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Summary
Part of the miracle of 1776, pulled off by a then nondescript group of nobodies from a tiny, backwater British colony, was the correct observation that our rights to “…life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” come from our Creator, not from monarchs or elected governments. Those rights, which are not the subject of this podcast, are everyone’s responsibility. God granted those rights, and we must have each other’s back to defend them.
The so-called rights that are today’s subject matter are the right to taxpayer-paid housing, education, healthcare, etc. And the etcetera is getting more etcetera all the time. Remembering that with every right comes an equal or greater responsibility, today’s key question is whether benefits like housing, healthcare, food and education should be granted at no cost to the user, or should reasonable access be guaranteed to these products and services? Free or reasonable access is the question.
Are an individual’s food, education and housing someone else’s responsibility, or is that a responsibility where the individual might play a full or partial role themselves? For the next 10 minutes, we will talk about what this means to us as individuals, and to the future of our republic.
Transcript
Part of the miracle of 1776, pulled off by a then nondescript group of nobodies from a tiny, backwater British colony, was the correct observation that our rights to “…life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” come from our Creator, not from monarchs or elected governments. Those rights, which are not the subject of this podcast, are everyone’s responsibility. God granted those rights, and we must have each other’s back to defend them.
The so-called rights that are today’s subject matter are the right to taxpayer-paid housing, education, healthcare, etc. And the etcetera is getting more etcetera all the time. Remembering that with every right comes an equal or greater responsibility, today’s key question is whether benefits like housing, healthcare, food and education should be granted at no cost to the user, or should reasonable access be guaranteed to these products and services? Free or reasonable access is the question.
Are an individual’s food, education and housing someone else’s responsibility, or is that a responsibility where the individual might play a full or partial role themselves? For the next 10 minutes, we will talk about what this means to us as individuals, and to the future of our republic.
Today’s Key Point: Today’s question ties nicely to the core, driving principles at Revolution 2.0, which are:
Applying point no. 1, personal responsibility, to today’s issue, we are all responsible for everything that is conceivably within our control. Things like national defense and disabilities from a damaging, congenital disease or condition are not.
Applying point no. 2, being our brother’s keepers, to today’s issue, we are all responsible, as a matter of morals as well as public policy, to come to the aid of those who are dealing with things out of their control.
Let’s look at a definition: “Out of someone’s control.” This does not mean that something is hard, or unpleasant, or boring and repetitive, unfulfilling or unworthy of their talents. This means that the person, try as they might, trying hard over time, simply cannot handle the tasks, cannot meet their responsibilities even after full, determined effort over time.
But, Will, what do you do about the large and growing inequality of results when people, equally doing their best, have wildly different financial results? While everyone has the same legal opportunity, the world outside of the law is far from an equal playing field. Some parents can afford to send their children to excellent private schools from pre-K through medical school. The vast majority cannot. That’s unequal, and it would be wrong to force equality there.
The most damaging inequality is what is learned or not learned at the dinner table. What are the kids learning from their parents when it comes to work ethic, the value of education, how to handle money, respect for authority and commitment to a moral compass? Are they learning lasting, positive lessons here? Or are the kids learning whatever they can from their friends and in the street? The family is where the foundation for either success or failure in life is first laid. And if the parents are either not there or only marginally involved, we know the answer without asking. Yes, schools can have a positive impact, but it must start at home.
What do we do when parents do not lay the right foundation at home? Are those children doomed? No. Of course not. This is where faith-based organizations, non-profits, volunteer organizations and individuals must come to the fore as part of Revolution 2.0’s key point no. 2, being our brother’s and sister’s keepers. Governments are good at providing money, and failures when it comes to teaching how to succeed in life. And money by itself has never provided useful, permanent solutions. Ever. In government or in private business. In private business, or in private life. Ever.
We are our Brother’s Keepers, not the government. We are. You and me. Us. We are our Brother’s Keepers, not the government.
If we apply those two core principles, personal responsibility and brother’s keepers, simultaneously, never only one or the other, we will always be on the right path. Depending upon what we face, one principle or the other may appropriately be given more emphasis, but they are always acted upon together.
The Founders, Revolution 1.0, were declared traitors by the British Crown, and their lives were forfeit if caught. We risk very little by stepping up and participating in Revolution 2.0™. In fact, we risk our futures if we don’t. I am inviting you, recruiting you, to join Revolution 2.0™ today. Join with me in using what we know how to do–what we know we must do–to everyone’s advantage. Let’s practice thinking well of others as we seek common goals, research the facts that apply to those goals, and use non agenda-based reasoning to achieve those goals together. Practice personal responsibility and be your brother’s keeper.
Let’s continue to build on the revolutionary vision that we inherited. Read the blog, listen to the podcast, subscribe, recruit, act. Here’s what I mean by “acting.”
Revolution 1.0 in 1776 was built by people talking to other people, agreeing and disagreeing, but always finding ways to stay united and going forward. Revolution 2.0 will be built the same way.
Join me. Join the others. Think about what we are talking about and share these thoughts and principles with others. Subscribe, encourage others to subscribe. Act. Let’s grow this together.
And visit the store. Fun stuff, including hats, mugs and t-shirts. Recommend other items that you’d like to see.
Links and References
Life is Hard–As It Should Be. (EP. 106)
Contact
As we get ready to wrap up, please do respond in the blog with comments or questions about this podcast or anything that comes to mind, or connect with me on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. And you can subscribe to the podcast on your favorite device through Apple Podcasts, Google, or Stitcher.
Now it is time for our usual parting thought. It is not enough to be informed. It is not enough to be a well informed voter. We need to act. And if we, you and I, don’t do something, then the others who are doing something, will continue to run the show.
Know your stuff, then act on it. Knowing your stuff without acting is empty; acting without knowing is dangerous.
Will Luden, writing to you from my home office at 7,200’ in Colorado Springs.
