Midlife Crisis of U.S. Politics?

Most voters think that whichever candidate gets the most votes will take the nomination for their party, but the reality is more complex.

More people are hearing about the “contested convention” that looks likely for the Republican Party. Even the Democratic race has seen a similar shake-up: Sanders often takes the popular vote, but Clinton wins more delegates.

As Ezra Klein from vox.com put it:

“Americans believe their elections are far more democratic than they actually are, and that’s because the most undemocratic institutions—like super delegates and the Electoral College—tend to follow the popular will. But that’s because the popular will is usually clear and easy to follow.

“This is a year, in other words, when voters on both sides will be looking for reasons to doubt the results of their primaries. And they will find plenty of them.”[1]

In a contested convention for the Republican Party most delegates will be able to vote however they would like. This will probably leave their constituents back at home a little upset if they don’t follow the popular vote. Maneuvering has already been taking place to get delegates who are sworn to one candidate by their State’s popular vote, but who would vote for another candidate in case of a contested convention.

Democrats have super delegates who aren’t tied to popular vote and can cast their vote wherever they see fit. They may “pledge” to one candidate during the primaries and this usually coincides with the popular vote of their state, but it doesn’t have to.  

These are just two aspects of the labyrinth of a republican form of government. In other words, a government by delegation or by representation. Every state has its own method of voting for the president, as well as party rules, and how the state itself runs.

Which One?

The question arises here, are we a government of delegation or a government of popular vote? It seems that the people think it’s popular vote—and get confused, annoyed, and angry when thwarted. But the party leaders and government are living by the rules of representation (granted, this is pretty much by default because they are required by law to abide by these rules).

The people are playing Baseball while the delegates are playing Football, and the rules of the two games don’t mix very well. In the overlap, we’re getting major chaos and only one side can prevail.

Before we continue, let’s take a few steps back and take a good look at these two forms of government.

Popular vs Delegate Societies

A pure democracy exists where the majority decides what happens. If 51% of the population wants free health care, then it passes a law and it’s the duty of the officials to make it happen. If 49% wish for slavery, they can’t pass as law because there is no majority.

Things move quickly, and usually vehemently, in a society ruled by solely popular vote. Even Aristotle categorized democracy as a bad form of government. Most of the founding fathers studied many different forms of government as they were putting together the Constitution of the United States. John Adams said:

“Democracy… while it lasts is more bloody than either aristocracy or monarchy. Remember, democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself. There is never a democracy that did not commit suicide.”

Think of the book Les Miserables by Victor Hugo, or The Scarlett Pimpernel by Emma Orczy, or any history book covering the French Revolution, and you’ll get the picture of what everyone was so worried about when it comes to democracies.

On the other hand, a republican form of government exists where the populace gets together and votes for delegates or representatives who then decide what laws to establish. Instead of the populace voting for everything, their representatives or delegates take the duty to maintain society through necessary law-making and executing those laws. A classic example of this is the Roman Republic or the Roman Senate.

Another great example of this is our modern Presidential election. Every four years we have a national election—which is partly done by popular vote and partly done by a delegated vote, depending on the state—and a great number of citizens rally around this great cause. Once it is over most people hibernate again until something exciting comes along, like the next presidential election.

If you’d like to know more of what the role of the average citizen should be during this “downtime,” dig into these two books Oliver DeMille wrote for this very purpose:

1.       Freedom Matters by Oliver DeMille

2.       The U.S. Constitution and the 196 Indispensable Principles of Freedom by Oliver DeMille

What Is Our Identity?

When the endgame is unknown it’s pretty much impossible to win. If I’m given a golf ball on a soccer field, and I’m told to make the loop, what am I supposed to do? What if I’m not given any instructions? Am I supposed to be on offense? Defense? Maybe play goalie. Is there even supposed to be a goalie? Am I allowed to block, where am I to focus to help score, do I want a high score or a low score? Is there a scoreboard?!

Not knowing what you don’t know can be very frustrating and stressful, leaving you without any hope of making progress. We no longer seem to be a nation with a unifying identity. A similar thing happened in the 1770’s between the colonies and the British, again in the 1850’s-60’s with the Northern States and the Southern States, also during the 1940’s with bigger government deals as well as global community issues. We’re in another such period; over the next few years we will likely see society shift again in major ways.

Will it be a shift towards more opportunity, success, and freedom, or something worse?

What is the Coming Shift?

It might be too soon to tell, but this presidential race might just be an omen of the coming shift; a microcosm of what the future holds for the “United” States of America.

