Force versus power

Force versus power

• 1.
  Power versus Force Power persuades peopleto cooperate – internally motivated Force coerces people to obey – external controls of all types
• 2.
  Power versus Force •Power would be people choosing on their own accord to comply. • Force is seldom needed • Power is highly leverage. A small police, military, or legal structure is all that is needed. • The people control the State • The State exists to serve the people. • The State is afraid of the people • Force does not scale. It is costly to monitor everyone to force obedience. • Comply or die. • Orwellian. An ever-present police force. • Individuality is discouraged • State controls the people. • The people exist to serve the State. • The people are afraid of the State
• 3.
  Freedom is atwo-sided coin Positive freedom permits a friendly climate to exert one’s individuality with 1. One’s Talents 2. One’s Skills 3. One’s Passions 4. One’s Convictions Negative Freedom is domination/coercion by others 1. The political and religious elite 2. Cultural elite 3. Individuality is suppressed 4. Coerced to comply. Suffer ostracism to prevent or punish the non conformer
• 4.
  China versus the United States CHINA •Domination by the State. They Control Everyone and Everything • Individuality is suppressed if not punished with the existing social indexing of people • The people exist to serve the State • The people are afraid of the State • Order is highly desired. With so many people it is essential for survival. Without it chaos and anarchy impoverishes everyone UNITED STATES • People choose to comply. • Force is limited • The State exists to serve the people. • The State is afraid of the people for if the representative acts in an unacceptable way is voted out • Scot Irish heritage – Resistance of all control in a few at Washington DC
• 5.
  I. All menare born equally free and independent; therefore, all government of right originates from the people, is founded in consent, and instituted for the general good. II. All men have certain natural, essential, and inherent rights; among which are the enjoying and defending life and liberty, acquiring, possessing and protecting property and in a word, of seeking and obtaining happiness. III. When men enter into a state of society, they surrender up some of their natural rights to that society, in order to ensure the protection of others; and, without such an equivalent, the surrender is void. IV. Among the natural rights, some are in their very nature unalienable, because no equivalent can be given or received for them. Of this kind are the rights of conscience. V. Every individual has a natural and unalienable right to worship God according to the dictates of his own conscience, and reason; and no subject shall be hurt, molested, or restrained in his person, liberty or estate for worshipping God, in the manner and season most agreeable to the dictates of his own conscience, or for his religious profession, sentiments or persuasion; provided he doth not disturb the public peace, or disturb others, in their religious worship. New Hampshire Bill of Rights October 1783
• 6.
  Ethical Assumptions inWestern Civilization “Standfast therefore in the Liberty in that Christ has made you Free” Galatians 5:2 WSJ Editorial reprinted every Christmas since 1942
• 7.
  Culture of Life not Death Cultureof Liberty not Tyranny Property Rights vs the Elite or the State Culture of Law not Anarchy Compassion and Respect for the Vulnerable
• 8.
  Premises in USA ➢America attempted to create a society not determined by one’s family title or class but by one’s own freely chosen efforts ➢ Meritocracy was the ideal not aristocracy – upward mobility is achievable through devoted self sacrifice and self denial ➢ Rights were not convened by human agencies like kings, queens, or the elite. ➢ Rights came from God and to be inalienable (God given) immune to revocation – “we hold these truths to be self evident that all men are created equal endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights among which are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”
• 9.
  ➢ Do allcultures have these same aspirations? ➢ Do some cultures have a culture of death and not a culture of life? ➢ Do some cultures have a culture of lawlessness rather than respect for the law? ➢ Do some cultures forbid or restrict personal ownership of property? ➢ Do some governments own all things and demand 100% loyalty? ➢ In contrast is Western Civilization worth defending and dying for? ➢ Is it exceptional? Cultural Comparisons
• 10.
  The END AHaller