How absolutist of you ...

The ignorant of the 21st century are those that do not ask questions.  The truth is not broadcast, it is sought out.  The truth is a destroyer of illusions and delusions, which is why most do not seek it but rather make excuses.  The same as in the 20th century and every century before that...

The 'progressives' used such rhetoric to introduce the corrupting influences of socialism/communism.  Freedom of speech has always been the foot in the door for political swindles.  Once 'progressive' policies take hold, speech is restricted to the 'party line.'  Yale Law and U of Chicago have served the political interests of socialists, whether on the left or the right.  The take-over is happening within — via 'education.'

Music is a good example.  While learning guitar and experimenting with various chord progressions, you'll 'discover' nearly every Beatles song there is. ;-)  One can't know the experience of singing in harmony with others without actually doing it.  Learn by doing.

Having home-schooled my children for a while, I often asked myself what/when/how do the children learn?  They are always learning which is why as parents we are always setting an example.  I did find that when we traveled with the children, they picked up a lot along the way, more than when at home.  The differences in language and customs always stand out, which then are compared to our own customs which we were mostly unaware of until we saw something different.

I believe so, Mike.  Perhaps with the Internet revolution, more people around the world will learn about liberty — it certainly is not taught by educational institutions.  Americans are waking up to the con.  People are bypassing university debt and studying on their own.  A college diploma does not hold the same sway as it used to because graduates are not bringing anything to the table for businesses to hire.  They are only good for government work in which they are not compensated for producing anything of worth but for propping up the regulatory structure of people from cradle to grave.  Like Waffler.

In other words, you may not teach your children anything that has not been 'approved' by you (or the 'authority' you bow to)?  A school board is tasked with administering government funds to public schooling.  It is NOT tasked with setting standards for anyone NOT attending their schools.  This is nothing less than regulating knowledge — and these days, more time is spent on 'socializing' the students than educating them.  It's become a labor racket, pure and simple, with unions running the show. 

The entire education industry has become completely corrupted, indenturing students to a debt secured by their labors, for life.  The debt cannot be discharged ever until it is paid back — unlike private business.  And what are students being taught for years and years?  Only that which furthers the racket.  It's a labor regulation racket — you've got to pay the piper if you want that 'certificate' from university.

Frankly, I have learned more on my own; my college education was outdated the moment I graduated.  It was just to delay my entry into the work force and place me on the bottom rung away from competing with the others above me while also placing on me a huge debt that would take years of labor to repay.  Considering most of what I learned, I learned on my own, the education I was paying for was hardly worth the cost.  I eventually became an independent contractor and leap-frogged over generations of guys because I could deliver what they did not learn.  Nothing I was hired for was taught to me in school.

Which is a shame since the Founders were among the most enlightened men of the time.  Studying the history of America is integral for Americans in order to know who they really are and that their government is to preserve their freedom and their rights.  Without that context, people can be made to believe that they are beholden to the dictates of 'authorities.'  Which is why immigration from 3rd world 'refugees' does not help the collective consciousness of Americans, reducing them to uneducated, un-knowledgeable, unempowered victims of their own society, bringing their failed social demands to the US.  If people are not emigrating to the US to be free and responsible citizens, then they are a burden, and not a benefit to a free nation.

We are all well aware of the indoctrination you received, Waffler. Look how you turned out — a tax collector with a federal pension.

Interesting distinction, but as I know how I would like to be treated, I do not necessarily know what others would like.  So I start there.  And if how another would like to be treated also follows the same Golden Rule, then OK.  But what about when others tell you how you MUST treat them, no matter what, then sorry, NO.  It doesn't work that way.  Does the other person ever have to consider what I would like, or must I always acquiesce to others? 

This is the result of adopting socialist/authoritarian "progressive" policies, Robert.  Look to Woodrow Wilson and FDR for attempting to make a global government (League of Nations, and United Nations) in which the US would be the dominant military power.  Central socialist administration of government requires expropriating capital from others to pay the debt-based currency system put in place — a communist plank, by the way.  Domestically, it is the way of socialists to lay claim to the labor of the people; internationally, they expropriate and infiltrate other countries — whether left-wing communism or right-wing fascism, both 'wings' are socialist/authoritarian, and 100% contrary to the principles upon which America was founded.  Put the blame where it belongs.

Please remember that it is Congress that borrows and spends, not the President.

Knowing which is which takes time and attention.  You can bet that whatever you have been 'sold' is what 'they' want you to believe is 'good' or 'evil.'  The search for the truth about anything is to find the good or evil about it as well.  To abstain from evil is to do nothing — that alone will not be enough, one must do good as well.  Truth = good, Lies = bad.  Love = good, Hate = bad.  Kindness = good, violence = bad.  It's not hard if you start with the fundamentals. ;-)

Mike is hardly one to turn his back on those in need — he volunteers his time and money personally.  The self-righteous one is YOU, Reston, and your post says so much about how you see people who give personally than demand such from the State.  Talk about self-righteous.

