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(Ok? What did you expect from a guy with a Master's of Divinity degree?)
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Think of it as twelve steps for politicos. We acknowledge the presence and role of a higher power-- "God"-- as you understand him / her / it to be. Think of it as the intangible element, the wild card, the sense in which the sum is greater than its parts, in which, in whatever way, for whatever reason, the Universe cannot be reduced to a zero sum, events do not always conform to laws, facts, principles, equations. Not everything is predictable. Truth is not always transparent. There are times when neither the chicken nor the egg comes first.
This is the realm where Libertarians dwell, the sweet spot for liberty. When you think about it, liberty is the ultimate spiritual state. It is truth spoken to power. It is truth and justice triumphant. Victory for the underdog. Independence by declaration. It is salvation, peace, prosperity, goodwill. It is the free-flow of ideas, the natural unfolding of consequences. It is the absence of manipulation, coercion, restriction, regulation, corruption or contrivance. It is life in a zone in which faith makes a difference, in which beliefs affect outcomes, dreams come true. It is the land of the "law of attraction."
The law of attraction is a two sided coin, but that is spirituality. The Dark Side versus The Force, darkness versus light. It is liberating, though, when you think about it, because the choice is always yours, mine, ours. We are always free to decide what we will attract. We can visualize virtually anything and the only certainty in life is that what we visualize will be our reality.
If you haven't read the book The Secret or seen the video-- or both-- do it now. If you haven't read Jon Gordon's The Energy Bus, buy it, read it, pass it on, and then read his next book, The No Complaining Rule. I don't care if you are Protestant, Pagan, or Papist, Atheist, Taoist, Islamist, Animist, Jewish, Jehovah's Witness, anything else or "nothing." The truths in those books transcend belief and unbelief, denominations, religions and scriptures. You will find these truths, stated differently perhaps, but recognizable, in every holy book, and in New Age spirituality, secular self-help, ancient witchcraft, and everything in between.
Update Insert: In early 2008, Phil Gramm said we're in a "Mental Recession." We beat him to it, however. But he was right, on that point at least. It has nothing to do with statistics, prices, stock indexes. It's not about Math. It's about what we believe at the core of our beings about ourselves, individually and collectively. If we believe we're in decline we are. If we believe our best days are ahead, they are. (see United Whiners of America in Howell-at-the-Moon.)
If you believe it you can become it. If you can dream it you can do it. Our (Libertarian) anthem should be I Believe I Can Fly.
And what does this have to do with American politics, with the Libertarian Party and libertarianism? Isn't it obvious? We are the party of freedom, of liberty. We have the potential in what we stand for, who we are, our reason for existence, to bring on the next American Revolution, not only to elect a mayor or coroner or even a senator, but to elect a President, to become the majority party in both houses in Washington. It will happen when we can visualize it. When we focus on it. When we begin living as if it is already happening.
-jwh- | |
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