Obama Spending Debate

I have had many requests to post full sections of the opinion of my liberal friend from the University of Utah so that everyone can see the insanity with their own eyes and make their own comments. So I will start at the beginning and post the most telling of his initial submissions followed by my specific rebuttal. I will then post the next communication thread on another day.

 

I hope this exercise will stimulate some dialogue… now get busy friends and tell this guy what you think. – Maurice

 

 

Maurice,

It is good to hear from, just to get things clarified I am not an Obama "maniac" like many of my peers. I just tend to agree with his policies which is generally directed towards the common "man"; he is still a politician nonetheless. Also to be noted I am doing a research paper on this topic, and when I get my results I can give you more information(My paper is what promotes economic stability). Anyways... I see your concern with Obama, like many other conservative Americans. The stimulus is a scary thought because it's creating more debt and inflation, but inflation is not always bad. If our currency is valued lower then another country's, it will promote exports from our country(because are products will be a lot more affordable on the market) which we do need badly. One of our reasons for the collapse of our economy was the trade deficit. We as a country were buying much more then selling. A good example of this was with GM, many Americans because of cost resorted to buying foreign cars. Also to add on to stimulus argument, I am a big believer in Keynesian economics. John Maynard Keyes believed that investment by government injects income, which results in more spending in the general economy, which in turn stimulates more production and investment involving more income and spending and so forth. The initial stimulation starts a cascade of events, whose total increase in economic activity is a multiple of the original investment.

 

I hope this helps explain why I am a supporter of Obama, but I only tackled the economic aspect of his policies since I figured this is of most worry to you. If you have any other concerns feel free to let me know? I love debating politics and hope to hear from you soon.

Thanks-

Also, it may seem like the stimulus is like a dead fish, but just give it time.

 

 

Thanks for the thoughtful response.

You'll have to explain who the "common man" is, because I am a little confused. I thought I was the common man. At least the common American. I'm white, Christian, in a household, live in an urban area, make an average amount of money... What could be more common?

Anyway, I wasn't really writing to you for advice. I just wanted to open up a dialogue with you to try to broaden your perspective a little. Hope you don't mind.

I am very familiar with Keynesian theory. However, don't ascribe to it. I support a free market philosophically. Locke, Smith, De Tocqueville, Max Weber, Hayek, Friedman, Sowell... My kind of guys. Are you familiar with them?

I've done some research on economic stability. Perhaps I can recommend some books for you to refer to.

Basic Economics, Thomas Sowell.
Free to Choose, Milton Friedman
The Road to Serfdom, Friedrich Hayek

If you are interested in contemporary titles which address our current economic situation, you could glean some information from these recent works:

The End of Prosperity, Arthur Laffer and Stephen Moore.
Meltdown: -- , Thomas Woods

Since you are such a big fan of Keynes, you must be prepared to defend the Keynesian policies which helped usher in this deep recession? The Fed's policy over the last 3 years, Greenspan in 2006 and now Bernanke, has been to stave off inflation by keeping interest rates low. It made everyone feel like they are Warren Buffett. Every time they lowered the lending rate, more people were encouraged to borrow and spend beyond their means. The areas of the economy that saw the most investment from this Keynesian, hands on, monetary inflation policy were capital markets and housing. Both sectors were devastated by reckless speculation with Keynesian 'free money'. If inflation was in the cards for the economy in 2006, and even before, we should have let that ride a little bit then and we wouldn't have seen such large bubbles in the economy burst all at once. That being said, who is to blame? It all starts with the Keynesians.

The trade deficit doesn't hurt the economy. So we by a lot of cheap stuff. Big deal. If even 25% are assets used in the production of more sophisticated products and technology for emerging markets the growth in GDP is sustained. So long as we continue to trade with those emerging markets. (See the Columbia Free Trade bill that has gone nowhere with this Democrat congress.) The US has assets totaling in the hundreds of trillions. That dwarfs those of our closest rivals. Its like Bill Gates buying toilet paper and pencils for Microsoft. The "tp" is cash literally thrown down the drain, but if the pencils are employed to create one groundbreaking idea... You see the analogy.