This disconnect and misunderstanding of how the elections actually work could be the perfect setting for a democratic revolt. The populace might demand, despite whatever laws, rules, and constitutional measures are in place, that government listen to the voice of the people. To do what the people vote for and right away. No more of this arguing, debating, and political maneuvering in Congress. Let’s get it done!

The checks, balances, and the democratic republican constitutional form of government we now see hanging by a thread could very well be severed and swing us heavily towards a government by the whims of men.

Now, because of the numbers, I know many who read this will still be asking: but why is this shift a bad thing? Isn’t it bringing us more freedom? Isn’t it getting the people what they have so long desired? No more ridiculous laws or government officials telling us what we can and cannot do; we will take the responsibility in our own hands!

If men were angels this would probably work out much better, but as history has shown again and again this is not the case. Remember the quote by John Adams earlier? Remember your French Revolution history? Logically we might “know” these things, but still! Look at what’s happening today in our society. The people are being held back as corruption in high places seeps further and further.

Who will win this fight? The corrupting upper crust of society, or the beaten down and squished populace?

Or is there a third option?

Another Way

Think of it this way: when societies were ruled by the whims of the masses, the leaders that rose to the top were Hitler, Mussolini, Stalin, Nero, and the like. Historically these are the type of men, and women, who rise to the top and gain control.

On the flip side of this coin is the rule of the wealthy or privileged. Enter the Feudal Age and the ancient and modern systems of slavery. King Henry the VIII wasn’t elected or put on the throne by a revolution of discontented people, he was born into the position. He was at times just as bad for the people and to the people as the tyrants mentioned before. That’s because these monarchs or oligarchies still rule by the whims of men.

What our Founders did differently—as did every other truly free people in the history of the world—was study freedom deeply, and then build organizations or communities that solved the issues of their time. In other words, they took responsibility to get things done themselves, and they developed their leadership to make sure their ventures and communities would succeed.

Let’s Pay the Price

What every free people in the history of the world did different was set up checks and balances, forms and processes, and auxiliary precautions to guard against these destructive tyrants, both of the general people as well as the individual tyrant and everything between. It’s safer in the long run to establish laws, rules, and forms that are no respecters of persons. This has been the formula for establishing freedom for generations.

This means the rules of the game must be understood and upheld by the masses. If the average citizen doesn’t, then we’ll quickly learn to vote for any and every benefit we can. Or we’ll have the threat of having our representatives and upper crust of society take power and rule with an iron fist—squashing the general populace.

I’m not saying the current forms and systems are perfect, but we should understand why they were established in the first place. If we throw off the bonds that make us free we will quickly spiral into an era of major losses of freedom and opportunity for generations to come.

Let’s pay the price of understanding the rules of the game to maintain freedom. 

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[1] “This presidential campaign is developing a legitimacy problem,” by Ezra Klein Vox.com, April 19, 2016

“I Think I’m Ready!”

Grandpa Glen leaned back on the park bench as he put his arm around Kevin’s shoulder. 

“Let me tell you something, Kevin,” Grandpa Glen sighed.  “Too many people have given up on the American Dream.  But my brothers and went to war, fighting long and hard for that American Dream.  Today, just as ever, is full of abundance and opportunity.  It never actually left; people just started ignoring it.” 

Kevin looked up quizzically. 

“See here Kevin, there are two main camps of people.  There is a very fine line between the two, but the differences are huge!  It’s interesting how the little things set the big things so far apart.  It all boils down to one’s thinking.  Simple as that!”

“But doesn’t everyone think, Grandpa?” 

“Ah, yes.  But it’s what everyone thinks about that’s the difference.”  Grandpa Glen had a big grin on his face now as he was beginning to warm up.  “We all start with pretty limited thinking and it can be hard work to get better at it.  Henry Ford simply pointed out why so few seem to think well, he said it is some of the hardest work there is.  Which usually makes it the best paid as well.  So it’s no wonder that the man with an hourly wage, who is told what to think, is paid the least.  He’s dependent on the thinking of his boss, and that man’s boss, and then that man’s boss until you reach the owner and impetus of the whole human machine.  The employee is a dependent and is told to think hourly for his just compensation. 

“And then the ones who don’t like to be dependent come along and set off for their independence.  They’re confident, head-strong, and cocky.  They think one task at a time.  Their motto is something like, ‘If you want a job done right then do it yourself.’”

“Kinda like Jimmy?” Kevin asked. 

“Kind of like Jimmy, but your older brother has the potential in him for taking it to the next level.  You see, being independent is well and good, but the true power, fulfillment, and world-changing impact come with interdependence.  When you have friends who share in the fight with you.  If nothing else, this was the biggest lesson I learned in the military.  Where one of us couldn’t withstand, a brother-in-arms was always there to carry some of the load.  There’s almost nothing you can’t do with a tight-knit band of brothers or sisters wrestling for excellent results!” 

