This was an excellent rebutal to the ridiculous bailout plan now termed a rescue plan as Paul points out in his essay. It was very refreshing, informative and funny in places. I won't go into a lot of detail here because I think Paul's words speak for themselves. If you're not sure about what the heck is going on out there with all these failing banks and companies and buyouts, read this essay. I think it will shed some light.
We need as many educated people as possible, as Ron Paul says, go educate yourself and then educate and encourage others to do the same. If we don't educate ourselves, we could end up with something much worse, like the Amero or I don't know what else. Buy tangibles, things that have intrinsic value, have some cash on hand in case you can't get your money out of the bank, and as the LDS prophets have been saying for years: GET OUT OF DEBT and GET YOUR FOOD STORAGE!!!
Here's the link to this most excellent essay, it's not too long, please read it!!:
http://www.campaignforliberty.com
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
The Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx
I have postponed posting on this because it was a little sobering to read and discuss even though I have been aware of what is in there for awhile. It is a very short piece probably about 30 normal pages (my great books pages have very small print and large pages, it was 15 pages in there), it is worth reading. It really doesn't take long. There are 4 sections.
The first section is about the proletariat (the people) and the burgeoisie ( the ruling class) and the problems between them and how the proletariat could oust the burgeoisie if they combined against them. He talks about some of the problems of capitalism such as how laborers are replaced by machinery and improved methods of production, there is a great problem of over production and the constant revolutionizing of methods and finding of markets cannot go on forever. I found myself agreeing that there are definitely some problems with capitalism. Then he talks about how the proletariat is the revolutionary class and they should combine against the evil burgeoisie.
The second section talks about how the proletarians should adopt the communist view. And he talks about how we should ban the private property of the rich beorgeoisie and abolish the family because burgeoisie husbands and wives are unfaithful to each other anyway and a few other things. He sets out 10 mandates to make a society where "the free development of each is the condition for the free development of all." They are:
1-Abolition of property in land and application of all rents of land to public purposes.
2- A heavy progressive or graduated income tax.
3-Abolition of all right of inheritance.
4-Confiscation of the property of all emigrants and rebels.
5-Centralization of credit in the hands of the state by means of a national bank with state capital and an exclusive monopoly.
6-Centralization of the means of communication and transport in the hands of the state.
7- Extension of factories and instruments of production owned by the state; the bringining ino cultivatioon of wastelands, and the improvemetn of the soil generally in accordance with a common plan.
8- Equal obligation of all to work. Establishment of industrial armies, especially for agriculture.
9-Combination of agriculture with manufacturning industries; gradual abolition of the distinction between town and country by a more equable distribution of the population over the country.
10-Free education for all children in public schools. Abolition of child factory labour in its present form. Combination of education with industrial production etc.
So this is the sad part, how many of these mandates have we adopted? Too many!!! Are we really a capitalist country anymore? In light of the recent and future bailouts, not to mention other indicators, I would say we most definitely are not. That is why I postponed this post. Our awesome America is simply not the same country it was 100 years ago. I don't think the communists stopped trying to implement their ideas when we had the red scare in the 50's; they just changed their approach or influenced people to adopt their ideas and here we are today in the United States following more than half the mandates for the communist manifesto.
In the third and fourth sections he talks about the socialist parties in Europe and how that is not enough. Communism will also abolish the differences between cities and towns and countries. Everybody will be equal. The best way to run countries and people is through communism and the above madates. This is the final paragraph:
The Communists disdain to conceal their views and aims. They openly declare that their ends can be attained only by the forcible overthrow of all existing social conditions. Let the ruling classes tremble at a Communist revolution. The proletarians hve nothing to lose but their chains. They have a world to win. Workingmen of all countries, unite!
The first section is about the proletariat (the people) and the burgeoisie ( the ruling class) and the problems between them and how the proletariat could oust the burgeoisie if they combined against them. He talks about some of the problems of capitalism such as how laborers are replaced by machinery and improved methods of production, there is a great problem of over production and the constant revolutionizing of methods and finding of markets cannot go on forever. I found myself agreeing that there are definitely some problems with capitalism. Then he talks about how the proletariat is the revolutionary class and they should combine against the evil burgeoisie.
The second section talks about how the proletarians should adopt the communist view. And he talks about how we should ban the private property of the rich beorgeoisie and abolish the family because burgeoisie husbands and wives are unfaithful to each other anyway and a few other things. He sets out 10 mandates to make a society where "the free development of each is the condition for the free development of all." They are:
1-Abolition of property in land and application of all rents of land to public purposes.
2- A heavy progressive or graduated income tax.
3-Abolition of all right of inheritance.
4-Confiscation of the property of all emigrants and rebels.
5-Centralization of credit in the hands of the state by means of a national bank with state capital and an exclusive monopoly.
