What is the greatest need to safeguard Democracy?
Reading news reports today of all the precautions to safeguard the Capitol for the inauguration makes one wonder what is the greatest safeguard needed in a Democracy. Which then begs another question…?
The Purpose of This Post
Is to relate an ancient wisdom proverb of King Solomon, with an ancient philosopher, along with a former President who came into office during a national crisis.
King Solomon
Do not forsake wisdom, and she will preserve you; love her, and she will guard you. Wisdom is supreme; so acquire wisdom. And whatever you may acquire, gain understanding.8Prize her, and she will exalt you; if you embrace her, she will honor you.…(Proverb 4:6-8)
Socrates
“Socrates’s point is that voting in an election is a skill, not a random intuition. And like any skill, it needs to be taught systematically to people. Letting the citizenry vote without an education is as irresponsible as putting them in charge of a trireme sailing to Samos in a storm.”
President Franklin D. Roosevelt
“Democracy cannot succeed unless those who express their choice are prepared to choose wisely. The real safeguard of democracy, therefore, is education.”
What’s My Point?
All three men in history have observed the need for education to teach wisdom.
Excerpt
“It is sometimes said that the Founding Fathers created a “procedural republic” that was indifferent to what Americans did with their freedom. But this is to confuse a forthright defense of liberty with moral relativism that cannot distinguish right from wrong, virtue from vice.
My Point is to question if the present need for the extreme safeguards is related to a failure to teach both moral and civic wisdom?
In My Opinion
Obviously not.
I have been advocating the need for school choice or school vouchers because over time, the original intent of government education has been altered to remove any religious values of morality to be taught and because the costs to send children to private religious schools is now unaffordable for the majority of American parents.
In my opinion, the safeguard we are now experiencing leads me to conclude that that the education in the USA has failed to teach both moral and civic wisdom to safeguard our Nation based on the shootings taking place and the recent events of the 2020 election now taking place in our Nation.
Yes indeed, Obviously not.
If Interested,
Read in the Source Link below an article titled: Civic and Moral Virtues, the American Way.
Also, previous posts on the issue of School Vouchers.
You Decide
Do you believe the USA is presently teaching children moral and civic wisdom adequately to safeguard our democracy?
If not, now that the Supreme Court has ruled it was unconstitutional for States to use public schools’ funds to be used in private religious schools, should we new vote to elect State legislators to support school choice or school vouchers?
Regards and goodwill blogging.
Source Links
Excerpt
Previous Posts – School Vouchers
Rudy u Martinka 
Howdy. I’m a huge fan of school choice and vouchers. It is a fantastic way to go. If a parent likes public schools and chooses that, fine. If not, they have an alternative.
Blessings.
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Michael,
Thanks for your comment,
Now if only we could convince a million more to wise up and support school choice and school vouchers, perhaps their children will be better prepared how to avoid the folly’s our generation is now experiencing,.
Sad.
Regards and goodwill blogging.
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I believe you will find that public schooling and how to fund it was considered at the outset a universal public service tax issue. The concept was designed to promote the overall betterment of the nation by providing free education to all through applied taxation… whether anyone had kids of school age or not, because the entire nation benefitted from an educated populace. Very similar to taxes funding the national defense. Obviously this has worked for the nation because we’ve been the most powerful, successful, innovating, nation of all time… thanks mostly to free universal public education through high school. Even to this day the vast majority of Americans achieve some level of success having been a part of public education. Yes.. you can debate the curriculums and the rigors of reality with trying to adhere to federal education mandates, but public education HAS worked… albeit not as equal across the economic levels as we might have liked.
As for assigning some responsibility that public education should contain specifically Christian ideals.. in the beginning religion was thought to be taught in the home and through the church of choice. The reality is… it’s impossible not to include some level of moral interpretations as it relates to necessary behavior in class of accepted social behavior… and other school disciplinary processes. Child behavior requirements and acquired relationship behaviors are universal across religious beliefs. Spiritually inspired moral behavior should be taught in the home as well as forms of applied worship. I have no issue of some scheduled “prayer time” in schools… but a number of religions have prayer preferences that might be best suited for individual space rather than a general pause in the classroom and everyone prays together. But this idea that because the country was founded on Christian principles that somehow that extends to some divinity in the classroom is simply not fair representation for other religions.
