Transitioning World - New Economy?

Foreword: This post was originally posted in December 2010 titled "Reflecting on the Character of Business and the Economy". I have updated this post to reflect the current circumstances as of April 2012, April 2013, June 2014, then again December 2014. The last update increased support for the view expressed. This post is lengthy but necessary to communicate the view with robust support.

This an open discussion that looks at interesting and traditional thinking given the change imposed on the world. This is intended to be thought provoking by presenting views that often are overlooked or missed in the demagoguery. Whether there is merit and if what has been presented is good or not is for you to determine. 

The Economics

During November 2014, economist Steb Hipple, Ph.D. of the Bureau of Business and Economic Research made a presentation regarding the U.S. economy at a professional dinner. Two of the key slides from the presentation are provided. Figure 1 is the Real GDP Growth between 2007 to 2014.  The 3% dotted line is normal and stable economic growth. If the area above this 3% line is computed as a positive and the area below the 3% line is computed as a negative then added together the result is a significant net loss during this time period. In short, there has been no economic recovery since 2007.



Figure 1: Real GDP Growth



Figure 2: Long Run U.S. Employment

Figure 2 is the Long Run U.S. Employment graphic between 2002 and 2014. The Full Employment Level curve illustrates normal employment had the economic recovery occurred. The Official Employment Level curve is the U.S. Government's report regarding employment levels between 2002 and 2014. In short, there has been a net loss of jobs beginning in 2008 which is the space between Full Employment and Official Employment. In an eyeball of Figure 2,  at 2010 the gap is roughly 10,000,000 jobs lost that persists in the US without any substantial closure between the two curves.

Overall, there is a net loss of GDP and a net loss of employment without a net reduction in the employable population. Where did the GDP and jobs go? Some of the GDP was lost due to reduced demand and a greater portion was transitioned offshored. Likewise, most of the jobs were offshored, some jobs were eliminated due to increases in efficiencies, and some were lost due to lower demand.

Figure 3: Economic Super Cycle or Kondratiev Wave

Figure 3, there is an economic cycle characteristic of capital economies that has a period of about 80 years having transition points that are characterized by a brief time during which there is a short  economic boom then a bust followed by a war and finally a new way of living.  The concept is called a super cycle also known as the Kondratiev Wave. The durations in Figure 3 are approximations as the cycle has some variance. During the sustainment period technologies and concepts emerge and in their infancy gain support and enthusiasm leading into the boom period.  The short boom period begins a regeneration of the economy.  Following a short boom is a bust period during which unemployment is high and inflation sets in causing a depression era or a severe recession. A war follows the bust resulting in rationing, a reduction in populations, and a loss of economic capacity and/or capabilities. All of the losses must be restored to the new sustainment levels in a new economy centered on the technologies and concepts that emerged prior to the brief boom period.

The Super Cycle seems to coincide with significant U.S. history. Specifically, the Revolutionary period, Civil War period, World War II period, and the current economic period. All of these periods were characterized by a boom, bust, war, then a new way of living. For example, The Roaring 20's led into the Great Depression and World War II having the new way of living centering on personal appliances and transportation which was the age of luxury living. Today, the housing and Dotcom boom has led into the current down economy which has now persisted for over 7 years. If on point, then the cycle should have a war in the next 2 to 5 years. Most futurist speculated during the 1990's that the new economy would be based on social, communications, informational, and logistical networks.

Overall, the evidence is pointing in a direction that the world in amidst a major transition and the future is not entirely a gamble. There are patterns and trends that can be leveraged smartly and are more apparent than not. The question is will the economy be a capital economy or a command economy?

The Transitioning World

The world has made transitions from a theological pride to a secular nationalistic pride for over the course of 2000 years. History records the transition for Israel to secular governance during the time of David. Other transitions are occurring right up to modern times. For example, a 1950's mass movement demanded national self-determination for the Bengali people. The politician-preacher Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani championed the demand for national self-determination and the demand that the state distance itself from Islam. Bhashani led the transition to secular politics in the decades that preceded the emergence of Bangladesh.

Today, the world is in transitioning once more. This time towards an economic pride as evidenced by regionalization efforts ongoing throughout the world such as the European Union, EU, and others in Africa (ECOWAS), South America (UNASUR), and the Western Pacific (APEC). Keeping in step, the region currently known as North America is undergoing several major transitions. The first major transition is a movement away from national sovereignty towards a regional center of economic influence under the auspices of the North American Free Trade Agreement, NAFTA. The second major transition is the form of governance that will be over newly formed NAFTA region. Some form of governance needs to emerge since all the participating national identities are consumed in the larger organization and newer identity. Will that be a Islamic Caliphate, a Progressive ideology, or will a constitutional form of Government prevail.  The final major transition is the character of the economy within the NAFTA region. In this discussion, the focus is a little on the regionalization effort and more on the character of the economy as well as on the character of business.

The movement towards a regional center of economic influence is evidenced by the NAFTA treaty coupled with the rapid infusion of foreign nationals effectively dissolving the international borders between the participating nations; Canada, The United States, and Mexico. NAFTA, as a treaty, originated from the Montreal Economic Treaty during the Reagan years. The objective was to reduce the wage differential between the US and Mexico in order to reduce  illegals coming across the border for work. In 1992, U.S. political leadership converted NAFTA to a new political system in order to advance a regional center of economic influence. Henry Kissinger commented on the passage of NAFTA during 1992, as a regionalization effort, that “...is not a conventional trade agreement, but the architecture of a new international system [of goverment]" (Henry Kissinger Los Angeles Times, 1993).

Since 1992, the political leadership has been expediting the regionalization as anxious ideologues leap at the opportunity to advance their ideology that may have the effect of superceding the US Constitution. The construction of NAFTA superhighway, Figure 4, if not intended, has the effect of increasing the freedom of movement throughout the region for Mexican and Canadian nationals. While the original effort to build a new superhighway was effectively stopped, a new effort has now been adopted expanding the existing highway infrastructure for the same purpose. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, if not intended, has had the effect  to quickly stabilize immigrants in homes. Likewise, the ability to vote, obtain a driver license and healthcare are instruments that, if not intended, have the effect to stabilize immigrants more quickly than the traditional course of three generations. The passage of nationalized healthcare on March 21, 2010 brought the region closer to a regional healthcare system as Canada and Mexico are already on socialized healthcare. 

Figure 4: NAFTA Superhighway Map.  Source: NASCO

The regionalization phenomenon extends beyond geo-political systems to other systems. For example, power companies have been consolidating and regionalizing power systems. The same has occurred with the phone companies, and now health care is consoldating under the nationalized healthcare system. We observe companies like Duke-Progressive Power consolidating control of the American SouthEast power distribution.  Kaiser-Permamente has consolidated healthcare control of the American West. The phone companies have gained regional control such as Bell South. Even the grocery industry is regionalizing with Von's in the SouthWestern US and Publix in the SouthEastern US.  These regionalized centers of supply point control cross state lines. Thus, states rights are challenged as power shifts to interstate trade and control of the federal government. This  regionalization of supply points will continue to increase and dissolve state sovereignty.

