwnEoWW29Xeq6Ar_Y1DtI4RJ6EtO6909p3I42GMtTaSzYts9z49-d7VbcfR2AP-xRGGBBiHM3JEC4yQFBD6hALwjkDWbqQGKHmcNz1YJBJPoMBH_ivBm_To2eSrzCCSKkRrcGxUU/w500-h500/Depositphotos_6269969_l-2015.jpg" width="500" /></a></div></h1><h1><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Image (c) iqoncept and Depositphotos.com</span></div></h1><h1><a name="_Toc465190417"></a></h1><h1><a name="_Toc465190412"><i style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; text-align: center; text-indent: 28.8px;"> This article is an excerpt from </i></a><i style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; text-align: center; text-indent: 28.8px;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2SaZlyb" target="_blank">Godvernment: Government as God</a></i><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;"> </span></h1><div><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;"><b><i>Tom Sheppard</i></b></span><div style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;"><b><i>9/4/2020</i></b></span></div></span></div><h1><a name="_Toc465190417">The Lie of
Liberal Altruism</a></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal">In the<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+25%3A40&version=KJV">25th
chapter of Matthew</a>, the Savior speaks of the final judgment. To those who have done well and to those who have
not, He offers the same explanation for the reward they are offered. He tells them all that, "... inasmuch as
ye have done [or not done] it unto the least of these my brethren, ye have done
it unto me."<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">He is referring to how they did, or
did not, take care of the poor, the sick, the destitute, and the afflicted among
them.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">Today, much of our political debate
and divide appears to be focused on how we, as a society, believe we should go about
taking care of the least advantaged among us.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">For many years, as I read or heard these
words, I believed that Jesus was speaking metaphorically. I believed He was saying that He was holding us
accountable for our treatment of our fellow human beings, and He is certainly saying
that. However, I am now convinced that Jesus
was not speaking metaphorically in this matter.
Rather, He was being completely literal.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">We learn elsewhere that in His atoning
sacrifice, He suffered all the pains of humanity (<a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/18?lang=eng">Doctrine and
Covenants 18:11</a>), so that He could learn to succor those in need (<a href="http://biblehub.com/kjv/hebrews/2.htm">Hebrews 2:18</a>). I suggest that, in a very real way, He has actually
shared and felt the very pains of the homeless, the hungry, the naked, those in
prison, and those who wash up on the edges of our society like flotsam washing up
on a beach, and, that He did not suffer those pains in some abstract way, or as
a derivative of what those people suffer—rather, through some incomprehensible mechanism,
He is and was able to fully feel the actual pains that each of us has suffered and
will suffer. Having felt those actual pains,
He then can understand our situation completely and can comfort us, or forgive us,
in exact measure according to our pain and need.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">Knowing that He feels the pains
of others, when we help those in need, when we relieve the suffering of those in
anguish or pain, when we feed the hungry, we directly reduce the amount of suffering
and pain that Christ suffers. Likewise, when
we cause others to suffer, we add to the pain that He suffers. When we fail to act to alleviate the pain and
suffering of others, we fail to alleviate His pain and suffering.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">I believe that is true.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">In light of that belief, some would
suppose that I would be driven to embrace the social welfare model of government
(aka socialism, communism, progressivism, liberalism, fascism). In fact, much of the social welfare model of government
wraps itself in a mantle of altruism about caring for the less fortunate among us,
but nothing could be further from the truth.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">Socialists like Bernie Sanders and liberals
like Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama seek to destroy the rich (other than themselves),
and even the middle class, and make us all equally poor together.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">I despise their cries to destroy the
wealthy in order to help the poor, and there is no hypocrisy in my feelings. You cannot lift anyone up by tearing someone else
down.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">When Bernie Sanders, Hillary Clinton,
Barack Obama, and their ilk talk about helping the poor and relieving suffering,
they are not talking about digging deep into their own pockets and giving until
it hurts themselves in order to help others.
They are content to keep their own wealth, gained by feeding at the trough
of the taxpayers. They will keep their wealth,
and instead they will dig deep into the pockets of others and force them to give
until it hurts.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">Their hypocrisy in their failure to
live the very principles they are espousing is as clear and horrendous as that of
any Christian preacher who rails from the pulpit against the evils of the flesh,
and then is caught in adultery and debauchery.
Their altruistic battle cries of "soak the rich" mask the brutal
reality of their policies, which actually soak everyone who is above the poverty
line in order to make us all poor together and ensure that the only path to wealth
and comfort is through service to the state.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">We need to re-enshrine the notion of
individual action and individual accountability in our nation, especially when it
comes to the issues of caring for the poor and disadvantaged. A thrust toward individual accountability is in
direct opposition to the socialist thrust of collective accountability.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">Each individual should take personal
action to help those who are less advantaged than they. Each person should do according to their ability
and means. This does not mean that we cannot
band together into charitable organizations to magnify our efforts, but we should
not ever rely upon the power of taxation, which is nothing less than forcible redistribution
of wealth, in order to take care of those who are disadvantaged.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">I make a notable exception in this for
military veterans. Military veterans are
the only organization which has earned the right to partake of a portion of the
public treasury to support them in their times of trouble. Because they have literally offered their lives
in the service of our country, they are actually entitled to support through taxation.<o:p></o:p></p><br /><center><br /></center><center><center><div><b>Food for thought!</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><center><i>See Tom's political views on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/TomSheppardPoliticalViews/ <br />Follow Tom on Twitter: @ThomasKSheppard <br /><br />Tom Sheppard is a business consultant and coach to small business owners and individuals. He is a recognized author with dozens of titles in business and fiction to his credit. One of his endeavors is to help those who want to see their own book in print. He does this through his trademarked Book Whispering Process (TM). <br /><br />The author is not an official spokesperson for any organization or person mentioned herein. <br /><br /><b>(c) Copyright 2020 A+ Results LLC. All Rights Reserved.</b> <br /><br /><b>Your comments are welcome.</b> Please observe some ground rules. No profanity, vulgarity, or personal attacks. Profanity, vulgarity and personal attacks not only betray a lack of vocabulary and imagination, they also are the hallmarks of bigotry, and bigotry is the hallmark of someone who is fundamentally insecure in their views. Facts are always welcome.</i></center><br /><h2><center><i>If you believe Government is NOT the answer to all our problems, </i><i>you will want to read<br /> <a href="https://amzn.to/2SaZlyb" target="_blank">Godvernment: Government as God</a></i></center><center><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Click on the image below to buy your copy today</span></center></h2><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2SaZlyb" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1650" data-original-width="1275" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcit3aZ_v4qwGm8d7i775JwroCGyJWCLf1Dq0eIxSeRBZeNxlpWlLIUPsGmLS8oOqvSQYPKuVp1fWnL8Graso20piDzPtsJNXMlxMOvbGBO-enz9GkjFPBQvyDv7RARJaBpEq3CYzMuuI/s320/Godvernment+Book+View+Cover.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Godvernment is available in both paperback and ebook format through Amazon.</b></div></div></center><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div></center><div class="blogger-post-footer">(c) Copyright 2017 A+ Results, LLC. All Rights Reserved.</div>Tom Sheppardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09835008483484789023noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2796884117961799742.post-88002320257088337392020-09-04T12:33:00.003-06:002021-12-14T12:14:51.908-07:00Embracing Intolerance<h1><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnaNVwr4eeDIurwfhFYNAgLvwIiKjl4KBN91F0Fhl9hGUUwyLZ8VSUP5nPXaBGwNZuWSrJw8kHSymm46rbD-HL2gDHgNChzvl6vPVKKNOwUnRIuwIm6_dP9f65l46EShrLsmUAoNwWJLo/s2000/Depositphotos_181219498_l-2015.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1601" data-original-width="2000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnaNVwr4eeDIurwfhFYNAgLvwIiKjl4KBN91F0Fhl9hGUUwyLZ8VSUP5nPXaBGwNZuWSrJw8kHSymm46rbD-HL2gDHgNChzvl6vPVKKNOwUnRIuwIm6_dP9f65l46EShrLsmUAoNwWJLo/s320/Depositphotos_181219498_l-2015.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Image (c) Lightsource and Depositphotos.com</span></div></h1><h1><a name="_Toc465190412"><i style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; text-align: center; text-indent: 28.8px;"> This article is an excerpt from </i></a><i style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; text-align: center; text-indent: 28.8px;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2SaZlyb" target="_blank">Godvernment: Government as God</a></i><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;"> </span></h1><div><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;"><b><i>Tom Sheppard</i></b></span><div style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;"><b><i>9/4/2020</i></b></span></div></span></div><h1>The Hypocrisy of Intolerant Liberals</h1>
<p class="MsoNormal">Once you understand that godless liberals, progressives, socialists,
and communists cannot hope to succeed in their aims while the masses worship God
more than man, then the hypocrisy of the left begins to make sense.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">Their efforts to elevate the “wisdom”
of men, in direct conflict with the commandments of God, are first defended with
calls for loving, Christian tolerance and understanding from God worshippers, but
as soon as any sort of critical mass of acceptance is achieved, the calls for tolerance
quickly turn from pleas into accusations of intolerance. They begin to attack and demonize those who aren't
willing to wholeheartedly accept their patently ludicrous stances.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">Consider the trajectory of liberal fascism
that led to the recent controversy in North Carolina over HB2.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">After gaining legal acknowledgement
in the courts to support same-sex marriage, the liberal movement shifted its focus
to gaining acceptance for transgenders. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">The City Council of Charlotte passed
an ordinance requiring that private businesses allow people to use women's and men's
bathrooms and shower facilities at their own discretion, depending upon whether
the individual “feels” like a woman or a man at that moment.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">The government overreach in this case
is appalling on its face, and the notion that a person with male genitals can stroll
into a women's bathroom and shower facilities at will is preposterous. If a man who wasn't claiming to “feel like a woman”
walked into a women's shower facility, undressed, and used the showers, he would
rightly be arrested for indecent exposure, at the least. Perhaps he would be charged with some form of sexual
assault, and, if there were minor girls present, he would be charged as a sex offender
for exposing himself in that manner.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">This city ordinance would have wiped
out all those protections against such lewd conduct and given them the protection
of law. It was the local government forcing
private businesses to accept this change, regardless of their own views or desires.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory
and the state legislators convened a special session of the legislature to address
this case of government overreach and outrageous abuse of the principle of consent
of the governed. By an overwhelming majority,
they passed House Bill 2 (HB 2), which prohibited local governments from requiring
private businesses to implement rules requiring them to allow men to use women's
bathroom and shower facilities.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">This common-sense limitation of unfettered
governmental overreach was met with a firestorm of cries of discrimination, intolerance,
and accusations of being “haters” from the liberals. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">I call this a common-sense measure because
it is just that. Regardless of whether a
person “feels” like a man or a woman, their actual gender is manifested by their
genitalia and by their chromosomes. It is
not at all a question of mental or emotional orientation. It is wholly a matter of biology and science.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">At this point, some will inevitably
throw out the circumstance of true hermaphrodites—those unfortunate individuals
that are born with both male and female genitals. These individuals are more correctly referred
to as intersex, rather than hermaphrodites, because they cannot reproduce asexually. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">Statistics on the occurrence of intersex
births puts this biological phenomena between one-tenth of one percent to as high
as 1.7% of all live births, depending upon the extent of the presence of both gender
indicators present in the body. So at the
outside, this is less than 2% of the population.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">As for transsexuals, people who are
surgically altering their genitals to change their appearance, if their genitals
are still what they were born with, then they need to look in their shorts and choose
their bathroom according to what they see there, not by what they “feel.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">It does not make sense to allow men
and women, boys and girls, to all use the same bathrooms and shower facilities simultaneously,
just to accommodate less than 2% of the population and a few folks who haven’t yet
completed their surgical transition.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">There is no question in my mind that
the next counter-intuitive legal foray on the sexual front will be to redefine pedophiles
into a sexual identity that will require legal accommodation and the removal of
legal sanctions for their behavior. Coupled
with that will be an effort to lower the age of sexual consent from the current
standard of 16 years of age down closer to 8.
