The Age of Democracy

The culture trend of our day is quickly sweeping us into the age of democracy.

For over two centuries the US culture has been an age of Constitutional Law, but over the last 80 some years we’ve been shifting, changing. The massive and insanely rapid technological advances we’ve been seeing over this period of time have greatly aided this shift towards a far more democratic form of government.

The odd part of this trend, and it seems almost contradictory, is that as governments, businesses, and banks get bigger and bigger, the close relationships built between them and the people at large are getting further and further apart. How many people have, or have had, a close personal connection with someone who has major decision making power in say Amazon, Apple, the Green Bay Packers, Wells Fargo, Fannie Mae, The Presidency, Nike, The New York Times, Samsung, Google, etc.? Or are they under such lock and key, special body guards, and highly private and invention only parties and meetings?

The further away these powerful people get, it seems the more involvement customers want in those companies. The bigger the company gets and the richer these men and women become, the more the people despise and seek after their demise. The more polarized politicians and companies get on issues, the more the flood gates open of hateful memes, tweets, and vines.

We want to have our cake, but we demand to be able to eat it too. This is not a good place to be.

The Age of Democracy

The desire to have the cake and to eat it too very nicely sums up the sentiment that Democracy in America by Alexis de Tocqueville and The Federalist by Hamilton, Madison, and Jay wrote about on democratic forms of government. Let me be blatantly clear, this does not mean the democratic party, simply the democratic form of government as opposed to a republican form of government.

A big win for the whims of men, as opposed to the rule of law, came in a time of crisis and several companies were considered too big to fail. Many people were angry and understandably frustrated that they were too small to be cared about; thus being allowed to fail. Many people lost their jobs, their homes, their security, their credit, and their confidence in the law.[i]

When the law is on our side we’re all for it, but as soon as the benefit for another starts hitting our wallet we can’t stand for the treachery. When government and bank representatives came knocking on thousands upon thousands of homes saying you no longer own this property and you have two minutes to be out. Let me back up a step real quick: by law they were required to give eviction notices with ample time to move.

So many people thought they owned their home, it was not just a house, but their home. Their car. Their things.

The hard cold truth of the matter is that if it’s mortgaged, if it’s financed, if it’s collateral it belongs to someone else. Period. There is no security in debt. The piles of paperwork to sign for a home, a credit card, a car payment, same as cash checks, and title loans are so easily signed. The immediate pressure of paying the wolf pack of money collectors to get them off our backs, or to provide for the expected

Christmas joys, or whatever the case may be comes so easily. But we agreed to pay the piper when it is time, and we struggle to understand why my home isn’t actually mine. Why the judge would be so cold, why the Sheriff is so cruel, why the real estate agents would do such a thing, why our very own government is doing these things to us.

We then cry out, demanding to have our cake. We then cry out foul play. We then cry out to be saved. Big business, big banks, and big government have leveraged the law to win big. They’ve turned the law against the people, making so much fine print that the average person making a living, living a good life, won’t be able to understand.

As more and more people come out hurt and wounded, blind-sided by The Three Bigs (big business, big banks, big government), the people are the biggest of them all and they demand that they are too big to fail. If government officials want reelection, if bankers and businesses want customers and not riots, they’ll start giving the benefits demanded. This has led to the modern middle class squeeze. The wealthy know how to get breaks, the poor get the benefit, and the middle class ends up paying.[ii]

Many of the American Founding Fathers wrote—and many political scientists before and afterwards also came to a similar conclusion—that once a people realize they can vote themselves benefits the society is not far from destruction.

By Whims or By Law

The law used to be in favor of the people at large. But somewhere in the last 80 years the people have stopped studying the law, paying attention to what the heads of each sector of society are up to, and holding themselves and others to the bounds of the law.  

If we were to divide the United States into two parts, I think a very clean line would be made between those who understand how the law works, and those who don’t. Those who know, often prey on those who don’t.

The law should be the check and balance between the elite and the other classes, but also amongst themselves. Once the law is used as a whimsical tool to aide one business over another, or one group over another, then the firm foundation by which the referee on human nature is founded cracks, slips, and crumbles. Then it becomes every man for himself. It degrades to whose whims can win over the law more than the next man’s. This war of human nature and its whims does not end well.

There must be a better way than for those who can’t cover the bills to become outcasts and/or babysat, for the middle class to be squeezed out of existence and be the main group paying, and for the elite to either sit idly by or to be siphoning off the labor of the middle and lower classes. There must be a better way than the self-destruction of a democratic or whim ruled society.

Simple or Complex?

What I’m about to propose is nothing amazing or outstanding. It’s not revolutionary, neither is it necessarily exciting and cool.

I’ve mentioned these things before in previous blogs and speeches. I’ve heard them mentioned dozens of times in various places by my mentor. I’ve seen these answers pop up in ancient times as well as modern, from the blue side as well as the red side, the poor side as well as the rich. They have been a common universal answer to practically every problem faced in the course of human nature.

The formula for greatness, for success, for freedom has always been simple. Rarely easy, but very simple. There is a lot of stress, fear, and doubt in our society today, many run from one place to another looking for the fix, the solution, the hero to save the day. We go from making one political party dominant to then making the other party dominant, and then back again. This mad scurry and swinging pendulum won’t stop until we take a deep breath and decide to hunker down and do the hard work necessary to enact the simple solutions needed.

