Learning ENOUGH from history?

Yes, little groups might keep us from the repressive conformity too often found in the past. Yet there is also the danger of the visionless parochialism and lack of community that helped to unravel Rome. Are we really so blind-narrow-arrogant-selfish as to destroy common interest? And where is clarity? Or are those with clarity shouted down and marginalized? It seems more and more that even a good idea will be opposed merely because it “came from the other side.”

Yes, limited and local to the greatest extent, and accountable, is what the Framers had in mind, although after the Articles of Confederation, they certainly saw the need for the national government to be something more than a vehicle for state preferences. As for the roadblocks, they have been getting weakened for some time. The relatively recent combination of fear/security and tranquilizing surreal-ness has only accelerated the process. Many of the Framers would be surprised to find we have made it this long. Including perhaps this fellow: “Remember, democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself. There never was a democracy yet that did not commit suicide.” John Adams

Have you sifted Toynbee’s six evidences for civizational disintegration?
Cultural suicide
Escapism (truancy, he called it)
Sense of drift
Sense of self-loathing disguised as other things
Sense of promiscuity in all facets of life, with an everything goes view
Sense of abandon and lack of care for the future

Starving the monster we have created is not highly practical yet because there is no consensus on how. Everyone wants to cut, but has a pet preference they don’t want to lose. Your mention of entitlements goes far beyond the usual uninformed one of the ghetto mother of 7 on welfare and food stamps and living in govt subsidized housing (really, an infinitesimal part of entitlements). Entitlements means the government trough in ALL its forms, from corporate welfare/subsidization/contracts (corruption, really), to Medicare(less), to “Defense” non-producers (including maybe me now, in a way).

History would say that despair and decay will turn the producers into inefficient or even non-producers. How many intelligent—and otherwise productive—people and businesses spend an inordinate amount of time trying to figure out how to get “GOVERNMENT “money, as if it was The Sampo (had to bring in that Finnish reference!).

No, I am not aware of such an organization. Years ago, when I taught ROTC cadets, I gave them a test of would they obey orders if the President ordered them to disband Congress? Every one of them said they would. From what you say, it's encouraging to know that unlawful (against the constitution—the highest law) orders would not be obeyed by those officers you mention. What are those 10 things?

If you mean high school history textbooks, I agree with you. If you mean college ones, not as much. If you mean history books in general, not even as much as that. But there is bias in everything, and everyone, no doubt about that. Now, if the sentiment is the desire to think for one’s self, then that is to be applauded (and for the two of us to feel encouraged!).

The incompetent, lazy, or overtasked-into-ineffectiveness teacher who would give such an economics exam is, however, NOT encouraging. Nor the educational system that would produce that “result.”

You have chosen to focus on public authority and not include private exploitation, as was in Toynbee’s statement. Are they not equal dangers? There is an indoctrinating and inoculating and tranquilizing infusion from many of the wealth engines of the powerful that is more exploitative and just as dangerous as the debilitating disconnection of the entitlement sentiment (and all that sentiment’s frilly associated—and divisive, even where unity and appreciation for “diversity” are expressed—effects). At least the latter is recognized by a number of people. The former can barely be articulated, even when it is recognized, which it usually isn’t.

Yet expound more on “intellectual tyranny.” You may be thinking additional things from me and I would like to know/reference!

“Whatever proves necessary will be difficult.” Well said. We should not fear so much or be afraid of pain. It’s a part of life, and pain to achieve something you can be proud of can actually be therapeutic if it doesn’t kill or maim you.

I do my best to sift what is valuable from people like Beck, and leave the excessive. For instance, have you read the progressive/populist Jim Hightower? He says MANY things that need to be said, he speaks truth to power and about power, and is hard on the establishment. He was hard on Bush, and he’s hard on Obama and Washington in general (although probably not as hard as he was on Bush). Yet sometimes he oversimplifies or broadly paints, and we have to then disagree. Being informed is hard work, as you’ve said. No wonder many people don’t bother!