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silveradeptSo, a little while back, Mr. Glenn Beck feels that powerlessness or inability to change the direction of the country is an illusion, propagated by those in charge and their lackeys to stop the people from rising up and instilling the government that they really want in Washington. And thus, he lays out these fifteen commandme... nine principles that he espouses. If you can match seven of them, then you're an ally and you should help him and each other. So, let's have a look at them, shall we?
The Nine Principles
1. America is good.
'S a gimme. Most people interested in changing their country do is because they want to see it better, even though they think it's pretty good as it is. You can bet most people would check off on this.
2. I believe in God and He is the Center of my Life.
For the grand majority in this country, this is another gimme. Most theists would say this is true, even if it isn't right now, and it would become so if you asked them to strip away all the things that were trappings, they'd still keep God around to the very end.
3. I must always try to be a more honest person than I was yesterday.
So long as all you have to do is try. Actual success doesn't figure into this. And most ethical systems, surprise, surprise, put an emphasis on Right Speech as one of the things that has to happen. Even if they are ultimately fond of parables or will excuse "skillful means" in service of getting more people to follow that system and achieve its reward.
4. The family is sacred. My spouse and I are the ultimate authority, not the government.
Oooh, this one's a trickier one. Especially if you consider it in conjunction with the one right below it...
5. If you break the law you pay the penalty. Justice is blind and no one is above it.
So who's in charge here? If it's you and your spouse, then the law holds no weight, even if you restirct it to the implication of "in raising my children". If it's the law that requires penalties and no mercies or leniencies that reigns supreme, you should be willing to raise your children in that harsh environment, and not care at all about them if they run afoul of it. After all, nobody is above the law and penalties must be assessed when someone breaks it. And does that mean you turn your child into the authorities if they're breaking the law and you catch them? Mr. Beck, I think your principles need some clarification.
6. I have a right to life, liberty and pursuit of happiness, but there is no guarantee of equal results.
So I don't have to feel bad about the homeless or anybody else I disapprove of, and I can take schadenfreude on anyone I like that I see in a bad situation, no matter their circumstances or what led them up to this situation, because they had their chance to improve themselves and they blew it. I don't have to help anyone that I don't want to, because they should be able to help themselves. Hey, look, that's...
7. I work hard for what I have and I will share it with who I want to. Government cannot force me to be charitable.
No, they can't. They can tax you within an inch of your life and you'll smile and pay up, though, right, because you believe in rule #5. Even if you think or know that tax money goes to people you don't want to share it with, those people from #6 that you think didn't work hard enough. So far, so good?
8. It is not un-American for me to disagree with authority or to share my personal opinion.
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
It's even better than that, Glen. It's a Constitutional right and thus, one of the most American things you can do.
9. The government works for me. I do not answer to them, they answer to me.
And rule #5 doesn't apply? The law and its enforcement is an arm of the government, y'know. If you mean that by the pinciples put down in place of a representative, republican form of government, the elected officials at all levels of government need to justify themselves to their populaces or be recalled or voted out of their office at the next election, then, yeah, the government does work for you. And should answer to you. Although they do not do so individually, and your vote is your stamp of approval or disapproval of their actions. But, anyway, I can see where most people have the hubris to take that statement and assume they have mroe power over their government other than the redress petition, the ability to vote, and their ability to voice their criticisms and possibly build a coalition of people to change things.
If I wanted to read these right, I could take 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 as the principles and then say "Because I believe this, we should become a democratic socialist state", which I suspect is the antithesis of what Mr. Beck wants from his Real True Americans. (Heck, I could even swap in #2 on a message of charity from the Gospels.)
But there's even more to this. Presenting:
The 12 Values
* Honesty
* Reverence
* Hope
* Thrift
* Humility
* Charity
* Sincerity
* Moderation
* Hard Work
* Courage
* Personal Responsibility
* Friendship
...which, actually, I don't have much issue with, because they can be bent to my ideals just as much as his.
So, I suggest that Mr. Beck iron out some of the kinks in his principles, because they start leading into contradictions. It's probably #5 that could be changed enough to fit, so that would be the first spot to look for tweaks. Or it's the one that nobody takes as their principle (after all, we only have to match seven of nine, right?) I also wonder what he's going to do on Friday, when he unveils this great plan on CNN. Stay tooned for updates.