The economy was hurt by Keynesian regulation of the money supply (see argument above), socio-economic tinkering by liberal lawmakers ( (D) Barney Frank, (D) Chris Dodd etc.) and community activists who forced mortgage lenders to make a ton of risky loans to people who had no business buying houses or who bought homes beyond their means under the  community Reinvestment Act, and  reckless speculation in capital and real estate markets with the biggest risk takers being the quasi-governmental institutions of Fanny Mae and Freddy Mac (See relationships with the aforementioned (D) Barney Frank, (D) Chris Dodd etc. ) who peddled off those
self-same risky mortgages with the confidence of knowing that the taxpayer would be the ultimate guarantor.

In my opinion, this stimulus is not a good thing. You'll have to explain in detail how it will help this economy. You'll have to drill down and make a detailed argument about how you believe the economy will benefit in order to persuade me. I know that an injection of cash into the economy stimulates activity, but keep in mind activity is not growth. Growth is wealth generation. The economy needs growth. It will always need growth. Health is sustained growth. The converse is death. Activity does not, in and of itself, create your 'multiple of the original investment', in other words wealth.

I look forward to hearing your arguments.

 

 

 

Rules?... What rules?

More of the same from the Obama administration. Graft, corruption, then cover-up. This kind of politics is no different than that exhibited by the President when he was a lowly senator in Illinois. When we look back on the Obama presidency, we will see the most depraved executive administration in history.

 

 

Debating Liberal Sciolism Part II

 

He:

Now for the argument of stimulus, it is necessary because we can't let business fall. I know many believers like yourself believe that the markets will work themselves out. This is true, but only to a certain clarification of "work themselves out". By letting business fall it will create less income for a country and less jobs. GM for example is a perfect example. If we let GM fall(along with Ford and Chrysler) there will be less jobs created and less revenue for our country.

 

Me:

If we let GM fail, it will merge with a more successfully managed auto company like Toyota or Nissan et al. It will shed jobs initially then reopen plants, in America, and rehire without the burdens of debilitating union contracts. You fail to see that the demand for GM cars and trucks is still one of the largest in the world. It is a problem that many like you have little confidence in the free market to develop new technologies and often completely new industries.

 

The US economy is not static. If we lose an industry to the third world, it is not always a bad thing. Before there were rubber tires, wheels were wooden. Americans’ had a thriving wooden wagon wheel industry no doubt. Do you want to bring that industry back? People like you decried the use of coal as an alternative to wood in the 18^th century. Could we have fueled the industrial revolution without coal? Often we move past and outgrow industries that have served a purpose, but are now more affordably imported. In a country where men are able to freely associate and capital is available, other industries develop to take the place of the old. (If we lose an industry to the third world prematurely, you can almost assuredly look, in part, to the government’s or collective bargaining’s culpability.) The US leads the world in patents, not because the government initiates new areas of research, but because private citizens do. By passing on industries to emerging countries and investing in those enterprises we, 1) grow economies outside the US, 2) Raise the standard of living for poor societies, 3) Create demand for other of our products, and 4) Create new and innovative products and services to support those growing economies.

 

Reminder: Scott invited you to join Facebook...

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Debating Liberal Sciolism

In an effort to point out the lack of intellectual diligence exhibited by the liberal youth movement, the constituency some would credit with the election of Barack Obama, I will share excerpts from an ongoing debate I am having with a student of Comparative Cultures from the University of Utah. My goal in sharing some of this debate is to placate friends who have asked me to share it, but more importantly, to illuminate the general propensity liberals have to take statistics at face value rather than pursue the more diligent and tedious course of discovering the driving characteristics behind them. The contrasting arguments should also reveal the power liberal academics and the mainstream media command over people apathetic about the difficult work necessary in understanding our world. The unwillingness of modern Americans to delve deeply into comparative histories and the palpable economic verities that informed the founders of this nation has given rise to the neo-Marxian policies currently being enacted by the executive and legislative branches. A ten second media spot seems to be all it takes to make the average American feel informed. Sciolism seems acceptable in this techno age.

