What is the choice we have. Is it allow the free market capitalistic system to go unchecked. Do we teach leaders to keep hands off and hope that corporate policies will self regulate for the good of the people? How can we be so arrogant to believe un-elected heads of companies will use better judgement for the good of all of us and not just those that benefit their desire for profits. We don't elect them, we don't even hold them accountable when they cross the line except for a public photo op with congressional leaders pretending to be outraged as they take their next contribution later. How can we claim that Lincoln didn't get it right with his subsidies for public railway and roads? Do you also disagree with his denial of Southern states to use human beings as slaves? Do we not rebuild the South after the war?

What is the point of goverment if it isn't to serve and protect us. Without goverment could we believe that companies would not polute our air, allow bad food or drugs from getting to the public, or even protect us from ourselves with common sense gun regualtions. Do we regard the goverment as just an entity to protect our borders and police our streets? What is the role goverment should play? Do we really think that Hurbert Hoover would have done anything to stop the economic slide of the great depression. Do we think McCain could have done anything different except give more tax cuts to those that caused this massive speculative bubble. Do we forget that it was deregualtion of the corporate finacial markets that caused unchecked derivative trading and fantasy financial instruments such as Collatoralized Debt Obligations and Credit Default Swaps bought and sold by foreign countries and hedge funds. These destroyed our market. The so called free market cost us the tax payer. So is it free?

What is your argument? History is good to learn from, but we have a new economic paridiam to base everything henceforth. It is the paridiam of corporate fascism. We are convincing ourselves the free market can self correct, but we are learning that greed is against the interests for a fair market system. We think that if we bust the unions we can benefit in a global marketplace, but this only leads to wage stagflation and middle class strife while we again fake outrage as our jobs go overseas.

The fact of today is Corporations control the goverment and get them to make friendly laws for their benefit. Money is king, not humanity.

The basis for your argument was the fight by our goverment to inflect competion into the Heath Insurance Market with a public option. This will fail, but not because its a bad policy, but becuase the wheels of corporate fascism will roll over it by spreding its influence and money around Washington buying there ultimate victory. We are passing debt to our children, but it is debt from the cost of corporate greed and a system that doesn't put our children first unless you are the child of the corporate oligarchy.

You responded that. Corporations control the government and get them to make friendly laws for their benefit. Money is king, not humanity.
The underlying issue is in trying to judge the actions of others and their motivations. Have the values of all people slid to total selfishness? Or are there some that believe in the value of honor and good will toward fellow man?
It appears now that we are in fact at a crossroad in history. Will society continue to worship money and affluence or will they awaken to the fact that these things are just things. True wealth and happiness can only be found within our own hearts and will be displayed in our actions of selflessness.
It is quite ironic that both major world views want utopia. It is just how they perceive it to be attainable that is the difference. The real question is. Who is it that is going to judge and hold someone accountable? The interference of a man run government begs for further cycles of the same history that too many do not even know. Forced submission to others politically and economically can only delay each uprising. The solution is found in a personal heart change of every man, woman and child and can only be had by learning the Truth. So let us all hunger and thirst for truth because freedom comes from it.
I say “let the revolution roll on.”
Rory

The video does pose some very interesting arguments for both sides. However I am not here to argue but to gain information so I may come to my own conclusions. I will not claim that I am knowledgable enough to forcast both of the above "trends" 10-20 years out to see where we will end up. However after reading the above post 2 times it seems to me that you are of the belief we as a free state do not have choice. That if we continue with the current policies and allow government to continue to gain power that "coporate fascism" will then rule and in essence become the Dictator in our country. So I would ask you if you believe that Free Enterprize will not "correct itself" AND you do not agree with Coporate oligarchy for our children. Which is the lesser of the 2 evils?

One other comment I would like to make is that I have taken the time to read on the proposed health care reform and I would ask you this. Would you rather have the freedom to choose your provider, doctor, coverage, benefits for your children or give that resposibility to someone else that has never met you, your family or anyone else you care for? Pending how you answer that question will give you your answer to the one I posed above. I do believe that we are in a fight for freedom and I believe that the free market can control itself. However in the world we live in today with global influence it is going to take an army of leaders that are grounded with the belief of the Christian teachings. In which in Romans 13:1 Says Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves."

Thus there is a time and place for government but it is not to control our economic freedom. I post these words not to offend or attack but hopefully to give my opinion on a matter that I deeply care about and to place questions to force others to think freely. God bless and be active in being a part of the solution.

Business's exist to make a profit. When they are able to do so, in a free society, all benefit. Respectfully,John W. Fisher.

We don't want people to write about American leaders (Obama) like they now write about the Fascists. By the way, the fascists always wanted to destroy individual liberty. Americans, in the preamble to the constitution, pledge to defend life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness!!

Andrew Willems

Thanks for this video Orrin. It's interesting to hear how fascism was once seen as being positive, as well as how long this idea of Economic Nationalism has been around and how it has been passed down. Now if our nation could not only know the past and what resulted from past thinking to actually learning from it and applying new thinking we could see some actual positive changes in our country. I appreciate so much you and Chris leading the way in being the catalyst of that change.