The Nine Principles
1. America is good.
'S a gimme. Most people interested in changing their country do is because they want to see it better, even though they think it's pretty good as it is. You can bet most people would check off on this.
2. I believe in God and He is the Center of my Life.
For the grand majority in this country, this is another gimme. Most theists would say this is true, even if it isn't right now, and it would become so if you asked them to strip away all the things that were trappings, they'd still keep God around to the very end.
3. I must always try to be a more honest person than I was yesterday.
So long as all you have to do is try. Actual success doesn't figure into this. And most ethical systems, surprise, surprise, put an emphasis on Right Speech as one of the things that has to happen. Even if they are ultimately fond of parables or will excuse "skillful means" in service of getting more people to follow that system and achieve its reward.
4. The family is sacred. My spouse and I are the ultimate authority, not the government.
Oooh, this one's a trickier one. Especially if you consider it in conjunction with the one right below it...
5. If you break the law you pay the penalty. Justice is blind and no one is above it.
So who's in charge here? If it's you and your spouse, then the law holds no weight, even if you restirct it to the implication of "in raising my children". If it's the law that requires penalties and no mercies or leniencies that reigns supreme, you should be willing to raise your children in that harsh environment, and not care at all about them if they run afoul of it. After all, nobody is above the law and penalties must be assessed when someone breaks it. And does that mean you turn your child into the authorities if they're breaking the law and you catch them? Mr. Beck, I think your principles need some clarification.
6. I have a right to life, liberty and pursuit of happiness, but there is no guarantee of equal results.
So I don't have to feel bad about the homeless or anybody else I disapprove of, and I can take schadenfreude on anyone I like that I see in a bad situation, no matter their circumstances or what led them up to this situation, because they had their chance to improve themselves and they blew it. I don't have to help anyone that I don't want to, because they should be able to help themselves. Hey, look, that's...
7. I work hard for what I have and I will share it with who I want to. Government cannot force me to be charitable.
No, they can't. They can tax you within an inch of your life and you'll smile and pay up, though, right, because you believe in rule #5. Even if you think or know that tax money goes to people you don't want to share it with, those people from #6 that you think didn't work hard enough. So far, so good?
8. It is not un-American for me to disagree with authority or to share my personal opinion.
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
It's even better than that, Glen. It's a Constitutional right and thus, one of the most American things you can do.
9. The government works for me. I do not answer to them, they answer to me.
And rule #5 doesn't apply? The law and its enforcement is an arm of the government, y'know. If you mean that by the pinciples put down in place of a representative, republican form of government, the elected officials at all levels of government need to justify themselves to their populaces or be recalled or voted out of their office at the next election, then, yeah, the government does work for you. And should answer to you. Although they do not do so individually, and your vote is your stamp of approval or disapproval of their actions. But, anyway, I can see where most people have the hubris to take that statement and assume they have mroe power over their government other than the redress petition, the ability to vote, and their ability to voice their criticisms and possibly build a coalition of people to change things.
If I wanted to read these right, I could take 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 as the principles and then say "Because I believe this, we should become a democratic socialist state", which I suspect is the antithesis of what Mr. Beck wants from his Real True Americans. (Heck, I could even swap in #2 on a message of charity from the Gospels.)
But there's even more to this. Presenting:
The 12 Values
* Honesty
* Reverence
* Hope
* Thrift
* Humility
* Charity
* Sincerity
* Moderation
* Hard Work
* Courage
* Personal Responsibility
* Friendship
...which, actually, I don't have much issue with, because they can be bent to my ideals just as much as his.
So, I suggest that Mr. Beck iron out some of the kinks in his principles, because they start leading into contradictions. It's probably #5 that could be changed enough to fit, so that would be the first spot to look for tweaks. Or it's the one that nobody takes as their principle (after all, we only have to match seven of nine, right?) I also wonder what he's going to do on Friday, when he unveils this great plan on CNN. Stay tooned for updates.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2009-03-12 08:28 pm (UTC)* Honesty -- Trustworthy
* Hope -- Loyal
* Charity -- Helpful
* Humility -- Friendly
* Moderation -- Courteous
* Sincerity -- Kind
* Hard Work -- Obedient
* Friendship -- Cheerful
* Thrift -- Thrifty
* Courage -- Brave
* Personal Responsibility -- Clean
* Reverence -- Reverent
-=Kiyoshi
no subject
Date: 2009-03-12 09:32 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-03-13 04:43 am (UTC)-=Kiyoshi