It’s been said that the “greatest generation” in American history was the one that grew up during the great depression and went on to fight in World War II.
Others disagree, and say that the truly greatest generation in our history was the founding generation – the generation that formed a federal union that lasts to this day, and wrote the most profound governing documents in human history.
To the surprise of many, I disagree with both of these viewpoints.
In my opinion, the greatest generation to have ever lived has not yet claimed that title. Not yet claimed because that generation is in the midst of becoming what is was meant to be, and doing as it was meant to do.
That generation is us.
It’s any young man or woman capable of thinking for him or herself, and having the courage to act decisively.
But what’s so special about modern times you ask? Surely, World War II or the American war for independence were the most difficult times in history, by leaps and bounds … right?
I disagree.
The challenges we face are different, that’s obvious – what everyone buries their head in the sand on though is the depth of those challenges, and the true current state of affairs.
The depth is in the width of the problem spectrum.
- We are on the tipping point of global financial collapse.
- We are on the tipping point of moral collapse.
- We are on the tipping point of societal collapse.
- We are on the tipping point of political collapse.
- We are on the tipping point of physical collapse.
- We are on the tipping point of intellectual collapse.
Together, these problems boil down to two possible outcomes – boil down because the storms of collapse and crisis allow for new ideas to take hold, and previously unknown individuals to take lead.
The outcomes are this
- No one is a slave to anyone.
- Everyone is a slave to everyone.
There won’t be any room left for an in between option. It’s up, down, left, right, backwards, or forwards.
As the world reserve currency crumbles – pegged with an unidentifiable 15 digit debt – and fiat currency world wide follows suit, what will you do?
As your friends and family struggle to recognize that they have a natural right to their life and liberty, and the American empire wages perpetual illegal war (complete with the assassination of it’s own citizens, and a coming draft*), what will you do?
As a hyper-inflationary depression hits what was once the most prosperous union in the world, and the most basic of needs become nigh on impossible to fulfill for many, what will you do?
As political institutions of old fraction and fade into irrelevancy, what will you do?
As the diseases of civilization take ever greater hold and tolls on billions around the world, as your family and friends suffer unnecessary pain and misery in the form of obesity, cancer, diabetes, and heart disease, what will you do?
As academic institutions become increasingly irrelevant, and intelligent people perpetuate ever more of the problems they seek to solve (and become increasingly confused in the process), what will you do?
…
I think, we live in an age of heroes. Or at the very least, in an age where heroes are being called upon to rise (onslaught of hero movies anyone?).
The question now is, will those individuals rise when the time comes?
That’s the interesting part: there’s no guarantee that they will.
If they do, we will see a return to individual liberty, and witness progress and prosperity on a scale never before considered.
If they don’t, we slide irreversibly into widespread misery, confusion, and the tyranny not of individuals, nor of select groups, but the tyranny of everyone.
A clear depiction of the turning point will be the 2012 presidential election – assuming all other factors hold out until then.
There will be two choices expressed. One will be in Ron Paul, the other, Barrack Obama.
Choose wisely, because even with Ron Paul as president of our federal union, we’re in for a rocky ride ahead.
“Rocky ride” in the form of every status quo idea and institution collapsing in on itself, and being completely overhauled in one direction or the other.
That decision lies in the young individual able and willing to think and act for him or herself.
Hence, we are the greatest generation in history, facing the most important turning point in the course of human events.
Individual liberty or inescapable tyranny.
After word
I say coming draft because this is what empires do in a last ditch effort to maintain their rapidly dissolving power. As widespread confusion and panic set in over a collapsing dollar – with unemployment and crime skyrocketing in the process – this is not an impossible scenario. It won’t be called a draft of course – or the military slavery that it is – but while different in name, it would be all the same.
The fact remains however, you have a right to your life. Government does not, and neither does your neighbor. What’s more, the sacrafice of X in the name of X is logically and tragically absurd.
Freedom is preserved by preserving freedom itself, not instituting slavery, calling it something else, and falsely naming it’s purpose the preservation of freedom.
- Ignore
- Evade
- Resist
In that order.
Wow, what a dramatic post.
We don’t have a 15 digit debt dude, we’ve been over that several times. I’ve sited facts continually, and you’ve continually avoided the issue.
Also, slaves or free? WTF? That’s about the gayest, most dramatic thing you’ve said yet. I personally, like many like me, believe that providing for the general welfare of our great nation is no slavery, but rather a duty we have to our fellow Americans.
That’s right, and a key difference between conservatives and liberals. Conservatives see actions for the good of our great nation as slavery, and liberals see it as a civic duty. There’s a huge difference in mindsets, that permeates throughout politics.
I am free, and will stay free while I work to ensure that all Americans are free, receive the best quality education possible, regain our roots as a meritocracy, keep our corporations under control, and contribute to the lessor among us while maintaining a motivation for success.
You see, taxing somone a few extra percentage points when they’re making over 250,000 does anything but remove their incentive to gain wealth. I’ve yet to meet ANYONE that is making triple digits that doesn’t make enough to continue to provide fiscal incentive for sucess… and there is absolutely no plan out there that would do this. Taxes on the wealthy are at or near historic lows, and somehow radicals such as yourself are sounding the horn.
Please think and consider reason in your posts,
Sincerely your friend,
Greg
We do have a 15 digit debt. See unfunded liabilities (monetary promises that cannot be kept, same as our immediate federal and state debt).
