The American Problem

The American Family

Today our country is faced with a crisis that seems to make headlines every single day – How will America pull itself out of the massive debt that it has created for itself? How will our credit rating affect the way we run our fiscal policy? Should we increase taxes? Should we cut spending? Everyone seems to be of a different opinion on the subject. Perhaps before we so swiftly throw our two cents into the ring, we should look at our governmental problems in a different light. Meet the Americans.

The American’s are a family of six individuals living in a suburban community trying to make ends meet. They have some financial troubles at the moment – in fact things are so bleak that Mom has called a family meeting to resolve the issue at hand. Some neighbors have helped them in the past but it seems the American’s must work to solve their own financial woes now. Let’s start with a description of each member of the family…

Dan (Dad) – Dan makes most of the money in the family and he’s worked VERY hard in life to make it that way – in fact Dan makes exorbitant amounts of money that he likes to spend on fancy cars, new golf clubs, extravagant vacations (for himself) and other luxuries. As the primary breadwinner of the family he usually plays a pivotal role in making decisions concerning finance. If Mom ever asks Dan to help out around the house, he usually says that the money he brings in helps enough. He does occasionally give a small allowance to the rest of the family, but most of his income goes to himself.

Mary (Mom) – Mary is a busy homemaker. She does the laundry for the kids, ensures there is food on the table, and usually ends up having to resolve any conflicts that might arise with the neighbors. She spends most of her time looking out for all of her children (whether they deserve her attention and care or not). She is in charge of the finances, needs, and overall upkeep of the entire family. She gets most of her finances from her husband, but some of her children pitch in when they can as well.

Walter (Big Brother) – Walter works at a factory most days. He is the oldest of the family and probably the most responsible. He recognizes that the family’s situation has grown worse and so he has contributed a large portion of his earnings to helping the family come out of debt. He doesn’t live at home, so he also buys his own groceries and pays for his own expenses. He has managed to balance his budget and stay out of debt while living fairly comfortably.

Susan (Big Sister) – Susan was born with a condition that requires her to make regular visits to the hospital. She has tried to get a job to help support the family but because of her medical condition, she has been unable to hold one. Her medical bills consume a large percentage of the expenses around the house and she needs to be taken care of; however she gives a share of anything she can earn to her mother. She recognizes that she isn’t contributing much and feels awful about it, but she doesn’t have any other option available to her.

Michael (Little Brother) – Michael studied hard in school so he could support the family and especially his sister. He got a loan from Dan to go to school and when he graduated he started working full time for Dan. He will probably be able to pay off the loan eventually, but right now he is living on a VERY tight budget. He gives some of his earnings to Mary to help out around the house, and barely has enough left over for his own needs.

Jane (Little Sister) – Life has never been very kind to Jane. She has always excelled at making friends, crafts, sewing, and she’s rather smart when it comes to philosophy and religion. She didn’t do well in school when she was growing up because she was a little bit neglected as the youngest so now she can only get a job working in fast food. She has tried very hard to find other jobs, but has been unable to get one. She helps pay for some expenses around the house, but she herself is also in debt – unable to pay for her own expenses.

The home expenses are typical – groceries, gas, electricity, medical, car payments, etc. amounting in around $1,000.00 per month.

There are some trivial expenses like candy bars and sodas every month amounting in around $75.00 per month.

Total monthly incomes and contributions from family members are as follows…

Dad: $6,000.00 income/ $400.00 contribution

Mom: No income/ no contribution

Walter: $800.00 income/ $150.00 contribution

Susan: $100.00 income/ $30.00 contribution

Michael: $1000.00 income/ $175.00 contribution

Jane: $400.00 income/ $100.00 contribution

Total Monthly Expense: $1,075.00

Total Monthly Contributions: $855.00

So what do you do? What’s the solution? Do you as for more contributions from the children? Do you stop paying for groceries, gas, or medical bills?

This is just a smaller illustration of what is happening in our country today – the numbers may not all be accurate, but there are American citizens who work and manage to get by, but never without help from tax payer dollars. It’s easy for us to pick a side without thinking the issues through – it’s easy to say that the government needs to cut spending, but where? Sure there are some things that may not be necessary, but there are not enough of those things to make a drastic difference. Most of the governments expenditures every year go toward our military and keeping American’s (like Susan) healthy. Do you cut those things out?

There is a serious misconception in our country that our government just flushes money down the toilet. You may feel that way about medicare if you’re not on medicare. But someone may feel the same way about you putting your 6 kids through school on their tax dollars. Most government expenses are there for a reason. They weren’t just invented to throw money away, so before you start talking about “cutting spending” in general, please tell us where you would cut the spending!