“Is that why you always get sad when you talk about your friends and business partners?”

“They were like family to me.  You see, we rarely spent our time.  Every second of it was an investment.  With those men, and their wives, we learned to think for the long haul, to curb our wants; and ultimately leveraged the eighth wonder of the world, compound interest, in every aspect of our lives.”

“What’s car-pond interest?” 

Grandpa Glen chuckled softly, “No.  Com-pound interest.  Sit down with your mother sometime and work out this little exercise.  Start day one with a single penny, then for each day double it and see where you end up after a month.”  He prompted further, “Your first day is a single penny, your next day is two, the third is four, the fourth day you would have eight pennies, and so on.  Some people, if presented the option, often say they’d prefer to receive a million dollars on day one instead of a meager penny that doubles every day for a month.  Work out the math and see which one you’d like.” 

“Oh, ok!  I like working out problems and finding the solutions with mom and dad.  Dad says he used to do that with you when he started growing tall like I am.  But, why were you talking about solutions last night with mom and dad?” 

“That’s because we have an interdependent relationship.  And he understands I’ve had success, failures, experiences, and more time on this earth than him.  Just like how I ask you how to use this crazy new phone of mine.  I know if I get help from you it’ll be much faster and considerably less painful for me than to try and figure it all out on my own!”

“Haha, yeah, that’s the truth, Grandpa!  I sure enjoy helping you out though, even though I think it’s silly sometimes how bad you are at getting the hang of it.” 

“Yes, my boy!  Isn’t that the truth.”

They both stretched out over the park bench, staring off into the woods across the fields, drifting deep into thought. 

“I’ve been trying to make sense of this interdependent thing you, my dad, and mom keep talking about, but how do relationships make you a living?  I mean, I have some pretty good friends, but I never get paid for having them.” 

Grandpa Glen smiled broadly at the brilliance of budding youth.  “That’s a bunch of old guy business talk that’s probably no fun to such a free-spirited youth like yourself!” 

“No, Grandpa, really.  I know someday I’ll have to make a living, lead some people, and have kids just as smart as me, because I have a mission I’m going to detect and get excited about and all that stuff.  Just like you and mom and dad.”

“Well!  Put like that I suppose it does call for an opinion on the matter, now doesn’t it?  Let’s see.  Simply put, it’s the interdependent friendships you invest in over your lifetime that are then applied to the mission you detect.  See, it’s not the business you pick as much as it is the mission you detect and then the business you build with your interdependent friends around your joint missions.  Your living comes from your business, which is built with your friends, based around your missions.  Does that make sense?  You’re not actually paid for simply having friends, but you are paid for the impact your community will have on the world.” 

Grandpa Glen looked over at Kevin, pondering. 

“You’re getting that look Grandpa, I think I’m ready for it now.  Mom says I don’t need to study as much as Jimmy does yet, but I think I’m ready for what you’ve got!” 

Grandpa Glen raised his eyebrows, a little taken back, “And what exactly are you ready for, Kevin?” 

“Your mentoring assignment!  Whenever you get that soul-searching look there’s static in the air with excitement then you give some great and challenging assignment to somebody.  Well, I think I’m ready!” 

Grandpa laughed. 

“Maybe I should just give it to your mom and she can pass it on when she thinks you’re ready for it.  Because it is great and challenging, and when you are ready for it I think it will be very inspiring, give you a lot of direction, answer a bunch of your questions, as well as help you ask the right questions.” 

“Come on Grandpa!  I really do think I’m ready.  And if it’s too hard for me, then I’ll sit down and talk it over with Mom and Dad.” 

“Ok, I like that proposition.  So, the assignment…yes…what were we talking about?” 

“Grandpa” Kevin smiled, beaming with excitement for his first assignment from Grandpa Glen.  “How I’m going to make a living with my friends by living our missions.”

“Ah, yes!  It’s simple really.  We’ll start by reading a few key books.”

“Come on!  Let’s head home and tell Mom and Dad about it!  I hope we have all the books so I can get started on them!” 

Kevin excitedly led him home at a brisk walk. 

Grandpa Glen’s recommended reading list:

1) Thomas Jefferson Education for Teens by Oliver DeMille and Shanon Brooks

2) Financial Fitness for Teens by LIFE Leadership

3) The Cashflow Quadrant by Robert Kiyosaki

Ian Cox

Course: Leadership Education for Teens

with Ian Cox

About this Course

When you fall in love with learning, something magical happens in your education. Not only is learning more fun, it also becomes more meaningful, more effective, and even easier! When you have a mentor who loves not only teaching but learning itself—a mentor who’s dedicated to helping you find your inner genius and connect you with your purpose in life—learning to love learning is practically a given.

