MiThoughts

Writing: My thoughts, My Opinions, My Philosophy

2012-05-24T09:30:00.000-07:00

I spend a lot of time talking about political things (I was a poli-sci major, after all), but I don’t want you to feel like that’s what this whole blog is about. It’s not about politics, it’s about life.

So today, we’re going to talk about something that’s been going on in my life: writing. Yes, I’m writing a book. It’s a sci-fi action story about the “hidden” war between good and evil. I want to put things in a slightly different format than the normal “good versus bad” story. I’ll keep you up to date on it, but for now I’ll put a teaser at the end of this post so you can get a “feel” of what it’s about.

Personally, I think writing is entertaining and even relaxing at times. Sometimes, though, it’s just a pain in the neck to keep writing. I guess we all have that problem sometimes.

So what is my writing style? Basically, I try to put the details of the story in as few words as possible. In other words, I’m trying to use as little detail as possible to keep you continually interested and get to the point.

Why, do I do this? It’s because I hate being long-winded. I also hate it when I’m reading a story that wasted over sixty to a hundred pages explaining every detail, every picture, and every blade of grass…and really has little to do with the story itself. If it’s not important to the story to mention all the animals, trees, the clouds moving at a swift pace, etc, then I really don’t care about reading it.

I’ve read really long books that could have been much shorter if they had practiced a little pithiness. I’m not afraid to be concise in my writing, so I don’t have to worry about omitting useless or unrelated details to my story.

Does that mean that “fluff” is completely worthless? Of course not, but use it sparingly please! As much as you might love to think your readers want to know every single detail of the world you have created, the truth is they most likely don’t. Be thorough if you must, but don’t weigh people down with too many details.

Also, I try to keep the reader interested by using “cliff-hangers” at the end of chapters, and some form of action and/or suspense throughout each chapter. If a chapter starts to get boring, I need to edit it to make it exciting, or at the very least interesting.

When it comes to my audience of readers, I don’t care if they love or hate me, but I never want them to get bored of me! People can hate your stories all day, but as long as you keep them interested, excited, and intrigued, they won’t be able to help but come back to you for more.

I’m the same way myself: I hate it when the plot gets boring. When a story is at a slow point, I’ll speed read and try to skip all the fluff and whatever looks unnecessary until I get back to the interesting stuff. If a book keeps me interested and intrigued, it doesn’t even have to excite me or give me the goosebumps… I’m going to keep reading.

Heck, I’ve read books where I hated where the story was going, and I hated the author for it (the second and third books of “The Hunger Games” series, for instance). But I couldn’t stop reading it, and if the author came out with another book to follow it up, I wouldn’t be able to stop myself from reading it.

So there you have it. My thoughts on writing and reading, laid bare for your enjoyment. ;)

What is your philosophy on reading/writing books? Do you hate “fluff” like I do, or do you soak it in with pleasure? Let me know in the comments! I’d love to hear from you.

Are you a writer? Please feel free to leave some tips!

Now…as promised, here is the teaser:

The Black Mamba is at it again. I know what he’s after—it’s perfectly obvious. The person he has been at odds with for quite some time, who evades all his attempts of destruction,and the one person who has no clue as to what this personal feud is even about: Me.

Helen runs into my room with a terrible look on her face. “I have ears,” I say. “Where are my guns? Did they survive the explosion?” She nods, and runs out of the room. By the time she comes back with them, I have made my way out of the bed, and realize just how bad my situation really is. I can hardly bear the pain of standing up. But I know I have to, so I do it. I walk around a bit to try to loosen up my injured muscles and get somewhat accustomed to the pain.

Who am I kidding? I’m in no shape to be fighting off a siege. This is not going to end well.

“You really shouldn’t be doing this,” says Helen as she hands me the sawn-off shotgun and pistol-belt. “You’re in no condition to—”

I cut her off: “I don’t have a choice, and neither do you. We both know why he came here. He wants me. If you get in his way, you’ll only get yourselves killed.”

“What are you going to do?” she asks?

“That all depends,” I answer, “on how many painkillers you can shoot into me.”

She hurries out of the room, and through the door I can see that everyone in this primitive hospital is in a craze. Patients are being moved, doctors and nurses are scrambling to figure out what is going on, and everyone here is frightened out of their minds. Helen returns and fills me with the strongest stuff she can find (without killing me), and I stretch my muscles once again before heading out. I can hear the bullets pinging off the tin roof. Then I hear a grenade go off, and I haul myself to the next room, which thankfully has a window. I see a man outside poised to toss a grenade into the window, and I blast him with the shotgun out of reflex. A bullet ricochets off the window sill and I fall to the floor. Too close. A few inches closer and I would have a purple heart in the head.

I quickly raise to my knees, take a pot-shot out the window at the next goon with an SKS, and dive out the window into. I can tell I’ve upset some wounds from the blood staining parts of my clothing, but I really don’t have time to worry about that right now. Two more men come charging at me with machine guns. I drop the ground and level the first one with a well placed shot to the torso, but the second one keeps on charging. Lucky for me, he’s not the best shot in the world, so I am able to roll over to the side and take another shot at him, sending him flying back.

Time to reload. I take the extra shells off of the sling, and begin to put them in when my shotgun is yanked out of my hands. I turn around and find myself standing face to face with the biggest person I remember seeing—which might not be saying much. He has a nasty smile on his face, death and hate in his eyes, and from the way he is holding the barrel of the gun, he only has the worst intentions.

He swings the shotgun at me. I try to block most of the blow but it still sends me to ground. I’m really thankful for those painkillers right now. The man charges at me, obviously planning to bash my skull in. I roll away just in time to see the stock end smash into the ground where my head was just a second ago. In that same moment I reach for my .45 revolver and pull it out—only to have it batted away by the giant mercenary. Unarmed, I don’t have a chance. So, I do the only thing I can. I unclip my gun belt, and whip it at my shotgun-club wielding assailant.