I’m all for providing for the general welfare – voluntarily. Where you get the idea you have the right to do so by force – as if doing good via force were even possible (it’s not) – escapes me.
The only “duty” you have is to yourself. For example, every young man in this federal union has the “duty” to defend his life with the barrel of a gun.
“Social responsibility” doesn’t exist, never has, and never will (and I am assuming this is exchangeable with your vocabulary).
“Conservatives” and “liberals”, in the modern context, are one in the same, and represent the same status-quo constipation of our federal union.
Greg,
So you think you’re free. Well, instead of paying your taxes, carve out that money and send it to exactly the causes that you support. Think hard where you would like YOUR money to go (which BTW represents a slice of your life) and send it exactly where you think it will do the most good.
Government agents will show up on your step and demand “their” money from you. If you try to explain what you did, it will fall on deaf ears. If you don’t pony up the money that you have already disbursed, you will be imprisoned. Try to resist and you will be taken by force, fight that force and you will be killed. Free means Free. It is not gay or melodramatic…it is a fact.
Your statement regarding “a few exta percentage points” not affecting the incentive to gain wealth belies your ignorance of economics and the fact that you probably don’t know anyone who has EARNED a six figure income. The law of diminishing marginal utility states that the first thousand dollars you earn has the greatest utility (buys more essential things) than the 250th thousand dollar increment. Also, the first thousand dollars is earned with the earliest (freshest) effort. The 250th thousand is earned with effort that comes on top of the prior 249 units. A tiny increment (few extra percentage points) slides this point of diminishing marginal utility disproportionately downward. This sort of thinking is nothing short of envy-driven class warfare. Most hilarious, it shoots itself in the foot. Anytime taxes on the top tier have been raised, revenue going to the government has DROPPED disproportionately. The law of diminishing marginal utility is why.
We will never regain our status as a meritocracy as long as we continue to redistrubute wealth. Merit produces wealth and property, if the individual that produced that wealth and property can have it taken by force, we will continue as the corrupt nation we currently are.
I think its going to be the next generation that stand as one of the greatest generations. I don’t think that time has arrived yet, but its coming.
At this rate, 95% of the next generation will be born with diabetes, 10 pounds of body fat, and a tumor growing out of the side of their head.
Now or ever.
To be honest, we’d be right alongside the next generation. It’s not like we’re going to be 90 when the next generation enters manhood and womanhood. We’d be 50 at most and we’d be expected to have laid out the path for them I hope.
If you don’t think of yourself as part of the greatest generation, you are subconsciously not doing all that you can and saying “eh, the kids will take care of it.”
Haha. Yeah possibly.
Honestly, the next Chief Administrator of the U.S. makes no difference, It;s all just a corrupt, sinister system.
IT IS NOT GOD’S SYSTEM!
Jesus died fighting the sinister Romans 2000 years ago. He did GREAT things, but evil has made it’s modern return in the form of secret organizations. The current political system will be SHINED WITH LIGHT. His Light.
Well, I guess it has been a while since there’s been a “huh?” or a “dude, what?”
The general welfare is such a general term. Providing for the a majority of people at the expense of any other group of people is both unconstitutional and illogical. By adopting policies and legislation that infinitely promote the general welfare we have created a society of welfare people. Throughout the course of human history the idea of government intervening with general, human activities has always resulted in collapse.
I agree with Anthony that providing for the general welfare should be a voluntary act. Being forced, through taxation that pays for these programs, we are just slaves in the system.
Gregg, the simple fact that you are defending our nations debt is proof that you have no idea how much debt we are even in. Although popular culture has accepted debt like fat guy accepts a warm brownie, it does not mean that our nations debt is something to stand up for. Especially considering that we add more and more every day with unconstitutional, pointless wars and the funding of public projects and programs that are unneeded.
And please do not make yourself out to be some sort of hero for agreeing and promoting general welfare programs. You live in a capitalist society. By default we are selfish. Simple as that. Shouldn’t you have the choice to give your money to specific groups of people? That is our right and it is no longer real.
There is no doubting Doug’s critisism of your experience with highly paid individuals. If you knew anything at all about economics or even talked to a highly financially sucesful person, you would change your view of “a couple of percentage points”.
One last thing on this topic. It shouldn’t matter that if it is a “couple of percentage points” or not. Our money is our money and it is our constitutional right to it. That was the founding principle of our country. Limited government was promoted by some of the smartest men to ever live (our founding fathers if you slept through history class).
Hand signals are the MOST obvious way to tell GOOD from ‘evil’.
GOOD: Open palms, hands still and clear
sinister: creepy finger gestures, fingers twitching
This video is classic GOOD vs evil. NOW, see if you can spot the difference in your LIFE: Stay pure guys. ONLY ONE WAY UP!
(:
Great post Anthony, although my neighbors can do whatever they want with my body.
And I say bring on the collapse!! I’m sick of waiting and I can’t wait to see what we’re made of – for better or worse.
Aye, fun times ahead. You need to blog more btw! Spark that baby back up every week and you can count me in as an official reader.
It’s a mistake to portray Milton Friedman as a champion of freedom. Although he speaks eloquently about certain things, he was still a monetarist and a pragmatist whose views are incompatible with limited government ideals. Worse, people often conflate his mistaken ideas with true free market capitalism in the same way that they take George Bush for a “free market” president.