Whether this regionalization is deliberate or natural course of a systematic pattern, the advancement an economic center of influence and dissolve national and state sovereignty is emerging as an inevitable future for the North American region. Such regionalization has tremendous impacts on industry, commerce, and individual lives.

The Free Market Capitalism and Business

As regionalization expands, the character of the economy in the emerging regional center of economic influence is an underpinning of the governmental form. Socialized and Marxist's governance is reliant upon the notion of social justice or the use of governmental methods to redistribute wealth to those deemed less fortunate by the aristocracy in a command economy. The social justice operative mechanism of redistribution is analogous to institutional theft which is considered to be the worst form of theft since people are denied just fruits of their labor. A competitive model is Ayn Rand's worldview detailed in her works "Atlas Shrugged". This model is a separation between economics and government similar to the separation of Church and State. Rand's model is ultimately a Godless society focused on economic pride or gain. The character of the economy in a Democracy is free market capitalism which places human creativity in service of humanity.

In the free market economy industry and business redistribute wealth based on value-added or created value. The free market is considered natural because when freed of all regulations and other constraints such as taxation the free market character persists. While this discussion uses the term free market most societies impose some degree of controls and constraints on the market. Thus, a free market, in practical terms, is considered one with minimal controls and constraints. The free markets existed long before modern complex economies emerged out of feudal Europe. Unregulated markets operated over 2000 years ago throughout the Middle East, Greek, and Roman Empires.  The largest Roman seaport and marketplace was locate in Pozzuoli, Italy called the Serapeum, Image 1. (note: The term Serapeum is  actually a religious temple. The Italian Government officially recognizes the site as such. Scholars and the locals acknowledge the site as an ancient marketplace.)

Image 1:  The Serapeum Ruins, Pozzuoli, Italy. Photo taken by JT Bogden, February 2008

The efficiencies in a free market are also considered to be natural as opposed to human induced efficiency efforts when an inefficiency is perceived by the aristocracy and/or government in a command economy. For example, anti-trust lawsuits and regulations have often been touted as supportive of competition and the free market. However, the application of anti-trust lawsuits has typically emerged out of power struggles between Governmental enforcement of regulations and industry compliance.

During the 1970's the U.S. Congress was instituting many environmental and labor laws that dramatically affected industry. Industry reacted sternly using  economic influences to apply pressure to Governmental leadership in efforts to change the direction of the legislation. Governmental leadership fearing industry had become too powerful sought to marginalize the influence by breaking up large corporations using anti-trust lawsuits. Some analyst tout that the computer revolution was actually delayed until 1985 because of anti-trust lawsuits during the 1970's. Henry Novell of Novell Systems was employed at Bell labs when the anti-trust lawsuits stopped AT&T from entering the computer networking market during the 1970's and forced the breakup of Bell Systems forming Lucent in place of Bell Labs. Novell left and formed Novell Systems networking computers about 7 years later. "Antitrust policy over the last 25 years can claim substantial achievements. First, the stated terms of the debate have shifted to consumer welfare and efficiency, and away from vague and easily misused goals such as dispersion of political and economic power," (Bittlingmayer 2002, p 52).

Regardless, of the reasons or outcomes the point is that, in this case, governmental efforts at improving competitive efficiencies was tainted with political bias and may have never achieved the efficiencies sought. The efficiencies were observed later as an outcome of deregulation efforts during the 1980's in a return to more free markets. Such deregulation lead to competitive forces in the airline industry, telecommunications, and other industries.

One Business Model to Consider

Counter to popular thought, the free market model of business, Figure 5, is not one of a bottom line but instead one that is a zero sum in the long term for business. The bottom line, Profit = Revenue - Cost from the income statement and resulting business ratios, has its place metering efficiencies during the short term. Businesses are usually started and operated in order to support a lifestyle for the owner and their family based on the value-created in the business. In the end, the business is sold putting cash in the pockets of humans upon sale or liquidation. Thus again, the business is a vehicle to put purchasing power into the pockets of people in order to give levity to their lives. The business is a zero sum in the long term and redistributes wealth based on created value. That being said, free market business is actually all about the well being of people and is based on their productivity or ability to do good.

Figure 5: Free Market Business Model 

Its Really All About the People

There is an ole adage that circulated on the state of our lives remarking that at least we got jobs and can put bread on the table. When we made more we were willing on our own accord to be charitable, to give from the heart. In a Democracy and free market, individuals are compelled through a social conscience as opposed to a social justice to be charitable with excess. Charity is usually driven by one's worldview. However, America has been struggling with its identity as the forces of multi-culturism are reflected in the society and government.

I want to reflect on the classic movie, "Its a Wonderful Life". Jimmy Stewart had a social conscience helping people not only get by but also achieve their dreams. In time, that same charity flowed back to Jimmy Stewart after, through misfortune, his bank came up short on its receipts. In the recent biographical story of James Braddock, "Cinderella Man", Braddock sought to put bread and butter on the table during the 1930's remarking that he returned to boxing, his job, to fight for his family endearing the hearts of millions. In both these instances, it was a social conscience and productive work that overcame adversity in peoples lives.

Wrap Up

Current economic cycles are pointing towards a new economy and a new way of living. These economic cycles coupled with political reforms and supply point consolidation are reshaping current political systems into regional centers of economic influence. As the new regional economy develops concerns arise regarding the type of economy and governance. As competitive ideologies battle for dominance, the casualties are human livelihoods and the quality of life.

Competitive systems such as progressivism better known as socialism or communism in the worst form marginalizes human creativity and denies humans just compensation though the operative mechanisms of egalitarianism, welfarism, and social justice which amount to nothing more than institutional theft.

The strongest socio-economic and political system is democracy and free market capitalism due to the support for giving levity and dignity to individuals. Wealth is redistributed based on productive work as individuals receive just compensation for their efforts. Free market mechanisms such as innovation, creative destruction, and creativity in service to humanity improve the quality of human life. Choices will need to be made and leadership chosen who will uphold the dignity and levity of life for everyone.

References:

Bittlingmayer, G. (2002). The antitrust emperor’s clothes.Resourced from http://www.cato.org/pubs/regulation/regv25n3/v25n3-11.pdf

Hipple, S. (2014). Business Conditions and Outlook. East Tennessee State University.

Palmer, T. G. (2011). The Morality of Capitalism: Introduction. United States of America: Jameson Books, Inc.

Review: How to Find A Great Job in the Great Recession

This a review of the book, "How to Find A Great Job in the Great Recession" by Rob Wolf. I attended the Transitioning Professionals Thursday Meetings while in Tampa. Although, I did not attend the Job Search Boot Camps. The program Rob offers is the first in a succession of programs. The second being the Team Up! by Orville Pierson. The third program is one on resumes and interviewing preparation. Although, Rob's program touches on this aspect and networking too.

Years prior to meeting Rob through an APICS career counselor, I had already performed much of the activities Rob touts in his book. I had developed with a CPA a financial vision that had been tracking well for many years up to 2009. Expenses were already streamlined and I was focused on the stated objectives of my plan. I knew what I wanted to do and already had a plan in place. However, following 2009 that effort went out the window with the down economy. I had actually prepared for the anticipated economic down turn but did not anticipate the savage economics of change politics that occurred simultaneously. During this time, I focused on completing some schooling, obtaining some certifications, and tried to find something reasonable that could utilize my skill sets. I was relegated to a situation in which I had to wait the environmental circumstances out. The program discusses bridging the gap on page 59-60.

