The Question...

i'm excited to have all the political drama end. it often doesn't bring out the best in people.

but one thing it does do is get people to think more...and that's always a good thing. (unfortunately, our "thinkings" sometimes only happen every 4 years...hehe).

i keep hearing a ton of talk about how we are now approaching a socialist state, which in world history can have potential negative consequences. however, the reason for the possibility of some not-so-desirable results, though, doesn't always have to do with the philosophy as much as the people in the setting.

the early church would be a great example of that...where it actually worked.

so, i've been considering that possibility lately...and the american people in that setting.

and i guess i'm not too thrilled about the idea.

here's why..."entitlement".

in the book "the death of the grownup: how america's arrested development is bringing down western civilization", diana west describes the trend in our culture where people actually don't leave adolescence even though chronologically they may be aging. what this means is that more and more adults actually behave and think in the ego-centric manner of a teenager...making decisions based on "what's good for me" and "let me learn from my mistakes but take away my consequences" and "what would my pop star idol do" as opposed to the more mature/aged commitment to "what sacrifices do we need to make for the good of tomorrow" and "what will better the world for others" etc. it's a trend that is completely obvious in the media...and overtly apparent in the financial mishandlings of the american individual. "keeping up with the jones'"...case in point credit fiascos nation-wide. oh my gosh...it's apparent in the hero-worship of the election (either side). it's even apparent in the church...the swing towards "entertain me" services. there are tons more...

so, the problem? k, well there are tons of implications of a "me first" culture...but back to socialism...

making a move toward socialism...having the government take care of everything...if that's really going on...well, that driven by the key factor of a growing self-focused majority makes for tons of commitments with very little intent to carry the load, to put in the work required to "care for all".

history validates it. not a good plan.

but then again...how do you get the american adolescent culture to grow up?...the school of hard knocks. perhaps that's what they need to create... eventually, after they get tired of blaming everything and everyone else, they may learn to be more than "takers"...

hopefully...