You can probably infer from my example where I think the extra government revenue should be coming from (Dad/Wall Street), but that may not be the right answer either. I’m not sure what the answer is. My only intent for writing this is that you deeply consider the consequences of your chosen course of action before you choose it.

America has a problem – there’s no doubting it. It’s up to us – as Americans – as the government in a democratic republic – to solve it. We ARE the government. We ARE the ones spending and receiving the money. Every time you point a finger at someone else, there are three fingers pointing back at you.

Esotericism in Freemasonry

On October 22nd, I was finally raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason in Damascus Lodge #10 F&AM of Utah. Anyone who has experienced the degrees knows that masonry is an ongoing experience. Just when you think you're comfortably situated with all of the instruction you've received, something comes along (in the same reading or lesson you've already heard) and smacks you in the face with something new. I stay busy with school, but I'm currently reading "Morals and Dogma..." by Albert Pike and I'd like to just share a few thoughts from what I've read.

"To understand literally the symbols and allegories of Oriental books as to ante-historical matters, is willfully to close our eyes against the Light. To translate the symbols into the trivial and commonplace, is the blundering of mediocrity."

This is a hard concept to grasp at first. When people find out I'm a Mason, they almost immediately want to know what the "meaning" of all of the symbols are. This is contradictory to the foundation of Masonry. Symbols are used in teaching to express a meaning deeper than words can portray. Religious and philosophical concepts were originally expressed through plays and allegory, and there was no explicit explanation given of the teachings. The student was always left to ponder and arrive at a conclusion of his own. This idea is summed up excellently in a later paragraph by Albert Pike.

"The Mysteries were a Sacred Drama, exhibiting some legend significant of nature's changes, of the visible Universe in which the Divinity is revealed, and whose import was in many respects as open to the Pagan as to the Christian. Nature is the great Teacher of man; for it is the Revelation of God. It neither dogmatizes nor attempts to tyrannize by compelling to a particular creed or special interpretation. It presents its symbols to us, and adds nothing by way of explanation. It is the text without the commentary; and, as we well know, it is chiefly the commentary and gloss that lead to error and heresy and persecution. The earliest instructors of mankind not only adopted the lessons of Nature, but as far as possible adhered to her method of imparting them. In the Mysteries, beyond the current traditions or sacred and enigmatic recitals of the Temples, few explanations were given to the spectators, who were left, as in the school of nature, to make inferences for themselves. No other method could have suited every degree of cultivation and capacity. To employ nature's universal symbolism instead of the technicalities of language, rewards the humblest inquirer, and discloses its secrets to every one in proportion to his preparatory training and his power to comprehend them. If their philosophical meaning was above the comprehension of some, their moral and political meanings are within the reach of all."

Wow. Just stop and chew on that for a second.

In a discussion I had with a religious friend of mine, she told me that she thought it was preposterous that men communicated at one point in time with grunts and pictures. What's wrong with communicating with pictures? Everyone will agree that art can make them feel something and convey an idea "better than 1,000 words". Maybe pictures and symbols are the language of the gods? Maybe philosophers and sophists are the inventors of words the way we know them today. Who knows?

I love what I've learned in Freemasonry thus far and will continue to explore it's subtle symbols and principles. If anything, it has taught me how to teach myself. Mankind is so reliant on mankind to explain every detail of every principle, that the original principles and truths have been distorted by the imperfections of man. When we learn from the Supreme Teacher - The Great Architect of the Universe - the truth will be revealed in it's rawest, truest form.

25% of the world wealth and 4.5% of its population

Silent Greed

Today, as I was listening to the radio, I heard a talk radio host talking about limiting the number of immigrants we could let into this country. I laughed to myself and thought it a silly idea. Can you imagine? Who would put a limit on how many people we would allow into this wonderful country of ours? To my astonishment, I discovered that this had become an issue of serious debate.

The law recently passed in Arizona was the spark that ignited the flame of this discussion. I won't go into details about the nature of the bill that was past, first because my opinion of it is irrelevant due to my lack of knowledge of its contents. But as I listened to the arguments on the radio today because of the bill that had been past, I had a revelation.

Why are we so concerned about letting others into our country? Is it language? Is it because of the expenses it may incur? Is it because of the effect it may have on our education? We have an eternity to transcend the bounds of language, and an eternity to learn everything we must know.