Overall, Rob Wolf's work is salient and to the point. The book is a excellent guide for some one just coming into the job search situation or has been there with low results. I did find a few things that I did in my preparation that are missing in Rob's program and may strengthen Rob's program as well as also offering a new look at the book's organization. These will will be addressed in the review.

How to Find A Great Job in the Great Recession

Rob's program is a marketing program designed to prepare the job seeker for networking and the job search. The program has been running for over 9 years as has undergone several updates and revisions. The most recent revision is "How to Find A Great Job in the Great Recession: 12 Steps to A Job Recovery". The program addresses the 12 steps in 12 chapters as follows:

1. Mission Statement
2. Vision Statement
3. Assessment and Values
4. Financial Review
5. Marketing Plan
6. Networking
7. Resumes
8. Interviewing
9. Recruiters
10. Entrepreneurship
11. Accountability and Building a Strong Calendar
12. Ageism

This program is a method that works well. A stronger focus may require some reorganization of the process and grouping of the topical areas into functional topics. This is not to take away from the program but perhaps strengthen the program into functional categories. These are in no favored order. 

1. Baseline Assessment; ( Financial Review, Assessments and Values )
2. Survival Plan (Entrepreneurship, Bridging the gaps, Streamlining)
3. Strategic Plan (Vision, Mission, and Objectives)
4. Marketing Plan (Resumes, Networking, Interviewing, Channels )
5. Challenges (Ageism, moving targets, depression, rejection, recruiters, etc...)
6. Staying the course (Accountability, Strong Calendaring, volunteerism)

The Mission and Vision Statements: These are chapters 01 and 02 in the book. I agree that every marketing plan has a mission. Nonetheless, the process seems to have the vision and mission statements in reverse order. The vision usually comes first then one or more missions to effect the vision or portions of the vision. The program provides worksheets to help a person through the visioning and mission development process. Objectives fall out of the mission statement and are specific focused goals that guide the search. The objective process seems to have been missed as part of strategy development but addressed indirectly in the Financial and more directly in the Marketing planning. Despite these minor burble's, the mission and visioning preparation is excellent and focuses the job seeker on a narrower scope of the job search effort in order to yield higher results.

Assessments and Values and Financial Review: These are chapters 03 and 04 in the book. Assessments and values are about getting to know yourself. This can be taken to the extreme but the book keeps this process salient and to the point by assessing strengths and weaknesses generally found in four assessment areas. Numerous questions are posed for the reader to contemplate. As part of the assessment there is an environmental focus as well. Understanding the ground situation is essential to navigating the search. The financial review is in-depth discussing net worth, taxes, planning and survival tips. Several websites are offered in support of the assessments and financial review as well as worksheets and numerous tips. The objective overall is to streamline expenses.

The Strength and weakness assessment should be expanded to the Strength, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) method. Opportunities should be assessed by looking at skills and abilities that may apply to the search and survival in new ways. Threats are those things that diminish your market efforts such as skill obsolesces and overwhelming competition in a market segment.

Marketing Plan and Networking: Chapters 05 and 06 are the guts of the program. There is a short-term and long-term Marketing Plan. The short-term plan develops your brand and bring into focus your career search. The program focuses on networking, goals, and your skills and abilities. The long term marketing plan focuses building a network by not going at it alone - networking. The networking chapter goes into detail on how to build productive networks providing models and discussing the use of social networking. The program offers tips, asks thought provoking questions, and provides a template for the marketing plan. Overall, these chapters are well prepared covering most aspects. One missing aspect is the use of professional organizations to access opportunities.

Resumes and Interviewing: Chapter 7 and 8 cover the most common aspects of the job search. The best way to find work is to network and the resume is your billboard. The program discusses the human resource systems, the do's and don'ts, writing the resume, resume types, cover letters, as well as providing checklists, tips, and some cautionary notes. Interviewing is a challenge and the program covers the types of interviews, researching companies, a variety of interview questions, and questions you ask. This part of the program is well developed as it has had a lot of focus over the years.

Recruiters and Entrepreneurship: Chapters 9 and 10 focus on employment avenues through recruiting and entrepreneurial channels. The program goes over the types of recruiters, staff agencies, and scams. Gamification is a newer method of screening and vetting future employees. The program discusses this process. Entrepreneurship is a method of creating income when the job search plateaus. The program looks at different aspects of entrepreneurship such as franchising. At this point in the game, the job seeker is transitioning to another means of income other than working for someone. This is a necessary discussion.

Accountability and Building a Strong Calendar: Chapter 11 focuses on staying the course and being accountable to your plan and statements. the program provides forms, calendars, and worksheets for staying on target. Time management and accountability systems can become overburdening. This program keeps the effort salient and simple.

Ageism: Chapter 12 discusses the less pleasant aspect of society - discrimination. The program touches on age based discrimination providing many tips and discussing personal care. This is only one challenging factor in the job search. Other forms of discrimination are present as well as inequitable hiring practices. The program does not touch on these issues and how to compete in these other situations or other challenges.

Overall, the program is a strong program and gets people thinking in the terms of the search. In short, the program gets your head in the game. The book guides people through the process and the Boot Camp enhances the practice with all the forms, dialogue, and personalized guidance. I strongly recommend this program.

References:

Wolf, R. (2014) How to find a great job in the great recession: 12 steps to a job recovery. OutSkirtPress: Denver.

Higher Education: Creative Destruction?

Comment:  I came across this article Higher Education: Creative Destruction in 24Jun - 04July 2014 edition of 'The Economist'. I normally do not read The Economist for its outlook and truthfulness in reporting due to the publications strong bias. This article caught my eye after having written on Free-Market Capitalism.  After reading the article, I saw so much wrong with the fundamental logic purveyed, that I thought it may serve as a good example of the challenges facing U.S. Citizens. 

Download Higher Education: Creative Destruction   Morality of Capitalism Post

Higher Education: Creative Destruction?

The article opens with a glowing affirmation of welfarism as the unequivocated source of higher education's entitlement successes offering to the middle class what had previously been only for the elite. The article continues on to describe the Free-Market principle of ' Creative Destruction ' as a force operating in the remaking of the university. The article cites a variety of statistics, newer technologies, and market forces as evidence of the remaking. Specifically, the article cites Massive Open Online Courses, MOOCs, as the defining technology that will remake universities and upset the tenure system.  The MOOCs are still early in their development and research is ongoing to resolve long standing remote or distance training issues.  However, in general the MOOC offers classes for free and for a fee the student can transfer the course to an accredited status. The operative strategy of the MOOC is to reach as many people as possible training them in the values, knowledge, and perspectives of the course. 

The concept of 'Creative Destruction' is a Free-Market principle. Creative destruction replaces old technology with newer technology in service of humanity.  The article cites the older university system being replaced with MOOCs and provides value and benefits of the transition. However, the greater operative mechanism behind the transition is not human creativity in the production of wealth in a free market system but instead creative politics, institutional theft, and demeaning values of political ideologues.

