My exchange with a fellow alum about Woodrow Wilson
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You are not here merely to make a living. You are here in order to enable the world to live more amply, with greater vision, with a finer spirit of hope and achievement. You are here to enrich the world, and you impoverish yourself if you forget the errand. -Woodrow Wilson
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My first comment
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Have you read much about Wilson? He’s not a guy I’d like to see anyone quoting. Ran as the “peace candidate”; immediately got the USA in WW1. Signed the Federal Reserve Act. Income tax. And was a racist, elitist, and a Progressive (Socialist). He’s in my second tier of worst Presidents.
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The response
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I’ll describe what (little) I know of Wilson as a measure of context.
Wilson’s presidency is perhaps one that gets the most airtime in high school-level classrooms (if only because it seems that classes never progressed beyond WWII). However, his proponents must have written those textbooks because he was always presented in a favorable light.
Theoretical socialism does not bother me – the haphazard application of interesting ideas is enough to cause anyone to pause. I do not know much about the impact of the Federal Reserve Act, and can only ascertain that like any other major legislation, he had a slew of followers and critics, along with a range of those who were sitting on the fence, ignorant, or wholly disinterested.
Specifically, I am deeply disappointed by his inaction against the Jim Crow laws and any discriminatory practices encouraged during his administration. However, I appreciate his applauded footwork during WWI (I understand it as having been a necessary act), the fact that he was the first U.S. president to have a doctorate degree, and his straightforward writing approach in the well-known Fourteen Points…there is not much fondness to be mentioned about his League of Nations, but it was a respectable, if ineffective attempt.
In any case, I felt it proper to cite the source of the quotation, because plagiarism still isn’t acceptable on Facebook. I was first introduced to the following book by a peer as an undergraduate at Manhattan College, which contains the quote. I try to encapsulate its underlying message in my professional endeavors as a demonstration of positivity and good will: http://www.amazon.com/Woodrow-Wilson-Essential-Writings-Scholar-President/dp/0814719848
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To which I responded
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>Wilson’s presidency … … in high school-level classrooms
Remember that the current “education meme” is imported from preWW1 Prussia. It’s purpose was to make the population more pliable to the elite. Specifically, they wanted cannon fodder for the army, good factory workers, and a subservient electorate that could be led by the elite. Where do politicians send their children? It dumbs down future voters.
>Theoretical socialism does not bother me –
Ouch, it should. They say: Any one, whose not a young socialist, has no heart; any one, who is not an old conservative, has no brain. Unfortunately, socialism is a nice way to say “force”. Redistribution requires force. The little L libertarian was of saying it is: “Where is the gun in the room?” And, “theoretical socialism” always gets down to killing, brutality, and poverty.
>I do not know much about the impact of the Federal Reserve Act
Well, hindsight is 20/20. We can channel our inner Andrew Jackson about the evils of central banking. The Federal Reserve Bank, which is not Federal, Reserves nothing, and isn’t a “bank”, is a banking cartel that allows the banks to monopolize the creation of money. It’s a license to steal. In exchange, it allows the politicians, of both parties, to spend “money” without taxation or borrowing. There’s the silent tax of inflation. I’ve ranted about it on my blog. Basically, it can be summed up in two parts — ONE: What’s a dollar? It used to be a fixed amount of gold or silver until FDR stole everyone’s gold in 1932. Now it’s what? A piece of paper signifying nothing. — TWO: Since its creation in 1913 (thanks WW), the value of a dollar (purchasing power) has declined 95+% between 1913 and 2000. That wealth has been stolen by politicians and bureaucrats for expanding the Gooferment.
>inaction against the Jim Crow laws and any discriminatory practices
That’s consistent with his racist beliefs!
>However, I appreciate his applauded footwork during WWI
>(I understand it as having been a necessary act)
WW1 was a disaster. American was non-interventionist and Wilson ran as a “peace candidate”. Almost immediately, after his election, he sought to get us into the WW1. The Lusitania was carrying munitions in violation of the Geneva Convention. It was another step in moving the USA from a peaceful stay at home to a global power. It is generally conceded that the USA’s entry into WW1 prolonged the conflict, allowed the French and English to gain the upper hand, force the Germans to accept a terrible armistice, and sowed the seeds for Hitler and WW2. The Dead Old White Guys warned us about becoming involved in “Europe’s petty squabbles”.
