“A Call To Action,”
It’s a funny thing on college campuses. Typically
there are sidewalks placed all around to accommodate crowds of people
going from class to class. But oftentimes it’s easier to simply cut
through a patch of grass in a direct trajectory to where you’re going.
This, you may assume, is common sense. Despite this I notice a
large amount of my colleagues walking the designated paths; even if it
takes them longer to get where they need to go. This trend perfectly
illustrates the political climate of most college campuses today.
Regurgitating what they’re told instead of drawing their own
conclusions, every day more students are mindlessly being recruited to
form the ranks of a dangerous soft tyranny. They do not question
what they’re told. They simply see the path set before them and walk.
But they’re straddling a dangerous line.
Global warming is absolutely undisputed. This is a
fact and we need to stop it. Thus goes the thought circulating many
campuses these days. Those who disagree are clearly inbred, bitter
clingers- holding on to their guns and religion…right? Of course not.
Unless you assume thousands of scientists fall under this category (but
many are atheists so take from that what you will.) I don’t need to go
into the global warming debate with you, dear reader, because I know
that the audience this site attracts is well read. But what I do need to
accentuate is that my generation seems to have completely missed out on
the “investigate and reach your own conclusion” genes.
This same argument applies to the healthcare debate. The proponents of socialized medicine have done a very good job confusing the terms of “quality care” and “coverage for all.” These two are not the same thing. In my discussions I’ve found that rarely do students in favor of the Baucus bill have read that bill. They genuinely believe that nationalized healthcare can be achieved by taxing the rich without decreasing Medicaid or increasing taxes on the middle class. They also think their coverage will be better than ever. I’m going to pin this on a severe lack of understanding of the free markets and how they work. Time and time again I’ve seen a complete disregard for logic by proponents in the argument that this measure will not increase national deficits, as well as a blatant brushing off of inflationary arguments.
It’s hard to find a student interested in monetary policy. In all fairness, it’s hard to find an adult interested in our monetary policy. This is, by all accounts, mundane policy and legislation; riddled with technicalities and fancy terms that will trip up the general populous. This is exactly what the state wants. The inner workings of just what the federal reserve does and the complications of our fiat money system are strategically drafted in hopes of the people tuning it out. Young libertarians, independents, and republicans of the conservative mindset all need to take a stand. There was a bit of this during the last election cycle. It didn’t last. It needs to. The grassroots movement cannot end. Since the election (in which I supported Ron Paul), I’ve been distributing information on why we need to end the federal reserve’s power and the dangerous inflation that will be produced by nationalized healthcare. These are sort of my pet projects. But it goes beyond this.
It really doesn’t matter what your individual pet cause is. What matters is that you learn to step off that pavement and begin making your way through the grass. For too long, too many people have avoided doing so because they were scared to muddy themselves up. This can no longer be the case. If we’re going to get anything done, this mentality of playing it safe will no longer work. The time where we could sit back and listen is over. Without reasonable people speaking up on college campuses nationwide the arguments will cease to exist, the few voices that do will be drowned out by the roar of group speak, and the goal of a nation that lives inside its means will disappear forever.
Be prepared, my fellow college students. You will
get dirty when you step off that path. There will be puddles and leaves
and thorns. You will be faced with sticks and various rocks attempting
to throw you off balance, but you cannot stop. Fighting this fight on
all fronts is simply too important, no matter what party you belong to.
The issue of liberty is one that transcends party. Now is not the time
to stop doing what you’re doing. Keep it up. And to everyone else who
isn’t directly exposed to this – do your best to stop the spread of
misinformation wherever you may come across it.
You are the people. Make sure your liberty is being
secured. Make sure the general welfare is being promoted. Because if you
don’t, no one will.
