Freedom carries great personal responsibilities and risks. When you have full responsibility for your own welfare, you have to pay attention! Each of your actions affects your survival.
That sounds pretty harsh but it isn't quite true anymore. The lives of American pioneers were like that but modern society has evolved to a point where most of us are dependent upon others to take over some of our responsibilities, for a price. A little at a time, we began to rely on others for many of our needs. Someone else grows our food and makes our clothes. They build our houses and provide fuel for warmth. You get the idea. Relinquishing those responsibilities seems minor, but what would you do if those "helpers" suddenly disappeared?
That kind of incremental change is hardly noticeable and the change has usually been beneficial. But the principle of "incrementalism" can be used by governments to deprive us of our freedom. Small offerings of apparent help grow into something upon which we become dependent. Once dependent, it is difficult, if not impossible, for most to return to independence. That is the essence of demagoguery. Do you think the people of Germany, Italy and Russia looked beyond the things which were promised them to detect the evil character and intentions of those monsters? They all woke up too late. It's the old story about the frog and the boiling water.
Usually this technique is applied gradually but our administration has applied it in heavy doses by dividing our people and instilling hatred among us. Those who "benefit" see nothing wrong with the methods but when they are turned on them, and they will be eventually, it will be too late to act. Freedom for ourselves depends upon us defending it for everyone. The principles of our constitution must be preserved even if someone promises something if we allow them to bend or ignore them. It is the anchor which keeps freedom steady.
That sounds pretty harsh but it isn't quite true anymore. The lives of American pioneers were like that but modern society has evolved to a point where most of us are dependent upon others to take over some of our responsibilities, for a price. A little at a time, we began to rely on others for many of our needs. Someone else grows our food and makes our clothes. They build our houses and provide fuel for warmth. You get the idea. Relinquishing those responsibilities seems minor, but what would you do if those "helpers" suddenly disappeared?
That kind of incremental change is hardly noticeable and the change has usually been beneficial. But the principle of "incrementalism" can be used by governments to deprive us of our freedom. Small offerings of apparent help grow into something upon which we become dependent. Once dependent, it is difficult, if not impossible, for most to return to independence. That is the essence of demagoguery. Do you think the people of Germany, Italy and Russia looked beyond the things which were promised them to detect the evil character and intentions of those monsters? They all woke up too late. It's the old story about the frog and the boiling water.
Usually this technique is applied gradually but our administration has applied it in heavy doses by dividing our people and instilling hatred among us. Those who "benefit" see nothing wrong with the methods but when they are turned on them, and they will be eventually, it will be too late to act. Freedom for ourselves depends upon us defending it for everyone. The principles of our constitution must be preserved even if someone promises something if we allow them to bend or ignore them. It is the anchor which keeps freedom steady.
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