 

The first entry:

 

He: Out of 8 countries the United States had the highest crime homicide rate of 5.5, while Germany and other European countries was around 0.9. Now you may say that is coincidence or whatever. However, if only one country had a low rate, I can see your argument, but 12 of the EU countries have a lower rate and are more socialist geared. When I mentioned dangerous I meant in terms of crime rate. This means something. Furthermore the United States is only 4% of the world's population, but contains one-quarter of the worlds entire prison population! The U.S. averages 685 prisoners per 100,00 people, compared to 87 in EU countries.

 

Me: The Bureau of Justice Statistics paints a complete picture. Homicide rates are high because of black on black crime. Like I said, poverty doesn't cause it, family disorganization and a failure of the culture to meet critical Judeo-Christian expectations does. Much of this stems from the liberal policies of the 1960's and 1970's, no fault divorce and irresponsible welfare policies which made the father of the black family obsolete. Read any number of books on the subject. Slouching toward Gomorrah and The Dream and the Nightmare are the two best I've read so far. Incarceration is high because we take crime seriously. Read the report.

 

 

facebook Check out my photos on Facebook Hi Mauriceenchel.igster, I set up a Facebook profile where I can post my pictures, videos and events and I want to add you as a friend so you can see it. First, you need to join Facebook! Once you join, you can also create your own profile. Thanks, Scott To sign up for Facebook, follow the link below: http://www.facebook.com/p.php?i=1765441388&k=ZW12YWV5U5WEUCC1VGX4UTS&r mauriceenchel.igster@blogger.com was invited to join Facebook by Scott Cogswell. If you do not wish to receive this type of email from Facebook in the future, please click here to unsubscribe. Facebook's offices are located at 156 University Ave., Palo Alto, CA 94301.

The Reprimitivized Future -- Mark Steyn

Mark Steyn exhibits a sense for and a vision of world politics beyond the horizon of the common enthusiast. And his style imposes upon you to feel and live it.

“Civilization is not an evolution of mankind but the imposition of human good on human evil. It is not a historical inevitability. It is a battle that has to be fought every day, because evil doesn’t recede willingly before the wheels of progress.” -- Andrew McCarthy, former federal prosecutor, senior fellow at the National Review Institute, and author of Willful Blindness: A Memoir of the Jihad.

DHS Enlists Local Authorities to Profile Conservative America

'Liberals' have their transformational faith in the bureaucracy of the Executive and oppose other institutions, particularly those "non-liberal social forces" like Church and family that often find expression in the organizations of neighborhoods, small cities, and even several States. Modern liberalism sees "central government as the more promising instrument of progress, and the others as obstacles."

This administration has been successful in casting dispersion on the free market, and will now attempt to do the same to conservative society.

 

 

San Francisco Values

 

WSJOnline -- April 3, 2009

News From Nancy Pelosi's District
Government schools in San Francisco are trying to boost their students' aspirations, the San Francisco Chronicle reports:

"Remember the first time you heard Jimi Hendrix?" reads the cover of the district's new 51-page education guide. "Our plan is as transformational now as his music was then!"

The manifesto is aimed at transforming the educational "experiences for every child in each of our schools."

To drive home the point, a portrait of the '60s rocker--looking somewhat pensive, somber and perhaps stoned--graces the cover and every page of the manual.

The book also comes with a Hendrix poster and Hendrix-emblazoned canvas bag, which were handed out to a couple hundred administrators at Superintendent Carlos Garcia's back-to-school confab in September.

An editorial in the same day's Chronicle faults the San Francisco school board for defying the will of the voters and refusing to preserve the city's Junior ROTC program:

The program will come to a halt in June unless board members vote to reverse a November 2006 decision to end it. Last November, San Francisco voters endorsed an advisory measure, Proposition V, in support of keeping JROTC.

The usual complaint--opposition to the federal law barring open homosexuals from serving in the military--doesn't apply here: "Young people of all sexual orientations are welcome in the San Francisco program." But ultraliberal school board members still object to JROTC as, in the Chronicle's words, "an indoctrinating recruiting tool."