He doesn’t even flinch, and most of the few hopes I had left have vanished. This is not good. Only when he pulls the shotgun back for a final, crushing blow do I see my chance. I rush him with all the limited strength I have left, and connect with the blow of the shotgun just as the momentum starts, cutting the majority of the blow’s force. I follow through, and bring my massive assailant to the ground. Now, it’s a simple matter of wrestling and hand to hand combat. I’d rather skip the wrestling part, as this guy just happens to be twice my size. While he’s still a bit dazed from the fall I punch him in the face to disorient him, knee him in the groin to distract, confuse, and obviously injure him, and poke him as hard as I can in the eyes to temporarily blind him. Then I body-slam him to the ground with all the force I can muster.

No, I think to myself, there’s no point in fighting fair when you’re fighting for your life.

I start to feel like I might just survive when I see two more guys shooting at me. I feel a bullet graze my side, and another nicks my shoulder. I rush to recover my pistol, dive to grab it, roll over while pulling back the hammer, return to a kneeling position and fire at the first gentleman, dropping him instantly. The second guy lobs a grenade at me which I kick away in his direction, and dive away as far as I can before it explodes two seconds later. When I finally get and look around, I don’t see the guys who threw the grenade anymore. But by now I the giant starts to rise back up for revenge, so I put him back to sleep with a bullet in his head.

How I’m able to fight like this is still a mystery to me, but I don’t have any time to worry about that now. I just have to stay in my groove and keep the bullets flying. I search the bodies for ammo, replace my .45 revolver for an 1911 automatic, and pick up a decent-looking AUG Austrian assault rifle. I have to kill everyone, if this hospital is going to be safe. I at least have to hold them off until they can make an escape.

By know, I’m sure the doctors have started to make a run for it. I walk along the side of the old building, and I hear footsteps. There are still some people hanging around. I make a quick turn around the corner and level the first guy I see with the AUG. I take his machete, and try to find the last few people that must be hanging around somewhere. When I take a bullet in the forearm, I know they are close by. Even being flooded with the painkillers, I can still feel the intense burn of the bullet wound. I rush to come cover, quickly rip off a piece of my shirt, stuff the wound, and wrap it up as best I can. I can always look at the damage later. First I have to take out whoever just shot me.

I creep around the bushes, but I don’t see anyone. I begin to think that whoever it was must have ran off when I feel something very hard and very heavy smash into the back of my head. I can barely keep my consciousness. Everything is spinning around violently. I try to crawl away, but a heavy foot steps hard on me and keeps me down. Then the foot moves down to my side, hooks under my waist, and flips me over. Everything is still very dizzy, but I can barely make out a face. It’s a face I was hoping I wouldn’t have to see again.

“I told you before,” said the man known as The Black Mamba, “You are only killing yourself.”

Then I see the rifle stock speeding toward my face. Then everything goes black.

Why Blogging is Hard!

2012-05-21T08:25:00.000-07:00

Let’s face it, blogging might be fun (and it is), but sometimes it just isn’t what we want to do at the moment. It’s much easier to put it off, and the procrastinator in all of us loves that little fact.

We put off punching out a new post…and continue to put it off. Before you know it, it’s been two months since you’ve posted anything! Trust me, I know.

So what do you do about it? Do you just force yourself to write more? Do you try to write every day until it becomes a habit? Or is the situation utterly hopeless?

Well, here’s the thing: it all depends.

Do you want to write every day? Or would you rather write twice a week, once a week, or twice a month? It’s all up to you! But whatever you do, make sure you stick with it (or at least appear as if you are sticking with it, which we’ll talk about next).

What if you come across a whole month where you don’t have the time or desire to post on your blog? What if you want to take a short (or long) break from your blog? How do you keep your blog alive during these sabbaticals?

It’s quite easy, actually: schedule your posts ahead of time.

Whenever you get into one of your crazy writing moods, go ahead and type out as many posts as can until you run dry. You can either save these posts for a rainy day (and schedule them later), or you can just go ahead and schedule them now. Keep track of your posting line up, and add your other posts to follow them in line.

This is going to save you time, as well as stress (you should always try to save stress for a rainy day, if you know what I mean). Instead of having to worry about posting on a particular day, you have nothing to worry about, because it’s already taken care of.

For instance, this very post you are reading right now was scheduled to be posted two days after I submitted it to my blog. While this post was waiting to be posted, I was able to easily type out another one to go out 2-3 days later. See how easy it is? :)

Blogging is hard, but it doesn’t have to be as hard as we make it!

Have you found scheduling posts to be helpful? Are you going to try and see if it works for you? Leave a comment and let me know! And if this post was helpful, please share it!

Until Next Time,

-El Pensador

My Thoughts on Entrepreneurship

2012-05-18T15:58:00.000-07:00

Do you want to build a business empire? Or do you just want to start your own business and let your creative juices flow?

If so, then GOOD for you! Entrepreneurs are what make America awesome. So what if people think that big businesses are evil (and from the Devil himself)? So what if people think you’re just a capitalist pig? Follow your dream, and make your country proud!

Is there anything WRONG with capitalism? Can there be problems with “Big Business?” Sure, if they get too big for their britches. Capitalism follows the pattern of “rational self-interest,” so it has to be tempered with reason and responsibility. That’s probably the biggest problem with capitalism: people just don’t know how to be rational sometimes.

And what IS rational? It’s rather subjective, don’t you think?

Here’s the deal…you have to be careful not to let your self-interest get the best of you. How do you do that? STOP FOCUSING ON YOURSELF! :)

Try to see ways you can improve the world around you: your employees, your work area, your customers, etc. Try to develop a responsible, principled mindset.

Here’s the main point: don’t let your self interest get in the way of your success! Sure, you need to make money, and sure you need to establish a profitable business…but don’t do it at the risk of losing your reputation.