The education system has been wrought with political ideologues for over the past 100 years.  Welfarism is touted as the champion of education but is nothing short of institutional theft which is rooted in political investments vice the production of free-market wealth. These political actors in the education system have introduced mechanisms for change that are not natural and not typical of the Free-Market system.  One such mechanism is Outcome Based Education which has the purpose of educating students according to planned outcomes. The misleading stated purpose is a systemic plan to prepare all students to meet high standards. The real purpose behind the misleading premise is a delivery system for new beliefs, values, and ways of thinking. The Father of Outcome Based Education is professor Benjamin Bloom stated, "The purpose of education and the schools is to change the thoughts, feelings, and actions of students" (Kjos, 1995, pp. 11-13).  In 1956 Professor Benjamin Bloom published  Taxonomy of Educational Objectives in which he defined and classified learning behaviors into measurable categories that deny personality and the spirituality of a person stripping away individuality.  In doing so, Bloom changed the focus of education from a general education that benefited humanity to narrowly focused training based on behavioral psychologists' determination of what changes in thought, feelings, and actions are desirable and perhaps necessary for society as a whole. This led to Mastery Learning and Outcome Based Education (Coffman, 2012, p 203). 

The MOOC is a natural movement for political ideologues seeking globalization.  World-class standards seek new high standards for global challenges and a global economy. However, the new standards are low for literacy, comprehension, and factual learning but high standards for beliefs, attitudes, and group thinking to prepare human capital for the next century (Kjos, 1995, p. 11).   An upgraded version of Brave New Worldby Aldous Huxley is being implemented to include thinking skills based on feelings and experiences, not facts and reason (kjos, 1995, p. 29 ). The world has moved towards a high degree of confidence in unsupported personal beliefs; opinions are ok. For example, the method used for scholarly publication and citations by the American Psychological Association (APA) Publication Manual, is deliberately designed to permit adaptations of the truth. The citation methods that the APA uses are paraphrasing in order to permit pliable and malleable adaptations of other scholarly works.

Evidence of the progress towards globalization and adaptation of the educational system is no more evident than this remark, "I have learned may things… children who are educated to respect other cultures, races, and religions generally grow into tolerant adults who raise tolerant children – Reema Sanghvi, grade 11 (Cummins and Sayers, 1997, p. 61).”   This is a political ideological view, a sound byte that sounds good, and not a critical assessment nor realistic as among religions there are intolerant paradoxes. For example, Islam's Surah 112:1-4 is direct denial of Christianity's ultimate revelation and well known verse, John 3:16.  Islam is directly denying Christianity holistically.  In another example, Islam's ultimate revelation is the Sword of Islam, Surah 9:5, states to kill the infidel. Christianity's counter point is Matthew 26:52, for those who live by the sword shall die by the sword.  In order for the Reema Sanghvi's remark to be upheld, the Muslim and the Christian must surrender their belief's to the secular belief rendering those beliefs mute to the secular belief. The issue is a struggle for dominance being taught in the schools not cooperation and tolerance.  The secular view is intolerant of others. "Round pegs in square holes tend to have dangerous thoughts about the social system [the secular system being installed] and to infect others with their discontents," Aldous Huxley (Kjos, 1995, p. 157).  Comment:  I received several remarks expressing concerns about this paragraph. I must stress that the Judeo-Christian theology is not built around one-verse localized context. The Judeo-Christian theology is built around an integrated message system that weaves its message through layers of complexity upon complexity. The principle involves internal consistency and is called the Entire Counsel of God. Therefore, any serious study of the Judeo-Christian theology goes well beyond any one-verse citation and may offer surprising nuggets of knowledge in ways not apparent without study.

Interesting enough, the American Forefather Thomas Jefferson commented on March 23, 1801, "The Christian Religion, when divested of the rags in which they [the clergy] have enveloped it, and brought to the original purity and simplicity of its benevolent institutor, is a religion of all others most friendly to liberty, science, and the freest expansion of the human mind," (Federer, 1996). Jefferson was referring to education and learning when remarking, "freest expansion of the human mind". A socialistic tax supported secular education today has become the topic of this Economist article that attempts to herald free-market concepts that are behind the Christian worldview and the socialistic system is rejecting.  Side note: Christian Doctrine promotes the free-market capitalism centering on the Lesson of Talents and stewardship in support of God's Plan for each individual. People are to be free to pursue their God-given talents. The Bible does discuss social justice as it discusses other bad things like theft and bad government leaders.  The early church, during times of crisis, pooled resources but this was short lived.  The Bible does not ordain social justice as legitimate.

The goal of a proper higher education is not designed to shape social systems or advocacy of political views. Higher education in support of free-market capitalism is designed to develop creative and critical thinking skills as well as sound reasoning abilities. Utilizing these kinds of skills people are able to envision and bring to market new technologies in service to humanity.  Creative destruction is only one component that is operative in a free-market.  Another operative component is innovation through which entirely new markets are possible. The MOOC is possible only because of the innovation of the World Wide Web.  Unfortunately, the MOOC may become a success for the wrong reasons and wrong purposes. Instead of promoting skills in support of free market capitalism, the student may be trained to think in terms of a labor job performing tasks after tasks with no end in sight. 

In conclusion, the authors of the article either have a fundamental misunderstanding of free-market capitalism and the operative mechanism of Creative Destruction or the authors are deliberately trying to mislead readers as they present this blend of socialist and capitalist mechanisms.  Closer to the truth is that the authors may be simply a product of the educational system that trained them in process obfuscation.  Secular thought sounds good but lacks critical assessment skills illustrating a myopic one sided view.  With a proper education, people can make better choices and reject bad things because they can see beyond the spin.

References: 

American Psychological Association. (2010). Publication Manual. (6th ed.). American Psychological Society: Washington D.C.

Coffman, M. (2012). Plundered: how progressive ideology is destroying america. Environmental Perspectives, Inc: ME

Cummins, J. and Sayers, D. (1997). Brave new schools: challenging cultural illiteracy through global learning networks. St Martin Press. NY.

Economist, The (2014). The Economist: Higher Education, Creative Destruction. Vol 421 Nbr 8893. p. 11.

Federer, W. (1996). America's God and Country. Fame Publishing. ISBN: 1-880563-05-3.

Kjos, B. (1995). Brave new schools. Harvest House Publishers: OR. 

Morality of Capitalism: Part 1

American Democracy And The Judeo-Christian Bible Series

Figure 1: Morality of
Capitalism. Click to Buy

Comments: Many people do not think about capitalism's real contribution and value. Although, most hear more from capitalism's opponents who are quick to point to perceived flaws and problems in order to espouse their competitive system. The sound bytes echo over the airwaves as news media drive the spin home; corrupt corporations, greedy executives, and compensation deals that are out-of-this-world. In this post the morality of capitalism is explored. Originally, this was scripted for inclusion into a book being written several years ago and since that time this material was updated and concepts from the book "The Morality of Capitalism" were included. This book is not a single person's view but instead a set of essays from economists, marketers, political scientists, etc... from whom a broad perspective is offered.

