Quoting Mark Alexander:
[In free nations there has been a] contiguous rise and decline [which] has been characterized as a fatal “Cycle of Democracy”. The cycle follows this sequence: From bondage to spiritual faith; from spiritual faith to great courage; from courage to Liberty (Rule of Law); From Liberty to abundance; from abundance to complacency; from complacency to apathy; from apathy to dependence; from dependence back into bondage (rule of men).
So, at what stage of this rise and decline do we now find ourselves? In his recent book, “After America,” Mark Steyn gives us a clue.
With their average 8th grade education, the Greatest Generation built the strongest and most innovative economy in history. However, “In the space of one generation,” writes Steyn, “a nation of savers became the world’s largest debtors, and a nation of makers and doers became a cheap service economy.” Indeed, our country now hosts the most over-educated and under-productive generation in history, and has institutionalized a social subculture demanding government subsidies to compensate for their lack of initiative.
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Filed under: Culture, Economy, Education, Faith, Family, Freedom, Government, Politics, Secular Progressive, Socialist Left, Worldview Tagged: | Greatest Generation, Law ; From Liberty, Liberty, Mark Steyn, Rule of law, Steyn, United States
The eighth-grade education shakers and movers of the generation past did not compete in a global economy nor were the demands for goods and services of the same magnitude around the world. I do not see America as failing. But she is experiencing what all nations experience..constant change because she is a part of the whole. Everything changes…continually. The earth itself is a mega ball of perpetual motion beginning and ending like the microscopic cells of the body that live, serve, then die. God made it to work its perfect actions…its life. The domain of man is at least as complex as the universe that surrounds him with all of it under the authority and rule of its Creator.
‘Indeed, our country now hosts the most over-educated and under-productive generation in history, and has institutionalized a social subculture demanding government subsidies to compensate for their lack of initiative.’
I do not agree with this sweeping generality. What one man calls ‘government subsidies’ God calls Charity…the essence of Christianity. The poor are in no position to ‘demand.’ And it is generally only those who have had opportunity and success who accuse the less successful of lacking in iniative. I am extremely and incredibly proud of America because of her benevolence in areas that make life better for many…for many reasons…by many ways. I recently affiliated with the American Red Cross who spent fifteen million on national disasters this past year. Fifteen million in help and services to the desparate and suffering victims of disasters. The Red Cross volunteers delivered these helps via disaster assessment, shelters,crisis counseling, first aid, mitigation information, immediate delivery of emergency items, and security. Services were given freely to disaster clients, disaster workers, FEMA workers, utility crews, National Guard members, Police, Fire Fighters, emergency medical services, and much more. And all of it goes forth continually from the hearts of Americans who care about people. Whether it’s via Red Cross or via government agencies…it goes forth as a gift from the American people to their fellow Americans. May God be praised.
I continue to be disappointed in those who accuse and condemn rather than seeing the huge and abundant blessings on this land and its people….though we are unworthy. And the Cycle of Democracy expressed by the author seems accurate. But the depth and breadth of how and why of the characterisics of the Cycle is outside of our knowledge. Thus, to minimize such an unsearchable issue as the Cycle of Democracy as merely a ‘social subculture demanding government subsidies to compensate for their lack of initiative’ is at the least nothing more than a sweeping generality.
Even America’s debt is God’s debt. All we have belongs to Him…houses, lands, cattle on a thousand hills. If America is in debt for her benovelance…God be praised. He will provide.
Feel free to read and delete. That one just went straight into my heart. :).
Carolyn
Why would I even consider deleting your response? Thanks for sharing your heart!