Ask yourself these questions:

“What would I want my employees, my customers, my partners, and the public to say about me and my business at my funeral? Did I add value to their lives? Did I satisfy a need in their lives? Did I improve myself along with my business? What legacy did I leave behind?”

Now you can decide how you want those questions to be answered, and you can implement a plan to give your business (and yourself) a lasting legacy.

It's time to get government off our backs...Again!

2012-05-09T07:52:00.001-07:00

Remember this ad back in 2010? Well, it's STILL true.

The Truth About The Federal Reserve

2012-04-08T06:30:00.000-07:00

This is a guest post by Austin Eldridge.The views expressed in this article may or may not be those of El Pensador.

The Fed. These words sometimes strike terror into your heart when you hear them. But, when someone mentions the Fed, do you know what they mean? Just what is the Fed? What is it for? Why was it created? In this post, I am going to do my best to answer these questions, and also point out the problems with the system. So, without further ado, let’s rock and roll.

The Federal Reserve System (also known as the Federal Reserve, and informally as the Fed) is the central banking system of the United States.

It was created on Dec. 23, 1913 when President Woodrow Wilson signed the Federal Reserve Act into law. It was originally created by congress (it is NOT a government program) to provide the nation with a safer, more flexible, and more stable monetary and financial system. (http://www.federalreserve.gov/faqs/about_12594.htm)

The Congress established two key objectives for monetary policy--maximum employment and stable prices--in the Federal Reserve Act. These objectives are sometimes referred to as the Federal Reserve's dual mandate.

But today, the Fed’s responsibilities have expanded (much like everything else in government), and they include:

1)- Conducting the nation's monetary policy by influencing money and credit conditions in the economy in pursuit of full employment and stable prices.

2)- Supervising and regulating banks and other important financial institutions to ensure the safety and soundness of the nation's banking and financial system and to protect the credit rights of consumers.

3)-Maintaining the stability of the financial system and containing systemic risk that may arise in financial markets.

4)-Providing certain financial services to the U.S. government, U.S. financial institutions, and foreign official institutions, and playing a major role in operating and overseeing the nation's payments systems.

Has the Fed really done all this, though? Do we really have a stable financial system? I would say no. After all, we are trillions of dollars in debt! (As I write this, America is $15,227,062,303,020 in debt, and it’s going up every second). The Fed is one of the main reasons for this, because they have so much control over our economic system. Also, we must ask ourselves, does the Fed have too much control, or are they overstepping their bounds? I personally believe they have too much control, control that they don’t really have the right to have, but, you can form your own opinions.

So, just how much of a problem is the Fed? Take a look at these 19 points taken from the Economic Collapse Blog. (Listed here are just the reasons themselves. I did not have room to fit the explanations due to the excessive length. You might want to look at the blog itself here to get the extended explanations.)

#1 The Federal Reserve system is a debt-based financial system.

#2 The Federal Reserve and the bankers have a monopoly on the creation of this debt-based money.

#3 The power of money creation and debt creation is in the hands of private individuals - not the government.

#4 The Federal Reserve itself is not much of a profit-making institution. Rather, it is a tool that enables others to make obscene amounts of money.

#5 The Federal Reserve is a perpetual debt machine

#6 The Federal Reserve system is designed to cause inflation.

The U.S. never had massive problems with inflation before the Fed was created, but now it is just wildly out of control....

#7 The Federal Reserve has decided to play bizarre games with our money supply.

#8 The Federal Reserve is undemocratic.

#9 The Federal Reserve runs the U.S. economy.

#10 The Federal Reserve favors the big banks.

#11 The worse the debt problems caused by the Federal Reserve become, the more money the IRS needs to collect from the rest of us.#12 The Federal Reserve creates artificial financial bubbles.

#13 The Federal Reserve is anti-free market.

#14 The Federal Reserve tells the rest of our banks what to do.

#15 The people currently running the Federal Reserve pretty much have no idea what they are doing.

If one of us could go down the street and appoint the manager of the local Dairy Queen as the Chairman of the Federal Reserve, it is very doubtful that person would do a worse job than Bernanke has done.

#16 Even though the Federal Reserve has such extraordinary power over the financial system, the American people are not permitted to examine their books.

#18 The Federal Reserve is dominated by Wall Street and the New York banks.

#19 The Federal Reserve has brought us to the brink of economic collapse.

(Keep in mind these are points from the Economic Collapse Blog, not myself or El Pensador, and the views expressed may not necessarily be our views.)

What have others had to say about this? “All the perplexities, confusion, and distress in America arise not from defects of the constitution, not from want of honor or virtue, so much as from downright ignorance of the nature of coin, credit, and circulation.” -John Adams in a 1787 letter to Thomas Jefferson.

“Of all the contrivances devised for cheating the laboring classes of mankind, none has been more effective than that which deludes him with paper money.”-Daniel Webster

"We have, in this country, one of the most corrupt institutions the world has ever known. I refer to the Federal Reserve Board. This evil institution has impoverished the people of the United States and has practically bankrupted our government. It has done this through the corrupt practices of the moneyed vultures who control it". — Congressman Louis T. McFadden in 1932

"I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. Already they have raised up a monied aristocracy that has set the government at defiance. The issuing power (of money) should be taken away from the banks and restored to the people to whom it properly belongs."-Thomas Jefferson

And finally, a quote on debt from one of our favorite presidents, Ronald Reagan: “We don't have a trillion-dollar debt because we haven't taxed enough; we have a trillion-dollar debt because we spend too much”

These are just a few statements on the problems with the Fed. There are many more. Basically, the Fed is putting our liberty in jeopardy. The more debt you are in, the more vulnerable you are. Many people realized that, but, their wisdom was not heeded, and look where we are today. We are facing the biggest economic crisis since the great depression.