Morality of Capitalism

Morality is a dialectic conversation within the mind of an individual as they search out the distinctiveness between right or wrong, good or evil, redeeming or demeaning, etc... Morality results in an internal character condition within the individual that reflects in their decision making. An individual's moral condition is impressed upon a system, institution, or process by management or the seat the individual may hold.  Moreover, a system, process, or institution may reflect a moral posture by design as well as by management.   For example, institutional theft is the confiscation or restriction of wealth instituted by those invested in political power, not invested in the production of wealth, and is considered to be the worse kind of theft. Thus, when organizing a new process, system, or institution care must be taken to ensure there is redeeming value. Leaders must engage in the dialectic conversation and examine the paradoxes carefully.

There is a moral paradox between selfishness and selflessness. When people are selfish disputes arise over exchanges deemed unfair and a resentment towards those who become rich. Similar dispute arise when both parties are selfless. In a hypothetical example, the buyer may not make a purchase if the price is too low for fear of taking advantage of the seller. However, the seller may not raise prices out of fear he may be gouging the buyer. The problem is a conflict of interest in either scenario and not a dilemma of rich vs poor cast often as privilege; the haves and have nots.  The solution to the problem is equal rights for everyone. In this way everyone has the opportunity to pursue wealth (Yushi, 2011). Success is another issue.

Regarding success, in free-markets some people become more wealthy than others and some loose their shirt. Markets do not generate equal outcomes nor do they require equal capitalization. Thus, a seeming paradox is setup between inequality and equality. Equality is necessary in order to trade, innovate, choose and reap rewards earned but the expectation of results generated is a risk.  People possess the equal rights to participate in the free-market but   equal results would be an economic absurdity even though that is upheld as a moral value by many people.  The scandal in equality thought is the gap between wealth of people in economically free societies and the wealth in unfree societies. Freeing people economically will create enormous wealth and close the gap.  Moreover, it would do so as a positive consequence of justice by eliminating unequal treatment of people in countries misruled by cronyism, statism, militarism, socialism, communism, corruption, and brute force. Economic freedom means an equal standard of justice, equal respect for rights of all to innovate, produce, and trade (Nokonov, 2011). Capitalism is a just alternative to these other systems. 

There needs to be a distinction between the forms of capitalism that are often equivocated as one by social intellectuals.  ' Crony ' capitalism is a system found in many nations and governments. In many nations, the aristocracy came about their wealth by birth or by alignment with the state and not through the means of production of wealth. Thus, these people, friends, relatives, and/or supporters inherently wield political power and are the ' Cronies '.  Being in such a privileged position they take it on themselves to reward some companies and harm others often using taxpayer money in the process for activities like bailouts, stimulus, pork barrel spending, and other activities. This is a corrupt system and should not be confused with Free-market capitalism refers to a system of production and exchange that is/has:

• Based on the Rule of Law and guiding discipline of profits and losses
• Equality of Rights for all
• Freedom to choose
• Freedom to trade
• Freedom to innovate
• The Right to enjoy the fruits of one's labor, savings, and investments
• Freedom from Institutional Theft; confiscation or restriction of wealth by those invested in political power  rather than the production of wealth.

Free-market capitalism is often resented by the elite due to an inherent loss of status, power, and control. Free-market capitalism gives levity to the middle class and produces advances to human kind that do not have the magnitude of impact under other systems. 

Looking Deeper Into Free-Market Capitalism

So far, as we examined capitalism we considered the ' essence ' of Capitalism as a system that promotes equality, freedom, and opportunity.  We also considered the ' being ' of capitalism is a market where production and exchange occur.  Now we are going to look deeper at the ' virtue ' of capitalism or what good does capitalism bring about to humanity. We saw on a personal level that everyone was equal and that unjust systems have an alternative.  But what good does capitalism do for humanity?

Freedom is connected to capital economies as discussed in the post Biblical foundations for Freedom which are deemed to be natural and precede other economic forms (see notes) such as the collectivist views of socialism and the extreme form of communism. Capitalism is an economic system that combines cultural, spiritual, and ethical values in a mixture that puts human creativity to the service of humanity such that value is created as opposed to menially making stuff, things, or jobs (Palmer, 2011, pp. 1-3). Stuff, things, and jobs may be the outcome of creating value but making things serves no redeeming value in itself; every task is followed by another task as there is no foreseeable end or real purpose.  Politicians who do not understand capitalism create jobs rather than incentivize innovation. This is a very important distinction between creating value vice simply making things or creating jobs. Capitalist create value and new markets emerge causing the age old axiom, "Necessity is the mother of invention / innovation" to be an incorrect understanding. Nothing of value was ever necessitated as for example no one was sitting around complaining there needs to be a telephone.  The telephone was invented that caused the need that people saw value in having forming a new market.  The accurate depiction is "Invention / innovation is the mother of necessity" (Schwartz, 2004, p 13).  No one needed the smart phone until Apple / Steven Jobs created the value then lines were out the door for the smart phone. The innovation  disrupted the cellular market fundamentally changing the cell phone. Thus, the distinctive aspect of Capitalism is creativity in service of humanity which results in new markets and technologies that give levity to life in some way.  In the case of smart phones despite people playing games and texting, the device concentrated technologies of portable computing and telecommunications providing GPS maps, contact list consolidation, weather graphics, etc...  Of course, jobs were also created to manufacture, distribute, and sale the new phones. Creativity in service of humanity is a principle redeeming value of capitalism.

' Creative Destruction ' is a systemic action within capitalism that replaces the old with new  (McCloskey, 2011). The kerosene lantern was replaced by the light bulb and the light bulb is being replaced with the Light Emitting Diode (LED). Kerosene is a fossil fuel and these lanterns when knocked over cause fires. This was the cause of the Great Chicago Fire on October 8, 1871.  The incandescent light bulb is safer but burns large amounts of electricity. The LED bulb last longer and burns substantially less energy.  Thus, the service to humanity is a safer more energy efficient light source. Of course, there were jobs along the way created too but the advantage of capitalism is the value created in service to humanity and in this case was achieved through ' creative destruction '. 

Free-markets are considered natural and precede all other forms of economic systems. When free-market capitalism was instituted and protected by United States Government for the first time in human history and the middle class had dignity and liberty, a innovation explosion took place. There were all kinds of new devices, products, ideas, and society overcame many social ills. The poor had opportunity to move up,   women can assert their worth and races have equal opportunity. The redeeming value to humanity is an uplifting of dignity and liberty.  Overall,  Free-market capitalism has had the single most impact on humanity than any rhetoric, idea, political system or economic system (McCloskey, 2011). 

Notes: Free market capitalism is considered natural because when freed of all political, social, and human induced constraints, the market character persists.  The antithesis of free-market capitalism is social justice. I will look at social justice more closely in an upcoming post. 

BUY The Morality of Capitalism: What Your Professors Won't Tell You

References:

Kelley, D. (2011). The morality of capitalism; ayn rand and capitalism: the moral revolution. Jameson Books, Inc:  IL.  pp. 71-72.

McCloskey, D. (2011). The morality of capitalism;  liberty and dignity explain the modern world. Jameson Books, Inc:  IL.  pp. 27-30.

Nikonov, L. (2011). The morality of capitalism; the moral logic of equality and inequality in market society. Jameson Books, Inc:  IL.  pp. 55-62

Palmer, T. (2011). The morality of capitalism; introduction: the morality of capitalism. Jameson Books, Inc:  IL.  pp. 1-3. 

