Thursday, May 29, 2008

New Ideas

Since the other blog I write is mostly about writing this one will be about things I participate in each week or the stuff I’m passionate about. No one else has to feel the way I do, because the things I write here are my own opinion.

I belong to a reader’s group and the book we are reading this month is by Cleon Skouson, “The 5000 Year Leap”. I must warn you before you rush to your library, that this book is about political philosophy. I haven’t finished reading it, but already I feel this is something every high school student should read before they can graduate. Of course, that will never happen because it contains controversial issues. The other people who should read this are the registered voters in the United States.

This book is for people who like to think, and ponder new ideas. It’s dedicated to our Founding Fathers who I’m eternally grateful for. Without them, I believe we would still be living in the dark ages because if there were no free-enterprise culture we wouldn’t have any of the modern conveniences we are accustomed to having.

I agree with the book that our Constitution is not out of date. There are twenty-eight great ideas that changed our world. The first principle is that the only reliable basis for sound government and just human relations is natural law. If you have a question about this, there are ten pages of information in the book that will explain about natural law.

The book continues by reminding us that a free people cannot survive under a Republican Constitution unless they remain virtuous and morally strong. One of my heroes is John Adams because of his honesty. He told us over two-hundred years ago that the future of our country depends upon the virtue and morality upheld among us.

The next principle is much like the second. It says the most promising method of securing a virtuous and morally stable people is to elect virtuous leaders. I agree with the book that we should not choose public officials if they are lacking in proven virtue. We, as citizens of this country, should be electing officers who are virtuous. My question this year is does such a person exist? Who can I vote for that is virtuous?

In the days of Benjamin Franklin, and George Washington, public office was an honor rather than a position of profit. If this were the case today, how many of those running to lead our country now would still be interested if the wage offered was the same as yours and mine?

I’ve always believed that every good citizen of this country should vote. For the first time in my adult life it’s going to be difficult this year. I’ve said, “I’ll pray that I can vote for the lesser of the two evils running,” but is this good enough. Since reading the beginning of this book I’m concerned more than ever about our upcoming election. Are the past two-hundred years going down the drain? What is going to happen to our country?

Monday, May 26, 2008

Welcome!

Hello! It's nice of you to stop by. For now, I'm just posting a few words to let you know I appreciate your interest. And I plan to add more thoughts at a later date ... but today is Memorial Day, and it's a busy day for everyone, so I'm keeping this short.