So, what can we do about it? That’s a tough question. Te best thing to do would be to end the Fed and go back to a gold standard. Alan Greenspan had this to say about the gold standard:

In the absence of the gold standard, there is no way to protect savings from confiscation through inflation. ... This is the shabby secret of the welfare statists' tirades against gold. Deficit spending is simply a scheme for the confiscation of wealth. Gold stands in the way of this insidious process. It stands as a protector of property rights. If one grasps this, one has no difficulty in understanding the statists' antagonism toward the gold standard”

Ludwig von Mises said “The gold standard has one tremendous virtue: the quantity of the money supply, under the gold standard, is independent of the policies of governments and political parties. This is its advantage. It is a form of protection against spendthrift governments”

Ronald Reagan was also firmly in support of the gold standard. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZjpT1qMC7Pk) Reagan said “There has never been a great nation that gave up the gold standard and remained great.”

Again, these are just a few of many quotes on the subject.

One last point I would like to touch on. Velocity. What is velocity? Simply put, it is the speed at which money changes hands. But let me explain. Here is an example given by economist Richard Maybury in his book “Whatever Happened To Penny Candy” (which you should read!). Imagine ten people sitting in a circle. Each has two things in his hands, a dollar bill and a baseball card. Now imagine each person selling his card to the person on his right for one dollar. Every card has been sold, and every dollar has changed hands once. The velocity of the money is one. Now imagine the same circle. Each person has a baseball card, but only one person has a dollar. Now imagine the person with the dollar buying his neighbors card. The neighbor then uses the dollar to buy his neighbor’s card, and so forth. The dollar goes all the way around the circle. That single dollar has done the same work as the ten dollars in the first example. But the money has changed hands not once, but ten times. Velocity is ten. So, a small amount of money can do the same work as a large amount. It can be used in the same number of transactions and have the same effect on prices if it changes hands quickly enough. So, why would people trade their money away faster? A decline in the demand for money.

Money responds to the laws of supply and demand. There is a demand for money, as well as a supply of it. All that to say, this is where our money problem has come in.

The problem is this: When money is printed in large quantities, the volume (amount) of money goes up. What happens when the amount of something increases? The demand for it goes down. The same goes for money. The demand goes down when the volume goes up. What happens when the demand goes down? The value decreases. When people don’t want or need something, it isn’t worth as much. This is what has happened with our money! We have had so much money, (which today just means paper that’s green), printed that there is a great quantity of it! Sounds good doesn’t it? Well it isn’t. Now that there is so much paper money in the system, the demand has gone down. The dollar is going more and more down the trail to being worthless. Thus creating another huge problem in the economy.

I hope this article helps you in your understanding of the Fed, what it does, and why it is a flawed system, as well as more understanding of the problems with inflation.

So, until next time, so long!

What’s wrong with this Country? YOU ARE

2012-04-05T13:51:00.000-07:00

Guest Post by Stephen Morrison

“Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other”~ John Adams.

Over the past several months the press, social events, Facebook posts, and “tweets” have been littered with a proliferation of posturing politicians. It seems that the fate of our nation lies in the hands of six men currently vying for the Republican nomination.

What will it be that saves our country? Our national debt exceeds 15 trillion dollars (that looks like this $15,000,000,000,000.00), our expenditure exceeds revenue by 1.3 trillion dollars. 26 million Americans are without jobs, praying for work so that they can continue to live the “American Dream”. Each year in excess of 1 million children are slaughtered, before even taking their first breath. A man and women, joined together in the sight of God no longer constitutes the definition of a marriage. Hostile countries threaten the security of our homes and families, lead by insolent and dangerous men who wish to end everything for which we stand united. Heaven forbid that we should oppose them. Rather, according to the diplomats and leadership of our country, it’s all just an inter-cultural miscommunication. Wrong is no longer wrong, its just different.

So…according to many political pundits (especially those of a more…right wing extreme variety) this election is the hinging point for our nations future. This election cycle has experienced some good ol’ fashion apocalyptic politics.

But is the election of this one man truly the hope of America?

The American people have lost everything that set us apart as a nation. Our nation’s founding was a precedent for liberty, for the entire world. This is what I have heard, that this next election is going to be the most important election in American history. So what is to be done? Is there really hope for America, or have we finally descended into the long predicted spiral reminiscent of Roman Imperial demise? Our illustrious candidates for President have argued this very question in what seems like countless debates…currently, as the primary process proceeds; it is the conservative vote that has spotlighted much of the Presidential rhetoric. With the sweeping victories of the 2010 mid-term elections, and the rising of the Tea Party on a tide of near revolutionary passion, the Constitution has taken a front seat. But what of this document? Will a strict constructivist approach bring this Country back from the edge of collapse?

No. No. No, and again No.

John Adams knew this, a man that sacrificed his life and reputation for the cause of liberty. He did not do this because liberty can be won on its own. It can only be wielded by a people who regard themselves last, putting others interest before there own. In fact, only a fallen citizenship that first recognizes its fallen estate and accepts that gift of redemption given by the true Founding Father of our nation can hope to bring itself back from potential collapse.

It is the church, not the Federal Reserve that has caused the economic collapse. It is the church, not the Congress that has allowed for the butcher of millions of the unborn. The church has become irrelevant, divided, as our country is by denominations and confused by false teachers. There are no men to lead this country because the Church has stopped producing them, and its backbone has become frail. The Word of God is being set aside for loud and ecstatic worship, or withered teaching where the congregation feels it must first repent in sackcloth and ashes. The Church has lost the supremacy of Scripture and neglected the sovereignty of God.

There is hope, but its not in the process and its not in the election…the process is what got us into this mess, its definitely not going to take us back out.

There is only one recourse that can bring our America back, and restore our glorious constitution for which our Founding Fathers tediously labored and so many brave men and women gave their lives so that it might not be preserved.

Revival.