This will allow pedophiles to claim that their intercourse with a child of
either sex was consensual and not subject to the legal sanctions of rape. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">While liberals are trying to force social
conservatives to first become tolerant of, and then embrace, all sorts of behaviors
that are in direct contradiction of the commandments of God, they are working with
the other hand to be utterly intolerant of the behaviors of God worshippers. While fighting for the right of their own to behave
as they want, they actively seek to deny the rights of those who disagree to behave
as they want. And, as was proven by the actions
of the Charlotte City Council, they are perfectly willing to use the powers of government
to force their views and behaviors onto both public and private businesses and individuals.<o:p></o:p></p><br /><center><center><div><b>Food for thought!</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><center><i>See Tom's political views on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/TomSheppardPoliticalViews/ <br />Follow Tom on Twitter: @ThomasKSheppard <br /><br />Tom Sheppard is a business consultant and coach to small business owners and individuals. He is a recognized author with dozens of titles in business and fiction to his credit. One of his endeavors is to help those who want to see their own book in print. He does this through his trademarked Book Whispering Process (TM). <br /><br />The author is not an official spokesperson for any organization or person mentioned herein. <br /><br /><b>(c) Copyright 2020 A+ Results LLC. All Rights Reserved.</b> <br /><br /><b>Your comments are welcome.</b> Please observe some ground rules. No profanity, vulgarity, or personal attacks. Profanity, vulgarity and personal attacks not only betray a lack of vocabulary and imagination, they also are the hallmarks of bigotry, and bigotry is the hallmark of someone who is fundamentally insecure in their views. Facts are always welcome.</i></center><br /><h2><center><i>If you believe Government is NOT the answer to all our problems, </i><i>you will want to read<br /> <a href="https://amzn.to/2SaZlyb" target="_blank">Godvernment: Government as God</a></i></center><center><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Click on the image below to buy your copy today</span></center></h2><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2SaZlyb" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1650" data-original-width="1275" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcit3aZ_v4qwGm8d7i775JwroCGyJWCLf1Dq0eIxSeRBZeNxlpWlLIUPsGmLS8oOqvSQYPKuVp1fWnL8Graso20piDzPtsJNXMlxMOvbGBO-enz9GkjFPBQvyDv7RARJaBpEq3CYzMuuI/s320/Godvernment+Book+View+Cover.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Godvernment is available in both paperback and ebook format through Amazon.</b></div></div></center><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div></center><div class="blogger-post-footer">(c) Copyright 2017 A+ Results, LLC. All Rights Reserved.</div>Tom Sheppardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09835008483484789023noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2796884117961799742.post-25451710147998405012020-09-04T12:23:00.001-06:002021-12-14T12:15:15.279-07:00Socialism and Totalitarianism Are Bedmates<h1><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEkJECq9H4EsDdFnx7TH7IXwVcVpbMm8JmPt4byYhULB9Irt1_AjwkXgZMA9H5l9_1t0QuYUPTcTG_Mhl9s0i1w4Bq6SisDiedIZLzRelDlQBcoeIGdHMXez-ENpdNSc5kS_AYUotwrvE/s2000/Depositphotos_176267624_l-2015.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1335" data-original-width="2000" height="419" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEkJECq9H4EsDdFnx7TH7IXwVcVpbMm8JmPt4byYhULB9Irt1_AjwkXgZMA9H5l9_1t0QuYUPTcTG_Mhl9s0i1w4Bq6SisDiedIZLzRelDlQBcoeIGdHMXez-ENpdNSc5kS_AYUotwrvE/w625-h419/Depositphotos_176267624_l-2015.jpg" width="625" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Image (c) Igor Tishenko and Depositphotos.com</span></div></h1><h1><a name="_Toc465190412"><i style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; text-align: center; text-indent: 28.8px;"> This article is an excerpt from </i></a><i style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; text-align: center; text-indent: 28.8px;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2SaZlyb" target="_blank">Godvernment: Government as God</a></i><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;"> </span></h1><div><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;"><b><i>Tom Sheppard</i></b></span><div style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;"><b><i>9/4/2020</i></b></span></div></span></div><h1>Totalitarianism and Collectivism Go Hand in Hand<o:p></o:p></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p><b>Totalitarian</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-left: 0.3in; mso-background-themecolor: background1;"><b><i><span style="border: 1pt none; padding: 0in;">1.</span>
<span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">of</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">or</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">relating</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">to</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">a</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">centralized</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">government</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">that</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">does</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">not</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">tolerate</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">parties</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">of</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">differing</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">opinion</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">and</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">that</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">exercises</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">dictatorial</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">control</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">over</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">many</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">aspects</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">of</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">life.</span><span style="border: 1pt none; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-left: 0.3in; mso-background-themecolor: background1;"><b><i><span style="border: 1pt none; padding: 0in;">2.</span>
<span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Exercising</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">control</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">over</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">the</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">freedom,</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">will,</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">or</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">thought</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">of</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">others;</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">authoritarian;</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">autocratic.</span></i></b><span style="border: 1pt none; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;">Dictionary.com</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.3in;"><b><i><span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">“Fascism</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">is</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">a</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">religion</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">of</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">the</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">state…</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Everything,</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">including</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">the</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">economy</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">and</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">religion,</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">must</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">be</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">aligned</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">with</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">[the</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">fascist</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">government’s]</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">objectives.</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Any</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">rival</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">identity</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">is</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">part</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">of</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">the</span> ‘<span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">problem</span>,’ <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">and</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">therefore</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">defined</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">as</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">the</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">enemy.</span>”</i></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span style="border: 1pt none; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 8pt; mso-bidi-font-family: inherit; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: inherit; padding: 0in;">Jonah Goldberg, <a href="https://amzn.to/2QTuaWr" target="_blank">Liberal Fascism</a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;"><span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">The</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">worship</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">of</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">government</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">as</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">the</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">savior</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">of</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">humanity</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">takes</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">several</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">forms.</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;"><span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Communism</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">seeks</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">to</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">impose</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">a</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">universal</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">world</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">government</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">on</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">the</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">entire</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">planet</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">and</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">to</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">thereby</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">marshal</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">all</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">the</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">resources</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">of</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">the</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">entire</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">globe</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">for</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">the</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">purported</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">end</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">purpose</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">of</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">ensuring</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">the</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">well-being</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">of</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">humanity.</span><span style="border: 1pt none; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;"><span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Socialism</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">is</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">a</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">watered-down</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">version</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">of</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">communism.</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Socialism</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">doesn’t</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">require</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">everyone</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">to</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">live</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">as</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">equals</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">in</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">the</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">state-run</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">world.</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Those</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">who</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">are</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">helping</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">the</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">most</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">to</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">promote</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">the</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">good</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">of</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">the</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">people</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">are</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">worthy</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">of</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">the</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">fat</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">of</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">the</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">land.</span>
<span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">This</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">used</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">to</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">be</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">one</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">of</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">the</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">differences,</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">and</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">points</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">of</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">contention,</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">between</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">the</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Union</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">of</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Soviet</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Socialist</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Republics</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">and</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">the</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">People</span>’<span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">s</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Republic</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">of</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">China.</span><span style="border: 1pt none; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;"><span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Mao</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">presented</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">himself</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">as</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">one</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">of</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">the</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">people,</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">wearing</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">the</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">same</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">rough</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">jacket</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">as</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">the</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">ordinary</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">peasants.</span><span style="border: 1pt none; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;"><span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Of</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">course</span>, <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">in</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">the</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">China</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">of</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">our</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">day,</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">the</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Central</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Committee</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">members</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">and</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">top</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">generals</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">live</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">like</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">kings, and</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">a</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">creeping</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">capitalism</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">is</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">steadily</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">lifting</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">the</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">rest</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">of</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">the</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">populace</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">from</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">poverty</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">toward</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">well</span>-<span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">being</span>.<span style="border: 1pt none; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;"><span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Fascism</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">is</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">a</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">form</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">of</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">socialism</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">which</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">purports</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">that</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">there</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">is</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">one</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">nation</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">or</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">race</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">that is</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">mystically</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">endowed</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">with</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">superiority</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">over</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">all</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">other</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">races.</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">This</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">superior</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">nation</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">or</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">race</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">should</span>—<span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">by</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">right</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">of</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">its</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">superiority</span>—<span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">rule</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">over</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">all</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">humanity</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">and</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">manage</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">it</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">for</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">its</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">own</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">good.