Regarding “wisdom”… this is not taught. Wisdom is the conclusions we come to having had experiences from which we learn from.. and use those life lessons toward future action. Hopefully we can add to our lessons the application of critical thinking skills… which EVERYONE says they have… but not many understand it.
Seems to me.. you want a religious education for your child you pay for it. It’s not an exceptional concept. If you are against war you simply don’t refuse the pay taxes that provides for everyone’s common defense. Just substituting your tax obligation for public school because you have a child doesn’t seem appropriate. Otherwise people without kids or kids of school age should not pay an education tax at all.
Honestly.. I cannot fathom any parent would want their child taught spiritual morality as it relates to the family religion, by some public educator.
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Doug,
Thanks for your comment.
We both seem to agree with the need for education in a Democracy.
I believe the root cause for the majority of shootings and violence our Nation is experiencing in related to a failure of teaching religious morality to children. For example, do not kill is both a law of man and a law of most religious beliefs, yet in Chicago and many other urban cities, shootings and violence is at record numbers in mainly urban areas and not in other areas in the Nation..
What do you believe the root cause could be why some people have no reservations of shooting, stealing, and the other host of vices that lead to violence for some but not others in our Nation? For example, there are a lot of poor people or out of work people who seem to obey both the laws of God or man. And there are a lot of people who grow up in single parent homes who are law abiding..
I have brought up the need to have a government study to compare the number of convicted criminals to find out if they attended a private religious school or aa public secular school. Do you believe if this study were made it would prove that what a child is taught or not taught to believe about God who prove my point that teaching is more effective when both religious morals are included in a school curriculum?
I have already cited in numerous previous posts studies made that indicate children who are taught to believe in religious values test scores are as good or better than public secular schools, and even cost less to parents than the tax sums that are paid to public schools. For example, the link is just one of many in my blog category of School Vouchers.
Fast School Facts in Illinois? King Solomon Blog – Rudy u Martinka (rudymartinka.com)
And if even Black parents want school choice would it be logical to surmise that the Democrat Party who the majority of Blacks voted for in the 2020 election would also support school choice or school vouchers?
Regard amd goodwill blogging.
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Rudy.. you’re trying to assign a statistically justifiable reason that believing in a religion will make for predictably positive outcomes in life. You might say that is part of the nature vs, nurture variants that tend to comprise our behavioral outcomes in life. In which case, religion would fall under “nurture” as that is can be part of parental influence. You are far more religious-based than I am so I am not about to challenge the effect of spiritual belief on our lives. It’s good to use religious doctrine to provide a moral center and a guide for living life, no question. But I firmly believe that one does not necessarily need to be a Christian in order to live life like a Christian. I see the “cause” of much of the violence, especially lone wolf attacks like random shooters, is purely a mental health issue. The presumption being that one walking into a school and just murdering kids at random is not something “normal” people decide to do. The question then remains is what caused the mental health breakdown to begin with. Assuming, or presuming, that religious belief itself would deter a person from killing like that fails to take into consideration that having religious faith is a “normal mind” function. Mental stress can be caused by nearly anything in life and when a breaking point has been reached “normal” cognitive thought vanishes.
The other thought is that God, in His infinite wisdom, created man to be diverse in not only appearance but also in demeanor and abilities and traits and perceptions. We simply do not all act and live life the same or under the same set of moral rules. Some soldiers come back from the horrors of battle and assimilate back into life just fine. Others can’t and become victims of a life of PTSD.
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Doug,
In response to your two reply comments, you brought up a number of ‘effects’ of people who experience life and react different for another.
However, you did not explain your recommendations of what can be done or is missing in a person’s life to prevent him or her from breaking both the laws of God or man?
For example, you brought up mental illness which is an effect unless a person is born or suffered a brain injury or deficiency.
If you research the founders of the Constitution, I believe you will find that in their youth they were taught and familiar with the Bible and Greek philosophy about Democracy.
Abraham Lincoln self-taught himself and somehow in his eloquent speeches included same or similar observations of: my buddy” King Solomon and God. How he managed to find the time to do so probably was because there were no TV’s or I Phones to distract him or indoctrinate him in his impressionable and vulnerably time of youth.