Ian Cox is just such a mentor. In this class, he will share some of the greatest success stories from history and some of the most important things that made all the difference in their victories, all the while helping students see themselves in what they learn and read. 

The power of a mentor-guided study of the greats is quite possibly unparalleled in terms of actually equipping students with the foundation of a lifelong love affair with learning, and the tools and principles requisite to a truly superb education and a highly successful career in any field.

Ian’s passion for learning can’t help but rub off on anyone who gets around him, so jump in and let’s get ready to rub shoulders with some of the greatest men and women in history!

Click the following link to see the introductory video 

and register today! 

Leadership Education for Teens

Course Reading

AThomas Jefferson Education for Teens by Oliver DeMille and Shannon Brooks

“The Inner Ring” by C.S. Lewis

“The Invitation to the Pain of Learning” by Mortimer Adler

“TJEd Mentoring and Freedom” by Oliver DeMille

“Real Power” by Oliver DeMille

“Leadership Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow” by Ian Cox

Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglas by Frederick Douglas

“A Message to Garcia” by Elbert Hubbard

“If-“ by Rudyard Kipling

“The Present Crisis” by James Russell Lowell

What’s so Great about the Classics? by Oliver DeMille

“'What About Their Careers?' the Father Asked" by Oliver DeMille

“A World Split Apart” by Alexander Solzhenitsyn

Frederic Bastiat, Foreign Affairs, and the Future of Success

“Across the entire innovation chain, from basic research to commercialization, governments have stepped up with needed investment that the private sector has been too scared to provide. This spending has proved transformative, creating entirely new markets and sectors, including the Internet, nanotechnology, biotechnology, and clean energy.”[1]

In this Foreign Affairs article, Mariana Mazzucato argues that government has the capital and power to take the risks the private sector won’t. The results, as quoted above, are advances and discoveries that we frankly would not want to live without today. The investment and involvement of the government has created whole new markets, thousands of jobs, and significant progress.

Sounds pretty good, right?

Mazzucato doesn’t stop there though. She lists many examples of great success due to government loans when no one else would fund certain research and development such as all the components in an iPhone, or the all-electric car produced by Tesla Motors, as well as the innovating behemoth Google.

She also gives a few examples where it was a financial sink hole for the government. She calls for reform, to make it better and easier for the government to obtain more gain from the success and not just be stuck with the failures. She explained, “it requires fundamentally reconsidering the traditional role of the state in the economy.”

This got me thinking.

To fundamentally change the traditional role of the state, what is the “fundamental role” in the first place?

The Black Belt in Freedom mentoring program with Oliver DeMille covers Frederic Bastiat’s power-packed little essay, The Law, where Oliver and Bastiat take this question head on. 

They break it down like this:

In a free society, the proper role of government is to protect life, liberty, property, and the pursuit of happiness. Period. Anything else leads to less freedom.

And that’s the catch.

I’m not saying that Mazzucato is wrong, neither am I arguing that she’s right. But if the fathers and mothers of today, if the business men and women, if the leaders of each sector[2] don’t know how the proposed solutions to the problems we face right now compare to natural law, then freedom will decrease and the generations to come will be less free until they can’t be free—and not being free is unnatural.

When government has to fill in the gaps where other leaders aren’t magnifying their roles in society, it comes at a cost. That cost is almost always a decrease in freedom. If private individuals won’t heed the call to be leaders in society, if we won’t innovate, if we won’t support those who need the help, if we won’t provide opportunity, if we won’t be actively engaged in a good cause—in short, if we won’t fund freedom—government agencies and institutions are more than willing to step in and take that role from us.

But government is force, and it doesn’t relinquish power very easily.  

Besides, how many businesses failed or innovations stalled because governments regulated and taxed at the high rates that gave them access to the money they loaned? How many innovators would have flourished more, earlier or simply done better without such government intervention? There is a reason many private institutions are more afraid to risk nowadays—and that reason is government.

The need for regular people to stand up, to become their own unique type of leader, to immerse themselves into the great conversation is as great as ever in today’s world of rapidly expanding government programs and benefits.

It’s time for people like you and me to dig into the great ideas, to become fluent in our inalienable rights and our inalienable duties, and to understand, live by, and protect natural law in all spheres of society.

Ian Cox

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[1] “The Innovative State” by Mariana Mazzucato Foreign Affairs January/February 2015

[2] Freedom Matters by Oliver DeMille