SSU (Week 3a): Articles of Confederation

• Articles of Confederation
  

SSU (Week 2b): Declaration of Independence

• Declaration of Independence
  

Natural Law

"True law is right reason in agreement with nature; it is of universal application, unchanging and everlasting; it summons to duty by its commands, and averts from wrongdoing by its prohibitions....It is a sin to try to alter this law, nor is it allowable to repeal any part of it, and it is impossible to abolish it entirely. We cannot be freed from its obligations by senate or people, and we need not look outside ourselves for an expounder or interpreter of it. There will not be different laws now and in the future, but one eternal and unchangeable law will be valid for all nations and all times, and there will be one master and ruler, that is God, over all, for he is the author of this law, its promulgator, and its enforcing judge. Whoever is disobedient is fleeing from himself and denying his human nature, and by reason of this very fact he will suffer the worst punishment" Cicero---
The Founding Fathers talked a lot about Natural Law (which I believe is the Spirit of Christ we are all born with essentially). I never heard it put into words quite so well as through Cicero.

Why can't we see more of this from OUR government?

I'm not an advocate of big government, but if our government is going to do something....do this. What a great program to help others help themselves...

Microfarming Project Helps Families in Ecuador Become Self-Relient

I wish I could go there and learn all those tips on successful farming. I have been trying to read up on gardening so I can start one here. It is so overwhelming! But I will persevere and learn from my mistakes.

“That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven.”

This is a simple, yet beautiful talk by Spencer W. Kimball. I don't know why, but I was balling as I read it (and you all know I don't cry often). It touched my heart and feel that it might touch yours as well.

The False Gods We Worship (August 1977)

Milton who?

Milton Friedman. Ever heard of him? Me neither.

If you thought Milton Bradley knew everything there is to know about The Game of Life, then you should learn a little about this other Milton. I'm not sure how I made it this far in my life without knowing the name Milton Friedman.

In a nutshell, Milton Friedman was an American economist - many may argue that he was THE American economist. The former Keynesian supporter had a lot of radical ideas that were rejected in the 1960's when they were first presented. Over the years, his economic philosophies have increasingly been accepted.

Friedman has been called "the most influential economist of the second half of the 20th century…possibly of all of it". He was also known as a public intellectual, preaching his ideas in books, scholarly articles, papers, magazine columns, TV programs, videos, and lectures.

Again I ask, how did I miss this guy? He only died 3 years ago. Perhaps our parents were remiss in their duties by leaving Guru Milton out of our bedtime stories. So I have been reading about him and absorbing the vast amount of information, books, lectures, videos he put out there. While I haven't formed a solid opinion on him, I'm am sure intrigued and, thus far, really like him a lot. It's like an economic man-crush.

To get you started:

• Milton Friedman (Wikipedia)
• Friedman debates Phil Donahue on Capitalism
• Really, really cheesy (yet informative) tribute to Friedman
  
• (there are endless YouTube videos you can follow from there)
• Compilation of interview questions
  

So what do you think?

SSU (Week 2a): "Give Me Liberty"

• "Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death"