The Seldon Project - An Introduction
Republics have been, until recently, a rare form of government in the annals of history. A few Greek city-states tried it, but they were eventually bled dry by war and then overrun by the armies of an ambitious punk from Macedonia. The Romans were the next to try. History tells us they had a pretty good run, too, before degenerating into empire.
The next efforts came from the Venetians, Swiss, and Dutch. The Venetians were incorporated into the nation-state of Italy (really sorry about that, guys, but sometimes geography just sucks). The Dutch have recently woken up to the fact that they've been absorbed into an amorphous superstate based on bad ideas and even worse leadership. Bummer. Only the gallant Swiss are holding out against the tide. European hillbillies, you gotta love 'em. Bread! Cheese! Ar-15's! Okay, I've had my fun. Let's get down to business.
The Seldon Project is based on the recognition that the American Republic is facing a crisis. The debt crisis alone is enough to pitch us into the abyss. If we go, the rest of the world will follow. And the rest of the world will get hurt a lot worse than we will.
I think the crisis is inevitable, but that's just my opinion. I have no faith in either political party to address the immediate problems much less the systemic problems. Let me state clearly that I'm supporting Mitt Romney for president, but only because he's the least worst option. Barack Obama needs to be retired. Period. End of story. Ciao, baby. Out the door and down the alley with a boot in the spot where the sun don't shine. I'm being flippant again. Sorry.
The Seldon Project will begin with a dialogue. You're invited to participate. I want you to identify one problem we face that has national implications and make your case in the comment thread. The process will then be dialectical. We face a plethora of problems, but I want to narrow the scope to a maximum of five. Once we identify the problems, we can start working on solutions. We have a republic to save; Or, if worse comes to worst, we'll have a republic to restore. Have at it.
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May '10
Re: The Seldon Project - An Introduction
~Paules
Lacking the recognition of a supreme being, man himself becomes the ultimate power and authority.
This is it, in a nutshell.
Mar '12
Re: The Seldon Project - An Introduction
Prosperity. I don't think the human race is built for prosperity; we are evolutionarily fitted so profoundly for scarcity, both biologically and culturally that sustained prosperity such as western society has experienced the last 150 years undoes us. Consider how obesity and its ailments undermine our physical health, how unbridled materialism, with its elevation of the individual pleasure principle, undermines traditional and religious ethics of self sacrifice. Happily (sadly) history teaches that this is a self-correcting problem.
Jan '11
Re: The Seldon Project - An Introduction
Egalitarianism.
Religious and moral people succumb to that illusion with the same frequency and vehemence as Marxists.
In fact, egalitarianism is often the gateway drug which turns religious people into Marxist sympathizers.
Sep '10
Re: The Seldon Project - An Introduction
Our biggest practical problem is language. Words no longer have specific, agreed upon meanings. This has led not to openness and insight, but to great anxiety and distrust. Lots of posturing by those who assert there is no belief to be had save for their viewpoint—and the sound of that voice. There are no objective measures, as elucidated by language and, so, no way of objectively determining right from wrong. One can't help but wonder if the center will hold.
Jan '11
Re: The Seldon Project - An Introduction
PJS
~Paules
Lacking the recognition of a supreme being, man himself becomes the ultimate power and authority.
This is it, in a nutshell. · 6 minutes ago
I don't think that this is the problem. There are some very decent people on the 'right' side of issues who don't have a belief in a supreme being.
May '11
Re: The Seldon Project - An Introduction
While I agree with the majority of the comments above, I would like to take a more concrete turn.
I suggest that a flat tax rate with NO loopholes, NO subsidies, NO special interests for any entity or group whether human or legal. Everybody pays the same rate so there is again an incentive to excel. No more class warfare. Also, I suggest repealing all other Federal taxes or fees. The result would be a tax rate of 35+% on everyone. This would force everyone to realize just how much is being taken from them. Again, EVERYBODY pays (Grandma too, see no special interests above.)
This would go a long way toward coming back to the equality of the Republic.
Jan '11
Re: The Seldon Project - An Introduction
I think that the problem lies with too many people not embracing the idea of free-market outcomes; nearly everyone seems to want to control something or another that others would wish to trade or engage in. That's what I believe the one problem is in a nutshell.
To me it's highly evident that this is the case. You can see it even in instances where people wish to meddle in the lives of others using legislation as a tool for controlling behaviors: we, as a society, cannot even seem to agree that legislation should be left at the lowest levels of government as possible...that's why the tenth amendment has nearly become irrelevant and why the majority of funding decisions are made by our central government...and why the CFRs look like this!
Aug '12
Re: The Seldon Project - An Introduction
I believe that only those who productively contribute to the treasury should have a say-so in how that money is spent. It's the 47% problem. It's the "I'm voting for Obama because he gave me a free cellphone" problem.
Jun '10
Re: The Seldon Project - An Introduction
I'm becoming a believer in blunt truth. The Orwellian language from the left is designed to obscure the truth. I prefer pith, clarity and meanings clearly defined.
Sep '10
Re: The Seldon Project - An Introduction
~Paules
I'm becoming a believer in blunt truth. The Orwellian language from the left is designed to obscure the truth. I prefer pith, clarity and meanings clearly defined. · 3 minutes ago
Me too.
Nov '10
Re: The Seldon Project - An Introduction
Our single biggest problem? Our single biggest problem is that civilized patriarchy is the bedrock basis of any sound polity (thus of any sound economy). The evisceration of the distinction between male and female is where nihilism raises its head in the most salient, sinister way today. It's increasingly the case that no longer can we tell the difference between a man and a woman.