When you pray, pray for revival. It has long be known that the family is the building block of our government, and a collapse of the family is a collapse of the nation. However, the government cannot produce, legislate, or litigate strong families. That is a power and responsibility that only the Body of Christ can fulfill.

Pray for our country, know your candidates, and for goodness sake please vote. But remember, we cannot have trickle down morality. Electing godly men and women to office is a great blessing, but it is of no avail if the Church remains in its current state. Arise Church, this valley of dry bones must hear the Word of God. There is hope for this nation, but it is not in any candidate or constitution. Let this be our prayer as we stand for what is right.

“May integrity and uprightness protect me, because my hope is in you.”

- Psalm 25:21

Stephen Morrison is a political activist, consultant, and a hardcore American. In his spare time (if he has any), he enjoys playing the bagpipes, eating shrimp, and solving the nation’s problems.

Natural Law and 'Conservative' thought -- by Craig Read

2012-01-12T11:43:00.000-08:00

The definition of what is a 'conservative' and what informs conservative thought covers an incredible range of philosophies. Paleo-cons, neo-cons, libertarians, social conservatives, 'compassionate' conservatives, orthodox liberals, free-traders, constitutional conservatives, objectivists and many others populate the conservative ideological continuum. Most of these movements are only partially conservative and some are not conservative at all. So what would a real conservative actually look like?

Conservatism is not based on race, social standing or religiosity. Great conservative thinkers and doers cover the entire social and racial spectrum. Conservatism is a framework of thought, of living and of viewing reality. It is a cultural and mental phenomenon that has developed and created our modern world. It is not the legacy of any one group, gang, or tyrannical system but rather the derivative of millennia of systemic experiences; cultural mores and the application of natural laws to building society.

Natural laws regulate reality [see this article http://www.craigread.com/displayArticle.aspx?contentID=494&subgroupID=17]. There are physical laws that inform the real world [humans can't fly for instance unaided, the sun heats the earth, the earth is spherical etc]. Natural laws also inform moral codes; high standards of conduct; ethos; high culture; familial strength; and human activity within a civilization. Natural laws are not abstract but clearly define how the real world operates and how society built by humans should map back to natural law. If you contravene natural laws by ignoring reality or embracing low-culture you will not only have civilisational issues, but probably widespread social destruction as well. Think of the utopian philosophies and deep thinkers who helped create the evil vanities of Islam, Hitlerism, Communism, Feudalism, or various forms of Tyranny.

What then is the conservative ideal that 'maps' back to natural law? There are many great conservative thinkers [see a list at the end of this article] and generally all of them would agree that a true conservative supports the following natural and human inspired laws of social development:

1. all people are different, that variety of personality and skill is to be embraced, and that there is no natural equality between 2 persons;
2. natural distinctions between people makes it clear that we need to order society in some fashion through laws, social rank, economic success and skill levels;
3. a higher faith and cause including a respect for traditions that work, divine inspiration, and natural law are necessary to produce high culture and stability;
4. rationality is the premise of civilizational development, but rational thought should be joined with a higher purpose;
5. innovation in any sphere must be rooted in the progressive history of high culture; traditions and inside processes 'that work';
6. freedom to own and keep private property is the corner-stone of civilization;
7. trade, commerce and wealth production is the surest way to redress social and economic imbalances both domestically and across the world;
8. the moral tenets of Christianity are the basis for civilized development and the creation of the modern world; and
9. a strong military and a well-defended nation state is the only hope to secure the interests of civilians and counter non-civilisational challenges including fascism, paganism, and ideologies such as Islam or Hitlerism which are universal in intent.

So what does the above translate into?

You can't have a political ideology that is coherent, moral and effective unless you have some core virtues and ideals that frame your philosophy. If the above points are true, and I believe they certainly are, then on top of this foundation you can erect various pillars of policy regarding; economics, social services, health care, immigration, the military, fighting Islam and border control. In this sense the various groups of 'conservatives' represent only a subsystem or a part of conservative thought. There are in reality very few political parties, think-tanks, or commentators who espouse the entire conservative lexicon and system of virtues and who have a coherent view of reality.

Political realists will tell us that a 'total' conservative platform or a complete conservative policy guide using the 9 points listed above as a basis, would be a big loser. 'Experts' will dourly note that no one in the modern world accepts many of the premises of conservatism and that in many locales conservative ideals are regarded [incredibly] as fascist; 'right-wing'; 'Jewish'; or intolerant. This has more to do with the success of socialist and Marxist propaganda than with reality.

After all it was the merry socialists during the 1930s who convinced every generation since that time, that fascism is a 'right-wing' ideology. Any cursory study of fascism shows that it is an extreme left-wing concept and contains many of the cherished tenements of the modern welfare state [free education; free health care; national values rhetoric etc.]. But the propaganda from liberals, leftists and Marxists has convinced an entire planet that fascism is right-wing. Since conservatism is supposedly right-wing [it isn't] we have the magic formula that all conservatives are therefore fascist. Idiotic but that is what passes for intelligent analysis in the mainstream media and on campus.

This remarkable general ignorance about what is natural law and what are conservative virtues pollutes political debates. Conservative leaders ranging from Bush, to Harper in Canada, to Cameron in the UK, are more populists than conservative in their platforms. A mantra from the media and political experts is that to win an election you have to be a 'moderate'. Ergo conservatives must veer to the 'left' to win.
The problem with this idea is when the 'moderate center' is firmly anchored far to the left. A moderate in today's world is nothing more than a warmed over left-over of socialist-marxist thought, a populist who has no overarching purpose other then to get elected and enjoy the fruits of leadership. Bromides reign. Love children; love the environment; spend more money on various programs; increase taxation; soak the rich; control corporations; and regulate everything and everyone is the order of the day. This is Marxist engineering not conservative thinking.