So in San Francisco, if you're willing to risk your life for your country, you must be brainwashed. If you choke to death on your own vomit, you're a role model.

 

 

 

The Elite Culture of American Democrats

Democrats: feeding the hungry… clothing the naked…

WSJonline – Best of the Web Today, 3/12/2009

Your Tax Dollars at Work
"More than one out of every five dollars of the $126 million Massachusetts is receiving in earmarks from a $410 billion federal spending package is going to help preserve the legacy of the Kennedys," the Associated Press reports from Boston:

The bill includes $5.8 million for the planning and design of a building to house a new Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the Senate. The funding may also help support an endowment for the institute.

The bill also includes $22 million to expand facilities at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum and $5 million more for a new gateway to the Boston Harbor Islands on the Rose Kennedy Greenway, a park system in downtown Boston named after Kennedy's mother and built on land opened up by the Big Dig highway project.

We suppose if you can't make history, you might as well buy it with other people's money.

Wage Protection Will Slow Recovery

Since the federal government has decided to expropriate the future earnings of America's children to avert an economic 'catastrophe', its only fitting that these resources be used most efficiently, guaranteeing a rapid return on investment. Otherwise, what we will see is the debilitatingly prolonged recovery of the depression era.

 

Even government bureaucracies should use sound market principles and fiscal responsibility in dealing with crisis. Meaning Davis-Bacon policies should have no place in the effort to restore our country's economic stability.

 

Just as the Bush administration suspended the Act in Katrina ravished Louisiana to facilitate rapid response and recovery, so the Obama administration and Congress should do the same for the sake of our national economy.

 

In conservative circles, wage standards discriminate against poor communities and drive up unemployment in general. With unemployment climbing of its own, job protectionism and labor unions as the primary beneficiaries of stimulus contracts, will retard growth.

 

 

 

 

Beware Of The Counselor

 ... passing along some information that we all should be concerned about.

 

If allowed by the respective state governors, the country's 'child advocate' NGOs and Government run orgs like CPS will get millions from the PelObamaReid federal stimulus.

 

Nothing like bolstering an already powerful and potentially dangerous taxpayer funded, government led syndicate chalk full of 'academic experts'; teachers, school administrators, counselors, psychologists, sociologists, lawyers, judges, etc., who view the family as an impediment to the proper socialization of children.

 

Disclaimer:

 

To be clear... the argument is with the anti-family syndicate, not you the upstanding teacher, administrator, counselor, psychologist, sociologist, lawyer, judge, etc.

 

 

Family & Friends,

 

I recently attended court as a supporter for a dear friend of mine who lives in a nearby town.  She and her husband have four children, the oldest of which is a typical 13 year old girl.  Like most girls her age, she is testing her limits.  She tries manipulating, “stretching” the truth, and trying to get her way.  She is a good girl, but definitely pushing the envelope.  Her parents are good parents and they don’t take garbage from their kids.

 

Last November, this 13 year old was irritated that her mother took her cell phone privileges away until her grades improved, so she made an appointment with the school counselor and ranted and raved that her mother was unfair, she exaggerated and got carried away about the situation, and complained her mother had “hurt her feelings.”  The counselor contacted my friend and made her recommendations about the situation to which my friend basically told her it was none of her business.  Then, when her daughter got home they had a discussion and the mother told the daughter not to go to the counselor anymore.

 

Late January, Child Protective Services (CPS) came to the house and took all four children from the babysitter at the house and charged both parents with “emotional abuse.”  Apparently, the counselor had tried to set up another appointment with this 13 year old, who said “my mom says I shouldn’t talk to you anymore.”  The counselor determined, from that statement, that there must be something wrong at home…otherwise there wouldn’t be any reason they couldn’t talk.  She then contacted CPS and thus the removal of the children.

 

It has now been three weeks, the parents cannot see or talk with their children because the parents “may influence the children’s version of events,” even though this is all based on the eldest’s meeting with the counselor. My friend and her husband have had three previous court dates during which they have never been allowed to speak to the judge.  The system has them trapped and their lawyer estimates it will take 4-6 months to get this resolved and their children home. They have boundaries, expectations, and limitations for their children and they are being charged with “emotional abuse”. 