This distinction is the most fundamental of all distinctions in the world.
To put it in pompous, yet precise, terms: we're witnessing today the evisceration of man's encounter with primordial reality. People are capable of believing the most utterly bizarre, insane things: in some areas of the world, people won't eat a cow. Today people believe two men can be married. The most elementary thinking becomes impossible, particularly for elites. As Leo Strauss opened upNatural Right and History, the very word "humanity" became simply unintelligible to most Germans.
At the nadir of nihilism you get things like SSM -- the finale of the Long March to turn human beings into mere individuals.
Which is to say, into administrative units.
It is the end of politics. The end of human things.
Nov '10
Re: The Seldon Project - An Introduction
Robert Lux:
At the nadir of nihilism you get things like SSM -- thefinale of the Long March to turn human beings into mereindividuals.
Which is to say, into administrative units.
Why so? Because people want our institutions and practices to simply be a reflection of their will or appetite.
Jan '11
Re: The Seldon Project - An Introduction
Robert Lux: Our single biggest problem? Our single biggest problem is that civilized patriarchy isthe bedrock basis of any sound polity (thus of any sound economy). The evisceration of the distinction between male and female is where nihilism raises its head in the most salient, sinister way today. It's increasingly the case that no longer can we tell the difference between a man and a woman.
This distinction is the most fundamental of all distinctions in the world.
To put it in pompous, yet precise, terms:...
You mean that your first paragraph didn't already do this?
Nov '10
Re: The Seldon Project - An Introduction
LowcountryJoe
Robert Lux: Our single biggest problem? Our single biggest problem is that civilized patriarchy isthe bedrock basis of any sound polity (thus of any sound economy). The evisceration of the distinction between male and female is where nihilism raises its head in the most salient, sinister way today. It's increasingly the case that no longer can we tell the difference between a man and a woman.
This distinction is the most fundamental of all distinctions in the world.
To put it in pompous, yet precise, terms:...
You mean that your first paragraph didn't already do this? · 1 minute ago
Perhaps for a piker like yourself.
Dec '10
Re: The Seldon Project - An Introduction
~Paules
I'm becoming a believer in blunt truth. The Orwellian language from the left is designed to obscure the truth. I prefer pith, clarity and meanings clearly defined. · 41 minutes ago
This relates back to relativism. It's the self-deified feeling free to interpret the "living constitution" in a way which validates his virtue. Because I'm good, whatever I want to do is good and things like the meaning of words shouldn't get in my way. In more spiritual terms, this capriciousness is what sows discord.
Nov '10
Re: The Seldon Project - An Introduction
Western Chauvinist
~Paules
I'm becoming a believer in blunt truth. The Orwellian language from the left is designed to obscure the truth. I prefer pith, clarity and meanings clearly defined. · 41 minutes ago
This relates back to relativism. It's the self-deified feeling free to interpret the "living constitution" in a way which validates his virtue. Because I'm good, whatever I want to do is good and things like the meaning of words shouldn't get in my way. In more spiritual terms, this capriciousness is what sows discord. · 0 minutes ago
Well put, WC.
Edited on September 28, 2012 at 3:55amApr '11
Re: The Seldon Project - An Introduction
The ignorance of the American electorate. I'm afraid we will soon find out that over half of the people who vote in this country are incapable of putting the most fundamental issues, upon which they will vote, into historical context.
Oct '10
Re: The Seldon Project - An Introduction
LowcountryJoe
PJS
~Paules
Lacking the recognition of a supreme being, man himself becomes the ultimate power and authority.
This is it, in a nutshell. · 6 minutes ago
I don't think that this is the problem. There are some very decent people on the 'right' side of issues who don't have a belief in a supreme being. · 44 minutes ago
Seconded. Too many otherwise reasonable people in this thread seem to be flirting with the idea of cutting pieces out of the first amendment and establishing a state religion.
EDIT for clarification:
While I would say moral breakdown is one of the biggest problems facing America, I wouldn't agree that morality and religion are synonymous. You can make the same moral arguments and reach the same moral conclusions even if you start from very different moral foundations. For instance, you don't have to believe in God to believe that every human life is precious and abortion is a grave moral crime.
Edited on September 28, 2012 at 4:31amNov '10
Re: The Seldon Project - An Introduction
Robert McKay
LowcountryJoe
PJS
~Paules
Lacking the recognition of a supreme being, man himself becomes the ultimate power and authority.
This is it, in a nutshell. · 6 minutes ago
I don't think that this is the problem. There are some very decent people on the 'right' side of issues who don't have a belief in a supreme being. · 44 minutes ago
Seconded. Too many otherwise reasonable people in this thread seem to be flirting with the idea of cutting pieces out of the first amendment and establishing a state religion. · 0 minutes ago
No, I'm with Paules on this one, as I am it seems on most everything. It's not an argument in the least for theocracy. Rather the point is whether there is a concrete standard external to the will that can guide the will itself. Like I mention above, I think our fundamental problem is that people want our institutions and practices simply to reflect their will or appetite. Hence, for example, the pervasive belief today that marriage is a social construct - and the decline of the family. That's what it means to say that we can somehow adapt to SSM.
Edited on September 28, 2012 at 4:28amOct '10
Re: The Seldon Project - An Introduction
You posted while I was editing. Not sure if my edit would have made a difference to your post but I'll address it:
There IS (or should be) a concrete standard external to the will - but you should be able to make the case for it without resorting to religion.