The Five Thousand Year Leap, principles 7-9

(For part 1, click here.)


Principle 7: The proper role of government is to protect equal rights, not provide equal things.


When the government provides equal things, it is called Communism.  And it means that those who have worked hard for their own wealth are forced to provide for those who are in need or want, as the case may be.  "Redistribution of wealth."  Taking from the "haves" and giving it to the "have-nots" leads to laziness, idleness, and folly.  Why would we be motivated to succeed if the fruits of our success would be given away to someone else?  It squashes and oppresses creativity, genius, and innovation.  As if the government is the exhaustive source of all brilliance.  Give me a break!  Elitest mentality for sure.  And by our worship of ridiculous politicians, we are enabling them to be smarter than the rest of us...at least in their own minds.  But who will pay the price?  I'll tell you a secret...it won't be them, it will be me and you.  Do you want to be insignificant, lumped into the same mold as everyone else?  No!  We are all unique in personality and talents.
In America, we have the freedom to be rich or poor.  However, that doesn't mean that all will become rich.  We are all dealt varying talents and circumstances that are the formula of our lives as God has ordained.  Some of us, no matter how we try, will never become rich.  But we must be content to do all we can to make our life all it can be and to rest in the result and the process, and to not think we are entitled to what another has.  We are not. 

"Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content:  I know how to be abased, I know how to abound.  Every where and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need." -Php. 4:11-12 

Did you know that the idea of a welfare state is unconstitutional...according to Samuel Adams?  OOPSY!  Welfare was considered tyrannical and evil to our Founders...and you can certainly see how it can become so.  We are reaping the fruits (spoiled as they may be) of this kind of mentality in our current socialist-driven administration (as well as the hard work of past socialists).  When I think of what it would take to reverse all of the unconstitutionalities, it boggles the mind...yet, would be well worth it, though very difficult and hard times would definitely ensue.  Wouldn't a little hardship be worth it, though?  If we could restore true freedom? 
I have thought so often lately about legislators and how their primary job is to create laws.  This can be such busywork and leads to oppression and micromanagement.  Why make rules just to make rules?  The thought of this makes me want to relax and be less rigid in my own sphere of influence...my children, the parade.  Where can I grant more freedom and less rigidity?  Is the rigidity necessary?  Sometimes it is.  Take the parade for example.  I don't allow entries to throw candy because children will run out into the street and be in grave danger.  But, surely I have made some rules just to make rules.  And I need to reevaluate.  More freedom, even in the little things...and less wanting to be in control.


Principle 8: Men are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights.


"The state of Nature has a law of Nature to govern it, which...teaches all mankind who will but consult it, that being all equal and independent, no one ought to harm another in his life, health, liberty or possessions; for men being all the workmanship of one omnipotent and infinitely wise maker; all the servants of one sovereign master, sent into the world by His order and about His business; they are His property.." ~John Locke
Really, doesn't that say it all?  It is so simple and yet we complicate it.


Can I get something off my chest?  School.  Thanks, I needed that.  Why are my children forced to be in school?  Why can I be arrested if my child is not in school?  Where is the freedom there?  If I want my child to be a dummy, then that's my prerogrative until they are old enough to decide for themselves.

"What man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone:  Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent?  If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!" ~Matthew 7:9-11

Obviously, I don't want my children to be dummies.  I want them to be everything they can possibly be.  And I strive every day for that very goal.  But, still, it ticks me off that the government has this weird educational power over my children...and me for that matter.  And what do the public schools teach our children? ...the secular agenda, that's what!  Evolution, anti-God mentality, pro-homosexual preference, anti-conservativism and anti-traditionalism, devaluing of life, and the list goes on.  Education is not an unalienable right that the government is to provide.  It is to protect the education that I choose for my family.  Protect, not provide.  (Healthcare, anyone?  Oh, sorry, Pelosi said that healthcare is an unalienable right, so it must be so.  Yes, we should have the ability to have healthcare, but it shouldn't be provided for us when we are mandated to pay for it for ourselves and for those who can't/won't take care of themselves.  We must seek out our own "benefits.")
Thanks for letting me vent.


"Life, liberty, and property do not exist because men have made laws.  On the contrary, it was the fact that life, liberty, and property existed beforehand that caused men to make laws [for the protection of them] in the first place." ~Frederic Bastiat


God has already given us freedom.  The government ought to protect freedom and not squash it.  Don't make laws to regulate, make laws to protect.  Gee, I can't wait til the government tells me how warm I can have my house, and what foods I can and can't eat, and how much ammunition I can buy for my gun.  Oh, wait, they are already doing the latter (I guess Obama figures if he can't take away the right to keep and bear arms, he will take the ammo...yes, this is being done), and the former are well on their way.


Principle 9: To protect man's rights, God has revealed certain principles of divine law.


How strange that divine (revealed) law is found only in the Holy Scriptures.  (Note the sarcasm.)  God's Word contains God's law.  God's Word is God's law.
Yep, the 10 Commandments, folks.  Uh-oh!  Now, we're getting religious.  As David Barton says, we should be able to separate morality from religion.  You don't have to be religious to be moral (though it sure does help).  We are all given a conscience so we know what right and wrong are.  
"...what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them.  For since the creation of the world, His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things which are made, even His eternal power and divine nature, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God... for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, who show the work of the law written on their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them..." ~Romans 1:19-21; 2:14-15


I loved the whole "reparation" thing in this chapter.  Not only should we make right the crimes we have committed against another, but we should make it better.  Boy!  Do we ever let our criminals off easy!  Jamie and I just forgave a personal debt owed to us by a family member.  This chapter gave me much clearer understanding regarding why just the payback of the money doesn't seem to be enough since the person's actions caused all sorts of havoc & turmoil personally and within the family.  Punitive damages are certainly something to be considered.  That being said, what's done is done and must be put behind us so that we can move forward and not dwell on past offenses.
Also addressed in this principle is the idea that the government (taxpayers) compensate victims of crimes.  It "is a counter-productive procedure which encourages crime rather than deters it.  It encourages the bandit to say to his victim, 'Don't worry, mister.  You'll get it all back from the state.'" And let me also say that family members that enable bad behavior by making compensation for another's sin does that person no favor nor does any favor to society.  We are accommodating a person's lack of character.  Grace is one thing.  Enabling and encouraging bad and destructive behavior is another.  Have principles and stand by them.  Don't be wishy-washy and easily swayed. 
Ok, so that went in a personal direction.  Sorry.  But I think it must be said.  We excuse the person's bad behavior because of life's circumstances but we all must be responsible for what we do...whether a result of hard times or not.  In real life, criminals end up in jail and no amount of coddling will save them from that when they are "responsible adults."




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