trying to grok

I despair that Americans, concerned with the economy above all issues, chose soci@list solutions to address their fiscal concerns.

Would earlier generations of Americans have made the same choice? They chose soci@lism in the 1930s. Will they choose it again in the 2030s? Is falling back on the collective part of human nature, or is it an implant of the 19th century? To defeat soci@lism, we must understand the nature of its appeal.

What we seek to conserve are not buildings, environments or kingdoms, but the true things the great men of old discovered.

The key word is "true." I have no desire to conserve the false: the myths, the lies, the racism, the sexism, the homophobia ...

Once I would have been called a "liberal." Now I am a "conservative."

I oppose jihadism because it threatens to destroy those "true things" and replace them with blind faith and brutal force. Freedom and sharia cannot coexist.

To defeat soci@lism, we must understand the nature of its appeal.

That's easy. Soci@lism is rooted in fear. People are afraid they will not succeed, and rather than try and fail, they would much rather settle for mediocrity or sub-mediocrity and a guarantee of some sort.

Let's face it, the only people going hungry in America - truly - are those people who do not bestir themselves to make use of the resources that are out there. Most churches in our area have pantries, and there are multiple soup kitchens. There's a food bank, and for goodness sake Atlanta Bread Company throws out their day old stuff - and will give it to you free if you ask! The government gives food stamps, free cheese, and free canned goods.

Children are eligible for free breakfasts and lunches at schools.

There is simply no excuse for anyone to claim they are starving in America. NONE.

There are organizations and churches and charities abounding whose purpose is dedicated to getting people into houses if they are homeless or facing homelessness.

People would rather be guaranteed a government check and government house - shitty though it may be - than face their own blame for their life's circumstances.

Americans are so busy comparing themselves to their neighbors and complaining about what they don't have (a Wii, a bigger house, a flatscreen tv, gourmet food every night) that we often forget to be grateful for the bounties that even the poorest among us have.

Just ask refugees from Somalia about our plenty here. Their ideas of what is "poor" are far different than ours

AFW,

Thanks for your answer. I think fear explains not only soci@lism but the irrational atmosphere of the eOn. Capitalism is about risk. Not every business can succeed. Science entails failure. Not every hypothesis will work out. But soci@lism promises "equality" - mediocrity by force. And belief in witch doctors and Attilas - Great Leaders - is much more comforting than facing the reality of uncertainty - of sciences that don't have all the answers. We are afraid to say "I don't know." We would rather hope for change. Follow, not stop and think. Keep our eyes shut, confident that we'll be taken care of by the gOvernment.

I'll admit it. I am afraid. I read the seven reasons. But I'm not afraid to say I don't know. I'm not afraid to doubt.

Doubt is the greatest gift we can give to each other. It is the gift of enlightenment. Doubt will set us free, will advance knowledge, and will unravel the mysteries of this universe.

- Iranian ex-Muslim Ali Sina

If a close friend believes something, and you have counterevidence, are you doing your friend any favors when you hide it from him? Or would your "gift" poison your friendship? (Pun intended.)