Do actions follow words?

“I work for nothing but my own profit—which I make by selling a product they need to men who are willing and able to buy it. . . . we deal as equals by mutual consent to mutual advantage and I am proud of every penny I have earned in this manner”, so said one of the characters from the novel Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand. One of the things I admire about the unabashed capitalist is that there is no hypocrisy in philosophy and actions. What you see is what you get.

I struggle with the nouveau liberal. When I hear them speak, I find many compelling topics. Care for the poor and down-trodden, concern for the environment, universal free-speech, etc. However, the words that are spoken frequently are not followed by the actions. Let me give you a couple of examples.

A friend of mine is supportive of Proposition 8 in California. This is a proposition that will make the constitution of California define marriage as between a man and a woman. Obviously a controversial and important issue regardless of which side one supports. So my friend who supports the proposition decided to show support by posting signs on the fence that is on their street front property. A passerby stopped and proceeded to tear down the signs and when confronted stated “I am exercising my right to free speech.” Does that strike anyone else as hypocritical?

Granted, a small thing. But I don't believe it represents an isolated incident. While there are many that truly live according to their platform, I believe the leaders of the movement do not. Hence to my general dissatisfaction with the liberal leadership in this country, not the liberal, people-oriented platform which I can embrace. What I observe is:

• We must protect the environment unless it is inconvenient for me.
• We must protect free speech unless the speech is against my pet issue.
• We must equalize income even if it takes motivation away from those that have the greatest talent and ability.

Those are just some examples. I much more prefer the system that calls for personal responsibility, that rewards me for my success and doesn’t reward me, or provide a safety net when I fail. In that way, I am motivated to improve and contribute to society. I also feel the need to contribute to society because I recognize that my success is the result of more than my own talents and effort. There is a reason we call them “God-given talents.” But I will contribute freely, and need no government to tell me where to contribute. I love the definition of liberal which equates it to being generous. That is something I can live and support.

Reality Sustains

Wednesday morning reading of the local Deseret News is one of the highlights of my week. That is the day that Walter Williams’ weekly column appears in the editorial pages. Mr. Williams is a professor of economics at George Mason University. He is one of the most honest and insightful writers in today’s media. If you haven’t had a chance to read his material, I highly recommend him. (Walter E. Williams )

His most recent column put words to my own convictions that the majority of the media and today’s politicians are rewarded for keeping the people scared. Everything that happens is a crisis and if we don’t change leaders, it will only get worse. It is virtually impossible to see anything good in the current administration, economy or environment; the sky is indeed falling.

I am particularly disappointed in the media for hyping the poor state of our economy because anyway I look at it, I am better off today than I have ever been before. My circle of peers may not be huge, but they appear to likewise be prospering. But we focus on the cost of gas, the “failing” money markets, and numerous other threats that the media and politicians dream up to scare us and convince us to elect someone else. The noise can be overwhelming.

Mr. Williams, quoting from Dr. W. Michael Cox and Richard Alm, of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, in an article titled "How Are We Doing?" (The American , July/August 2008) gave the following examples:

• Today, the average worker must work two hours to pay for 10
  gallons of gas vs. 1950 over two hours
• That same worker must work 1.7 hours to pay for a basket of groceries that in 1950
  took a worker 4 hours of work to pay for
• Average workers today only work 1,531 hours per year versus 1,903 in 1950
• Life expectancy today is 78, in 1950 it was 67
• In 1980, inflation was 14% and unemployment 7.5% resulting in a “misery index” of 21.5; today inflation is 5% and unemployment 6.1% for an index of 11.1

If Mr. Williams were running for political office, he would be booed off the podium because “we know times are hard.” But the facts don’t bear out the conclusion that the media serve up for our consumption. I agree with Mr. Williams, we are better off today than at anytime in history. Our system works and I am grateful for it. Reality doesn't suck, it sustains!

Rediscovering the American Tradition

In Abraham Lincoln's 1861 address to Congress, he made reference to the sentiment held by many throughout history that the form of government employed by the United States is an experiment. Evidence of that feeling persisting today can be seen by textbooks, scholarly journals, websites, etc. that bear the name The American Experiment. An experiment is "an act or operation for the purpose of... testing a principle;" the American experiment is therefore the testing of the principles upon which this great country was founded upon.

After winning freedom from Britain, our Founding Fathers set into motion the experiment, hypothesizing that the consitutional based government would be able to preserve the liberty and freedom of the people of this nation. Although opinions differ on when the United States became a world power, few would disagree that at least at one point in time the United States emerged as a world leader. (Kissinger, 1994; Bailey, 1961; Dulles, 1955) That emergence as world leader is not the only thing supporting the hypothesis; the economic success through the years, the fact that the United States has the highest number of immigrants in the world (Wikpedia), the Olympic success of the country, the many advances in technology originating in America, and the list goes on.

However, with all the grand history that this nation can boast of, the current sentiment is that America is on the decline; culturally, morally, economically, and even athletically. Even if the "decline" may actually be the world catching up, the trends would indicate that the progress of America has slowed. It may be tempting to cite such evidence to dispute the hypothesis of the Founding Fathers, to claim that the experiment is on it's way to failure. However, such thought does not take into considerations the many deviations from the traditions and principles that the Founding Fathers established this country upon.

Through discussions on this blog we hope to rediscover and remember the traditions of our Founding Fathers. In the least, we hope to center ourselves upon the traditions that were meant to be remembered, that were meant to be perpetuated for the good of this nation. Throughout the process, we also hope to be able to start conversations that will make our Founding Fathers proud.