I have stated most people who never attended a private religious school and taught in depth meanings of religion (moral) and civics laws of God and man, same as a person is never taught a skill like mechanics will be less likely to know how to fix a car or a life to run properly.
The same applies for learning wisdom.
I am not a religious scholar and only attended a private religious elementary school in my youth. If a parent wants to teach other religions, I have no objections as long as their religion beliefs do not conflict with laws of man.
I have written my observations during the Muslim terror attacks occurring in the USA, my opinions that Muslim teachings teach certain doctrines that conflict with laws about killing and using force to instill their beliefs which may be in fact a political entity rather than a religion. Sadly, our Supreme Court has never ruled on what a religion is in legally.
That is why I bring up Christian teachings which focus on wisdom and love, in my experience.
Again, what would you recommend should be taught to children to prevent them from from engaging in shooting and killing fellow human beings in a Nation founded on a Constituting that was written by founders who somehow were taught in a private school to believe in God and Country?
Thanks for your comments which allow me to expand my opinions on the subjects or issues of my blogs.
Regards and goodwill blogging.
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Rudy, you are trying to fit your own educational background to some sort of extended educational policy. How would I know what to teach kids to keep them from shooting up the place. Ever thought of hiding the guns from the kids as a first start? Maybe dump the Second Amendment?
Look.. maybe ask yourself what motivated your own folks to send you to a private religious school… and go from there. Did their hopes and dreams for you work out after attending that school? It’s rhetorical.. not looking for a reply there. I provided my best reply on this earlier. Religion one would think is best taught at home and exploited through life in the form of accomplishments and relationships and “deeds”. Your own example of licoln studying on his own and the early Greeks postulating life from being self-taught… suggests religion might be best taught from the home.
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Doug, I added quotation marks to your statements and answered below each of your comments.
“Rudy, you are trying to fit your own educational background to some sort of extended educational policy. “
Yes, because I believe it will help reduce the shootings, restore school choice to be affordable for millions of Americans who no longer had the same choices my parents could make for me.
“How would I know what to teach kids to keep them from shooting up the place.”
If it makes you fell any better, you are not alone based on the failure we are experiencing of schools in our Nation by government mandating what teachers can teach even though some may not agree with because of their religious values., for reasons I explained in my post.
“Ever thought of hiding the guns from the kids as a first start? Maybe dump the Second Amendment?”
I agree because it would certainly help reduce shootings because I well remember how badly I wanted a gun to protect myself when I was a kid from getting beat up or terrorized by gangs in my neighborhood. Cops back then only came around after you got beat up, same as today. You did not tell them anything because if you did, they might beat you up again or other family members.
“Look. maybe ask yourself what motivated your own folks to send you to a private religious school… and go from there. Did their hopes and dreams for you work out after attending that school? It’s rhetorical. not looking for a reply there”
I don’t mind replying. My great grandparents immigrated to the USA like millions did in their time. They found welcome and refuge in living in areas where the majority of people shared their same cultures, and languages, and religious beliefs, same as what is occurring now.
The reason my parents sent me to a private religious school is because it was affordable, 25 cents a week, and the parish was a community we all shared in events. Years ago, when you were introduced you asked each other what parish they were members to discern if they had similar values you scared same as the old song verse, “getting to know you. Etc .”
Those days and choices are less and less as more private schools shut down because members cannot afford to pay two tuitions anymore. One tuition from their taxes which have grown over time to be the biggest expense in every community in our Nation same as most government run enterprises or service do compared to private run anything..
The other to pay private tuition which was much lower because of religious vows of poverty taken my religious members to become priest so nuns. Often times when a parish member grew up and became wealthy, they contributed to help fund the parishes they were taught to believe was a Christian duty.
.” I provided my best reply on this earlier. Religion one would think is best taught at home and exploited through life in the form of accomplishments and relationships and “deeds”.
Sadly, though Doug, your best reply provides no alternatives for people who want to, but cannot afford to send their kids to be taught their religious values in depth.
“Your own example of Lincoln studying on his own and the early Greeks postulating life from being self-taught… suggests religion might be best taught from the home.”
Keep in mind r Abraham Lincoln taught himself, or his parents had a Bible in their home to help him learn. Add the fact that parents in our contemporary times are both working two jobs and when they come home don’t have the same time or energy to do what parents did in the past.