>his League of Nations, but it was a respectable,
It was Global Governance that would, like the UN, put the elite in charge of the planet. Doesn’t work out so well if you’re one of the serfs. You’ll find that, like the UN’s Human Rights Committee which is populated by the worst Human Rights violators, Global Governance is a cesspool of corruption, theft, violence, and fraud. And the USA pays for it! Argh!
>demonstration of positivity and good will
Well, I don’t think a quote is plagiarism. Might want to chat with one of the many lawyers about “fair use”.
My problem with the quote is … … it’s essentially socialism. You are here to make living. And, you have the right to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”. In pursuing your own crass economic best interest, you will by definition “enrich the world”. Greed is good. Because it induces everyone to cooperate. The only way you can morally get lots of “certificates of appreciation” is to satisfy the needs of your fellow man. Satisfy enough needs and you get lots of them there “certificates”. You’ll recognize them right away. They’re green and you can exchange them for other stuff. Some even call them money.
Note, those green Federal Reserve Banknotes, which little L libertarian label FRBies — furbies, haven’t been “money” since FDR took us off the gold standard.
“Money is a matter of functions four, a medium, a measure, a standard, a store.” He repeated that four times like poetry. “Six Characters in Money: Portable – Durable – Divisible – Uniformity – Limited Supply – Acceptability.” CHURCH 10●19●62 (Vol 1) 978-0-557-08387-9 page 110
It’s no longer “money” because it’s not a standard or store. It also fails because it doesn’t have limited supply. The FED can print as much as the need.
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I’m sure that you have better things to do than think about … history. Unfortunately, this stuff has direct application to today’s conditions. It’s what the Tea Parties are yelling about. And, youths like yourself have to deal with the mess that you’re being left. Yours, reportedly, is the first generation that isn’t as well off as previous generations.
One last point, then I’ll stop bending your eye.
Don’t believe anything any politician says. Any one, any time, on any topic. If some person stands up and says they promise the sun will rise tomorrow, they’re lying. They all have a angle. At the very least, they are spinning the fact to match their need.
And, don’t listen to fat old white guy injineers that are alumni. Their tin foil hats are on too tight.
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And the finish
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Haha, no, I appreciate the discussion and the time you’re taking to share your views.
I certainly wasn’t thinking about history or allying myself to any president’s cause when I chose the quote – it was selected (and yes, I’m aware that quotations can be taken out of context to suit others’ needs and propaganda) simply because it resonated something truthful for my vocation, nothing less or more (although, in a sense, there’s always more to it).
“Don’t believe anything any politician says. Any one, any time, on any topic. If some person stands up and says they promise the sun will rise tomorrow, they’re lying.”
Of course, politicians lie – they want to get voted in, after all. I would rather give each candidate a fair shot, but my generation has been criticized as being more than slightly apathetic – a completely dangerous stance – (aside from the ‘Rock the Vote’ campaign), because mine “reportedly, is the first generation that isn’t as well off as previous generations.” Yet, I believe that every generation had its struggles – we’re faring better than those during the Great Depression, and others who suffered before and during the initial start of the civil rights movement, to name a couple. A single politician (administration included) cannot be expected to run a nation perfectly – something is always going to go wrong in taking on the burden from one’s predecessor, choices have to be made, and there are too many people to please who will never be satisfied.
To put it into perspective, I was in kindergarten when George Bush Sr. was elected into office. In a poorly constructed, clichéd metaphor, members of my generation can’t drink the kool-aid readily when we are 1) on a diet or jaded by a constant stream of reality tv meant to placate and numb us or 2) already saw others before us do it with dire consequences.
I understand the quote as socialist in nature when sipped from the source, sure, but I’ve appropriated it into the values instilled by my Lasallian education to support the betterment of those around me, my future clients and the Jaspers I work with on a daily basis. There are not that many people who pursue an education or social services-related field to obtain wealth; I merely hope to share my skills to help empower others. MC has adopted the motto “The Work is Ours” from Br. Luke Salm’s book on St. De La Salle, entitled “The Work is Yours.” I believe there has to be self-awareness, reflection, and intention in completing one’s work.
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