~ Alexander Fraser Tytler, Scottish-born British lawyer and writer, 1747 - 1813. [GJ - Author disputed - see below.]
We are a society depending on government handouts to support a non-working population. Once someone discovers the pleasant life of working the system, breaking from that habit is difficult. That draws people across the border to revel in the security of a declining Roman Empire - bread and circuses.
The Roman government gave free grain to the poor. They decided that was a burden, so they baked bread to give away. One stop shopping for food needs. Bread.
The public spectacles in the Roman Empire were so degraded that they cannot be described here. Gibbon said that 14 of the first 15 emperors of Rome were homosexuals. A recent book said - make that 15 out of 15. Was Nero worse than Caligula? Both practiced incest. Circuses.
The Roman people loved their bread and circuses. Augustine said that he wanted people to forget what they had lost - and they did. The Roman Empire in the West continued about 300 years more, than fell apart like a cardboard fort left out in the rain.
We lived on the border of Michigan and Indiana. Michigan offered rich welfare benefits. Indiana was stingy. People north moved across the border and settled in trailer parks to receive Michigan benefits. The recipients paid high prices for poor housing, but renters and owners both collected from the government that way.
Indiana has continued to have conservative leaders, more or less. Michigan has been dependably Left. Indiana is more of a low tax state. Its northern neighbor has been called The People's Republic of Michigan.
I have an unusual opportunity in teaching college and graduate students from all over the US. A professor does not have to try too hard to influence students. The message comes across in many ways.
I post a greatest share of political material on Facebook, where I still have liberal friend who debate with me. They are far more polite than the so-called conservative Lutherans who love false doctrine.
Some schools are dedicated to encouraging traditional Christianity and patriotic citizens for the future. One of my friends, a Moliner, is well known for sharing in what Hillsdale College does in that regard. There are other opportunities as well.
People should not be dis-couraged by the election. Faith makes us bold, as Luther said. The courage comes from trust in God rather than in man.
Dis-illusionment is good. Why live with illusions? Acting on illusions is a bad idea. Trusting in illusions will lead to nothing worthwhile.
The truth is worth a battle.
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narrow-minded has left a new comment on your post "Some Election Summary Comments":
Thanks for the encouragement, Pastor Jackson, as many of us are discouraged due to the fact that the U.S.A. is now officially Europe.
Psalm 146:3-4
King James Version (KJV)
3 Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help.
4 His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.
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GJ - I am thinking of ways to train the next generation. Not every college student wants to spend his life living in the basement of the family home, toking and playing video games while texting his buds.
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Brandon has left a new comment on your post "Some Election Summary Comments":
I would suggest re-doing the post, as your initial quote is incorrect. Tytler never made that statement, and it started becoming circulated after Bush was elected in 2000 with the minority of the majority vote.
Tytler did say, "Patriotism always exists in the greatest degree in rude nations, and in an early period of society."
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GJ - That quotation is attributed to deTocqueville here. I was more interested in the statement itself than who said it and when. That is the problem with Abraham Lincoln quotations or Luther's.
The Martin Luther Galatians Commentary has three different forms that I have used. One is the American Edition. Another is the Graebner edition. A third one is the Kregel edition. With Luther I am careful to list my source. With Biblical quotations, the translation or paraphrase should be noted each time.
narrow-minded has left a new comment on your post "Some Election Summary Comments":
Thanks for the encouragement, Pastor Jackson, as many of us are discouraged due to the fact that the U.S.A. is now officially Europe.
Psalm 146:3-4
King James Version (KJV)
3 Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help.
4 His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.
***
GJ - I am thinking of ways to train the next generation. Not every college student wants to spend his life living in the basement of the family home, toking and playing video games while texting his buds.
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Brandon has left a new comment on your post "Some Election Summary Comments":
I would suggest re-doing the post, as your initial quote is incorrect. Tytler never made that statement, and it started becoming circulated after Bush was elected in 2000 with the minority of the majority vote.
Tytler did say, "Patriotism always exists in the greatest degree in rude nations, and in an early period of society."
***
GJ - That quotation is attributed to deTocqueville here. I was more interested in the statement itself than who said it and when. That is the problem with Abraham Lincoln quotations or Luther's.
The Martin Luther Galatians Commentary has three different forms that I have used. One is the American Edition. Another is the Graebner edition. A third one is the Kregel edition. With Luther I am careful to list my source. With Biblical quotations, the translation or paraphrase should be noted each time.