There is a huge disaffected minority of people who understand natural law and conservative thought intuitively if not by name. A political party and leader that takes the chance to shift the 'moderate center' to the right will be rewarded with not only election victories but also accolades as his nation state moves from sappy multi-cult socialism to a dynamic, high culture and purpose-driven society. Natural laws work and so does common sense in politics. We await the birth of real conservatism in the West - before we are subsumed by Islam.

See the writings of: Thomas Sowell, Pat Buchanan, Russell Kirk, Voltaire, Frederic Bastiat, Frederich Hayek, Winston Churchill, Reagan, Thatcher and Edmund Burke.

About the Author

After working for a few large IT firms Read born in 1966, is currently an entrepreneur and Venture Capital Advisor and Managing Consultant for Wireless and Mobile technologies [including the internet] and in particular, in software applications for the Wireless or Mobile Industry.
http://www.craigread.com/

The Fallen Americans: Our Irrelevant Majority

2011-07-10T13:52:00.000-07:00

Richard Nixon made his presidential appeal to a "Silent Majority;" a majority that he believed had the ability to change the course of America if they would only speak up. Today, we have the same situation, and it is more important than ever.

However, if the past is any indication of whether this new Silent Majority will take a stand, then hopes are dismal at best. This new silent Majority is more than just silent - it has become Irrelevant. Think about it: when did we speak up when prayer was taken out of school and God was removed from almost everything having to do with government? When did we speak up when the Supreme Court ruled that an unborn child does not have the right to life? When do we ever speak up, except to complain and then do nothing?

The other side isn't afraid of us. They take it for granted (and rightly so) that this new Silent Majority will only make a few complaints, and then eventually quiet down and disperse. We certainly are the Irrelevant Majority.

...It's time to make a change. We cannot afford to be silent again. No longer can we watch as the principles and statutes instituted by God are set by the wayside and ceremonially executed by a culture that is hostile to everything we believe in. It is time to make a stand. We cannot go quietly. We have lost so much ground already, and the only thing we can blame are the faces we see in the mirror.

We are the last hope for America, and unless we speak up now and take a stand, we may never recover. It is our duty to stand for what is right. It is our duty to speak up, and no longer be an Irrelevant Majority.

WE ARE CHRISTIAN...

WE ARE AMERICAN...

THEREFORE, WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR AMERICA.

Let's take our stand now - before it's too late.

*Flag image from PatriotIcon.org

I Have Returned!

2011-06-24T16:32:00.000-07:00

Well,
It has been a while since I have posted on the ol' blog. I would say that I have a good excuse, being a full time college student, but that doesn't seem to cut it.

Perhaps I just needed a break. I don't know, give me a break. ANYWAY, I am back! I will try to post more often as I get the chance, and shall once again analyze the world to pieces.

Until then, here is something to keep you occupied:

Rock on, America!

The Truth About the Supreme Court

2011-05-13T17:10:00.000-07:00

This is a guest post by Austin Eldridge, author of "Austin's Blog: Musings of a Conspiracy Nut"

All of you know about Roe v. Wade. This was one of the biggest decisions in Supreme Court and U.S. history. This was the landmark decision that made abortion legal in the United States. But, I recently heard a very interesting point on this decision.

I am going through a Constitutional Law course that is done by Michael P. Farris, president of Patrick Henry College, and chairman and general counsel of the Home School Legal Defense Association. He was talking about the Supreme Court and their decisions.

He pointed out, as some of you may know, that the Supreme Court cannot MAKE law. They INTERPRET the law. Congress is the only branch that can make law. Think about it for a second. This means that the Supreme Court CANNOT say that Roe v. Wade applies to the whole United States. Roe v. Wade technically should apply ONLY to Roe and Wade. Why? Because the Supreme Court can't make law! Roe v. Wade is NOT a law, it is a ruling. Therefore, it should not apply to the whole U.S. It should only apply to the people involved in the case, in this example, Roe and Wade. But, it has always been thought of as a law, and as applicable to the U.S.

I think if more people can realize this, Roe v. Wade might be overturned. As a side note, I would definitely recommend Michael Farris's Constitutional Law course. The book is titled "Constitutional Law for Enlightened Citizens". It also comes with a lecture C.D.

Austin Eldridge is a first year blogger, and is a good friend of mine. He enjoys posting on his own blog, which you can check out at http://musingsofconspiracy.blogspot.com/

MiThoughts on the First Amendment (Separation of Church and State)

2011-01-30T11:17:00.001-08:00

The First Amendment in the United States Constitution states that,

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people to peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.”

There are (obviously), different opinions on the meaning of this amendment. Some think it means religion has no place in government because of “Separation of Church and State” doctrine. Others say that there is no real separation of church and state anywhere, in the Constitution.

A question then arises,

“Where in the world did separation of church and state come from anyway?”

To answer that question, we have to go back to the 19th century, during Thomas Jefferson’s term as president. The Danbury Baptists (a minority denomination in Connecticut) had written Jefferson about their concern over religious rights. The president wrote back to them, and you can read the transcript of Jefferson’s letter below:

Mr. President

To Messers Nehemiah Dodge, Ephraim Robbins, & Stephen S. Nelson a committee of the Danbury Baptist association in the state of Connecticut.

Gentlemen

The affectionate sentiments of esteem & approbation which you are so good as to express towards me, on behalf of the Danbury Baptist association, give me the highest satisfaction. My duties dictate a faithful & zealous pursuit of the interests of my constituents, and in proportion as they are persuaded of my fidelity to those duties, the discharge of them becomes more & more pleasing.

Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man & his god, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legitimate powers of government reach actions only, and not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, thus building a wall of separation between church and state. Adhering to this expression of the supreme will of the nation in behalf of the rights of conscience, I shall see with sincere satisfaction the progress of those sentiments which tend to restore to man all his natural rights, convinced he has no natural right in opposition to his social duties.

I reciprocate your kind prayers for the protection and blessing of the common Father and creator of man, and tender you for yourselves and your religious association, assurances of my high respect & esteem.

