You may have heard a parent or grandparent say in exasperation of a child, "he/she always wants to know why." I was such a child and remain so inclined today. I want to know why.
Over the last several years, reflecting on the direction of our Great Nation and the Western World in general, I am dismayed by constantly lowered societal standards of behavior, and an apathetic population unequipped to evaluate the state of their nations or to choose with some degree of informed intelligence candidates that could (would) best serve the long term needs of representative government. I kept asking why.
So, setting aside spiritual explanations for the moment, I went to the books and began reading again those authors who I hoped could remind me of the foundational principles. Starting with economics I looked again to Hazlitt, Hayek, Weaver, Von Mises, Read, Opitz, Bastiat; then to the Foundational Documents of our Nation (Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, the Federalist Papers), to Jefferson, Adams, Madison, Franklin, Washington and others. I added daily review of current writers and pundits, addressing the events of immediate concern. I’m still in that process.
As I own a copy of the Great Books of the Western World (albeit not nearly as well read as I anticipated at the time of their purchase more than forty years ago). I began with a review of the Preface to those works by their Editor, Robert M. Hutchins. Written in 1951, I was astounded to read this, “We believe that the reduction of the citizen to an object of propaganda, private and public, is one of the greatest dangers to democracy.” He went on to write, “The reiteration of slogans, the distortion of the news, the great storm of propaganda that beats upon the citizen twenty-four hours a day all his life long means either that democracy must fall a prey to the loudest and most persistent propagandists or that the people must save themselves by strengthening their minds so that they can appraise the issues for themselves.”
Reading my e-mail each day reveals a nationwide cry of those same thoughts, perhaps expressed less elegantly, but certainly with no less anguish. The representational government of the United States, a democratic republic established little more than 200 years ago, is certainly in much greater danger now than when Mr. Hutchins penned the thoughts quoted above.
Twelve years later, in a letter to the readers of the Gateway to the Great Books, an additional collection of writers of consequence, he wrote, “Today two objects consume our time: work and distraction.” (Which he elsewhere defines as “fun”) “These distractions have now got to such a point that in addition to reorienting the culture and our attitude toward life, they have made it almost impossible for us to keep our minds on anything for more than half an hour.” He concluded that our focus was on “fun” because it required little effort, whereas reading, educating ourselves, required effort, was hard, and therefore unpopular.
In these notations from a man concerned a half century ago about the well being of our country in light of an increasingly under-educated, overwhelmed and unfocused citizenry, I think we can see the beginnings of an answer to why we are sliding ever closer to the abyss of socialism, fascism and eventually, tyranny.
With these ideas circulating through me, I had opportunity to spend a bit of time in the last couple of weeks with some highly successful businessmen here in SW Missouri. I found two men, both of whom I respect highly for their accomplishments, integrity and intelligence, too busy. But, I found them too involved with trying to survive the current economic mess, too occupied with business and family to spend even a little time or energy on the “big picture” question of how do we - as perhaps the sole surviving nation of free citizens - restore the freedoms now lost and protect the others that are currently threatened through recent and proposed legislation.
Please understand, I am not criticizing these men. I respect them both They believe in personal responsibility, have strong work ethics, are motivated, goal setting individuals. These are the kind of men that are needed to lead. And, they do lead in their respective business affairs. But they are not interested in stepping out to lead in the greater community, in the political or governmental arena – or even to help identify and promote others who would. It seemed to me that the reason is that they lacked the historical perspective and consequent understanding which would stir them to any action beyond that directly involved in preserving their personal and business assets through the current economic collapse.
They did not want to discuss the reasons behind the current crisis nor address the issues that must be faced and resolved if they (we) are to continue own and manage businesses that remain un-regulated and untaxed enough to sustain our economy. The larger political concepts seemed not of interest. They expressed no desire to discuss qualified candidates to represent their (our) interests in Washington.
Frankly, I felt they had given up, resigned themselves to the inevitable, all the while pretending our nation is not moving along the path toward economic, political and social collapse. I believe their apathy regarding national issues is common among people we would typically identify as successful.
I think this points toward the answer to my “why.”
I retired a year ago. I now have much more time to think, to read, to converse, to write (as I am doing here). Prior to retirement, while perhaps no less concerned, I too, not unlike the two men I just discussed, had little time and energy, nor the motivation to address the greater issues. Any concern was not strong enough to overcome the inertia of day-to-day minutia, and the tiring physical stresses of simply providing for the needs and wants of the family - in fact, circumstances not so unusual for most of us.
I wonder then, how did our Founding Fathers do it? They had businesses, farms, families, health problems, aging problems. In their lives they faced all the difficulties we do, perhaps more in their non-technological society. What is the difference?
I think it is perspective enabled by education.
They had a much greater historical perspective. They read – a lot. They knew and understood the various concepts of political systems. They understood, from an historical perspective, what types of governments had failed, and why. They knew both first hand and from history, that only free men, unfettered by oppressive government can possibly attain, and sustain, a law based system.
And, because they understood, they were willing to risk all: life, fortune and family, to establish that system, that nation. The nation that we have become is at risk from an irresponsible society focused on fun, spoiled by the monetary success built on the sweat and blood of those who went before us. Our Founding Fathers evidently understood what we apparently do not.
Freedom isn’t free. How many times has that been expressed? It’s common to speak that about our military. But, beyond the efforts of those generous and courageous citizens, sacrifice and hard, frequently difficult effort is required from we civilians. And, education is required; education about, and diligence to, the values of integrity in leadership, political rectitude, and a willingness to serve others at a cost to self.
I know there is a spiritual component that I am not here addressing. The concepts of God’s blessings and His role in establishing and sustaining our great land and peoples is essential to a discussion about the why of our society’s decline. That may In fact be the far more important discussion. But, for now, I want to address the concept that we have become a poorly educated citizenry, a society of “fun” focused people, either unable to understand, or unwilling to risk our personal comforts to prevent, the changes that are rapidly, and perhaps forever reducing to social and economic rubble this once great experiment in government by a people possessing inalienable rights granted by our Creator.
I am concerned. I wonder if it is too late. I grieve that I did not understand fifty years ago, with Robert Hutchins, what we faced; that I was so uneducated, so unconcerned, and perhaps so spoiled, that I chose not to truly perceive the circumstances of our post WWII age. Instead, choosing to accept events and circumstance without question, fooling myself into believing that someone else – smarter, better educated, less selfish - was looking out for the nation’s interests. I believed when President Kennedy counseled, “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country,” that someone else was responding, that someone else was doing for their country that which I did not do.
And perhaps that is the real answer to this particular why - because I chose not to extend the effort to make a difference. Of course, not that I, the would be philosopher from some remembered Grove of Aspens could or would have made, individually, the difference. But, that I, under-educated, satisfied, selfish, grasping for the "brass ring" of financial success and social acceptance, like thousands of others, chose the easy path, and enjoyed the fruit of labors literally paid for by the blood of my father (died in WWII) and forefathers without thinking about the work that I needed to do to retain that which was bought with such a high price. Now it seems I have only regret to pass to my offspring. Somehow, saying I'm sorry doesn't seem like enough.
From the Aspen Grove: may this day be a good one for you, and may the Great God who loves you bless you and yours.