Thanks again for your comments which help me expand on my original post explanations.
Regards and goodwill blogging.
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You said, /Rudy…
“Sadly, though Doug, your best reply provides no alternatives for people who want to, but cannot afford to send their kids to be taught their religious values in depth.”
Not sure I understand.. you think government owes these folks a free parochial educational alternative based on their religious preference… rather than them getting the current free public education and religion being taught at home? More to the point… you feel government should pay for a religious education because parents (single and double) these days are off making money to support the family?
Doesn’t that sound a bit “off” to you? The nation is already divided over the impression of governmental control and you are expanding a portion of it, are you not?
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Doug,
You commented “government owes these folks a free parochial educational alternative….”
Let’s; trace how government in a Democrat Republic works and obtains funds to manage a Nation,
First legislators meet and discuss hopefully in a wise debate the needs and priorities to pass tax laws to remove money from a taxpayer’s bank account into the governments account.
In other words, it is the taxpayer’s money who the government takes from a voter’s bank account that he worked, saved, and deposited into his Bank knowing that someday he would have to send to the government to hopefully be spent in a wise and prudent manner.
In a Democrat Republic, the voter is given aa choice to represent someone’s interests living in his districts he represents and is given the power and duty to manage his taxes in a wise and prudent manner.
So, if a voter decides to vote for a legislator to represent him and he wants his tax money sent from the government bank account to a school of his choice, and the legislators all agree to pass a bill to allow tax funds to go to a private religious school instead of a public school the legislator will have represented the voter’s interests.
Also based on the difference in costs to run public vs private schools, plus the fact that private schools obtain higher scores than public schools, and perhaps manage to not occupy jails for criminal actions, ( can’t prove this unless a study is made as I explained.) the legislator is making a better of more prudent choice and use of the voter’ taxes. Especially if less police and jails are no longer required because the children grow up to be lawful to both God and mans laws.
Now I know you will not agree no matter what I say. and if you were a legislator running for office in my community, I would not vote for you, Also, I will not bring up the First Amendment which protects religious choices.
All this is now possible since the Supreme Court decision that prohibited States from using tax revenues to fund private schools that parents choose instead of government schools was ruled unconstitutional in 2020;
Some States like Florida elected a Governor and representatives who already are allowing State taxes to be used especially for students living in high poverty areas.
In time, more States will emulate Florida especially as more and more taxpayers wise up and move out of States like Illinois and California because the legislators in office choose to represent the interests of School Unions serving public schools.
That is my opinion and prediction.
Thanks again for your comment to allow me to expand on the issue of the blog post.
Regards and goodwill blogging.
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Doug,
You also commented, “Regarding “wisdom” … this is not taught. Wisdom is the conclusions we come to having had experiences from which we learn from. and use those life lessons toward future action.”
The Christian Bible includes numerous chapters and references to the word wisdom. In other words, the Christion private schools teach both wisdom and love.
This seems to invalidate your statement to some degree.
If interested, I wrote a previous post in the link below about learning by experience is only one avenue to wisdom.
King Solomon, Youth is the Best Time in Life to…… – Rudy u Martinka (rudymartinka.com)
Regards and goodwill blogging.
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Well, ok… I can clarify my defining that wisdom is an acquired affirmation of knowledge combined with experience… then using same to explain a part of life. Your buddy King Solomon applied his conclusions of knowledge and experience into what has been cited as his application of his wisdom as applied to governing. As a culture we tend to give some social respect to those of age.. a general respect of elders given they have lived long enough to have made conclusions from observations of life experiences and knowledge assimilated in those years.
Listening to someone who applies their own “wisdom” and seeing there might be some value to it, makes their wisdom all that more valuable and respected. Also, wisdom is not an expression of being “smart”… although a wise person can also be smart. One can be academically smart or smart in a given trade.. but that does not suggest they are also wise.
I am not so sure the Bible can teach love and wisdom as much as the Bible can teach how to love and teach the value of including faith into a person’s self wisdom.
All matter of perspective I suppose.
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Public schools are not Able to promote any values. Private schools can. However values can be unofficially taught by good example,therefore It is up to teachers and parents to see that morals are
The basis of wise decisions.
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