6-Centralization of the means of communication and transport in the hands of the state.
7- Extension of factories and instruments of production owned by the state; the bringining ino cultivatioon of wastelands, and the improvemetn of the soil generally in accordance with a common plan.
8- Equal obligation of all to work. Establishment of industrial armies, especially for agriculture.
9-Combination of agriculture with manufacturning industries; gradual abolition of the distinction between town and country by a more equable distribution of the population over the country.
10-Free education for all children in public schools. Abolition of child factory labour in its present form. Combination of education with industrial production etc.
So this is the sad part, how many of these mandates have we adopted? Too many!!! Are we really a capitalist country anymore? In light of the recent and future bailouts, not to mention other indicators, I would say we most definitely are not. That is why I postponed this post. Our awesome America is simply not the same country it was 100 years ago. I don't think the communists stopped trying to implement their ideas when we had the red scare in the 50's; they just changed their approach or influenced people to adopt their ideas and here we are today in the United States following more than half the mandates for the communist manifesto.
In the third and fourth sections he talks about the socialist parties in Europe and how that is not enough. Communism will also abolish the differences between cities and towns and countries. Everybody will be equal. The best way to run countries and people is through communism and the above madates. This is the final paragraph:
The Communists disdain to conceal their views and aims. They openly declare that their ends can be attained only by the forcible overthrow of all existing social conditions. Let the ruling classes tremble at a Communist revolution. The proletarians hve nothing to lose but their chains. They have a world to win. Workingmen of all countries, unite!
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Update on Gatto post
I added this postscript to the Gatto post, it is my personal take on public schools:
P.S. Also, I want to make sure those of you who like your public school or have no other option, know I have nothing against the public schools. I came out all right and lots of people I know came out way better than I did. When I say that the public school system has failed to produce well-educated and free thinking people, I am saying that as a generalization of the entire school system and not for individual students. Parents are definitely the key to well-adjusted and educated children. Many of them make public school work, and their kids do great. I'm glad we are all free to teach our children how we see fit and do what is best for our families. I do think we all gain by understanding the disadvantages we face in our public schools. Those who choose to stay in them can combat those disadvatages when their children are home, and those who choose to homeschool or private school or whatever can make sure they don't duplicate the disadvantages in their new educational choice. I think the public schools do well at some things like math and science and not as well at others like history, languages and classics. There are definitely disadvantages to homeschooling and other educational choices too. The key is to decide which ones you are most willing to deal with and go from there!!
P.S. Also, I want to make sure those of you who like your public school or have no other option, know I have nothing against the public schools. I came out all right and lots of people I know came out way better than I did. When I say that the public school system has failed to produce well-educated and free thinking people, I am saying that as a generalization of the entire school system and not for individual students. Parents are definitely the key to well-adjusted and educated children. Many of them make public school work, and their kids do great. I'm glad we are all free to teach our children how we see fit and do what is best for our families. I do think we all gain by understanding the disadvantages we face in our public schools. Those who choose to stay in them can combat those disadvatages when their children are home, and those who choose to homeschool or private school or whatever can make sure they don't duplicate the disadvantages in their new educational choice. I think the public schools do well at some things like math and science and not as well at others like history, languages and classics. There are definitely disadvantages to homeschooling and other educational choices too. The key is to decide which ones you are most willing to deal with and go from there!!
Monday, September 15, 2008
The Iliad by Homer
I did it!! I listened to 14 1/2 hours of audio to hear the whole thing!! I can't say that I understood the entire thing, but I think I got the main jist. The biggest surprise I encountered was that the story of the Trojan horse is not included in the Iliad. Apparently we don't have all the writings, but it is refered to in the Odyssey. The Iliad also was not written originally, it was sung by a bard and the people would gather for a couple days to listen to it. Maybe someday I will be able to read it in the original Greek because I'm sure it sounds great in Greek. The story is excellent although there are a ton of fighting scenes, that made it reminiscent of The Red Badge of Courage, but hey, war is not pretty and I'm just reading about it, I'm not actually there so I think it is only fair I try to understand the ugliness of it so I can appreciate that I don't have to fight and so that I know what is actually involved before I give support to any war. I better be sure the war is really just and necessary, because war is terrible and I don't like it.
O.K. here is a quick summary of the story: At a wedding feast, Eris who was not invited throws in a golden apple with the inscription: to the fairest, three of the goddesses in attendance want the apple and Zues makes Paris a mortal decide who gets the apple. Each of the goddesses promise him a reward, he picks Aphrodite because she can make the most beautiful woman in the world fall in love with him. That woman is Helen, the only problem is that she is already married to Menelaus, King of Sparta, so when she runs away with Paris to Troy, Menelaus declares war on Troy and all his allies come to his aid. None of this is in the Iliad, the Iliad starts around the end of the war and deals with that year to the time of the deaths of Hektor, the hero of Troy and Achilles the hero of the Achaens which are all the other Greeks.