Schwartz, E. (2004). Juice: the creative Fuel that drives world-class inventors. Harvard Business Review Press: USA.   

Yushi, M. (2011). The morality of capitalism; the paradox of morality. Jameson Books, Inc:  IL.  pp. 1-3. 

Of Rebels and Radicals

Comment: This was organized rather quickly summarizing the Rules for Radicals in comparison to Rebels. Alinsky interestingly cited the forefathers quite often and compared his efforts to those of the founding brothers. As you read Alinsky's rules think about the Leadership Secrets of Attila the Hun and Sun Tzu: The Art of War. I believe there are some parallels. Also do not forget that the likes of Margaret Sangar, John Dewey, Roger Baldwin, Earl Warren, Gloria Steinem, Ralph Nader, Tom Hayden, Jesse Jackson, Billie Jean King, Bill Moyers, Bill Ayers, Hillary Clinton, Barrack Obama, Mitt Romney, and Michael Moore are all progressives. Some were connected in some way with Saul Alinsky's work. Its kind of scary to think these people have little interest in a Constitutional America.

I am attaching to this blog post some additional documents for your review.

Hillary Clinton's College Paper on Alinsky

Alinsky's Book:  Rules for Radicals

Of Rebels and Radicals
Declaration of Independence verses Rules for Radicals

The American forefathers are often depicted as rebels due to their defiance of tyranny. They were open about their calling and cause. Rebels find themselves rooted in principles that they aspire towards and the American Forefathers aspired towards Judeo-Christian principles. Others see those principles as just and rally to the cause. In the case of the American forefathers, they wrote a Declaration of Independence stating their grievances and principles as guide posts for the rebellion:

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation (Jefferson, 1776).

Subversive actors are most often depicted as radicals who are extremist ideologues favoring fundamental and drastic changes in political, economic, institutions, habits of the mind, and social conditions within a society. The etymological meaning of radical is a medieval philosophical sensibility from the Latin word radicalis meaning "of or having roots”. Radicals are the political sense of “reformists" via a notion of drastic “change from the roots” or to fundamentally change away from the status quo. Radicals are considered subversives as they operate within a functioning society to undermine core values, principles, ethics, and virtues in order to replace them incrementally with their ideology. Radicals rarely have a large following and remain as a negligible portion of society but derive their influence from controversy and disruptive conduct. 

Figure 1: Saul Alinksy

Saul Alinsky, Figure 1, was a radical who sought to fundamentally change the United States and is thought of as the father of modern community organizing, the modus operandi for socialistic and communistic reforms. Community organization is different than the democratic processes of community leadership. Community organizers seek to create hostile circumstances from which they derive direct influence and power over decision-making bodies of governments, institutions, and corporations. The hostile means include but not limited to picketing, boycotts, sit-ins, petitions, and influencing electoral politics. These activities are not the end but instead a vehicle to a little known or hidden agenda. Community organizers are generally of three types; faith-based, coalition building, and grassroots. The Faith-based and grassroots efforts are built on the works of Saul Alinsky who was active from the 1930’s to 1972 before dying of a heart attack.

Alinsky was born in 1909 to Jewish Russian immigrant parents in Chicago, Illinois. During Alinsky’s formative years the United States was in the midst of the Progressive Movement which was circa 1890 to about the late 1920’s. Progressives were through out the political spectrum; Democrats and Republicans. As the Progressive movement ended, Alinsky began his activist life which concluded with the release of the book, Rules for Radicals, in 1971.

Figure 2: Rules for
 Radicals

Alinsky opens the book's, Figure 2, first chapter with a errant quote from the Bible citing “The life of man upon earth is a warfare…”; Job 7:1 (Alinsky, 1971, p. 4.). The correct citation follows; “Is there not a time of hard service for man on Earth? Are his days also like the days of a hired man?”; Job 7:1 NKJV, GB, NIV. Job likens human life to forced service in the army, the mercenary, or a hired man - a servant or slave. He feels that without meaning or purpose life for him is empty (Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1999, p. 495.). Attempting to leverage theologies and faith in support of theory based ideological personal beliefs is not uncommon among those who have inconsequential faith themselves. Although, the errant citation indicates Alinsky’s disposition was that he was at war in which the pivotal cornerstone was ‘change’. Alinsky comments, "WHAT FOLLOWS IS for those who want to change the world from what it is to what they believe it should be (Alinsky, 1971, p. 4.).“ Alinsky builds a case in which the have-nots are justified in conducting a war against those who have. This has been the call, the mantra, of the socialistic and communistic movement throughout the 20th and 21st century.

In the book, "Rules For Radicals", Alinsky assesses the Ends and Means through a relativistic lens of the Post-Modernist that was strongly present during his adult life. The Post-modern movement questioned everything that was considered set in stone in either a deconstructive or a structuralist approach. Marxist philosopher Louis Althusser was a structuralist. Alinsky leans in this direction as well as evidenced by the relativistic, go with the flow Ends and Means rules:

1. One's concern with the ethics of means and ends varies inversely with one's personal interest in the issue (Alinsky, 1971, p. 26.).
2. Judgment of the ethics of means is dependent upon the political position of those sitting in judgment (Alinsky, 1971, p. 26.). In war the end justifies almost any means (Alinsky, 1971, p. 29.).
3. Judgment must be made in the context of the times in which the action occurred and not from any other chronological vantage point (Alinsky, 1971, p. 30.).
4. Concern with ethics increases with the number of means available and vice versa (Alinsky, 1971, p. 32.). The less important the end to be desired, the more one can afford to engage in ethical evaluations of means (Alinsky, 1971, p. 34).
5. General success or failure is a mighty determinant of ethics. There can be no such thing as a successful traitor, for if one succeeds he becomes a founding father. (Alinsky, 1971, p. 34.).
6. The morality of a means depends upon whether the means is being employed at a time of imminent defeat or imminent victory (Alinsky, 1971, p. 34.).
7. Any effective means is automatically judged by the opposition as being unethical (Alinsky, 1971, p. 35.).
8. You do what you can with what you have and clothe it with moral garments (Alinksy, 1971, p. 36.).
9. Goals must be phrased in general terms like "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity," "Of the Common Welfare," "Pursuit of Happiness" or "Bread and Peace (Alinsky, 1971, p. 45.).

The Ends and Means rules are cast in an amoral venue. The outcome is not pursued but instead a result of actions that disrupt, diminish, deter, and deny the status quo.  In classic form of information warfare (IW), ambiguity, innuendo, deceit, and truths are leveraged in order to diminish, deny, disrupt, destroy, deter, etc… their enemies morale and ability to fight back. The "Rules for Radicals" are a set of relativistic guide posts that leverage and reflect war fighting concepts.

