Does the fact that virtue is a prerequisite for ordered liberty mean that classical liberalism must end in civilization's decay and replacement by anarcho-tyranny?
I believe both sides of the left and right are becoming less and less liberty oriented. We are witnessing throughout the nation that federal, state and local governments clearly could care less about their constituencies needs and wishes. Their self-interests seem to be self-evident. I believe our biggest threat, by far, to individual liberty is the callousness with which a sizeable portion of the population is not only inured to this but is actively in support of this because whatever limit that is being placed on the population is coming from 'their teams' side'. We seem to have moved away from personal responsibility, civic accountability and involvement to a wish to win at all costs and have government take care of us. We have purposely distanced ourselves from any kind of faith in something greater than ourselves and so, therefore, have lost a common thread inherent in most ordered and free societies. I am willing to be optimistic but for as long as people refuse to see the importance of self-reliance and responsibility to a community as the prerequisites to freedom and order, we will really struggle. It's a miracle we haven't fallen yet. Europe is most certainly on their way. Thanks for asking... I assume by tagging me, that's what you wanted.
Thanks for your great comment. (I like your writings and, yes, I thought you would have some highly pertinent ideas about this subject.) I am in complete agreement with the points you make here. The appreciation for real liberty--the kind that involves personal responsibility and the option of failure--has declined badly in the United States and is indeed nearly absent altogether from Europe.
I believe that the welfare state has been the main means by which this demoralization and destruction of initiative has been established. The undermining of the Christian faith has also been an essential element of this process, which amounts to a civilization-level psy op.
The United States can reverse this if we want--and this may be our last chance. All of Western Europe seems to be all but lost at this point, and those countries are doing their very best to drag Eastern Europe down with them, though there is some serious resistance arising in the east.
This is a civilizational crisis that did not have to occur. It was imposed on us, I believe, by a herd of power-mad, materialistic egomaniacs. Those with sense, decency, and faith in the Lord are the only thing standing in the way of their full triumph. Yet here we are, plugging away the best we can. That is the case for hope.
Thanks for the response. Western civilization is on the defensive but there are pockets of hope in some most unlikely places. Faith, not only in God, but in people's ability to rise to the challenge that power hungry globalists pose, should be our light at the end of our tunnel. Thanks for asking for a conversation.
I believe both sides of the left and right are becoming less and less liberty oriented. We are witnessing throughout the nation that federal, state and local governments clearly could care less about their constituencies needs and wishes. Their self-interests seem to be self-evident. I believe our biggest threat, by far, to individual liberty is the callousness with which a sizeable portion of the population is not only inured to this but is actively in support of this because whatever limit that is being placed on the population is coming from 'their teams' side'. We seem to have moved away from personal responsibility, civic accountability and involvement to a wish to win at all costs and have government take care of us. We have purposely distanced ourselves from any kind of faith in something greater than ourselves and so, therefore, have lost a common thread inherent in most ordered and free societies. I am willing to be optimistic but for as long as people refuse to see the importance of self-reliance and responsibility to a community as the prerequisites to freedom and order, we will really struggle. It's a miracle we haven't fallen yet. Europe is most certainly on their way. Thanks for asking... I assume by tagging me, that's what you wanted.
Thanks for your great comment. (I like your writings and, yes, I thought you would have some highly pertinent ideas about this subject.) I am in complete agreement with the points you make here. The appreciation for real liberty--the kind that involves personal responsibility and the option of failure--has declined badly in the United States and is indeed nearly absent altogether from Europe.
I believe that the welfare state has been the main means by which this demoralization and destruction of initiative has been established. The undermining of the Christian faith has also been an essential element of this process, which amounts to a civilization-level psy op.
The United States can reverse this if we want--and this may be our last chance. All of Western Europe seems to be all but lost at this point, and those countries are doing their very best to drag Eastern Europe down with them, though there is some serious resistance arising in the east.
This is a civilizational crisis that did not have to occur. It was imposed on us, I believe, by a herd of power-mad, materialistic egomaniacs. Those with sense, decency, and faith in the Lord are the only thing standing in the way of their full triumph. Yet here we are, plugging away the best we can. That is the case for hope.
Thanks for the response. Western civilization is on the defensive but there are pockets of hope in some most unlikely places. Faith, not only in God, but in people's ability to rise to the challenge that power hungry globalists pose, should be our light at the end of our tunnel. Thanks for asking for a conversation.
I agree in full. Things often look bleak, but there are a lot of good people out there. Thank you for engaging in the discussion.