I am so looking forward to seeing Orrin Woodward and Oliver DeMille at the July major convention. I can't wait for Oliver's book, 1913. If there ever was something anyone has learned from the LIFE business, it’s the ability to use an information system that empowers people to become more independent. Information is necessary for people to become less reliant on a growing entitlement culture. There will be nothing like the July major leadership conference where men and women will assemble with the intent to learn how to make a difference in their own life. The Team training system will also be taught throughout the weekend for those interested in learning how to develop compensated communities. I would highly recommend the 'Today's Economy And Your Money' pack found in the LIFE products. Don't forget to take notes!
Many people feel that the freedom of western civilization is at a tipping point. It shouldn’t be a surprise because there has always been a struggle for freedom and liberty as long as man has been on earth. The first symptom of losing freedom is a culture that demonstrates apathy and dependence. People who are uninformed are typically more reliant on someone they think is more informed to help them. Because of a social planning culture, it becomes natural that people grow up expecting something from government.
The population typically hears common terms like socialism, communism, liberalism, and conservatism but rarely hears the word progressivism. Let’s take a moment to shed some light on the concept of progressivism. Another word is interventionist. Progressives typically appear highly educated. They believe that government has the power to improve the masses’ standard of living. They recommend the restrictions of profits and equalization of incomes and fortunes by confiscatory taxation, the lowering of the rate of interest by an easy money policy, and credit expansion. Keynesian economics of ‘social engineering’ is another theory that is closely aligned. They advocate lavish government spending. According to the great Austrian economist Ludwig von Mises, “The interventionists emphasize that they plan to retain private ownership of the means of production, entrepreneurship and market exchange. But they go on to say, it is peremptory to prevent these capitalist institutions from spreading havoc and unfairly exploiting the majority of people through free enterprise."
Regarding the results of the current progressive policies, here is a recent report from NPR.org, “ And now we have new evidence to report of the impact of the financial crisis. A new report released yesterday by the Federal Reserve shows that many families across America have seen their personal wealth wiped out. In just the span of three years, the net worth of the median American household fell almost 40 percent and overall incomes declined for the rich and middle class alike.”
“And if you look again at that median family, they lost about $35,000 in home equity. For example, someone 35 to 44 years old who likely bought their house recently, doesn’t’ have a large retirement savings just saw their net worth fall by 54%.” In addition, according to the Commerce Dept., home ownership dipped to its lowest level in nine years. With vacancies increasing, home ownership fell to 67.3%. While less own homes and less are qualified to own homes, foreclosures remain at an all time high. This follows closely to what Mises would expect with the devaluation of the dollar? The fall of the Roman Empire had similar circumstances from it’s policies that led to the resulting devaluation of the Denarius.
Early first century (Augustus) 20 cents
Middle first century (Nero) 15 cents
End second century (Septimius Severus) 10 cents
Early third century (Caracalla) 6 cents
End third century (Diocletian) 0.5 cents
The study of history has made me contemplate the coincidence of ‘progressive’ John Dewey developing the educational curriculum that shifted from the importance of classical liberal educational teaching. That system had been the staple of Western civilization’s education since before the founders of America. Yes, the people were trained in careers for jobs or they were taught a specialty. Gradually they start to lose the ability to think critically in other areas. It makes me wonder at the timing of ‘progressive’ Woodrow Wilson’s key pieces of legislation, the Smith – Hughes Act of 1917, which created the Federal Board for Vocational Education and was given broad power to establish national standards for vocational education. (Similar to the Obama Health Care Mandate, it was able to enforce those standards by withholding grant funds from non - complying states). Wilson’s most significant claim to fame however, was the Underwood Tariff Bill that enacted the first national income tax. According to Ronald J. Patritto, “Wilson had no problem with tariffs as a tool for raising revenue. Larry Walker and Jeremy F. Plant wrote, “Wilson shared the Progressive conviction that the national government should be used as an active instrument of social progress through the exercise of regulatory powers.”
It’s more important now more than any time in history to develop a source of information that will empower people to learn how to discern the times. Can you hear the call to build compensated communities? As Thomas Jefferson wrote, “The most important bill in our whole code is that for the diffusion of knowledge among the people. No other sure foundation can be devised, for preservation of freedom and happiness.” Join Orrin Woodward and the LIFE business at the July summer convention. God Bless, George Guzzardo