 

Our laws are giving children all the power.  Being a good parent is at the mercy of the observer, many of which do not like the moral stance we teach our children, especially in light of Proposition 8.  Beware the counselor.  They tell our children they only want to help, and I mean no disrespect, but their job entirely depends on people having problems! For example:

 

My own daughter, Evelyn, made an appointment with the school counselor just before winter break because she was having problems with the kids in her table group.  She got back from winter break and her table group had changed (it does every month) and the counselor called her in.  Evelyn couldn’t even remember why she had made the appointment, so the counselor began fishing around.  By the end of the appointment, Evelyn’s best friend had been called into the office and they were both crying over some event in Kindergarten (4+ years ago).  The counselor seemed very pleased when she called to tell us she had taken care of a “little problem” between these two!  Seriously!? Dredging up problems from Kindergarten and making little girls cry over it is a good thing? I think you see my point.

 

Please talk to your children about this.  I know we have.

Government 'Spend-on-us' Bill

http://snipurl.com/chznw 

 

"Disgraced Democratic Sen. John Edwards was right about one thing: There are two Americas. One America is full of moochers, big and small, corporate and individual, trampling over themselves with their hands out demanding endless bailouts. The other America is full of disgusted, hardworking citizens getting sick of being played for chumps and punished for practicing personal responsibility."

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            -- Michelle Malkin

 

maurice enchel

 

 

An Abortive Abortion

Best of the Web: Wall Street Journal, Feb. 10, 2009

The Associated Press reports from Tampa, Fla., on an abortion that went awry:

Eighteen and pregnant, Sycloria Williams went to an abortion clinic outside Miami and paid $1,200 for Dr. Pierre Jean-Jacque Renelique to terminate her 23-week pregnancy.

 

Three days later, she sat in a reclining chair, medicated to dilate her cervix and otherwise get her ready for the procedure.

Only Renelique didn't arrive in time. According to Williams and the Florida Department of Health, she went into labor and delivered a live baby girl.

 

What Williams and the Health Department say happened next has shocked people on both sides of the abortion debate: One of the clinic's owners, who has no medical license, cut the infant's umbilical cord. Williams says the woman placed the baby in a plastic biohazard bag and threw it out.

 

Police recovered the decomposing remains in a cardboard box a week later after getting anonymous tips.

The AP reports that "the case has riled the anti-abortion community, which contends the clinic's actions constitute murder." There was a time when even people outside "the anti-abortion community" would have agreed that killing a baby after birth constitutes murder.

animal farm

 

http://snipurl.com/alipa  [www_ibdeditorials_com]

 

Animal Farm -- George Orwell, 1945

from a summary of themes with my edited notations: sparknotes.com

The Windmill

The great windmill symbolizes the pigs' manipulation of the other animals for their own gain. Despite the immediacy of the need for food and warmth (strong economy, freedom, liberty, & independence), the pigs exploit Boxer and the other common animals (naïve working class) by making them undertake backbreaking labor (income, payroll, capital gains, estate taxes, etc.) to build the windmill, which will ultimately earn the pigs more money and thus increase their power. The pigs' declaration that Snowball (George W. Bush (Republicans)) is responsible for the windmill's first collapse constitutes psychological manipulation, as it prevents the common animals from doubting the pigs' (Obama, Reid, Pelosi et al (socialist Democrats)) abilities and unites them against a supposed enemy. The ultimate conversion of the windmill to commercial use (stimulus spending buys preferred stock in American companies whose future dividends will not go to repaying the American taxpayer, nor will they be available to fund the companies' growth, but will instead be reinvested in a new, new deal.) is one more sign of the pigs' betrayal of their fellow animals. From an allegorical point of view, the windmill represents the enormous modernization projects undertaken in Soviet Russia after the Russian Revolution (which failed and will fail our economy -- Federal 'infrastructure, uneconomical 'green' industries, universal healthcare, etc.).