Thomas Jefferson
Jan.1.1802.

(Source: http://www.newgenevacenter.org/06_Historical-Documents/1802_Jefferson's-'Wall-of-Separation'-Letter.html)

That, ladies and Gentleman, is where the term “Separation of Church and State” originated. To make a long story short, Jefferson’s letter (or rather that specific section of the letter) is used to justify the efforts to remove any and all expressions of religion from essentially every aspect of government.
So what do I think? What are MiThoughts on the issue?

I do believe that the first Amendment creates a “wall of separation” between Church and State.

Now, before you start jumping to conclusions, allow me to explain what I mean: The First Amendment CLEARLY STATES that Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.

SOOOO…the Constitution CLEARLY forbids Congress to make any law that concerns an establishment of religion… I believe that the constitution has separated congress from affecting and influencing religion. But I won’t get into what an “establishment of religion” means. SO MANY other people are concerned with that, and there are so many wonderful debates on the subject.

I want to touch on a DIFFERENT aspect of the amendment, specifically the part that says CONGRESS SHALL MAKE NO LAW…

Does the First Amendment say that THE PRESIDENT is expressly forbidden to be religious or to express his religious beliefs? Does it say that a STATE SUPREME COURT may not have the Ten Commandments on display? Does it say that SCHOOLS are forbidden to have prayer, or to express religion in any way?

Does it mention ANYTHING other than forbidding CONGRESS to make a LAW?

I have not heard many people asking these questions, and I think it is high time somebody did!

The fact is, the Constitution does NOT say anything other than Congress shall make no LAW… or prohibit the free exercise thereof.

Don’t be caught up by asking the wrong questions, or letting someone trick you into answering the wrong questions….

The mind of El Pensador doesn’t work that way, and neither should yours.

Rock on, America!

I REFUSE to Post Today!

2011-01-27T09:10:00.000-08:00

There are many reasons why I decided not to post on the blog today. A few of the more significant reasons are as follows:

1. I just don't feel like it.

2. I have previously been too busy, and to post now would be almost the same as admitting that I had free time for a few moments (which ISN'T true).

3. ...I forgot what reason number three was, but it was a GOOD reason!

4. I am working on an forthcoming post which deals with a very controversial topic...the First Amendment.

5. I wanted to add that last part as a "teaser" to keep you on your toes, and encourage you to "stay tuned" until I eventually post it (which won't be too far away, so have patience).

Those reasons (as well as many others) are why I chose NOT to post today. Sorry to disappoint!

Quote of the Day: And it's a DOOZY!

2011-01-26T17:17:00.000-08:00

"The man who tries to walk two roads will split his pants."
- West African Maninka Tribe Proverb

Ronald Reagan: Jokes About Communism

2011-01-05T16:29:00.000-08:00

It's no wonder why so many people loved President Reagan. He wasn't afraid to laugh! Here are some clips of him telling jokes about communism. Enjoy!

A HILARIOUS Account of a Motorcycle Accident

2011-01-01T18:02:00.000-08:00

Mark Lowry--My favorite humorist--at his best. Watch as he talks about his motorcycle accident!

Have Yourself a Merry Politically Correct Winter Holiday Time of Year! (...Another Nutty Guest Post)

2010-12-23T11:29:00.000-08:00

*A Guest Post by Friedrich Lenin*

HELLO, MY POLITICALLY CORRECT COMRADES!

My Dear Friend, El Pensador (thought I must confess he is quite misguided in his politics) has given me this great opportunity to wish you a brief message of Winter Holiday cheerful-ness. It is a great honor to be able to share with you today.
I would just like to take this time to tell you how happy I am that we have finally entered this lovely time of year where we celebrate all the many wonders of winter.

That is what the Politically Correct Winter Holiday Time of Year is all about: remembering the labour parties and all our Friends of Big Brother, such as our good friend Karl Stalin, whose appearance on this blog is soon to be enjoyed once more!

Today is a day of putting all religious nonsense aside, and focusing on what truly matters: Living up to the mandates of the Glorious Manifesto.

I hope you all are having a lovely Winter Holiday!

Best wishes, and blessings from Big Brother,
- Freidrich Lenin

Big Government's Favorite Game: Toying with State Powers

2010-12-20T08:13:00.000-08:00

In my State, Local, and Community Politics class in college, we have been discussing the issue of Federalism, defined by Britannica Online Encyclopedia as the "mode of political organization that unites separate states or other polities within an overarching political system in such a way as to allow each to maintain its own fundamental political integrity."

The discussion was on the federal governments usurption of state powers. Our assignment was to address the issue and say whether or not we agreed with this usurption of power.

The fact is that the government has been usurping state powers not only just recently, but for a very long time. Using different and often inventive ways (such as the "Necessary and proper" clause in the Constitution, and pressure via federal funding to states), and they really don't seem to care.

Why should they? What is so important about the the 10th Amendment anyway?
....Do you think some of the people in Washington have really ever actually read it? If so, they probablycould careless.

The problem with the tenth amendment is that it is inconvenient for big government.
It tells us that "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people."

So... if the Constitution doesn't give the federal goverment cerain powers, then those powers should be reserved to the states. It's that simple.

The problem is...It ISN'T that simple to Washington these days, who apperently think that all the powers of the world should be given to the government.

So now, my question is: What do you think about this issue?
Do you think that the federal government should be able to go over the states
powers whenever it is deemed to be "necessary and proper" (or even when it is not)? Do you think this is a serious problem?

Post your answers below and let your voice be heard!

ROCK ON AMERICA!

Merry Christmas, Pansies!

2010-12-15T16:16:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays! Wait, let me rephrase that: Merry CHRISTmas! Yeah, I just said the "C" word, so just deal with it, bub. I'm not ashamed of what the season in all about. I'm not afraid to to tell you the TRUE Christmas Story: the REASON FOR THE SEASON, BABY!

