“BECOMING AMERICA”

2 PARAGRAPHS 4 LIBERTY: #293

As many of you know, two partners and I composed a musical entitled Convention: the Birth of America, which is about our country’s Constitutional Convention of 1787. And, I am proud to say, once my friends Jo Ellen Chatham and Bijan Kian heard the music on our CD, they suggested we tape a one-hour show for each of our 17 songs about the Convention itself and also set the scene about the delegates themselves, the issues they raised and debated, and what those times were like, etc. So that is what we are doing, and we should start broadcasting them on YouTube sometime this coming January. And, like in my podcast All Rise! The Libertarian Way with Judge Jim Gray, we discuss issues truthfully and fully – warts and all. Thus we are trying to spread the word so that all people, young and older, will listen, learn and rightfully regain pride in our country’s history and roots.

Thus far we have taped seven of the shows, and all except the introductory show will have a truly intelligent, experienced and articulate guest who comes from all walks of life. So our audience will not be listening just to our opinions, but will get a broad spectrum of information from many different sources. But the thrust of each show has worked out, at least so far, to be the same: The best way to success is to rely upon yourself! Although he is not (yet) one of our guests, Larry Elder (who happens to be Black) well summarized that theme when he wrote: “For over 30 years, Thomas Sowell, currently with the Hoover Institution, and Walter Williams, chairman of the economics department at George Mason University, (who also both happen to be Black) led the charge against the ‘victicrat’ mindset. Through decades of weekly columns, books, speeches and lectures before often-hostile crowds, they long argued that racism cannot be blamed for poverty, crime, illegitimacy and under-performing schools. Sowell and Williams urge Blacks to reject welfare in favor of self-help – breaking the monopoly of public education, privatization of Social Security and the adherence to responsible moral, personal and sexual behavior.”

Our Founders knew that victimization is a trap, and that the best if not only way to success is through getting an education, learning a work ethic and working hard through both good and bad times. And the best way for that to happen is to have a reduced and less-intrusive governmental presence. In addition, although they debated, bickered and even fought about many things, each of the 55 delegates to the Convention believed that THE most important function of government is protecting our liberties from the encroachment of government (The second most important function was keeping us safe.) – and they drafted the Constitution with that important function in mind! I am doing what I can to promote these thoughts in these weekly columns, my musicals and the upcoming series, but we need all People of Good Will to do the same. (BTW The full title of our upcoming show is “Becoming America. America is a Perfect Idea. The United States of America is a Work in Progress.” We think this says it all, and we believe this strongly and hope you do as well!) Quote for the week: “One of the first lessons in an economics class is that every action has a cost. That is in stark contrast to lessons in the political arena where politicians virtually ignore cost and talk about benefits and free stuff. If we look only at the benefits of an action, policy or program, then we will do anything because there is a benefit to any action, policy or program.” Walter E. Williams in his last column before we lost him on December 1, 2020. RIP

One Final Note: On December 6, 2020 I published an Op-Ed piece in the Orange County Register that shows how the ideas and approaches discussed in this column are a vital part of the Libertarian philosophy and approach. Hence there is a genuine Libertarian Alternative. My Op-Ed is attached.