</span><span style="border: 1pt none; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;"><span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Communism,</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">socialism,</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">and</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">fascism</span>—<span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">all</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">of</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">which</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">are</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">simply</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">different</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">flavors</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">of</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">collectivism</span>—<span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">are</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">all</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">totalitarian</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">forms</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">of</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">government.</span><span style="border: 1pt none; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;"><span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">This</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">fact</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">may</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">come</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">as</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">a</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">shock</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">to</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">some,</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">because</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">they</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">are</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">accustomed</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">to</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">thinking</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">of</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">totalitarian</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">governments</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">as</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">being</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">epitomized</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">by</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">having</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">a</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">dictator</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">or</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">“president</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">for</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">life,”</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">and</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">being</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">at</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">odds</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">with</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">collectivism</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">because</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">of</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">the</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">strong</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">emphasis</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">on</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">the</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">value</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">of</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">one</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">particular</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">individual</span>—<span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">the</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">supreme</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">leader.</span><span style="border: 1pt none; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;"><span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">A</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">quick</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">consideration</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">of</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">history</span>—<span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">past</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">and</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">current</span>—<span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">reveals</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">that</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">dictatorship</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">is</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">entirely</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">consistent</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">with</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">collectivism,</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">even</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">with</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">the</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">emphasis</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">on</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">one</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">particular</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">individual.</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Consider</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">the</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">near</span>-<span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">worship</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">of</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">both</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Lenin</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">and</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Stalin</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">in</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Russia.</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">I</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">have</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">already</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">mentioned</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Mao</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">in</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">China.</span>
<span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Then</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">there</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">are</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">the</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">various</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">men</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">of</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">the</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">same</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">family</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">who</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">have</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">been</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">ruling</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">North</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Korea</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">with</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">an</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">iron</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">fist</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">as</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">a</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">communist</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">country</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">since</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">the</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Korean</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">War.</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Closer</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">to</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">the</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">U</span>.<span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">S</span>., <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">we</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">have</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Fidel</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Castro</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">in</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Cuba</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">and</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Hugo</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Chavez</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">in</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Venezuela</span>, <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">both</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">of</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">whom</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">were</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">de</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">facto</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">dictators</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">and</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">drove</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">their</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">nations</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">into</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">the</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">collective</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">poverty</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">of</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">communism.</span><span style="border: 1pt none; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;"><span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Totalitarianism</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">is</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">totally</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">consistent</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">with</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">dictatorships</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">and</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">communism.</span> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.3in;"><b><i><span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">"[Fascism]</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">is</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">totalitarian</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">in</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">that</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">it</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">views</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">everything</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">as</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">political</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">and</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">holds</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">that</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">any</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">action</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">by</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">the</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">state</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">is</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">justified</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">to</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">achieve</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">the</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">common</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">good."</span></i></b><span style="border: 1pt none; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span style="border: 1pt none; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 8pt; mso-bidi-font-family: inherit; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: inherit; padding: 0in;">Jonah Goldberg,<a href="https://amzn.to/2QTuaWr" target="_blank"> Liberal Fascism</a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;"><span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">The</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">liberal</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">elite</span>—<span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">the</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">collectivists</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">and</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">progressives</span>—<span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">are</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">very</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">adept</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">at</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">wrapping</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">their</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">efforts</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">in</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">altruism.</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">The</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">common</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">good</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">has</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">been</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">used</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">to</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">justify</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">most</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">of</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">the</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">greatest</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">injustices</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">of</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">the</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">20th Century.</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">In</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">addition</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">to</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">the</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">millions</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">slaughtered</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">in</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">the</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">name</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">of</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">establishing</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">and</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">maintaining</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">the</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">security</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">of</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">the</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">socialist</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">nations</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">against</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">their</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">own</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">citizens</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">and</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">those</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">they</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">have</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">killed</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">in</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">their</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">attempts</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">to</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">violently</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">and</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">forcibly</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">convert</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">to</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">socialism,</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">by</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">one</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">estimate</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">the</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">noble</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">“right”</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">of</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">reproductive</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">choice</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">has</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">slaughtered</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">in</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">excess</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">of</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">1</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">billion</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">unborn</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">children</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">worldwide.</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Isn’t</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">it</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">wonderful</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">and</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">amazing</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">what</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">sacrifices</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">are</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">required</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">for</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">the</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">common</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">good</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">from</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">those</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">who</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">have</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">no</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">choice</span>?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.3in;"><b><i><span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">["Fascism]</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">takes</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">responsibility</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">for</span>