Here it is:

Luke 2:1-14

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. [2] (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) [3] And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. [4] And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) [5] To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. [6] And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. [7] And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. [8] And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. [9] And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. [10] And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. [11] For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. [12] And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. [13] And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, [14] Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

That's what Christmas is all about Charlie Brown!
*Merry, CHRISTmas, pansies! *
.........................................................You can KEEP your "happy holidays!"

Can you handle the true meaning of Christmas? Brad Stine can!

2010-12-15T09:11:00.001-08:00

We Wish You a MERRY CHRISTMAS...The Relient K Version

2010-12-02T09:55:00.000-08:00

This may be a bit different than how you are used to hearing the song. :P Enjoy!

What's YOUR favorite thing about the Christmas Season?

2010-11-29T14:16:00.000-08:00

Yeah, I know....................................................

It has been QUITE a while since I last posted on this blog. So I shall now redeem myself by putting forth a question:

What is your favorite thing about the Christmas season?

Think about it, and leave your comment below. Don't be afraid to be creative! :)
I've got the Christmas spirit! Do you?

China: "America works for us" Campaign Ad

2010-11-10T16:44:00.000-08:00

I first saw this ad when I was in Arkansas, campaigning for Tim Griffin. It's definitely worth watching!

My Experience in the 2010 Elections: Tim Griffin for Congress

2010-11-06T15:11:00.000-07:00

I'm back!

I was away for a while working on a campaign, but my "little vacation" is now over. We were holding a Student Project (a student volunteer, grass-roots campaiging event) for Tim Griffin (latest campaign ad below), who was running for U.S. Congress in Arkansas, in the 2nd Congressional District, and it was our job to help get this man elected.

His opponent was Joyce Elliott, AR state senator.... (I would show the video of her latest ad, but it has been debunked by so many entities that I might get in trouble for spreading lies if I posted it.)

It was a long and hard race, and I was glad to be able to help during election week. Tim Grifin is a solid candidate, and he had a ROCK SOLID campaign. It was an "honor and pleasure to campaign for him" (That "quote" was from a rap that two of the students working on the Student Project created...I will have to figure out a way to get it on the blog. Stay posted!)

There were many mountains to climb for Tim Griffin, not to mention the fact that he was running in a district that had not been won by a republican in decades!

They walked for hours, going door to door, and getting the word out about Tim Griffin and his message. They made thousands of calls everyday. They gave everything they had inside to help put Tim into office. We knew the importance of this race, and we did what we could to win.

Our efforts were not in vain. Tim Griffin won by over twenty points. We helped to make a difference in AR, and in America.

But we still have to make sure that the candidates we put into office PRACTICE WHAT THEY PREACH. Hold them to their word, keep them on their toes.

Take a stand, and make sure that they take a stand for you.

ROCK ON AMERICA!

Mithoughts on the November 2010 Elections

2010-10-21T10:56:00.001-07:00

As we come nearer election week, everyone has a very important question on their minds:

What do I think about the upcoming elections?

…Okay, maybe not.

But regardless of your deepest
thoughts on the subject, I am going to tell you my thoughts on these November 2010 Elections, but with my usual El Pensador twist. I am going to give the hecklers a hard time, and the apathetic non-voters a "Shame on you!"

If we EVER hope to "Take Back America" from the leftist ideology, with all its lovely socialism and miraculous "share the wealth via distribution from the few to the masses" philosophy, we MUST take a stand this November!

For far too long we have sat by and let the progressives take away our nation progressively (ironic isn't it?). It's time we stand up and fight to take it back. There is FAR TOO MUCH at stake, and there is far too much to lose by doing nothing. This could very well be the most important election our nation has faced. We are at a very critical point, and if we sit by this time, the results could be disastrous.

But let me give a word of warning to those who DO sit by, and think it not a big dealas well
those who
don't think there is a good enough candidate for them. SHAME ON YOU!!!

There will NEVER be a perfect candidate. After all, Jesus doesn't run for office; it's sad, but true. If you are looking for a perfect candidate, who lines up perfectly with EVERY SINGLE ISSUE you have, you are in for disappointment almost every single time. And if you think that, because a candidate might not be "perfect," you just won't support them, then you are just like the conservatives who stayed home in '08, when we lost the Congress to the liberals.

THE CONSERVATIVES are the reason that "ObamaCare," "The Obama Stimulus Plan," and the "MACHO DEFICIT" exist today, because they stood by and did NOTHING! Don't blame the liberals—it's OUR FAULT.

Now let me clarify something before you all get uptight: we shouldtake a stand for the best (or at least better) candidate, and we should be careful who we support in elections. But at the same time, if there is an obvious (or at least somewhat significant) difference between two candidates, you have to vote for SOMEONE. Maybe you only have a choice between "the lesser of two evils," and maybe neither of them is really the best for our nation. But ONE OF THEM IS GOING TO WIN REGARDLESS,so you must make a choice.

You may not like it, but it still stands true: someone is going to win, so you might as well try to help out the better candidate. Yes, we should stand for high ideals, but at the same time, we can't sit by with a righteous smug, and let our nation fall into ruin.
One more thing to keep in mind:
If your candidate wins, keep him accountable! Make sure he or she actually does what he promises, and practices what he preaches during his campaign. If they don't, KICK 'EM OUT, and replace that candidate in the next election with someone who WILL!

That's all for now…Just remember how important this November is! TAKE A STAND—BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE!

*Rock on America!*

Quote of the Day: James A. Garfield

2010-10-18T09:31:00.000-07:00

"The people are responsible for the character of their Congress. If that body be ignorant, reckless, and corrupt, it is because the poeple tolerate ignorance, recklessness, and corruption. If it be intelligent, brave, and pure, it is because people demand these high qualities to represent them in the national legislature."
- President James Garfield

............Makes sense don't you think?