So Achilles refuses to help the Acheans anymore because Menelaus dishonored him. Hektor is the main leader of the Trojans and does an excellent job defending his city and causes great havoc among the Acheans so that Achilles decides to send his friend Patroclus to fight and help the Acheans. He is killed by Hektor, but the Acheans save his body and bring it back to give him a proper funeral. This infuriates Achilles against Hektor and he decides to fight and eventually kills Hektor, but shows him no mercy when he pleads that his body be taken back to his family. Achilles drags it through the street. Hektor's father recovers the body with the help of some of the gods and the Trojans mourn his death. That is where the Iliad ends. Achilles is killed later.
The contrast between Achilles and Hektor is striking. Achilles is selfish and revengeful. Hektor is fighting for his city. There is a sweet part where he parts with his wife and baby son. It is very tender and you can see that he doesn't thirst for blood and he really loves his wife and son, but knows he must fulfill his duty even though he may die.
There are many good points I gleaned from this book. No wonder it is still around and has passed the test of time. I highly recommend it. I'm tired now so that's all for now.
Here is a point I was going to work in nicely but oh well:
I think we are too far removed from actual fighting in this day and age. Back then, they faced their opponents and killed each other head on, now we push a button and a bomb will be released that can kill thousands without us ever personally knowing or seeing our victims. I think it makes us more likely to kill when the enemy has no face. These Greeks saw and respected each other. They would stop for various reasons and talk to each other, then when it was time to fight again, they would kill each other the next minute. It was very open. That is a big difference from today. An ironic point given in this book is how glorified the war seems to be, and everybody wants the glory of performing well in the war and they look forward to the spoils, but in the end it takes about 10 years to sack Troy and in that time so many people on both sides are dead I think it shows how awful war really is.
O.K. here is a quick summary of the story: At a wedding feast, Eris who was not invited throws in a golden apple with the inscription: to the fairest, three of the goddesses in attendance want the apple and Zues makes Paris a mortal decide who gets the apple. Each of the goddesses promise him a reward, he picks Aphrodite because she can make the most beautiful woman in the world fall in love with him. That woman is Helen, the only problem is that she is already married to Menelaus, King of Sparta, so when she runs away with Paris to Troy, Menelaus declares war on Troy and all his allies come to his aid. None of this is in the Iliad, the Iliad starts around the end of the war and deals with that year to the time of the deaths of Hektor, the hero of Troy and Achilles the hero of the Achaens which are all the other Greeks.
So Achilles refuses to help the Acheans anymore because Menelaus dishonored him. Hektor is the main leader of the Trojans and does an excellent job defending his city and causes great havoc among the Acheans so that Achilles decides to send his friend Patroclus to fight and help the Acheans. He is killed by Hektor, but the Acheans save his body and bring it back to give him a proper funeral. This infuriates Achilles against Hektor and he decides to fight and eventually kills Hektor, but shows him no mercy when he pleads that his body be taken back to his family. Achilles drags it through the street. Hektor's father recovers the body with the help of some of the gods and the Trojans mourn his death. That is where the Iliad ends. Achilles is killed later.
The contrast between Achilles and Hektor is striking. Achilles is selfish and revengeful. Hektor is fighting for his city. There is a sweet part where he parts with his wife and baby son. It is very tender and you can see that he doesn't thirst for blood and he really loves his wife and son, but knows he must fulfill his duty even though he may die.
There are many good points I gleaned from this book. No wonder it is still around and has passed the test of time. I highly recommend it. I'm tired now so that's all for now.
Here is a point I was going to work in nicely but oh well:
I think we are too far removed from actual fighting in this day and age. Back then, they faced their opponents and killed each other head on, now we push a button and a bomb will be released that can kill thousands without us ever personally knowing or seeing our victims. I think it makes us more likely to kill when the enemy has no face. These Greeks saw and respected each other. They would stop for various reasons and talk to each other, then when it was time to fight again, they would kill each other the next minute. It was very open. That is a big difference from today. An ironic point given in this book is how glorified the war seems to be, and everybody wants the glory of performing well in the war and they look forward to the spoils, but in the end it takes about 10 years to sack Troy and in that time so many people on both sides are dead I think it shows how awful war really is.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
The Return of the Native by Thomas Hardy
I didn't read this book because I was trying to finish the Iliad and the Communist Manifesto for my other book club and because I was kind of tired of 19th century England classics especially Portrait of a Lady that was sooooooo long. But it turned out to be a favorite that the ladies couldn't put down!!! It is on librivox.org, so I will download it when I need a little less heavy sort of a book, but I just downloaded War and Peace from audible.com and finished the first 2 chapters. It is already interesting. I'm excited to hear how these people dealt with all the wars going on around them. Has anything really changed? I will let you know!! It is about 30 hrs. long. We'll take a couple months to get through this one!!