1. Power is not what you have but what your enemy thinks you have (Alinsky, 1971, p. 127.).
2. Never go outside the experience of your people (Alinsky, 1971, p. 127.).
3. Wherever possible go outside of the experience of the enemy (Alinsky, 1971, p. 127.).
4. Make the enemy live up to their own book of rules (Alinksy, 1971, p. 128.).
5. Ridicule is man's most potent weapon (Alinsky, 1971, p 128.).
6. A good tactic is one that your people enjoy (Alinsky, 1971, p. 128.).
7. A tactic that drags on too long becomes a drag (Alinsky, 1971, p. 128.).
8. Keep the pressure on (Alinsky, 1971, p. 128).
9. The threat is usually more terrifying than the thing itself (Alinsky, 1971, p. 128.).
10. The major premise for tactics is the development of operations that will maintain a constant pressure upon the opposition (Alinsky, 1971, p. 129.).
11. If you push a negative hard and deep enough it will break through into its counter side (Alinsky, 1971, p. 129.). 
12. The price of a successful attack is a constructive alternative (Alinsky, 1971, p. 129.).

By invoking the Rules for Radicals and the rules for Ends and Means, Alinsky was seeking specific outcomes layered behind the apparent.  Many folks jumped onto actions and efforts that seemed genuine on the surface but are ruses for the layered objectives. Alinsky alluded to some of these objectives; 1) The real action is in the enemy's reaction, 2) The enemy properly goaded and guided in his reaction will be your major strength. 3) Tactics, like organization, like life, require that you move with the action (Alinsky, 1971, p. 136.). People power is the real objective; the proxies are simply a means to that end (Alinsky, 1971, p. 181). Then Alinky retorts citing Lincoln’s frustration with the Civil War, ”My policy is to have no policy.” as a supreme tactic (Alinsky, 1971, p. 166. ). The goal according to Alinsky is to be a quick moving target and keep the enemy reacting. In short, always be on the offensive.

Comment: These Rules for Radicals have become apparent and entrenched character actions of the left. 

"...Under careful scrutiny, progressive liberalism's distortion of the normal ability to reason can only be understood only as a product of psychopathy... The modern liberal mind, it's distorted perceptions and it's destructive agenda are the product of deeply disturbed personalities," Lyle Rossiter, Jr M.D.

NOTE: Many people try to vet urban legends and rumors through Snopes.com. Snopes was founded by Barbara and David Mikkelson. Snopes is considered to be a liberal propaganda machine by the right. Snopes has affiliation with the New York Times and the owners have appeared on almost solely left leaning media outlets.  In reading their postings, they often use left tactics, language, and take left leaning positions.  Is the Owner of Snopes.com a Liberal?  The Snopes.com site claims to be apolitical.  Snopes for all intents should be considered a mechanism to obfuscate truths; rule 8. 

For a deeper exploration into the Original Intent please see the series American Democracy and the Judeo-Christain Bible

References:

Alinksy, S. (1971). Rules for radicals: a practical primer for realistic radicals. Random House: New York

Jefferson, T. (1776), The charters of freedom: The united states declaration of independence. Resourced 14 February 2014 from http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/declaration_transcript.html.

radical. (n.d.). Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition. Retrieved February 14, 2014, from Dictionary.com website: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/radical

Thomas Nelson Publishers. (1999). King james: bible commentary. Thomas Nelson Publishers: Nashville

Wess, R. (1987). Leadership secrets of Attila the hun. Warner Books: New York. Radicals

The Biblical Foundations for Freedom

American Democracy And The Judeo-Christian Bible Series

Comment: This post is an article on 'Biblical Foundations for Freedom' by Kevin Youngblood. The article is not comprehensive on the thought but does underpin the notion of freedom from the Judeo-Christian worldview. I will add further comment to the article in order to increase understanding and connect freedom to America's founding as the Forefathers thought. 

This prose uses the theological concept of sin. The notion of sin is not clear to most people who mindlessly throw the term around and others who boldly reject the idea of sin without understanding the concept. Sin is rebellion against the Judeo-Christian God. People who reject the notion of sin are in fact rebelling in that mere action whether they acknowledge the act or not. There are other views of sin but all views boil down to rebellion. In the Judeo-Christian worldview, rebelling places a person into slavery or bondage. This will be discussed lightly in this post and more in depth in another post being prepared. 

Please note that while this is a discussion on the Judeo-Christian God or simply God. The term, Judeo-Christian, will precede God whenever possible. The reason for this is not to confuse the common term god with other gods. For example, Al-Lah is Aramaic meaning 'The god'. Al-Lah or simply Allah is not the Judeo-Christian God. Allah is distinctly different being the Moon god that Abraham's mother Terrah worshipped while in Kut. The Moon God's crescent symbol also appears atop the spires and the mosque dome.

The Biblical Foundations for Freedom
Kevin J. Youngblood
Southern Baptist Seminary
Louisville, Kentucky

Freedom is a key Biblical theme finding expression in both the spiritual and social ramifications of salvation in Jesus Christ. Scripture portrays freedom in a complex and multifaceted manner. It addresses issues related to political freedom, freedom from the institution of slavery, freedom from oaths and obligations, freedom from guilt and punishment, and freedom from sinful destructive habits. Naturally, these categories are not air tight; there is considerable overlap, but these constitute the basic categories for understanding the Bible’s conception of freedom.

Political Freedom

The central redemptive event of the Old Testament, The Exodus, resulted in Israel’s freedom from Egyptian domination. While it is true that the exodus involved freedom from slavery, the more significant result was the fulfillment of the divine promise ensuring the formation of Abraham's offspring into an independent political entity with its own land; Genesis 12:1-3; 15:18. Israel’s political freedom, however, did not take the form of a democracy; God formed a covenant with Israel in which he ruled over the nation as king and the nation worshipped and served him as devoted subjects - a form of government referred to as a theocracy; Exodus 19:5-6. Israel’s freedom consisted of her independence from other human kingdom’s, not an independence from her divine king.

Comment: Israel was granted secular leadership but the Judeo-Christian God retained sovereignty over morality; 1 Samuel 8.  There is no separation of Church and State in the Bible. All governments are subordinate to the Judeo-Christian God's will; Judges 8:23. As long as the political leaders follow the Judeo-Christian God's framework then the nation prospers; Duet 16:18-20.  Thus, political freedom is not absolute but instead subjected to the Judeo-Christian God's will from the Judeo-Christian perspective or worldview.

Freedom from Slavery

In many Biblical context, freedom is a social category standing in contrast to the social category of slavery. Though the institution of slavery did not exist in the social structure of ancient Israel, it was regulated by strict laws ensuring the humane treatment of slaves. The Torah, for example prohibited any Hebrew from owning a Hebrew slave longer than six years unless the slave voluntarily agreed to remain in the service of the master; Exodus 21:2-5; Deut 15:12-18. In fact, the law commanded that any Hebrew who became poor and sold himself into slavery was not to be treatd as a slave but as a hired worker. Furthermore, he was to be released on the year of Jubilee; Lev 25:39-43. Any slave who suffered physical injury at the hands of his master was to be freed; Exodus 21:26. Thus, it was God’s intention that his chosen people enjoy social freedom in the ancient Israelite economy. They were not to live in the promised land as they had lived in Egypt before their redemption.

In the New Testament, Paul advised slaves to gain their freedom if possible, but if not, to serve Christ faithfully as a slave. Their social position was irrelevant to their status in Christ’s kingdom and their calling in ministry; 1Cor 7:21-22. Though a believer may be a slave in society, he is free in Christ and thus can live in spiritual liberty while enduring social bondage. Paul’s letter to Philemon appears to be singularly concerned with the release Onesimus, a runaway slave who belonged to Philemon. In social terms, therefore, the Bible acknowledges that freedom is preferable to slavery but not essential to enjoying spiritual freedom offered by the Gospel.