I agree to a point.  A "religious outlook" implies no coercion, merely a point of view.  When that point of view dictates actions that violate the inalienable rights of others, it is not just an "outlook," it is a form of law, placing priests and clerics above the common people and the common law.  The Islamification of many Western cities is essentially colonization with their own theocracy governing the people — death penalties for violations against 'Islam' are commonplace.  This is not just an outlook, and therefore cannot just be tolerated without direct conflict with the American principles enshrined by the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.

'Progressive' in the literal sense will indeed be opposed by those attached to the ways of the past.  The word 'progress' has been hijacked by socialists to mean the furtherance of socialist ideals and policies that of course are opposed by those that hold tightly to their rights and property while 'progressives' attempt to lay claim to them as common wealth. 

Just as science is not settled, nor is our understanding of the world; real progress is furthering the principles of liberty and the responsibilities that come with it.  Servitude to the State-Church is traditional and customary — and also the source of revolution, ending the reign of monarchs and dictators, empowering the People to be the noble sovereigns they are.  Now that's progress, and yes, there are "a thousand mediocre minds appointed to guard" their own servitude.  Mediocre minds are easily ruled and drown out truth.  

What, no 'safe spaces' or 'trigger counseling'?

I think you are projecting, David.  Ad hominem arguments only serve to distract from the discovery of truth.  The biggest problem common people have with organized religion is the hypocrisy of preaching 'love your neighbor' while at the same time meting out justice in God's name, ignoring their own mountain of sin.  Forgiveness and Truth-telling are the 2 principle teachings of Jesus — that's 'christian'.  But Christians do not have a monopoly on truth and compassion — precisely why there are believers of other faiths.  The truth is the truth is the truth — it belongs to everyone who tells it, the rest inherit the fruit of lies.  Love belongs to everyone who loves, the rest know it not.  Perhaps paying attention to the teachings of Jesus rather than following the metaphysical claims of ritual and dogma would be better time spent.  God's grace is His to give, the last may be first and the first last.  The ignorance is yours, David.

Rings true for me!  There's what I think I am, but once in the world with other people, expressions of myself arise that I never knew were within me.  All of life is a dialogue — my words and actions precipitate a response.  If I do not pay attention to the response, it is but a one-way road, likely to a lonely end.  Learning from the world's response to my actions builds character — what kind of character is still up to me.

The spirit is as much in need of being 'armed' as an army, only the weapons are the eternal truths that empower the spirit.  Trumpets brought down the walls of Jericho — if one is on the side of right, victory is already yours.  That is the way of the Spirit.

Trump is as close as we have ever gotten to a non-establishment president.  It's not easy for one man against the statist machine of power, the People must also be in accord.  Let's see what Trump does with the Fed. ;-)

Love it!  Purpose fulfills and empowers.

Until the People of the world realize the scam under which they have all been hoodwinked, we will continue to suffer the effects of the system that is designed to milk us all the days of our lives.  Nearly every nation has adopted central banking and interest-bearing debt-based fiat currency, thus not only guaranteeing perpetual debt by all but making it absolutely necessary to keep borrowing more.  Since the money no longer is issued as capital is created, it can only increase with borrowing more at interest.  The bankers take the cream of our labors and property before we see a drop.

So, this entire nonsense about deficits and massive currency expansion is moot, because everyone is in on the racket now, and all that is done today is pass the hot potato. 

Income tax is the way of regulating the people, keeping them just hungry enough to always be in need, despite their labors.  The government can and does create all the money it needs — it's just that the bankers got a monopoly contract on its management, and they charge a percentage (as banks have always done).  The only difference is that the Fed does not have any money, it merely issues currency in exchange for Treasury Notes (T-Bills) from the US government.  The 'money' is created as soon as the Fed receives IOU's from the government.  It works exactly like a credit card with an unlimited credit line — all that has to be done is to make the minimum monthly payment.  BTW there is no way to pay off the balance, so you will be in perpetual debt and forever at their mercy. Talk about a Bad Santa! ... ;-)

I'm with Mike on this one.  The very heart of human civilization is traced to the these strictly human concepts of Spiritual and Civil.  Civil law refers to the statutes of men, while Natural Law refers to the laws of nature.  The Spirit precedes the Civil, and when the civil law is not in accord with natural law, there will be dis-ease and dis-chord.  The less civil laws the better, in fact that is the primary difference between a republican form of government based upon the Common Law and virtually any other type of government which places the State supreme and the People in subservience to its dictates.

The cause of Liberty has always been a spiritual pursuit breaking free from oppressive civil laws.

I understand the sentiment, not sure on its implementation.  To care about the well being and honor of one's friends is integral to friendship, IMO.