Monday, April 4, 2011

How to solve problems

Teach a man good principles and let him govern himself. You can't solve problems by telling people what to do. This is why liberalism never works. It's a simple fact that people do not like to be told what to do. They like to be independent

A good example of this is that kids in America are getting too fat. So we have this problem, now how do we solve it.

The conservative, or traditional America, or most mom's and dads, will teach their kids good principles, and hope that they make the right decision. If they are educated, then perhaps they will make the right decision. Or at least be responsible for their actions if they choose to eat poorly.

This is the best way to solve problems. Let people solve their problems themselves.

Progressives belive the opposite. They believe that people need to be told what to do. That is why they are for laws that limit salt intake, and that make sure everyone wears a seat belt, don't drink and drive, don't eat fatty foods. They believe people aren't smart enough to do this on their own, and must be forced.

They believe to keep kids safe we need to make laws banning swings because there are "too many swing related swingsets." It's not enough to say we and our grandparents survived with swing sets They've made policies banning chocolate milk because white milk is better for them. Yet all this does is cause some kids to get no milk, becasue they don't like white milk.

New York schools banned bake sales to reduce calories. Some schools even banned the dictionary because there are references to oral sex.

ll this does is create anger. People don't like to be told what to do, and when you tell them they have to do something, the purposely do what you don't want to spite you. I see this often with my kids. When I tell them not to do something, they do it when I'm not looking.

The best way to solve problems is to teach good principles and let them govern themselves. We can help each other. We can turn to each other for help.

We need to teach history. We need to teach facts. And then let the kids, the people, the moms and dads, decide from there. Given the freedom, people more often than not make the right decision. Yet it must be their decision.

On another level, there are generally three different ways people solve their problems.
  1. Get angry
  2. Unplug: not pay attention; separate
  3. Find a happy place. Make the changes needed to make yourself happy given the situation. Teach principles and let people decide. Educate. Learn. Try to make things better. Stay calm. Teach facts. Talk to God. Pray.

Obviously #1 and #2 are not going to help anyone solve the problem. Yet often progressives do #1, independents do #2, and conservatives do #3. Not always, but as a rule of thumb.

Know that people are smart and can solve their own problems, and don't be like progressives and become unwilling to tolerate another opinion.

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