 

http://snipurl.com/ama9v  [www_dickmorris_com]

 

 

"...but some are more equal than others."

There is no greater example of hypocrisy than opponents of school choice preferring an alternative to public education for their children. 

Why I can't vote for a Democrat

 

 

Why I can't vote for a Democrat.

 

Conservatives & Republicans give more in charity and offer their time and service to others most consistently, regardless of income (Arthur Brooks). Democratic Socialists, who now have come to power with the election of Barack Obama, don't because they can't confirm whether or not everyone else is, nor can they be sure of the magnitude. Mere compassion is not as important to them as 'fairness in giving' as they've defined it. This is the distinction.

 

Socialists are not sufficiently humble to give for the sake of giving. They envy those who horde wealth, therefore, remain uncharitable. The perception that others of similar social status are not givers precludes them from considering personal generosity. It is of a sense that it is unfair that while they might give, others keep. They protect vehemently their discontent with inequity and use government to ameliorate it because they are conflicted. On the one hand they see the need for generosity, even their own gifts and sacrifices, and yet they vanquish the guilt of inaction by citing injustice. Which is the moral position, to give without conscience or demand fairness at the end of the barrel of a gun?

 

 

 

 

Herd Mentality

This is a very interesting topic. 'Nature' follows a complex of reactionary behaviours at the subconscious level. This subconscious conformity or 'tyrrany of the mind' must also stem from the same psychology.

Scientifically it may be encoded in DNA, but ultimately its power is metaphysical.

Put the question of safety in numbers to Carl Jung, or before him Gottfried Leibniz and others, and you might get an answer more compelling. All, understood and respected the perennial philosophy,

"that recognizes the divine Reality substantial to the world of things
and lives and minds; the psychology that finds in the soul something similar to,
or even identical with, divine Reality; the ethic that places man's final end in
the knowledge of the immanent and transcendent ground of all being; the thing is
immemorial and universal."

'Jung emphasized
the importance of balance and harmony. He cautioned that modern people rely too
heavily on science and logic and would benefit from integrating spirituality and
appreciation of unconscious realms.'

Human societal behaviour is not unlike that of a school of fish; reactionary in the fulfillment of existential responsibility. What is unique is that 'human society', especially in the west, has conquered much of the predation. This success in overcoming our environment is paramount to societal growth. The freedom of the individual to push societal restrictions in accordance with Divinely guarded transcendence is the progression of civilization. An individual or societal resistence to the Divine then is detrimental to either or both. Wierdos, deviants and loners are ostracized for good reason. When society does reach out to them it is always with the intention to bring them into conformity. Who associates with such for another reason but those same conflicted souls?

Of course we emulate those we perceive to be more successful. Ultimately 'our' success depends on it.

The 'tyrrany of the mind' can only be true tyrrany when the ideology or behaviour we are to emulate is not in accordance with the Divine. (Certainly it is tyrrany when others mandate it through government and make its nonconformance punishable.)

Divine law and truth, and obedience to them, is liberating.

The key phrase you've mentioned Brian is, "... as it [rigid confomity] becomes more and more detached from reality." This is then a discussion on the nature or reality. Certainly rigid conformity with the fundamental nature of reality is not dangerous, but essential. The fact that you have put quotes around the tribe's 'truth' shows me you understand this.

Divine Intelligence encompasses every aspect of the universe including our proclivity for particular behaviour as individuals and as societies.

Thanks for this topic Brian. It has strengthened my testimony of a living God.

Make Your Argument

In the reluctance of the left in our culture to defend their positions fairly, they have resorted to tactics which seek to redefine certain english words and terms to their advantage.

We must guard against the tendency toward political correctness.

If the 'Right' allows the left (particularly in academia) to continue to define our positions by redefining certain words like, argument, intolerance, profiling, marriage etc., we will have no recourse. Already, our society has been so influenced by this political correctness that it is uncivilized, particularly from the right, to enter into argument on issues dear to them.

