Orrin Woodward Leadership Team

Welcome to my leadership blog. Ideas have consequences and the goal of this blog is to discuss ideas of consequence. Some ideas you may agree with and some you may disagree. No worries. The only rules are that you post under your own name and that you think and discuss in a civil manner. People who attack others only prove they have reached the limit of their logic. The Bible states, "Iron sharpens iron" and we will sharpen one another by what we read, write and think. The goal of this blog is to help us identify and follow truth in all areas of our lives. I encourage you to join our leadership discussion and transform yourself and others through the renewing of our minds.

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Free Enterprise & Socialism - Perspectives from History

by Orrin Woodward on Wed 18 Feb 2009 09:35 AM EST | Permanent Link | Cosmos

History is a fascinating subject because the principles involved are inviolate. No matter what fancy slogans are used or promises of utopia - economic laws cannot be revoked. Throughout history, the power of the state has attempted to revoke economic laws and the results are always predictable. Examples from history proliferate on this point. The late stage of the Roman Empire, the French Revolution, the German National Socialist, and the Russian Communist Revolution all attempted different styles of state control over the economy. Each one ended in utter failure and ridicule. We must remind American's of the founder's original American Experiment, which allowed a free people the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Every step in the direction of government controls is a step away from individual liberty. You can argue with me forever on this point, but history is not on your side. This is why reading economic, political, and national histories is so important. Without an understanding of the roots of our liberties, it is easy to have them cut off by demagogues that speak sweet sounding words to our fallen natures. Here are some of my favorite quotes on history.

David C. McCullough:

History is a guide to navigation in perilous times. History is who we are and why we are the way we are.

Edward Gibbon:

I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided, and that is the lamp of experience. I know no way of judging of the future but by the past.

Etienne Gilson:

History is the only laboratory we have in which to test the consequences of thought.

George Santayana:

Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it.

Harry Truman:

The only thing new in the world is the history you don't know.

Pearl S. Buck:

One faces the future with one's past.

Thucydides:

History is Philosophy teaching by examples.

Ludwig Von Mises lived through WWI and WWII. He saw the socialistic ideas and what it did to Germany and Austria. This video is an intriguing look into the man who stood by himself against the onslaught of statist power. The courage of Von Mises to speak truth in an age of lies should be celebrated and honored. The Bible states to give honor to whom honor is due. Ludwig Von Mises should be honored for his ground breaking work in economics and liberty. Do we understand the price that civilization has paid to have the freedoms we enjoy today? We have a responsibility to educate ourselves on the principles of freedom. We must understand the roots of freedom in order to protect those freedoms. Enjoy the video and watch for the parallels in the history of Von Mises's time with the current events in our time. God Bless, Orrin Woodward

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Comments

Re: Free Enterprise & Socialism - Perspectives from History

by dean clouse on Wed 18 Feb 2009 10:18 AM EST | Permanent Link

Hey Orrin, to mix two subjects, I just finished reading a book about Mises and do you know why, according to the book, his ideas did not catch on until many years after he died? He had horrible people skills! Just imagine if he read the top 5 books during his time here on earth. How far could he have gone and how short lived would Keynesianism have been?

Re: Re: Free Enterprise & Socialism - Perspectives from History

by Orrin Woodward on Wed 18 Feb 2009 10:27 AM EST | Profile | Permanent Link

Dean, I am not sure if he had horrible people skills or that he would not agree with half baked ideas. Anyone who is principle centered will seem to others not inclined, to be rigid, stubborn and lacking in people skills. The key is to learn to stick with your principles, but not make it personal. We should be able to disagree with a person's ideas without becoming mortal enemies. Name calling and caustic attacks do not help either side of a discussion. Just my thoughts. thanks, Orrin

Re: Re: Re: Free Enterprise & Socialism - Perspectives from History

by dean clouse on Thu 19 Feb 2009 11:18 AM EST | Permanent Link

Orrin, he most definately would not agree with half baked ideas, like some other people I know. However, according to the book I read, and I don't know if it is just the authors opinion or if it was true, Mises would even have bad people skills with his own following. That's why I love so many leaders on Team. We can disagree about many things, but still have love and respect for each other and we never run each other down, which, of course, gives both parties room to grow and improve. We may have disagreements on ideas and principles, but we leave it at that. It seems to never get personal. My point in the last comment was probably poorly stated, but it was basically a compliment to Team leadership for the people skills we learn and a compliment to Mises for his economic theory. I believe if we put the two together, we can fix the major problems in this country and even the world. Thanks for the reply and for leading so well. Keep up the good and hard work you do. Some may believe that you are just naturally good and smart, but I know everything you have done and accomplished has come from intensely hard work. I have seen you grow more in the last two years than at any time before, and that is truly saying something! Keep it up my friend!

Re: Re: Re: Re: Free Enterprise & Socialism - Perspectives from History

by Orrin Woodward on Thu 19 Feb 2009 11:52 AM EST | Profile | Permanent Link

Dean, I got ya and I appreciate the kind words. If we can remember that you lose influence the moment it goes from a discussion to an argument. You harden attitudes when you start calling names and that is why anonymous hate filled messages are not allowed on the blog. They don't help anyone. You are growing too my friend and we have much to do! thanks, Orrin

Re: Free Enterprise & Socialism - Perspectives from History

by Miguel on Wed 18 Feb 2009 11:57 AM EST | Profile | Permanent Link

Thanks for the video's!
I hope you get to know Dr. Ron Paul and maybe get hime to come in to a TEAM Convention! I know I'd rather see him than Bob Mcewen. Not that I don't enjoy Bob but he came in and spoke to us during Bush's 2nd election and told us all the reasons why it was absolutely vital that we keep Bush in office. That our very freedom was at stake! He is in total support of pre emptive war. He seems to be what Ayn Rand and Dr. Paul call a neo conservative.

I believe the TEAM's message and vision are exactly in line with Dr. Pauls!

Keep the info coming!

Re: Free Enterprise & Socialism - Perspectives from History

by Kerry Konecny on Wed 18 Feb 2009 12:02 PM EST | Permanent Link

Hi Orrin, thanks for the article and the video. I think you are right in that we have to be educated and able to discuss the "why and how" behind our ideas. I am deeply saddened as well about the current state of government intervention but at the same I believe there is hope and we must do as much as we each can to make a change and restore freedom to our country. Kerry Konecny

Re: Free Enterprise & Socialism - Perspectives from History

by Barb Hartsook on Wed 18 Feb 2009 05:46 PM EST | Permanent Link

Late in the video one of the statements struck me as particularly pertinent: Von Mises didn't teach economics, he taught thinking. He taught his students to question their assumptions.

Today we don't seem to teach thinking, but rather our students are tested on other people's assumptions, presented as truth. Our grandkids (the ones in public school) are not asked to think, but to memorize. (And these are the advanced science and history high school classes.)

Orrin, I love your quote "History is the only laboratory we have in which to test the consequences of thought." It should be a banner at the head of every classroom, and on the bathroom mirrors of every teacher. :)

Great post. Thank you for it...

Barb Hartsook

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