Looking to the Future

We must develop in ourselves and spread the skills and principles of entrepreneurship.

We must become voracious readers and deep thinkers in all things great. This is definitely including the fine print of businesses, governments, and banks.

We must build communities. Building support groups, friend groups, trusting groups. There is strength and power in numbers. There is security, aide, and encouragement in great communities. Communities enable, fill gaps, connect, lead, develop, and strengthen empathy; communities

humanize and aggrandize the whole.

Become a student of success, find the simple solutions for yourself. I’ve found them to be as simple as entrepreneurship or intrapreneurship, being a voracious reader and thinker, and building communities.[iii]

The people have been breaking themselves against the law and not understanding what is going on. One or the other will give. What if both give? What if we lead out by using the three vital principles from above and we all come out of this struggle victors, a free society, a nation of opportunity and prosperity? 

Maybe we’re the next founders of the new golden age of America.

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[i] The Financial Matrix by Orrin Woodward

[ii] “The Middle Class Squeeze” by Orrin Woodward

[iii] Freedom Matters by Oliver DeMille (Or 1913)

Which is Better: More National, Or More Local?

The Federalist Papers is one of the greatest collections of thoughts and analysis on freedom available. There is a wealth of knowledge and passion for establishing and maintaining a society that fosters freedom, opportunity, and widespread prosperity.

The authors—Hamilton, Madison, and Jay—are deep thinkers and powerful writers. I often wrestle to understand many of their concepts and phrases, but it is well worth the struggle!

As I’ve been studying the Papers again, I keep finding myself disagreeing on a common point over and over again. Normally in a book I’m excited about the disagreement, I will write an argument or a reference for why I see they are wrong and what I think the correct perspective is. With these Papers, though, I haven’t been as apt to write my initial disagreements and thoughts as I am with other books and authors. I’m concerned that I am wrong and that I just don’t understand why they are correct yet.

Let me make a quick aside. I disagree with many things written in the Federalist Papers, where I think they have something flat out wrong. But when it comes to this caliber of men and women or this caliber of classic, I take some extra time to think and process to make sure I’m finding the principle and not disagreeing over a surface issue.

The Disagreement

For example, in Federalist Paper #23 Alexander Hamilton makes his argument for “giving the Union energy and duration” through a strong national government. He says, “we must abandon the vain project of legislating upon the States in their collective capacities; we must extend the laws of the federal government to the individual citizens of America.” My initial response was an emphatic, “no! We do not want more national control over the individual!” Then I stop, think about it, and say, this is Hamilton we’re talking about, what is he seeing about the principles of freedom that I am not?

This is one example out of several where I have had the same line of thinking with Hamilton and Madison. I’ve been mulling over this for several days now as I continue to read, and I think I understand what is happening. Neither of us is necessarily right or wrong, we must understand the times!

As the Power Pendulum swings from one pinnacle of Tyranny to the other of Anarchy the direction we should be facing is completely different.

Understanding the Times

In the Era of the Founding Fathers there was not enough federalism, not enough Union, not enough national strength. They had just broken off from a tyrannical head and were slow to accept another head that was further than a few days’ ride. They were weary of confederating together into another national government that would boss them around. They were on the brink of anarchy and desperate for the balance, security, and strength that Union brings.

Today, in the 21^st century the power pendulum has overcorrected—thus the too perfect analogy of the pendulum swinging—and have too little “anarchy” or a far more localized power into a very top heavy national, and barely even federal, government that bosses individuals around.

There must be a balance of power between the different levels of governments and the different sectors of society. And depending on where we are as a society and where we should be heading to find the freedom balance—where the pendulum rests in the center. We must be aware of the current playing field and adjust accordingly.

Taking the exact words of the Federalist, or any of the Founding Fathers, and applying them into our modern world will not work. It will not produce freedom in our day and age like it did for them in their time. We must seek out the principles, the reasons and the understanding they had because these can be applied to solve and improve our current situation. Hamilton and I don’t disagree as much as I thought, we’re just living in different times and need to apply the same principle differently.

Two Methods of Approach

When studying the classics there are two main approaches, or perspectives.

There is the approach I mainly discussed above. Study the classics looking for the principles, thinking, and education to be applied directly to the issues and problems of today. The second approach is a historical perspective. Study why they thought and acted how they did, studying what was going on in their time. Obviously studying the historical climate of the time provides principles and application for us today, but the questions, focus, and lessons are completely different than a more principle based approach.

Approaching classics for learning principles to apply or studying the historical climate around the classic can both powerful and great. When I didn’t know I was discussing and arguing with the classics with one foot in each method it can be rather confusing and potentially even dangerous. The principles in the classics can come out warped, twisted, and misunderstood. It makes sense now why the conclusions and answers weren’t adding up for me.

Perspective and approach are key parts to getting a truly great leadership education. Make sure and work with your mentor, make sure and ask great questions, and make sure the approach used is understood and utilized properly. I’ve been enjoying arguing with the classics a great deal more with separating these two methods in my thinking.

“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