I think the real reason we don't want others here is because we know that a higher population means wider distribution of wealth. There is not a reason that's not self-centered for preventing others from having the same opportunities we have as Americans. Not one. If you loved your neighbor, you would do everything in your power to ensure the best for him - financially, physically, and spiritually - regardless of the effects on yourself.

We need to think of others before ourselves. The greed that has taken America's hearts may not be obvious - and it may be easy for many of us to call those more wealthy than us greedy. But look at the big picture. We, as Americans, consume much more than the rest of the world.

Let's stop debating about how many people we should allow to have an american experience. Let's stop arguing over whether or not we should even let people in. Stop and think, before you speak, not about language gaps or cultural differences, but about a hungry child, a father struggling to make ends meet, or an old man unable to rest from the labors of his hard-earned life because of low wages. Think of human beings.

Initiation

On March 17, 2010 I was initiated as the newest member of Damascus Lodge #10 in Provo. I have been contemplating joining the organization known as Freemasonry for some time now and I finally decided to act. So far, I am loving it. The very first meeting I attended was so full of symbolic instruction and moral allegories that I already cannot wait to attend another meeting. Everything that is taught in Freemasonry inspires to do good and promote brotherhood throughout the world.

There are those who would oppose Freemasonry on the grounds that it is "cultish, secretive, or elitist". What's interesting about these arguments is that no God-faring citizen is denied membership, no matter his social status or religion.

I'm very excited to continue growing and following a path of virtue and honor, primarily through dedication to the church, and secondarily as a member of the greatest fraternity in the world.

It's Time to Act

Technology is great. I just recently signed up for a LinkedIn account, hooked it to my new Twitter account, linked my Facebook and my blog to those and I have effectively created a visible online person. I love the online community because there are no boundaries. There are no visas or passports and I am free to be a citizen of the world and not just a member in a country.

We talk about America as being the most charitable nation in the world - and I believe it. I am proud of that fact. But I don't think money and supplies build bonds between nations. Material things don't promote peace or show sympathy and affection. People do.

For the greater part of history plane tickets, travel documents, hotel costs and patriotism have done a pretty good job of isolating men into individual countries - something we are all comfortable and familiar with. Because of inconveniences, we don't allow ourselves to really get to know individuals all over the world. We've been concerned with only our neighbors and communities because that is what's convenient.

I say it's time we got past the inconveniences - technology has made it possible. For years, governments have been the only institutions capable of communicating on a large scale and coordinating efforts to send soldiers over seas to wage war. Let's coordinate a greater effort. I am going to set a personal goal, and invite all of my readers to set the same goal.

Before the end of February I am going to extend a digital hand of friendship to someone overseas and who is preferably caught in the middle of the war we are waging. Maybe you say my individual efforts to promote friendship and brotherhood on a global scale won't make a difference. Maybe it won't to you - but it will to me. Who knows? Maybe if more people tried to befriend the world, it WOULD make a difference.

Speak Up

I have a confession. Almost every day I go to school, I find myself eavesdropping on other people's conversations. I am an eavesdropper. Most conversations I listen to aren't really important or even worth hearing, but occasionally I will listen in on a conversation that I am interested in. Usually these conversations are involving politics. Listening to what other people say to their friends about issues, I've decided, is much different than actually talking to a stranger face to face about what they believe. People are willing to open up to their friends and share all of their thoughts. Some ideas from different individuals are very interesting such as - global warming is not real, capitalism is evil, the United States is becoming socialist - these are just a few of the things I overhear every day.

Democracy is an interesting thing. An educated, well informed populace can make for an extremely powerful and effective force working together. Over the last few months, I have found myself thinking about other people's ideas and actually being afraid knowing that they were also contributing to the vital decisions that the US faces every day. To put it in the words of an anonymous savant, "Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large numbers." Thinking of that saying can make Democracy seem a little scary at times, I know; but much to my surprise, I've recently developed a new state of thinking.

I'm glad there are so many opinions in the world. It keeps things in balance. As long as people have bad ideas, there should exist good ideas and vice versa. My biggest worry now is that many people don't have an opinion. Many of us don't care what is going on in our country and we would rather let someone else make decisions for us. We have mentally elected kings and rulers over us. The beautifully scary thing about Democracy is that as the people making the decisions, we can choose to not decide anything. We can choose to do away with Democracy all together if we like.

I am going to redouble my efforts to get involved in our nation's affairs and at least be informed on important matters, and I can only hope that more of us will do the same. After all, the only difference between you living in a Democracy and you living in an Aristocracy is your own voice.