Last week, we began a discussion about some basic tools which can be used to get involved and strengthen your grip on the important political issues of today. Too often, blog posts are filled with conceptual and theoretical reasoning with little practical advice given on how to implement these concepts and theories in your own life.
For instance, we can agree that “limited government” is a good thing, but what does that mean for me and how can I be prepared to live out these beliefs? If I am a limited-government advocate, I should be working towards being as self-sufficient as I can. That means educating myself in a wide variety of areas including investment/finance, basic law, first aid/survival, food preparation and preservation, history, marksmanship, etc.
If we really mean what we say about working our rears off to turn this country around, we have to start with ourselves. We have to become the type of person which others should listen to, because we know what we’re talking about. We have to be prepared to practice what we preach.
Awhile ago, El Rushbo gave some great advice. He said that if you want to make a difference, become the person which everyone goes to for advice. Do what you can to influence your own circle of influence.
All of this means a lot of learning, hence this series about opening your toolbox. All of the ideas offered here are free or very low-cost. With the amount of free resources available to us, there is no excuse for not taking advantage of them to the fullest extent possible.
One of the oldest and easiest resources to utilize is the public library card. All it takes to get one is a bill from the gas company and an ID. It is not hyperbole to say that a world of knowledge is at your fingertips when you use your library card. One of the best new features of many libraries is the ability to check out eBooks from your local library’s website. More and more libraries are making this feature available and it is very easy to use. I recently read Mark Steyn’s latest and greatest book on my Kindle, courtesy of my local public library. If you don’t see it offered on your library’s website, ask your librarian.
As a side note, there are literally thousands of classic books available for free on your eReader. Many of the most important works of literature and non-fiction are available for $0.99 or even less on Amazon.com and elsewhere. A friend bought a CD a couple of years ago with 10,000 of the most famous works of literature for $10. Their copyrights have expired and they are available for all to enjoy. So go enjoy them and enrich your worldview.
Another great new resource is a number of websites which offer free online courses. The most extensive offering comes from Coursera.org, which offers classes from some of the most prestigious universities in the country including Duke, Princeton, Stanford, John Hopkins, Caltech and more. You and I both know that most of the professors from these universities are hostile to folks like you and I, but as I mentioned last week this is all the more reason why we should use the tools they are offering us against them. If a professor from Stanford wants to teach me Organic Chemistry 101 for free, I’ll be happy to incorporate what I learn about the intricacies of life from an atheist Darwinian professor into my creationist worldview.
If engaging with the residents of America’s Ivory Towers is too repugnant for you, I have another suggestion. Explore the free course offerings from organizations which are ideologically-compatible, like Hillsdale College. Hillsdale offers a few free, online courses on the Constitution and Western History. Dennis Prager also opened Prager University recently. It offers free, 5-minute videos which teach fundamental conservative concepts to online viewers.
I believe firmly in Reagan’s statement that all change in America starts at the dinner table. This is a nation which moves according to the familial zeitgeist and the cultural temperature. Therefore, it is of paramount importance to make sure your own house is in order before attempting to change the world.
Invest your time in learning as much as you can about the issues we face today and seek the knowledge in a variety of places. Yes we can learn much from sources which are sympathetic, but we can also learn from those which are diametrically-opposed to our way of life. To be completely honest, you can usually learn more from what a Daily Kos column doesn’t say than what it actually says. Once you have a firm grasp on the position you hold on a specific issue, seek out opinions which are against yours and see which has the stronger argument.
“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.” – Sun Tzu