Look at the definition of the word argument. Its root is from latin argūmentum, from arguere, to make clear. Clarity, like Truth, is God. To argue for clarity should be encouraged. It is a catalyst of further enlightenment. Without it, our advanced society will not progress. But ask any child what he has been taught about argument.

Another example that really bothers me is the left's redefinition of the word intolerance to denote hatred. Teachers are using it to label conscientous objectors as either racist, homophobic or just plain haters in their plans to teach global and community peace projects. I have to combat this at home.

I tell my son that intolerance to misguided and unseemly behavior and situations is not wrong and is actually an important survival instinct. It means unendurable. Certainly there are important ideas and behaviors that should not be tolerated. The left has so confounded the definition that intolerance in any situation is hate filled.

Our culture is so concerned with people's values and ideologies being challenged, but it is very important that we make these challenges. The left is tired of their iniquity being challenged.

I told my father that there is not enough argument in our society anymore. The free exchange of ideas and opinions is what is being protected by the first amendment. But the left is seeking to close argument and debate down, or atleast close the 'Right's' ability to make argument by characterizing ours as fascist, fundamentalist, and out of the mainstream.

It has even had influence in The Church. The last place it should happen.

We must ever keep in mind that collectivized socialism is part of the communistic strategy. Communism is fundamentally socialism. When socialism is understood, we will realize that many of the programs advocated, and some of these already adopted in the U.S., fall clearly within the category of socialism. What is socialism? It is simply governmental ownership or management of the essential means for the production and distribution of goods ((CN: or services?)). The socialistic-communistic conspiracy to weaken the U.S. involves attacks on many fronts. Their press and other propaganda media are therefore constantly selling the principles of centralized or federal control of farms, railroads, electric power, schools, steel, shipping, and many other aspects of the economy - but always in the name of public welfare.. ((Compiler's Note: Medicine?))

What can priesthood holders do? We should become informed about communism, socialism and about Americanism. What better way can one become informed then by first studying the inspired words of the prophets and using them as a foundation against which to test all other material? We should know why collectivism or unnecessary federal supervision will hold our standard of living down and reduce productivity. We should know why the communist leaders consider socialism the high road to communism. We should treat socialistic-communism as the tool of Satan. We should follow the counsel of the President of the Church and resist the influence and policies of the conspiracy wherever they are found in the schools, in the churches, in government, in unions, in business, in agriculture.

We should help those who have been deceived or who are misinformed to find the truth. Unless each person who knows the truth will stand up and speak up, it is difficult for the deceived or confused citizen to find his way back. Thousands of patriotic Americans, including Latter-day Saints, have helped the communists without realizing it. Each priesthood holder should use his influence in the community to resist the erosion which is taking place in our political and economic life. He should see that his party is working to preserve freedom, not destroy it. He should join responsible local groups interested in promoting freedom and free competitive enterprise, in studying political issues, promoting good men in public office and scrutinizing local, state, and federal agencies. He should not wait for the Lord's servants to give instruction for every detail. In doing these things, a member of the Church is not only making himself an opponent of the adversary, but a proponent of the Lord. May God give us the wisdom to recognize the threat to our freedom and strength to meet this danger. (Pres. Ezra Taft Benson - CR Oct 1961)

 

Speaking of Dubai's Planned Development and High Gas Prices

What a successful example of human ingenuity and capitalism. Think of the individuals whose ancestors spent centuries in such a God forsaken place. Now look at it. It took people to build that. And it will take people to run it. People who just 20 years ago had nothing. Now they are certainly enjoying hot and cold running water, air conditioning, satellite television. Should everyone around the globe someday enjoy such fruits of human invention. Should everyone have the hope that their communities should thrive thusly.

 

Did anything exist here for even thousands of years but sand? Now there are jobs and a thriving economy. This is good for people. 

 

If there is blame to be had for our high gas prices, it should pass to China and India where people are actually beginning to enjoy the kinds of technology that we've had for almost a century now. But mostly it should pass to those in wealthy Western societies who have little faith in the ability of free men to utilize the earth's resources and, simultaneously, develop technologies to mitigate their affects on human communities and the environment.