<span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">all</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">aspects</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">of</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">life,</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">including</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">our</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">health</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">and</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">well-being,</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">and</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">seeks</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">to</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">impose</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">uniformity</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">of</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">thought</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">and</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">action,</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">whether</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">by</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">force</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">or</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">through</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">regulation</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">and</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">social</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">pressure."</span></i></b><span style="border: 1pt none; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span style="border: 1pt none; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 8pt; mso-bidi-font-family: inherit; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: inherit; padding: 0in;">Jonah Goldberg, <a href="https://amzn.to/2QTuaWr" target="_blank">Liberal Fascism</a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;"><span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">When</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">I</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">read</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">this</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">quote,</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">I</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">think</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">about</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Obamacare</span>—<span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">the</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Affordable</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Care</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Act.</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">It</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">was</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">implemented</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">under</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">the</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">guise</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">of</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">forcing</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">85 percent</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">of</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">the</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">population</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">to</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">pay</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">for</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">health</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">insurance</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">for</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">the</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">15 percent</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">of</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">people</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">without</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">insurance.</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">It</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">was</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">all</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">about</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">“the</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">common</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">good.”</span><span style="border: 1pt none; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;"><span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">The</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">book</span> <a href="http://amzn.to/2dExf6L"><i>Brave New World</i></a>, <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">by</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Aldous</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Huxley,</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">was</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">a</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">fictional</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">portrayal</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">of</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">a</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">socialist</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">world</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">with</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">a</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">“nanny-state”</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">approach.</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">The</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">undesirables</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">are</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">genetically</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">engineered</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">out</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">of</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">the</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">race,</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">or</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">consigned</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">to</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">lives</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">of</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">abject</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">servitude,</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">where</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">their</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">discontent</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">is</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">quashed</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">with</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">liberal</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">doses</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">of</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">drugs</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">to</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">keep</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">them</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">in</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">line.</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Added</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">to</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">the</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">mix</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">is</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">a</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">liberal</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">application</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">of</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">free</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">sex</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">and</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">the</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">abolition</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">of</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">marriage</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">and</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">nuclear</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">families.</span><span style="border: 1pt none; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;"><span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">In</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">contrast</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">with</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Huxley’s</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">nanny-state</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">portrayal</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">of</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">socialism,</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">George</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Orwell,</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">in</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">his</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">book</span> <i><a href="https://amzn.to/2DynPwM" target="_blank">1984</a></i>, <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">depicted</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">the</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">unrelenting</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">brutality</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">of</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">a</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">socialist</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">police</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">state.</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Moral</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">decadence</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">is</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">decried</span>, <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">as</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">is</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">the</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">social</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">irresponsibility</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">of</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">being</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">physically</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">unfit.</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Such</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">“aberrant”</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">behavior</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">is</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">punished</span>, <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">and</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">crimes</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">of</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">“subversive”</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">thoughts</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">or</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">words</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">can</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">result</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">in</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">torture</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">and</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">death</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">at</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">the</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">hands</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">of</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">the</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">agents</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">of</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">the</span> <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">state.</span><span style="border: 1pt none; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><center><br /></center><center><center><div><b>Food for thought!</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><center><i>See Tom's political views on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/TomSheppardPoliticalViews/ <br />Follow Tom on Twitter: @ThomasKSheppard <br /><br />Tom Sheppard is a business consultant and coach to small business owners and individuals. He is a recognized author with dozens of titles in business and fiction to his credit. One of his endeavors is to help those who want to see their own book in print. He does this through his trademarked Book Whispering Process (TM). <br /><br />The author is not an official spokesperson for any organization or person mentioned herein. <br /><br /><b>(c) Copyright 2020 A+ Results LLC. All Rights Reserved.</b> <br /><br /><b>Your comments are welcome.</b> Please observe some ground rules. No profanity, vulgarity, or personal attacks. Profanity, vulgarity and personal attacks not only betray a lack of vocabulary and imagination, they also are the hallmarks of bigotry, and bigotry is the hallmark of someone who is fundamentally insecure in their views. Facts are always welcome.</i></center><br /><h2><center><i>If you believe Government is NOT the answer to all our problems, </i><i>you will want to read<br /> <a href="https://amzn.to/2SaZlyb" target="_blank">Godvernment: Government as God</a></i></center><center><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Click on the image below to buy your copy today</span></center></h2><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2SaZlyb" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1650" data-original-width="1275" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcit3aZ_v4qwGm8d7i775JwroCGyJWCLf1Dq0eIxSeRBZeNxlpWlLIUPsGmLS8oOqvSQYPKuVp1fWnL8Graso20piDzPtsJNXMlxMOvbGBO-enz9GkjFPBQvyDv7RARJaBpEq3CYzMuuI/s320/Godvernment+Book+View+Cover.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Godvernment is available in both paperback and ebook format through Amazon.</b></div></div></center><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div></center><div class="blogger-post-footer">(c) Copyright 2017 A+ Results, LLC. All Rights Reserved.</div>Tom Sheppardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09835008483484789023noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2796884117961799742.post-37257189130366855752020-09-04T12:08:00.003-06:002021-12-14T12:15:35.128-07:00The Psychology of Power<h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXZt5RskNTn1ysAFczaJEy3oruTteVV0_TdHu_4Zze_nXjp_HaWH8oteqMiDrWByy6kPHIoyBzo3EQ-8aL92vFVdGkvYZFW1tG73AabchnJt3QpFpditlXApywsAG5fvjGuLEPHTVE9do/s2000/Depositphotos_262650816_l-2015.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1941" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXZt5RskNTn1ysAFczaJEy3oruTteVV0_TdHu_4Zze_nXjp_HaWH8oteqMiDrWByy6kPHIoyBzo3EQ-8aL92vFVdGkvYZFW1tG73AabchnJt3QpFpditlXApywsAG5fvjGuLEPHTVE9do/w486-h500/Depositphotos_262650816_l-2015.jpg" width="486" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Image (c) YAYImages and Depositphotos.com</span></div></h1><h1><a name="_Toc465190412"><i style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; text-align: center; text-indent: 28.8px;"> This article is an excerpt from </i></a><i style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; text-align: center; text-indent: 28.8px;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2SaZlyb" target="_blank">Godvernment: Government as God</a></i><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;"> </span></h1><div><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;"><b><i>Tom Sheppard</i></b></span><div style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;"><b><i>9/4/2020</i></b></span></div></span></div><h1><a name="_Toc465190420">Mythology
and the Psychology of Power</a><o:p></o:p></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal">Among the supernatural creatures of Celtic myths (the faeries), there are two primary camps of
supernatural beings, the Seelie Court and the Unseelie Court. While both of these groups have powers beyond
what humans have, the difference between them lies in their philosophies of power. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">The Seelie Court believes that its power
should be used only when necessary to help humanity or its own kind to live better,
happier lives.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">The Unseelie Court operates on the premise
that power is only power when it is exercised, and that it should be exercised often
and freely and solely for the benefit, advantage, or enjoyment of the one wielding
the power. <span style="text-indent: 0.3in;">The Unseelie Court is not a pleasant
group for any unfortunate, powerless humans to interact with.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;"><span style="text-indent: 0.3in;">In
contrast, the Seelie Court, while it can be dangerous, won’t abuse humans just because
it can.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">What the myths reveal about the inhabitants
of the realm of Faerie provide us with useful insights into human nature. And those insights into human nature uncover why
Godvernment will inevitably fail in its effort to create Homo Superioris.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">People who embrace the Unseelie approach
to power generally fall into the category of mindsets which psychologists refer
to as sociopathic. Sympathy and empathy for those who are affected by their use
(or abuse) of power do not temper their actions as they do for most people.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;"><b>Unseelies are always drawn to power.</b> The degree to which the Godvernmentalists succeed
in making government powerful is a direct attraction to the Unseelie. These Unseelie people will readily take government
jobs as the avenue to power, and along the way, <b>they will routinely use their power
for their own pleasure</b>, or simply because they can. The use of their power will almost uniformly leave
a wake of damaged lives and people behind and around them, and they will tend to
attract like minds, so their inner circle will be heavily populated by Unseelies.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">As these people pursue power, they will
generally succeed because they are utterly ruthless. They will use whatever tools come to their hands
to remove people above them, below them, or beside them who are perceived to be
in any way hindering their gathering and use of power.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">For Unseelies, the gathering of power
into the Godvernment is the establishment of an environment that will promote their
worst natures. This is in sharp contrast
to the purported goal of Godvernment to create an utopian environment for the creation of Homo Superioris
(Superman).<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">If you accept the belief of the Godvernmentalists
that, to create a better human being, you have to first create the right environment,
then you are defeated by your own principles.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">Creating a Godvernment where human intellect
is worshipped and power is consolidated into the hands of a few, who are supposed
to use it to help the rest of us, will create institutions that are controlled by
Unseelies. This corrupted power structure will not have any desire (or ability)
to create a Superman. After all, if they
succeed, they will have given power away into the hands of a creature who will be
inherently more powerful than they are.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">Some will argue this point and protest
that the altruists will win out and move the noble enterprise forward. Unfortunately, as I noted above, their very founding
premises argue against them.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">If circumstance determines behavior,
then circumstances that enable Unseelie behavior will produce Unseelie behavior.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">In sharp contrast with the idealistic
Godvernmentalists, God worshippers believe that you must first change the inner
person. Then the inner person will change
behaviors, and that will change circumstances.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">This is the fundamental reason why faith-based
12-step programs for addicts of all sorts are consistently, measurably more effective
than their agnostic or atheistic counterparts. Successful addiction recovery programs aim to change the addict internally as the means to change their external behaviors.<o:p></o:p></p><br /><center><center><div><b>Food for thought!</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><center><i>See Tom's political views on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/TomSheppardPoliticalViews/ <br />Follow Tom on Twitter: @ThomasKSheppard <br /><br />Tom Sheppard is a business consultant and coach to small business owners and individuals. He is a recognized author with dozens of titles in business and fiction to his credit. One of his endeavors is to help those who want to see their own book in print. He does this through his trademarked Book Whispering Process (TM). <br /><br />The author is not an official spokesperson for any organization or person mentioned herein. <br /><br /><b>(c) Copyright 2020 A+ Results LLC. All Rights Reserved.</b> <br /><br /><b>Your comments are welcome.</b> Please observe some ground rules. No profanity, vulgarity, or personal attacks. Profanity, vulgarity and personal attacks not only betray a lack of vocabulary and imagination, they also are the hallmarks of bigotry, and bigotry is the hallmark of someone who is fundamentally insecure in their views. Facts are always welcome.</i></center><br /><h2><center><i>If you believe Government is NOT the answer to all our problems, </i><i>you will want to read<br /> <a href="https://amzn.to/2SaZlyb" target="_blank">Godvernment: Government as God</a></i></center><center><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Click on the image below to buy your copy today</span></center></h2><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2SaZlyb" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1650" data-original-width="1275" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcit3aZ_v4qwGm8d7i775JwroCGyJWCLf1Dq0eIxSeRBZeNxlpWlLIUPsGmLS8oOqvSQYPKuVp1fWnL8Graso20piDzPtsJNXMlxMOvbGBO-enz9GkjFPBQvyDv7RARJaBpEq3CYzMuuI/s320/Godvernment+Book+View+Cover.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Godvernment is available in both paperback and ebook format through Amazon.</b></div></div></center><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div></center><div class="blogger-post-footer">(c) Copyright 2017 A+ Results, LLC. All Rights Reserved.</div>Tom Sheppardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09835008483484789023noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2796884117961799742.post-56827602749437990582020-09-04T11:52:00.002-06:002021-12-14T12:15:57.889-07:00The Failure of Science<h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFlhVQd37OQ-ukLvtYcE69TUVCpNAM7g4mo31jLlotSJkAoNuhHstY2cXgAbIet-V_P8UEjAtg_1sebQpDYzPi1sePeNEHyZ9nPi0exkU89SrPorleAKN9qZgwzf-9pnUSbx0LArsdlfk/s2048/science-01-seamless-black-01.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1884" data-original-width="2048" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFlhVQd37OQ-ukLvtYcE69TUVCpNAM7g4mo31jLlotSJkAoNuhHstY2cXgAbIet-V_P8UEjAtg_1sebQpDYzPi1sePeNEHyZ9nPi0exkU89SrPorleAKN9qZgwzf-9pnUSbx0LArsdlfk/w500-h460/science-01-seamless-black-01.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><div style="text-align: center;">Image (c) Depositphotos.com</div></span></h1><h1><a name="_Toc465190412"><i style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; text-align: center; text-indent: 28.8px;"> This article is an excerpt from </i></a><i style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; text-align: center; text-indent: 28.8px;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2SaZlyb" target="_blank">Godvernment: Government as God</a></i><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;"> </span></h1><div><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;"><b><i>Tom Sheppard</i></b></span><div style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;"><b><i>9/4/2020</i></b></span></div></span></div>
