Training Our Brain

“He who does anything because it is the custom, makes no choice. He gains no practice either in discerning or in desiring what is best. The mental and moral, like the muscular powers, are improved only by being used. The faculties are called into no exercise by doing a thing merely because others do it, no more than by believing a thing only because others believe it. If the grounds of an opinion are not conclusive to the person's own reason, his reason cannot be strengthened, but is likely to be weakened by his adopting it: and if the inducements to an act are not such as are consentaneous to his own feelings and character (where affection, or the rights of others, are not concerned), it is so much done towards rendering his feelings and character inert and torpid, instead of active and energetic.”

-From “On Liberty” book by John Stuart Mill

In which environment are we supposed to be practicing our mental faculties?

We haven't really built a society where intellectualism is encouraged. School is about memorization, work is doing what we're told and the home is where we shut our brain and do as little thinking as possible.

"...a mind that feeds only on itself soon is undernourished, becoming weak and incapable of creative progressive thought. Stimulation from others is excellent mind food." 

- David J. Scwartz

For someone that reads on a regular basis, it can be difficult to find stimulation in the conversation with non-readers. As I mentioned before, there's a thinking distance phenomenon felt during discussions, with a non-reader, which is made increasingly evident the more books someone has read (since the distance is now greater). Stimulating discussion, to an intellectual, are sadly few and far in-between.

Again, the question is how are we suppose to practice our mental faculties?

While we may not be able to change our work situation, educational system or relations - we can choose how we spend our free time. If we expose ourselves to new experiences, or books, it should help with our mental abilities. Writing is likely the best thing we can do to develop our mental capabilities.

As John Stuart Mill said, the brain is a muscle that needs to be trained and it falls on us to insure that we give it proper training.

Voting Democracy Out

“History shows that almost all tyrants have been demagogues who gained the favour of the people by their accusations of the notables.”

-Aristotle

How did we get here? This is something I've been asking myself every day since we've learned about the American Presidential election results. 

While it certainly happened before, I never thought I would witness, firsthand, the possible fall of a Democracy as a result of popular vote. To me, the only way to bring down this form of Government would of been through force but what can be done when the majority wants something different?

"If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be."

-Thomas Jefferson

The problem is that the voters have no idea what they're actually voting for as they're only paying attention to that "one thing" that matters most to them. The candidate, of course, has gone to great lengths to insure to be seen as the only person who can fix whatever issue "that" is. Lies, deceit ... anything to get power - that's the only motivation of tyrants.

Hopefully, the American people will realize the error in their ways and do what is necessary to rectify it. I doubt history will remember favorably this period as the representation of the Country is no longer exhibiting the values of the founding members.

As I'm trying to wrap my head around what happened, I leave you with this advise: Don't give up, educate yourself, hope for the best but prepare for the worst. 

Book Recommendation: "A Miracle That Changed the World. The 5000 Year Leap" by Dr. W. Cleon Skousen

So This Is How You Destroy A Democracy...

“Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety."

-Benjamin Franklin

Americans have shown us that the way to loose a democracy is not by force but through popular vote.

Americans have shown that if you give people freedoms they eventually, willingly, surrender it.

Americans have shown us that they would rather have a convicted felon than a woman to represent them.

The United States of America, as we know it, is no more: It was killed by it's own people. The once great nation is but a shadow of it's former self and the world is now worse because of it.

It's not clear which form of Government will emerge but it's unlikely to remain as it is now.

“LIKE THE FRAMERS themselves, many Americans in the early years of the Republic truly regarded the Constitution as a miracle. Not only did they praise the competence, wisdom, and motivations of those who served in the federal convention of 1787, but they declared that the formation and adoption of our new system of federal government represented a political achievement unprecedented in human history. They looked upon it, moreover, as an event that was actually "influenced, guided and governed" by the hand of God. Thus it is not hard to understand why our Founding Fathers believed that the Constitution was destined to bless all mankind-and that it was "incumbent on their successors" to preserve and defend our national charter of liberty…”

-Andrew M. Allison

The Canadian Government has A Problem

I've watched hours of political debates lately and am frustrated with most of what I saw: A bunch of politicians trying to justify their existence through needless bickering with little to no progress made on the subject of the day - How are we, the citizens, benefiting from this? 

The problem in Canada is two political parties owns almost the same amount of seats. Every decisions made, by either parties, are met with a barrage of criticism and the charade is carried out for days. In situations like this, what's even the point of these debates?

The obvious fix is to have a majority Government but even then we need ways to improve this process as we can't be spending weeks to come to an agreement on the most basic of decisions. We can't be having all these people in a room for hours with no progress made.

In the private sector, business leaders don't have the luxury of endless meetings to make decisions as time is money but Government has access to a large amount of money and can take however much time they want. 

Am I missing something or can this process be improved in some way?

If Easier is Available

Nobody will take the most difficult path if an easier path is made available to them. This is not only true for humans but also for other species as well.

My dad recently placed a bird feeder on his property and a large gathering of birds have ensued. They eat the free food with such vigor that one has to wonder what they were eating before this came along.
This has been going on long enough that birds are now waiting for the food to come rather than find their own. The birds will continue to wait for as long as they have hope that more food will come.

Humans are like that too aren't they? If you offer them social assistance, you effectively remove their willingness to go hunt for their own food. This will go on for as long as there's free money available.
While I understand that some can't get their own food and are required to be on social assistance - others are abusing it.