Friday, September 5, 2008
Dumbing Us Down by John Taylor Gatto
This is one of the best books on the modern public education school system. It really helped me understand what goes on in the public schools better and what I went through as a student. I read another of his books called A Different Kind of Teacher, after I read this one and it was just as good. I can't get enough of Gatto's insight into this subject and the subject of humanity as a whole. Some of the things I got out of these books are the need we, especially children, have for time to think about things and to daydream, the importance of spending time with family and appreciating them, I did not need to feel any guilt about not completing every assignment given to me, and that the public school system has accomplished its goal. That goal was never to assist students to become free, independent thinkers and human beings, it was always to fit people into their proper place in society and to make them complacent with their station. It has worked!!! The reason so many people see the system as being a problem is because they thought school was for academics and learning and it has failed miserably in that regard. What they don't realize and Gatto does an excellent job of documenting this in his book, Underground History of American Education, is that public schools were set up as social institutions for the good of the whole and not as not places of learning for the good of the individual.
Gatto is so insightful in his books. I learned so much and realized some things about my own education and some misconceptions that I may have passed down to my children had I not read his book. He also does not hold back on his descriptions and when he says something outlandish, I was surprised at how true his statement actually was. Now, so that you will want to go grab His short book, Dumbing Us Down, I will give you the title of the seven lessons he taught to the students as a public school teacher for 30 yrs. in New York city, you will have to get the book so you can read the explanation and realize he's right, he's not making this up!!!
Here they are, the seven lessons he taught to students as a public school teacher:
1-Confusion
2-Class Position
3-Indifference
4-Emotional Dependency
5-Intellectual Depedency
6-Provisional Self-Esteem
7-One Can't Hide
I know it is hard to believe at this point, but go get his book at the library or online or borrow it from me and read these 10 pages, and I think you will be very surprised as I was to see that he is right, and all that time you felt a little uncomfortable in school, you may find you were perfectly justified!!
Take care and have fun, I would love to hear comments on this one!!!
P.S. Also, I want to make sure those of you who like your public school or have no other option, know I have nothing against the public schools. I came out all right and lots of people I know came out way better than I did. When I say that the public school system has failed to produce well-educated and free thinking people, I am saying that as a generalization of the entire school system and not for individual students. Parents are definitely the key to well-adjusted and educated children. Many of them make public school work, and their kids do great. I'm glad we are all free to teach our children how we see fit and do what is best for our families. I do think we all gain by understanding the disadvantages we face in our public schools. Those who choose to stay in them can combat those disadvatages when their children are home, and those who choose to homeschool or private school or whatever can make sure they don't duplicate the disadvantages in their new educational choice. I think the public schools do well at some things like math and science and not as well at others like history, languages and classics. There are definitely disadvantages to homeschooling and other educational choices too. The key is to decide which ones you are most willing to deal with and go from there!!
Gatto is so insightful in his books. I learned so much and realized some things about my own education and some misconceptions that I may have passed down to my children had I not read his book. He also does not hold back on his descriptions and when he says something outlandish, I was surprised at how true his statement actually was. Now, so that you will want to go grab His short book, Dumbing Us Down, I will give you the title of the seven lessons he taught to the students as a public school teacher for 30 yrs. in New York city, you will have to get the book so you can read the explanation and realize he's right, he's not making this up!!!
Here they are, the seven lessons he taught to students as a public school teacher:
1-Confusion
2-Class Position
3-Indifference
4-Emotional Dependency
5-Intellectual Depedency
6-Provisional Self-Esteem
7-One Can't Hide
I know it is hard to believe at this point, but go get his book at the library or online or borrow it from me and read these 10 pages, and I think you will be very surprised as I was to see that he is right, and all that time you felt a little uncomfortable in school, you may find you were perfectly justified!!
Take care and have fun, I would love to hear comments on this one!!!
P.S. Also, I want to make sure those of you who like your public school or have no other option, know I have nothing against the public schools. I came out all right and lots of people I know came out way better than I did. When I say that the public school system has failed to produce well-educated and free thinking people, I am saying that as a generalization of the entire school system and not for individual students. Parents are definitely the key to well-adjusted and educated children. Many of them make public school work, and their kids do great. I'm glad we are all free to teach our children how we see fit and do what is best for our families. I do think we all gain by understanding the disadvantages we face in our public schools. Those who choose to stay in them can combat those disadvatages when their children are home, and those who choose to homeschool or private school or whatever can make sure they don't duplicate the disadvantages in their new educational choice. I think the public schools do well at some things like math and science and not as well at others like history, languages and classics. There are definitely disadvantages to homeschooling and other educational choices too. The key is to decide which ones you are most willing to deal with and go from there!!
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