<p class="MsoNormal">Sam Harris, in his book <a href="http://amzn.to/2dEwyxV"><i>The Moral Landscape</i></a><i>,</i> makes a wonderful case for how science
can be used to unequivocally define and measure both good and bad, where bad is
what moralists refer to as evil.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">He argues that the current morally
neutral stance of science is both hypocritical and unscientific.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;"><b>He comes at his topic from the
viewpoint of being both atheist and anti-religionist.</b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">The most enduringly valuable
element of his work is that he uses science to demonstrate to scientists and
anyone else who cares to listen that <b>right and wrong, good and bad, are not
relative</b>. They are, in fact, measurable
absolutes.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">While I appreciate Mr. Harris’
break from the prevailing scientific hypocrisy, and I agree with his assertions
that <b>good and bad are empirically demonstrable</b>, I know that his approach will
never result in inspiring people to be good, at least not in the finest senses
of the word.<o:p></o:p></p><h1 style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.3in;">People aren't rational</h1>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">The reason I predict his ultimate
failure on this front is that his approach is utterly intellectual. The problem with the intellectual approach—the
rational approach—is that people are ultimately irrational.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">While we can become intellectually
100% convinced of some fact, until we feel the need to align our lives with
that fact, it will be just as though we were ignorant of that fact.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">An example of this prevalence of
irrationality over rationality is doctors who smoke.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">Scientific research has
demonstrated beyond reasonable doubt the causal link between smoking and lung
cancer. Yet, because there is not an
instant and 100% incidence of lung cancer in every smoker, some medical doctors
will continue to smoke, regardless of the force of the evidence against it.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">This prevalence of the irrational
over the rational results in cognitive dissonance. Cognitive dissonance is the discomfort people
experience when they consciously act in conflict with something that they
intellectually know to be true (or when they hold multiple contradictory
beliefs at the same time).<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">I hope that Mr. Harris prevails in
his efforts to establish a scientific approach to measuring good and bad, but I
fear that even if he succeeds, his ignorance of the reality of God and our
relationship to Him will prevent his approach from having the power to actually
change the behavior of any significant segment of the population.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">Even the consummate cynic <a href="https://amzn.to/3jNShm8" target="_blank">L. RonHubbard</a>, the founder of Scientology, recognized that he had to reach both heart
and mind for his self-avowed tax shelter/religion/business to thrive. He incorporated the mystical notion of prior
lives and “n-grams” to motivate people to hand over incredible amounts of money
to achieve the very effects of repentance and obedience to God, which Jesus
Christ offered without money and without price.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">Aside from the inability to capture
both the heart and mind (the former concept is denied by science), science
inevitably will fail us for another simple reason:<b> science, at its farthest
limits, is bounded by what the human mind can imagine to be real.</b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">Centuries ago, humanity could not
imagine that the Earth was not the center of the universe. Scientists of that day based their theories
and made discoveries and assertions of truth with the idea of the Earth as
center being the foundation of their work.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">Not so long ago, scientists
believed that all things were comprised of just four elements: earth, wind, fire, and spirit. They couldn’t even imagine the Periodic Table
of Elements with its 112 entries. Even
this Periodic Table has been expanded over time from 94 to its current
state. This expansion occurred in spite
of those scientists who asserted that the current table was the complete
catalog of all possible elements.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">When Sir Isaac Newton published his
<a href="http://amzn.to/2eUeG4y" title="Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica">Philosophiæ Naturalis
Principia Mathematica (Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy)</a>, in
1687,<b> scientists believed that they could explain everything in the universe
through math and reason.</b> With the
reluctant acceptance of Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity, scientists had
to concede that Newton hadn’t actually figured it all out. With the introduction of quantum theory, we
have a situation where relativity has to be ignored to accept some evidences that
appear to support quantum theory, and quantum theory has to be ignored to make
sense of facts that support general relativity.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">Not many years ago, astronomers
thought that the Milky Way contained all the stars in the universe. That was taught as scientific fact in
universities and secondary schools the world over. Then, they discovered more galaxies and<b>
revised their scientific <u>facts</u> to match the new data</b>. For a time, they believed that they could
quantify the number of galaxies. Now,
with ever more powerful devices, they find that when they look in areas of the universe
which they had previously thought were empty, they find galaxies beyond number.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">While I am delighted to see the
progress of science, I cannot put my faith for a knowledge of absolute truths
in any endeavor that is limited by the finite and flawed mind of humanity,
either individually or collectively.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">God let us know that our
imaginations are inadequate when it comes to understanding what He has in store
for us.<span style="font-size: 6pt; text-indent: 0.3in;"> </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.3in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 12.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><b><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">"But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear
heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared
for them that love Him."</span></i></b><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/nt/1-cor/2.9?lang=eng#8"><span color="" style="font-size: 9pt; text-decoration-line: none;">1 Corinthians 2:9</span></a><span style="font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">And elsewhere, through his prophet
Isaiah (verses 58-59), He said,<span style="text-indent: 0.3in;"> </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.3in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><b><i>"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither
are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.3in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><b><i> </i></b></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.3in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 12.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><b><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so
are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts."</span></i></b><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">Finally, He told us plainly that He
is more intelligent than all of us put together when He said,</p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.3in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 12.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i>"And the Lord said unto me: These two facts do
exist, that there are two spirits, one being more intelligent than the other;
there shall be another more intelligent than they; I am the Lord thy God, I am
more intelligent than they all."</i></b></span><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p align="right" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.3in; text-align: right; vertical-align: baseline;"><span color="" style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration-line: none;"><a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/pgp/abr/3.19?lang=eng#18">Abraham 3:19</a></span><span style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.3in;"> </span></p>
<h1 style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0.3in;">Science will inevitably fail to
save humanity simply because scientists don’t have all the facts. Neither do governments. Only God has all the facts.</h1><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;"><o:p></o:p></p><center><div><b>Food for thought!</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><center><i>See Tom's political views on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/TomSheppardPoliticalViews/ <br />Follow Tom on Twitter: @ThomasKSheppard <br /><br />Tom Sheppard is a business consultant and coach to small business owners and individuals. He is a recognized author with dozens of titles in business and fiction to his credit. One of his endeavors is to help those who want to see their own book in print. He does this through his trademarked Book Whispering Process (TM). <br /><br />The author is not an official spokesperson for any organization or person mentioned herein. <br /><br /><b>(c) Copyright 2020 A+ Results LLC. All Rights Reserved.</b> <br /><br /><b>Your comments are welcome.</b> Please observe some ground rules. No profanity, vulgarity, or personal attacks. Profanity, vulgarity and personal attacks not only betray a lack of vocabulary and imagination, they also are the hallmarks of bigotry, and bigotry is the hallmark of someone who is fundamentally insecure in their views. Facts are always welcome.</i></center><br /><h2><center><i>If you believe Government is NOT the answer to all our problems, </i><i>you will want to read<br /> <a href="https://amzn.to/2SaZlyb" target="_blank">Godvernment: Government as God</a></i></center><center><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Click on the image below to buy your copy today</span></center></h2><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2SaZlyb" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1650" data-original-width="1275" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcit3aZ_v4qwGm8d7i775JwroCGyJWCLf1Dq0eIxSeRBZeNxlpWlLIUPsGmLS8oOqvSQYPKuVp1fWnL8Graso20piDzPtsJNXMlxMOvbGBO-enz9GkjFPBQvyDv7RARJaBpEq3CYzMuuI/s320/Godvernment+Book+View+Cover.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Godvernment is available in both paperback and ebook format through Amazon.</b></div></div></center><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br style="text-align: -webkit-center;" /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">(c) Copyright 2017 A+ Results, LLC. All Rights Reserved.</div>Tom Sheppardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09835008483484789023noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2796884117961799742.post-21246043080700990222020-09-04T11:33:00.002-06:002021-12-14T12:16:32.148-07:00Creators and Creations, a complicated relationship<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm4AKLciLAT9gFsjweWHxy5E6e100PW3mowInWSHFqAfudXU8MYRgOScI8UXOAj1B_0-sT8ecP7muhay0qfrlUClEe5vIk_Yx78l7fZMTWfdcgbPc9KWues6I6QzP2uQC_s7jjp_JzC-A/s2000/Depositphotos_41132583_l-2015.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm4AKLciLAT9gFsjweWHxy5E6e100PW3mowInWSHFqAfudXU8MYRgOScI8UXOAj1B_0-sT8ecP7muhay0qfrlUClEe5vIk_Yx78l7fZMTWfdcgbPc9KWues6I6QzP2uQC_s7jjp_JzC-A/w500-h333/Depositphotos_41132583_l-2015.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Image (c) SergeyNiven and Depositphotos.com</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><h1 style="text-align: left;"><a name="_Toc465190412"><i style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; text-align: center; text-indent: 28.8px;"> This article is an excerpt from </i></a><i style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; text-align: center; text-indent: 28.8px;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2SaZlyb" target="_blank">Godvernment: Government as God</a></i><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;"> </span></h1><h1 style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: small;"><i>Tom Sheppard</i></b></h1><div><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;"><div style="font-size: medium; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;"><b><i>9/4/2020</i></b></span></div></span></div></div><h1>Creators and Creations, it's complicated</h1><h1><o:p></o:p></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal">A few years ago, I wrote and published a science fiction trilogy
(<a href="http://amzn.to/2d8nEov"><i>The
Masterless Sword</i></a>). The foundational
premise of this trilogy is that scientists created new biological creatures to be
used in warfare in place of ordinary human beings.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">They started with the raw material of
humanity, and then genetically engineered soldiers for special purposes.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">When these new species of warriors had
been around for a while, they differentiate between ordinary human beings and the
scientists who created them—their creators.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">Some of these creatures view their creators
with reverence, while others blame them for all of the bad things in their lives.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">Still others are utterly indifferent
to their creators, and to the wishes of those they were originally built to protect
and serve.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">The creators, for their part, do not
seek reverence from their creations. Rather,
they do what they can to enable them to have the opportunity to be as happy and
fulfilled as they can be.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">After a global cataclysm occurs, the
hold that humanity has over these creations is broken, and they are free to act
according to their own desires and inclinations. With the passage of time and the diminution of
science, the true origins of the created races and the true nature of their creators
becomes lost and shrouded in fantasy and fiction. This further changes the views of the created
relative to the creators. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">As I wrote these books, these conflicting
and changing views about the creators and their creations arose naturally from the
characters and their circumstances. The reason
they arose in my books is because <b>human nature has remained essentially unchanged
throughout the millennia</b> of written human history.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">People in our “enlightened” world today
are driven by the same urges, fears, and aspirations that have driven our ancestors
throughout history.<o:p></o:p></p><h1>Lust for Power</h1>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">Some people just want to be left alone
to survive by providing for their own needs and those of their loved ones without
interference from others. They are content
to be what they are and are not looking to grow into something beyond what they
are today. These people are not interested
or concerned about being better or worse than anyone else.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">Others are constantly seeking growth. They are never content for very long with their
triumphs. Instead, they are constantly seeking
ways to expand the limits of their abilities and knowledge. These people are always looking to be better than
they were the day before.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;"><b>Some people are not content unless they
can command others to do their bidding</b>. Some
of these people want this power so that they can live off the labors of others,
while a few want this power over others simply for its own sake. It fills them with a feeling of superiority. These people feel like they are somehow better
than others because they have power and authority over others. In one regard, they can be summed up in the phrase,
“If you were smarter/better than me, I would be working for you instead of the other
way around.” These powermongers are directly
responsible for most of the ills that have afflicted humanity throughout history.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">These powermongers wrap their
lust for power in the mantle of altruism.
They want power so that they can compel us to do (and think) what (they believe)
will make us happy and healthy. In other words, because they say they want what is best for us, we should do as they say.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">Others of these powermongers know that
they want power for its own sake. They will
use or discard altruistic arguments at will according to what the need of the moment
is to secure or increase their power base.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">The relationship between creator
and created is never as simple as most make it out to be. This is as true in fiction as in
reality. Unless the creator reveals the
relationship openly and frankly—as God has—the created cannot ever possess
sufficient capacity to perceive the relationship and the purpose of their
existence on their own.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">Fortunately for us, God has been
working hard for millennia to give us clear, frank, and unequivocal information
about our relationship to him and our purpose. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">Unfortunately, His clear purposes
and directions don’t lend themselves to the amassing of power in the hands of
ambitious people, so these ambitious people have been easily co-opted by the
Grand Conspirator to take measures to obfuscate and hide information which
helps us to correctly understand this critical relationship, our purposes, and
the behaviors that will inevitably result in our greatest happiness.<o:p></o:p></p><br /><center><center><div><b>Food for thought!</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><center><i>See Tom's political views on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/TomSheppardPoliticalViews/ <br />Follow Tom on Twitter: @ThomasKSheppard <br /><br />Tom Sheppard is a business consultant and coach to small business owners and individuals. He is a recognized author with dozens of titles in business and fiction to his credit. One of his endeavors is to help those who want to see their own book in print. He does this through his trademarked Book Whispering Process (TM). <br /><br />The author is not an official spokesperson for any organization or person mentioned herein. <br /><br /><b>(c) Copyright 2020 A+ Results LLC. All Rights Reserved.</b> <br /><br /><b>Your comments are welcome.</b> Please observe some ground rules. No profanity, vulgarity, or personal attacks. Profanity, vulgarity and personal attacks not only betray a lack of vocabulary and imagination, they also are the hallmarks of bigotry, and bigotry is the hallmark of someone who is fundamentally insecure in their views. Facts are always welcome.</i></center><br /><h2><center><i>If you believe Government is NOT the answer to all our problems, </i><i>you will want to read<br /> <a href="https://amzn.to/2SaZlyb" target="_blank">Godvernment: Government as God</a></i></center><center><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Click on the image below to buy your copy today</span></center></h2><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2SaZlyb" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1650" data-original-width="1275" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcit3aZ_v4qwGm8d7i775JwroCGyJWCLf1Dq0eIxSeRBZeNxlpWlLIUPsGmLS8oOqvSQYPKuVp1fWnL8Graso20piDzPtsJNXMlxMOvbGBO-enz9GkjFPBQvyDv7RARJaBpEq3CYzMuuI/s320/Godvernment+Book+View+Cover.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Godvernment is available in both paperback and ebook format through Amazon.</b></div></div></center><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div></center><div class="blogger-post-footer">(c) Copyright 2017 A+ Results, LLC. All Rights Reserved.</div>Tom Sheppardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09835008483484789023noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2796884117961799742.post-67345536000622091992020-09-04T11:22:00.006-06:002021-12-14T12:16:57.179-07:00The Creation of Superman<div><h1><a name="_Toc465190412"><i style="font-weight: 400; text-align: center; text-indent: 28.8px;"></i></a><i style="font-weight: 400; text-align: center; text-indent: 28.8px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: medium; text-align: center;"><a name="_Toc465190412"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Ks80dEieqmceQgZhyw0KJTu1mGCX6trBUg-Duuttfor2_zgYusq4HKYwZi_fjtHGR1owrYmSn7ieZlkyJAktkTs45pbDAY8nCQITak5yE9jkwzF9ryOhyNIiIjzusa4BaJpMiaUee48/s2048/Supa+M%2526W.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2005" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Ks80dEieqmceQgZhyw0KJTu1mGCX6trBUg-Duuttfor2_zgYusq4HKYwZi_fjtHGR1owrYmSn7ieZlkyJAktkTs45pbDAY8nCQITak5yE9jkwzF9ryOhyNIiIjzusa4BaJpMiaUee48/w489-h500/Supa+M%2526W.jpg" width="489" /></a></div><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> Image (c) GazMax and Depositphotos.com</span><br /><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></i></h1><h1><a name="_Toc465190412"><i style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; text-align: center; text-indent: 28.8px;"> This article is an excerpt from </i></a><i style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; text-align: center; text-indent: 28.8px;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2SaZlyb" target="_blank">Godvernment: Government as God</a></i><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;"> </span></h1><div><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;"><b><i>Tom Sheppard</i></b></span><div style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;"><b><i>9/4/2020</i></b></span></div></span></div><h1>The Mutant Game</h1></div><div><h1><o:p></o:p></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="display: inline;">In recent years, movies and stories about humans evolving into
something more have become very popular.