Orrin,

Here are my comments:

'The state comes before the individual.'
- The state will not exist if there are no individuals.

'Planned industrial “harmony.”'
- Only the people with experience in running a profitable business should do any planning, not career politicians.

'Government-business partnerships.'
- Does the US Federal government really think individuals are going to buy vehicles made by GM and Chrysler just because they gave them a bailout loan? I am not going to buy a vehicle made by either of these companies based solely off of the reason they do not produce anything that meets my needs or desires.

'Mercantilism and protectionism.'
- If country A invents widget A and country B produces widget B, then they should be freely allowed to trade between each other to obtain the products and services they need. It's along the same lines as interstate trade. If one state can produce a lot of corn but can't produce very many oranges, then they should be allowed to freely trade their corn to the state that produces the oranges.

Simple points, but very big ones with far reaching impacts.

Thanks,
John Dickinson

I don’t believe I agree with the statements that Lincoln was a racist. I could be wrong of course and will have to read more about this. However based on the reading I have done so far it seems that Lincoln had some racist comments in speeches in his early years of presidency but changed his thinking and beliefs over the years. It seems that his eyes were open to truth and in 1863 he wrote the Emancipation Proclamation which stated that all persons held as slaves" within the rebellious states "are, and henceforward shall be free." Of course this didn’t make all slaves free, but it was a step. Also he was friends with Fredrick Douglas and Harriet Beecher Stowe (writer of Uncle Tom’s Cabin) though these friends were sometimes angry with Lincoln at his slow moving polices on slavery. He also made a speech that expressed how black people should be given the right to vote a couple days before he died. To me this seems that he wasn't really a racist rather a man who found truth and was struggling with what was easy and what he knew should be done. Of course like I said I could be wrong. If there are any books I should read about this topic please list them or if you know anything about this topic please comment. I know this is off topic but I would like to make sure what I think is true is really true. Thank you, Lauren.

I agree with you. I believe Abe was a product of his generation and his thoughts changed over time. thanks, Orrin

This video reminded me that we have to stick up for what this country was founded on not only because the generations to follow depend on it but so does the rest of the world.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1PdkA-FGWw&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Faddisonroad.com%2Fblog%2F&feature=player_embedded

I believe it.

Now that our "President", Barack Hussein Obama, is dispatching Union thugs to beat up on U.S. citizens at Town Hall meetings, where they dare to speak against Dear Leader's Health Care debacle, we stand to lose more than ever...UNLESS we literally stand up to them.

This ain't Chicago, Dorothy. And bullying tactics won't stand for long.

Everyone should look up the Islamic word "Takkia". Enough said.

It's so weird that you posted this because I was going to give you a copy of his book I just read when I see you in Austin. I just finished his book Lincoln The Myth and it was amazing!! It seems that Lincoln wasn't what the establishment says he was. Lincoln clearly stated in his Inaugural address that he was not going to touch slavery in the south. He even said he was going to support the bill that was making its way through congress that would have made slavery permanent!! So many myths busted in DiLorenzo's short book (and yes with plenty of references)! He proves that the war was actually over tariffs!!

He also points out how the Pledge of Allegiance was created by a Socialist. I'm not done doing my research on this but I can definitely say that I will never again recite the Pledge of Allegiance because I would be lying! I just finished the TJED book and I know w/o a doubt that Thomas Jefferson and the rest of our Founders (even Hamilton) would have never ever sworn an oath to an all powerful centralized government! Clearly the States were to be Sovereign!

Oh yeah, to the post that said Lincoln wasn't a racist. Look it up and you'll see that Lincoln wanted to ship freed black people out of the US! That's pretty racist don’t ya think?

And as to him being a Christian or not, I wouldn't dare say what was in his heart but here's food for thought, Obama and Bush both say they are Christians too! Also, Lincoln was a seasoned politician who needed Christian votes and quoting the Bible is a way to trick people. Even Satan can quote the Bible!!

Thanks for posting this Orrin and for getting us all thinking!! I know it's a hard task going against the mainstream but it will definitely pay off in the end!! I was thinking about how we do Pledges at each TEAM event and when I found out about the Bellamy cousins history and how Lincoln destroyed the voluntary Union that the Founders set up my first thought was, Orrin needs to stop getting so many people to pledge allegiances to this Leviathan! Then I thought it may be a fight you just don't want right now. I'll just stand up but not recite at our events until you are reading to take that on! Hopefully soon though!

From the great Republic of Texas!!

Miguel

Oh BTW, my computer is messed up and won't show the video. I tried to find it with the title to this post but there are too many video's with him on youtube. Could you please post or just respond with the link so I can see if it works that way?

Orrin, I can't believe how powerful this is, and how very few try to understand it. Thank you Orrin for a great topic to challenge myself to. below is a link I think many would find also very educational to this topic.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lICQ1fZTM4o