Comment:  A  more comprehensive article on slavery is being prepared for posting.  In short, slavery in ancient society was not viewed or thought of as modern slavery is deemed. In the ancient world the practice of paying off debt through servitude was common. The concept of being a servant gained positive acceptance in the ancient world  in which the economies were solely dependent on slavery. Christ himself likened his service to man as a servant by humbling himself washing the feet of the disciples; John  13:1-17. That act is consider the ultimate demonstration of service or servitude.   

Freedom from Obligation and Guilt

Scripture also relates the concept of freedom to the concepts of obligation, oath, and guilt. In the Old Testament, people are commonly bound to and released from oaths. In example; Genesis 24:8,41. The two-and-a-half tribes that lived on the East side of the Jordan [River] were under obligation to help the rest of the Israelites conquer the land of Canaan. God said that once the land was subdued they would be free from this obligation; Numbers 32:22. Similarly, Paul speaks of a spouses freedom from marriage in the case of a mate’s death or in the event that an unbelieving spouse forsakes the marriage; 1Cor 7:15,39.

This concept is then broadened to include freedom from punishment brought on by guilt. For example, a woman suspected of martial infidelity was subject to a bitter water ritual to determine her guilt or innocence. Before administering the test, the priest would say, "If you are innocent of uncleanliness, you may be free from the curse of the test of bitter water”; Numbers 5:19-22. Pual uses the term freedom in a similar sense in Romans 8:1-2 when he says, “Therefore no condemnation exists for those in Christ, because the spirits law of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death; Gal 5:1.

Freedom from Confinement and Distress

Scriptures frequently describes God as one who sets prisoners free; Pss 102:20; 146:7; Isa 45:13, 58:6; 61:1; and Luke 4:18. In these contexts, God is freeing people from their literal and metaphorical confinement. The concept is frequently broadened to include distress or dire circumstances; Ps 118:5; Zech 9:11; 1 Cor 7:32.

Freedom from Sin (Rebellion)

The work of Christ brought new depth and significance to the Biblical concept of freedom. Paul in particular proclaims a new freedom in Christ, freedom from sin. Beyond freedom from the penalty of sin, Paul also speaks of freedom from the power of sin, the Spirit-empowered ability to resist habitual disobedience; Romans 6:7-22; Gal 4:1-7. Closely related to this is Paul’s declaration of freedom from the law, not freedom from God’s standard of righteousness but freedom from the frustration of our fallen nature’s inability to keep God’s law; Romans 7:7-20. Not only did Christ fulfill the demands of the law in his own life and sacrificially death, he continues, through the Holy spirit, to fulfill it in the lives of the transformed believers.

Thus, contrary to popular opinion, freedom is not the ability to do whatever one desires. This inevitably leads to enslavement to one’s own passions. Rather, The Bible, defines freedom as the ability to deny one’s self, to deny one’s desires in the interest of pleasing and glorifying God.

Comment:  Youngblood opens remarking that the Biblical notion of freedom is expressed in both spiritual and social ramifications of salvation in Christ.  While I agree with Youngblood, I would like to expand the thought adding the perspective that freedom is a natural right.

The concept of natural rights begins with the architecture of man from a Judeo-Christian God perspective and centers on several key concepts. God created a male embodiment from the Earth then breathed a soul into the embodiment; Genesis 2:7. Woman was created from man.  Humans were also created in or of God's image according to his likeness; Genesis 1:26-27, 5:1, 9:6. Many interpreters have thought to locate the God's image in human reason, creativity, speech, spiritual nature, or some aspect of humans. It is more likely that it is the whole of man rather than some part or aspect of him, that is the image of God (Marshall, Millard, Packer, and Wiseman, 1996, p. 499). Therefore, the Biblical model of a human is an embodiment of which within there is an image and a soul. The soul is the steward of the embodiment and image. The Bible provides the framework for accurate and righteous stewardship. When connecting the architecture of humans to a natural right to be free, the concept that God cannot rebel against himself (sin) and is free from this rebellion is the basis for imprinting the right to be free upon humans since the image is in humans. Thus, humans assume the natural right of freedom from the image in them.

This thought which originated from Rabbinical thinking has extended into Christian thought. Freedom is simply one right. In general, God's in image in humans gives humans dignity, all their natural rights, and purpose. Wrapping all this together, the framework for provisioning dignity, rights, and purpose are expressed as a comprehensive framework throughout the Judeo-Christian Bible in terms of commandments, principles, and concepts that are connected to and elevate Christ in humans. 

Natural freedom is also extended to mobility or the freedom of movement as humans are architected with legs and feet that permits humans to move throughout space-time. God, himself, enjoy mobility walking through the Garden of Eden, passing over the waters, wrestling with Jacob; Genesis 1:2, 3:8, 32:24-30.  Of course, there is also a spiritual mobility stated both in positive and negative terms. Walking in Christ or in the light as opposed to walking in darkness.  The focus in this prose is on the natural and not so much on the spiritual.

Humans are also architected with arms and hands that permit them to perform work and create things. The Judeo-Christian God and Jesus Christ creates.  He created a universe, is like a potter molding our lives , and Chirst was a carpenter. The mind-brian phenomena is where the human essence, the soul, assumes free will in order to self-determine their path or walk in life. Humans are able to pickup then transport objects and created things using their freedom of movement and free will in order to make something of the talents they possess; Matthew 25:14-30.  Christians, in particular, are given a mission to share knowledge and go out into the world (be mobile); Matthew 28:18-20.  Humans are to do what they have to offer the world, use their skills and talents; Ecclesiastes 9:10. In short, this is the underpinning of a natural economy which is a capital economy.

Capital economies are linked to freedom since humans are free to pursue their purpose in life.  When a free person acts on God-given talents, abilities, and skills then the capital economy duly compensates for needed resources. That compensation is used to give levity to the image and improve the quality of life such that humans can live a dignified life.  From a spiritual perspective, every human is needed in order for the body of Christ to fully function as each is a contributor to the whole. None are a cog or gear in a machine but instead a living breathing participant in the whole. 

In conclusion, freedom is founded on Salvation in Christ that connects other natural rights in support of providing dignity and purpose to humans. The American Forefather's understood this notion of freedom and the connection to productive work in a capital economy. They saw the potential for America and leveraged a system of government that, to them, was self-evident as nature's way to guarantee the rights.  They wrote these Biblical concepts into the founding documents after witnessing two competitive systems. The Jamestown colony was under tyrannical rule, martial law, disease, famine, and infighting. The Plymouth colony was under a constitution of the Mayflower Compact and thriving as a society of the people, by the people, and for the people. The Forefathers choose the constitutional solution.

Reference:

Marshall, H., Millard, A., Packer, J., and Wiseman, D. (1996). New bible dictionary: image. (3rd ed.). inter-Varsity Press: England. pp 498-500.

Youngblood, K. (2003). Holman illustrated bible dictionary: freedom. Holman Bible Publishers: Nashville.