The <i><a href="https://amzn.to/2ER1yuV" target="_blank">X-Men</a></i> movies, the TV series
<i><a href="https://amzn.to/2Z6PvjW" target="_blank">The Tomorrow People</a></i>, and even the popular
stories of <i><a href="https://amzn.to/2R8GLWd" target="_blank">Harry Potter</a></i> and the <i><a href="https://amzn.to/3bqDAm1" target="_blank">Twilight</a></i> series are all driven by the notion
that even ordinary-seeming people may actually have latent or undiscovered supernatural
abilities. In some storylines, the change
from ordinary humans to super-humans is driven by science. In others, the change appears to be a random genetic
change.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">Regardless of the cause, in each story,
all or part of the tension in the storyline is the conflict caused by ushering in
what is effectively a new species, Homo Superioris, to replace Homo sapiens.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">It seems that a very wide swath of
humanity wants to believe that it can individually and collectively become much
more than it appears to be today.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.3in;"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">“It is a serious thing to live in a
society of possible gods and goddesses, to remember that the dullest, most
uninteresting person you can talk to may one day be a creature which, if you
saw it now, you would be strongly tempted to worship, or else a horror and a
corruption such as you now meet, if at all, only in a nightmare.”</span></i></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">CS Lewis, <i><a href="https://amzn.to/3lTUUV0" target="_blank">The Weight of Glory</a></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">Interestingly, Lewis, a friend of J.R.R.
Tolkien (author of <i><a href="https://amzn.to/3bqFIKx" target="_blank">The Lord of the Rings</a></i>),
began his ascent to renown as an ardent atheist, intent on proving the belief in
the God of Jesus Christ to be utter nonsense.
The result of his focusing all the powers of his brilliant mind on this issue
was that he became utterly convinced of the reality of God and Christ. His conclusions about the reality of what lurks
beneath our skins arose as a result of his studies of God and Christ.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">It would seem that CS Lewis also believed
that someday, Homo Superioris would arise. However, his book <a href="http://amzn.to/2dEy4jV"><i>The Abolition
of Man</i></a> makes clear that<b> the emergence of this superior creature can never
come as a result of the genius of humankind,</b> regardless of how many resources and
the power of intellects which are turned to this endeavor.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">Lewis also revealed the dark side
of the quest of science (or politics) to create a superior human being, “the
power of Man to make himself what he pleases means—as we have seen—the power of
some men to make other men what they please.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">It is this dark place where “some
men make other men what they please” <b>this will inevitably result in people
turning themselves into amoral monsters as they try to become gods</b>, creators of
the new humanity. Such a quest, surely,
they will reason, justifies any act—any betrayal of the norms of society. Once again, they will be deluded by the
notion that they can achieve some noble and good end through base and ignoble means.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">Homo sapiens will only convert into
Homo Superioris by following the teachings of the Homo Superiori who have preceded
them down this path to glory. I here have
referred to them as Homo Superiori, but we know them more commonly as God the Father,
and His Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">Do you reject out of hand my conclusion? Pause and give it more thought and study. What do the many books that comprise the Holy
Bible tell us about Christ and His Father?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">Jesus said that he only did what he
had seen the Father do before him. What did
Jesus do?</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="text-indent: 0.3in;">He changed the molecular structure of
water into wine.</span></li><li>He walked on water and enabled Peter to do the same.</li><li>He raised the dead (more than one).</li><li>He healed the lame and the sick.</li><li>He foretold the future and revealed
the past.</li><li>He came back from the grave as a living
creature, consuming food and drink with His bewildered disciples.</li><li>He entered a locked room and appeared
in the midst of its occupants, giving them quite a fright in the process.</li><li>He disappeared from before the very
eyes of two of his disciples.</li></ul><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">Don’t all of those things sound like
something you might see in a <i><a href="https://amzn.to/2R8GLWd" target="_blank">Harry Potter</a></i>,
<i><a href="https://amzn.to/2ER1yuV" target="_blank">X-Men</a></i>, or other super-human-themed movie?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">His message from start to finish was
simply this: “Be like me. I am like our Father
in Heaven.” If He wasn’t inviting us to transform
ourselves into Homo Superioris, then someone else was putting words in His mouth.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">What is more, He told us what we had
to do to become like Him and the Father.
We have to make morally correct choices, regardless of our circumstances.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">Again, in contrast to God’s approach,
which is to change the inner man and he will change his circumstances, the human
worshippers believe you have to change a person’s circumstances to enable the change
of the inner person. Nothing could be more
easily disproved.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">Consider the story of <a href="https://amzn.to/3jKBwbk" target="_blank">Colin Powell</a>,
who rose from a ghetto to become the most powerful military leader in the free world,
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of the U.S. Then consider his brother, who, raised in the same
circumstances, became an addict, a drug dealer, and a welfare recipient.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">For very personal insight, look at the
life of author and businesswoman <a href="https://amzn.to/3lPixhC" target="_blank">Star Parker</a>, a self-described “welfare crack ho.”
She was a product of poverty and the government’s “war on poverty,” until she discovered
God. As she drew closer to God, she became
a different woman on the inside and began to make very dramatic changes on the outside.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">She changed the course of her life from
one of self-destruction and social parasitism to become an entrepreneur, providing
first for herself and her family, and then creating jobs for others, helping them
to help themselves to change their circumstances.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">If you enjoyed this post, you might also enjoy my related article <i><a href="https://mygodandgovernment.blogspot.com/2017/06/zombies-and-superheroes.html" target="_blank">Mutants and Superheroes.</a></i></p></div><div><center><br /></center><center><center><div><b>Food for thought!</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><center><i>See Tom's political views on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/TomSheppardPoliticalViews/ <br />Follow Tom on Twitter: @ThomasKSheppard <br /><br />Tom Sheppard is a business consultant and coach to small business owners and individuals. He is a recognized author with dozens of titles in business and fiction to his credit. One of his endeavors is to help those who want to see their own book in print. He does this through his trademarked Book Whispering Process (TM). <br /><br />The author is not an official spokesperson for any organization or person mentioned herein. <br /><br /><b>(c) Copyright 2020 A+ Results LLC. All Rights Reserved.</b> <br /><br /><b>Your comments are welcome.</b> Please observe some ground rules. No profanity, vulgarity, or personal attacks. Profanity, vulgarity and personal attacks not only betray a lack of vocabulary and imagination, they also are the hallmarks of bigotry, and bigotry is the hallmark of someone who is fundamentally insecure in their views. Facts are always welcome.</i></center><br /><h2><center><i>If you believe Government is NOT the answer to all our problems, </i><i>you will want to read<br /> <a href="https://amzn.to/2SaZlyb" target="_blank">Godvernment: Government as God</a></i></center><center><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Click on the image below to buy your copy today</span></center></h2><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2SaZlyb" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1650" data-original-width="1275" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcit3aZ_v4qwGm8d7i775JwroCGyJWCLf1Dq0eIxSeRBZeNxlpWlLIUPsGmLS8oOqvSQYPKuVp1fWnL8Graso20piDzPtsJNXMlxMOvbGBO-enz9GkjFPBQvyDv7RARJaBpEq3CYzMuuI/s320/Godvernment+Book+View+Cover.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Godvernment is available in both paperback and ebook format through Amazon.</b></div></div></center><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div></center></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">(c) Copyright 2017 A+ Results, LLC. All Rights Reserved.</div>Tom Sheppardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09835008483484789023noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2796884117961799742.post-54903190403451244962020-09-04T09:39:00.005-06:002021-12-17T11:23:30.879-07:00Socialism is Anti-Christian<h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp6Nv3BOBEmcXNg0Hi5nsdxdHCOMschg9d4zp_Dr_rz9jdTp8tl7hSq1gpZg5Y9kwcHVGKmY-RPZ0gTQIwFm2gltjLDSwdaJf4tyXlpZg3Pv7qTG7s-n5NofRHpqtAc_jKd5mv6jyPbGE/s1291/socialist+banner.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1264" data-original-width="1291" height="489" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp6Nv3BOBEmcXNg0Hi5nsdxdHCOMschg9d4zp_Dr_rz9jdTp8tl7hSq1gpZg5Y9kwcHVGKmY-RPZ0gTQIwFm2gltjLDSwdaJf4tyXlpZg3Pv7qTG7s-n5NofRHpqtAc_jKd5mv6jyPbGE/w500-h489/socialist+banner.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><div style="text-align: center;">Detail from Image (c) Igor Golovniov and Depositphotos.com</div></span></h1><h1><a name="_Toc465190412"><i style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; text-align: center; text-indent: 28.8px;"> This article is an excerpt from </i></a><i style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; text-align: center; text-indent: 28.8px;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2SaZlyb" target="_blank">Godvernment: Government as God</a></i><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;"> </span></h1><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;">This article is related directly to another post titled: <a href="https://mygodandgovernment.blogspot.com/2021/12/socialism-is-not-united-order.html" target="_blank"><i>Socialism is Not the United Order</i></a></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;"><b><i>Tom Sheppard</i></b></span><div style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;"><b><i>9/4/2020</i></b></span></div></span></div><h1><a name="_Toc465190421">Christian Socialist is an Oxymoron</a></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal">Some of you may not know what the word oxymoron means, so let
me start with that.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Dictionary.com gives this definition of an oxymoron:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.3in;"><span style="background: white;"><b><i>A figure of speech by which a locution
produces an incongruous, seemingly self-contradictory effect, as in “cruel kindness”
or “to make haste slowly.”</i></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">I will also offer my own definition
of Christian here:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">A Christian is someone who believes
that Jesus of Nazareth is the Christ, the Messiah, the Only Begotten Son of God
after the flesh, and who is attempting to follow the teachings of Christ as they
are found in the scriptures.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">Dictionary.com, when using Christian
as a noun (as I am here), says that a Christian is:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;"><b><i>A person who believes in Jesus Christ;
adherent of Christianity. A person who exemplifies in his or her life the teachings
of Christ</i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.25in;">When most of us think of the term Christian, we think of someone who cares about the plight of their fellowman. The story of The Good Samaritan comes quickly to mind. Many people get so immersed in the notion that all Christianity is about doing good to others. Because of that, they assume that anything that says it is doing good to others is automatically aligned with Christian principles and that anyone who purports to be a "good Christian" will be on board.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.25in;">Socialism presents a wonderful face of being about helping the downtrodden. Because of that, many Christians think Socialism is aligned with Christian ideals. The truth is that Socialism is actually at a polar opposite position of goodness from Christianity.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.25in;">You don't think so? Read on, if you dare. Facts, as they say, are stubborn things. The facts do not at all support the notion of the goodness of Socialism, in any way. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="text-indent: 0.25in;">We should define socialism. Again, Dictionary.com is helpful:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l7 level1 lfo22; text-indent: -0.25in;"><b><i><!--[if !supportLists]-->1.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->a theory or system of social organization that advocates
the vesting of the ownership and control of the means of production and distribution,
of capital, land, etc., in the community as a whole<o:p></o:p></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l7 level1 lfo22; text-indent: -0.25in;"><b><i><!--[if !supportLists]-->2.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->procedure or practice in accordance with this theory.<o:p></o:p></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l7 level1 lfo22; text-indent: -0.25in;"><b><i><!--[if !supportLists]-->3.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->(in Marxist theory) the stage following capitalism
in the transition of a society to communism, characterized by the imperfect implementation
of collectivist principles.</i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.25in;">George Bernard Shaw, the noted Fabian
Socialist, said that:<span style="text-indent: 0.25in;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.3in;"><b><i>"Socialism, reduced to its simplest
legal and practical expression, means the complete discarding of the institution
of private property by transforming it into public property and the division of
the resultant income equally and indiscriminately among the entire population."
</i></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;">(George Bernard Shaw as cited in <i>Encyclopedia Britannica</i>, 1946
ed., Vol. 20, p. 895.)</span><span style="font-size: 8pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p><span style="text-indent: 0.3in;">In short, socialism drives toward the
ultimate end of private ownership of anything and everything. In practice, it is characterized by using the
<b><span style="color: red;">coercive</span></b> powers of government to take resources from those who are producing them
and redistribute those resources to those who merely consume them. This coercive redistribution is called taxes. It is coercive because, if you don't pay your
taxes, the government can take your money, your business, your home, and even your
freedom.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">Don't get me wrong—this isn't an anti-taxation
rant, nor am I advocating that we shouldn’t pay our taxes.<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span></span><b> I am simply making the point unmistakably clear
that</b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span></span><b>taxation is not a voluntary program</b>. It is the use of force, or threat of force to take what one person owns and give it to someone else. Interestingly, that coincides with the definition of robbery:<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;"></p><blockquote><b>"The felonious taking of the property of another from his or her person or in his or her immediate presence, against his or her will, by violence or intimidation."</b></blockquote><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">The only difference between taxation and robbery is that taxation is the legalized "taking of the property of another ... by violence or intimidation." You don't think so? What do you feel when you open your mail and find out that the IRS is auditing you? I am guessing you feel some fear and intimidation.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;"><span style="text-indent: 0.3in;">Now that we understand the meaning of
the words in my title, we can fully understand what I mean to say by stating that
"Christian Socialist Is an Oxymoron."
I am saying that you cannot genuinely and</span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="text-indent: 0.3in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span></span><u style="text-indent: 0.3in;">totally</u><span class="apple-converted-space" style="text-indent: 0.3in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span></span><span style="text-indent: 0.3in;">believe
in Jesus Christ AND try to follow his teachings AND embrace the political and economic
tenets of socialism.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">Please note, I am being very exact in
my words here. When I say you "totally
believe in Jesus Christ," it means that you don't pick and choose what to believe
from among the things he teaches. You either
believe everything he said, or you believe none of it, because either he was the
son of God, or he was a liar.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">I believe totally in Jesus Christ, AND
I do my best to follow his teachings. I am
nowhere near perfect in this effort, as those closest to me can attest, but I am
trying.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">I know that there are many folks who
will disagree with my bold statement that socialism and Christianity are irreconcilable
foes, but it is true.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">First, let me give you some of the ammunition
that those who disagree will use. Then, I
will show you how they are really firing blanks.<o:p></o:p></p><h1>The New Testament and Socialism</h1>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">In the<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005C16286/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B005C16286&linkCode=as2&tag=httpwwwbuybel-20&linkId=IXSZC67JYASI6HBE">New
Testament</a>,<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span></span>the second chapter of the Book of the Acts of the Apostles
appears to describe how the adherents of early Christianity were embracing a form
of socialism.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.3in;"><b><i><span style="background: white; border: 1pt none; padding: 0in;">"</span><span style="background: white;">And all that believed were together,
and had all things common; </span></i></b><b><i>And sold their possessions
and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had
need."</i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.3in; text-align: right;">Acts 2:44,45</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And again in Chapter 4, we read:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.3in;"><b><i><span style="background: white; border: 1pt none; padding: 0in;">"</span><span style="background: white;">And the multitude of them that believed
were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any <span style="border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">of them</span>
that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things
common.</span><o:p></o:p></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.3in;"><b><i>Neither was there
any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold
them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, </i></b><b><i>And laid them down at the apostles’ feet: and distribution was made
unto every man according as he had need."</i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.3in; text-align: right;">Acts 4:32-35</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">And from the<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1592975003/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1592975003&linkCode=as2&tag=httpwwwbuybel-20&linkId=B6HMVLKAFJELIYEE">Book
of Mormon</a>,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>we get this about the Christians who were living in ancient
America. After the resurrected Jesus appeared
to them, let them feel the wounds in his hands and feet, and taught them, it appears
that they embraced socialism:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.3in;"><b><i><span style="background: white; border: 1pt none; padding: 0in;">"</span><span style="background: white;">And they taught, and did minister one
to another; and they had all things common among them, every man dealing justly,
one with another.</span><span style="background: white; border: 1pt none; font-family: inherit, serif; font-size: 13.5pt; padding: 0in;"> </span><span style="background: white; border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.3in;"><b><i><span style="background: white;">And it came to pass that they did do
all things even as Jesus had commanded them."</span></i></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">3 Nephi 26:19,20</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And this:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.3in;"><b><i><span style="background: white;">"And it came to pass in the thirty and sixth year, the
people were all converted unto the Lord, upon all the face of the land, both Nephites
and Lamanites, and there were no contentions and disputations among them, and every
man did deal justly one with another.</span><span style="background: white; border: 1pt none; font-family: inherit, serif; font-size: 13.5pt; padding: 0in;"> </span><span style="background: white; border: 1pt none; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.3in;"><b><i><span style="background: white;">And they had all things common among them; therefore
there were not rich and poor, bond and free, but they were all made free, and partakers
of the heavenly gift."</span></i></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">4 Nephi 1:2,3</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span><span style="text-indent: 0.3in;">In our own
times, sometime in 1838 (note that the</span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="text-indent: 0.3in;"> </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JOH5O4C/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00JOH5O4C&linkCode=as2&tag=httpwwwbuybel-20&linkId=FSJ6CL6A4YXILOYQ" style="text-indent: 0.3in;"><i>Communist Manifesto</i></a><span class="apple-converted-space" style="text-indent: 0.3in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: 0.3in;">was written in 1848), Joseph Smith, Jr., the first president
of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, introduced to the Saints something
called "The United Order."</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">For brevity, I will summarize here what
happened in The United Order. Members of
the church who desired to enter this order handed over all their worldly goods to
their bishop (their religious leader). The
bishop then put these into a “storehouse” to be used by the Saints. Then, the bishop gave to each member in the order
from the storehouse according to his or her needs and abilities. To be clear, he deeded these things back to them
for their use. Then, they were expected to
pay a tithe (10 percent) on the gains they made from what he deeded to them.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">According to LDS teachings, this United
Order is what was being referred to in the Book of the Acts of the Apostles. I accept that, and will address this as fact. I will, from this point forward, refer to the
United Order as what Christians practiced in this context.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">From all of this, it appears that all
devout Christians should be signing away their worldly goods to their church and
then living off of what the church gives back to them. Proponents of socialism use these evidences to
support their stance that Christ was saying we should give up private ownership
and give to the poor so that we will have "no poor among [us]."<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">Before we buy in to this view, let's
look a little deeper at the differences between socialism and the United Order. Let's start by looking at what happened to one
specific man and his wife when they sought to join the United Order while keeping
back some of their property for their own discretionary use.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">Acts Chapter 5 tells us the cautionary
story of Ananias and his wife Saphira. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.3in;"><b><i>But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold
a possession, and kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.</i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.3in;"><b><i>But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to
lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of
the land? Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? And after it was sold, was it not in thine own
power? Why hast thou conceived this thing
in thine heart? Thou hast not lied unto men,
but unto God.</i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.3in;"><b><i>And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost:
and great fear came on all them that heard these things.</i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.3in;"><b><i>And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him.</i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.3in;"><b><i> And it was
about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done,
came in.</i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.3in;"><b><i>And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land
for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much.</i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.3in;"><b><i>Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together
to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? Behold,
the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and
shall carry thee out.</i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.3in;"><b><i>Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the
ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.</i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.3in; text-align: right;"><b><i>Acts Chapter 5:1-10</i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">The key point I want to make from this
is not about how dangerous it is to lie to God. Rather, I want to emphasize what Peter said, "Whiles
it remained, was it not thine own? And after
it was sold, was it not in thine own power?" The rights of this couple to have private property
were not looked down on by Peter; they were affirmed by him, and, their entry into
the United Order was voluntary. No one was
being forced to sell their goods and join the Order.<span style="font-family: "inherit",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: inherit; mso-fareast-font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: "inherit",serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">So, the first essential difference between
Christianity and socialism is that<b> Christianity is entirely voluntary</b>. And, within the broad ground of Christian practice,
providing assistance to the poor is considered a Christian duty, but the fulfillment
of that duty, as every Christian knows, is between the individual and God, and the
accounting comes at the Final Judgment.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">In contrast, <b>socialism is a compulsory
system from start to finish</b>. Socialism uses
the gun to ensure that everyone within their reach gives up their private property,
whether they embrace socialism or not. Further,
their objective is not to eliminate poverty, but to destroy prosperity.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">Now, some of my good Christian LDS friends, and
even some family, mistakenly believe that socialism and the United Order are the
same girl, just wearing a more chaste dress.
For them, and everyone else, I offer this link to a talk that was given in
a General Conference of the Church, at the express request of the First Presidency
of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The talk is titled, "<a href="http://scriptures.byu.edu/gettalk.php?ID=1476">Socialism and the United Order
Compared</a>." The talk was given in
April 1966 by Marion G. Romney, who was, at that time, a member of the Quorum of
the Twelve Apostles.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">Allow me to quote a couple of key passages
here:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.3in;"><b><i>"No,
brethren, socialism is not the United Order. However, notwithstanding my abhorrence of it, I
am persuaded that socialism is the wave of the present and of the foreseeable future.
It has already taken over or is contending
for control in most nations.</i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.3in;"><b style="text-indent: 0.3in;"><i>We here in the United
States, in converting our government into a social welfare state, have ourselves
adopted much of socialism. Specifically, we have, to an alarming degree, adopted
the use of the power of the state in the control and distribution of the fruits
of industry. We are on notice, according
to the words of the president, that we are going much further, for he is quoted
as saying:</i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.3in;"><b><i>We're going to take all the money
we think is unnecessarily being spent and take it from the 'haves' and give it to
the 'have nots.' (1964 Congressional Record, p. 6142, Remarks of the
President to a Group of Leaders of Organizations of Senior Citizens in the Fish
Room, March 24, 1964.)</i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.3in;"><b><i>Socialism takes; the United Order gives.<o:p></o:p></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.3in;"><b><i>That is the spirit of socialism: We're
going to take. The spirit of the United
Order is: We're going to give."</i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">The President of the United States (POTUS)
that Romney was quoting was Lyndon Baines Johnson, the man who initiated "the
war on poverty," and it was the means for waging this war that he was referring
to in this quote.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">Please note that President Johnson is
saying that un-elected U.S. Government bureaucrats will decide how much money we
need by deeming part of our spending unnecessary. They will then "take" and "give"
according to their judgment, and whatever policies their superiors have put in place
dictate that judgment.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">To put this in perspective, consider
the money you need to go visit your ailing parent, child, sibling, or friend. A government worker can say, "That trip is
unnecessary. Your child/parent/sibling/friend
will live or die regardless of your visit.
I am<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span></span><u>taking</u><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span></span>the money you saved for that
trip away from you. I will<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span></span><u>take</u><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span></span>a
portion of the money to pay for my time, and then, I will<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span></span><u>give</u><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span></span>the
remainder to someone who believes that they deserve this money more than you."<o:p></o:p></p><h1>Words Matter</h1>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">Now, there are some who will say that
this is just semantics, or that we are arguing over tomato or tomatoe. That is a glib lie, and I will illustrate the
lie very easily.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">Picture this: You see a man taking money
out of his wallet and handing it over to a homeless person.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">That seems like a lovely picture; doesn't
it? It warms the heart.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">Now, let's complete the picture. There is another man in the picture, who is pointing
a gun at the first man.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">What's the difference? Tomato or tomatoe?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">The first picture is what we call charity. It is a voluntary act of sacrifice by one party
to aid another. We call it being a good Christian,
giving back, and being charitable. We universally
consider it a virtue.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">The second picture is what we call robbery. It is the forcible redistribution of property
and it is universally considered a crime, unless we give it the imprimatur of government
and call it taxes and welfare.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">Some might argue that when Marion G.
Romney decried the differences between the United Order and socialism, he was going
astray from the intentions of Joseph Smith, who was the source of the original revelation
on that program. Let's see what Brother Joseph
had to say about property rights. In 1835,
he stated: </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.3in;"><b><i><a name="1"></a>"We believe that governments were instituted of God for
the benefit of man; and that he holds men accountable for their acts in relation
to them, both in making laws and administering them, for the good and safety of
society.</i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.3in;"><b><i>We believe that no government can exist in peace, except
such laws are framed and held inviolate as will secure to each individual the free
exercise of conscience, the right and control of property, and the protection of
life."</i></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.3in; text-align: right;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004C44MMW/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B004C44MMW&linkCode=as2&tag=httpwwwbuybel-20&linkId=WILNOIAZVAE7ARPL">Doctrine
and Covenants</a>, Section 134:1-2<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p><span style="text-indent: 0.3in;">So, Joseph Smith asserted that the right
and control of property ranks right up there with protecting freedom of conscience
and protection of life as primary duties of governments to their constituents.</span></p><h1>How is as Important as What</h1><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">Some will read this and still wave their
hands in dismissal and say, "The end of the matter is to help the poor as Jesus
said we should. <b>What does it matter if
we do it through governmental or private means, as long as the end objective is
met?</b>"<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">This line of reasoning is that the end
will justify the means—a premise espoused by Ovid and imitated by Nicolo Machiavelli.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">While the world may buy in to this reasoning,
Christians should know better. You cannot
simply make the world be filled with righteous people by killing all the folks you
think are sinners. That is what led to the
Spanish Inquisition, a notorious chapter in the history of churches. It has also led to numerous wars that were initiated
with the public objective of ridding the world of the unbelievers. Even Islam—probably the most successful at spreading
religion by force—has suffered the ill effects of using bad means while attempting
to gain good ends.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">When the armies of Islam swept across
North Africa and eastward across Persia and into India, the story was always the
same in every conquered town. "People
of the Book"—Christians and Jews, or infidels—were separated from everyone
else, who were labeled Pagans. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">The Pagans were given the choice: accept
Allah as god and Muhammad as his prophet, or be killed on the spot. Those with the courage of their convictions were
killed. Everyone else joined up, whether
or not they actually believed. The result
was a Caliphate that was filled with Muslims who believed whatever they wanted and
did whatever they wanted, as long as they manifested the outward signs of belief.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">Of course the infidels were given a
choice, too. They could accept Allah and
Mohammed, or they could be forced to pay for the privilege of remaining alive, every
single year.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">Forced conversion, whether it be Islam,
Christianity, or any other religion, does not produce converts. It ends up with a church or religion that is torn
apart by sects and division as members go their own ways based on their own ideas
of what being a good member means. In Islam,
we see this today in the violence between Sunni and Shi'a. In Christianity it was seen most clearly in Northern
Ireland, where Protestants were pitted against Catholics.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">The ultimate purpose of religions is
to get us to believe and behave in a moral manner because we believe it is in our
own long-term (eternal) best interests. When
anyone attempts to enforce moral beliefs on others, the force destroys the morality. When government, and the coercive power of taxation,
are used to achieve moral ends, morality is destroyed—not enshrined—because belief
and willing action are both irrelevant and rendered null.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">Belief and willing action are the heart
and soul of true religion. They are the heart
and soul of what Jesus Christ and his Apostles teach.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">Not only is socialism at odds with Christianity;
it is at odds with every religion that embraces the notion that each individual
must freely choose to accept or reject God on the grounds established by that religion.</p><h1>Conclusions</h1>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">If we apply Socialism to the parable of The Good Samaritan, the Good Samaritan would have either robbed other travelers or tried to get a tax collector to give him the money to take care of the poor guy he found beaten beside the road. That is about as far from what Christ was teaching as you can get.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">Christians have a moral obligation to help the
poor and needy. <span style="text-indent: 0.3in;">Forcing people to give to the poor and
needy is immoral and results in very bad ends instead of the good ends that are
being sought.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">Government as the means of administering
charity is the same thing as trying to force people to do something good. It is both inefficient and evil. It will have very bad outcomes for everyone involved.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;">Because<b> the use of force to get people
to believe and behave in a moral manner is in total conflict with the teachings
of Jesus Christ</b>, no one can legitimately call themselves a Christian and say they
support socialism.<o:p></o:p></p><br /><center><br /></center><center><center><div><b>Food for thought!</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><center><i>See Tom's political views on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/TomSheppardPoliticalViews/ <br />Follow Tom on Twitter: @ThomasKSheppard <br /><br />Tom Sheppard is a business consultant and coach to small business owners and individuals. He is a recognized author with dozens of titles in business and fiction to his credit. One of his endeavors is to help those who want to see their own book in print. He does this through his trademarked Book Whispering Process (TM). <br /><br />The author is not an official spokesperson for any organization or person mentioned herein. <br /><br /><b>(c) Copyright 2020 A+ Results LLC. All Rights Reserved.</b> <br /><br /><b>Your comments are welcome.</b> Please observe some ground rules. No profanity, vulgarity, or personal attacks. Profanity, vulgarity and personal attacks not only betray a lack of vocabulary and imagination, they also are the hallmarks of bigotry, and bigotry is the hallmark of someone who is fundamentally insecure in their views. Facts are always welcome.</i></center><br /><h2><center><i>If you believe Government is NOT the answer to all our problems, </i><i>you will want to read<br /> <a href="https://amzn.to/2SaZlyb" target="_blank">Godvernment: Government as God</a></i></center><center><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Click on the image below to buy your copy today</span></center></h2><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2SaZlyb" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1650" data-original-width="1275" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcit3aZ_v4qwGm8d7i775JwroCGyJWCLf1Dq0eIxSeRBZeNxlpWlLIUPsGmLS8oOqvSQYPKuVp1fWnL8Graso20piDzPtsJNXMlxMOvbGBO-enz9GkjFPBQvyDv7RARJaBpEq3CYzMuuI/s320/Godvernment+Book+View+Cover.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Godvernment is available in both paperback and ebook format through Amazon.</b></div></div></center><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div></center><div class="blogger-post-footer">(c) Copyright 2017 A+ Results, LLC. All Rights Reserved.</div>Tom Sheppardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09835008483484789023noreply@blogger.com0