Perspectives of a Wanderer

Consider Psalm 14 (RSV):

¹ The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds, there is none that does good.
² The LORD looks down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there are any that act wisely, that seek after God.
³ They have all gone astray, they are all alike corrupt; there is none that does good, no, not one.
⁴ Have they no knowledge, all the evildoers who eat up my people as they eat bread, and do not call upon the LORD?
⁵ There they shall be in great terror, for God is with the generation of the righteous.
⁶ You would confound the plans of the poor, but the LORD is his refuge.
⁷ O that deliverance for Israel would come out of Zion! When the LORD restores the fortunes of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, Israel shall be glad.

This was one of the Psalms that were part of my prayers for today.  Although it was written millenniums ago, the first four lines seems to describe today’s society very well.

It seem what we, especially our so-called leaders, have forgotten God entirely.  Greed and corruption are rampant and people are just means to and end.

People do not seem to matter unless they are usable. How else can one explain the wholesale slaughter of the unborn and the growing euthanasia utilization? For many, these people (not things) seem to not be productive part of society so they must be gotten rid of by any means possible.

In addition, those who do still believe in God are to be persecuted by the Godless society we live it.

But this is what we get for letting the plagues (I have heard some of them called parasites) of Socialism, Relativism, Liberalism, Materialism, and Global Capitalism to get a foothold.

Fortunately, if we remember that, our reward is not in this world, but the next if we remain faithful to the Lord.  Furthermore, there is always the hope that we can reverse the effects of the plagues on the world and rid ourselves of them.

Or: Another reason to create a separate, but within, society

Consider the following definition for the “Occasion of Sin”:

Any person, place, or thing that of its nature or because of human frailty can lead one to do wrong, thereby committing sin. (Modern Catholic Dictionary) An occasion of sin is considered remote if the danger it poses is very slight while it is considered near if the danger is “certain and probable.”

Today’s society, with its rampant immorality from the socio-economic plagues like Relativism and Materialism, one could make the argument that it could be considered one big “occasion of sin” both near and remote based on the person.

Whether it be businesses, entertainment, or something else, I tend to see this as being essentially true.  However, I do see pockets of where this is not true but they are few and far between.

We need to combat this and, although some will not like my idea, we should considered starting to set up a separate, but within, socio-economic structure to counter today’s society.  This socio-economic structure must have a sound foundation based on Catholic Moral and Social teachings.

While I say “separate”, I also say “but within”.  We cannot separate ourselves from society and I am definitely not advocating that (at least right now).  What we need to do is start setting up morally upright alternatives for as many things as possible in today’s society when there is none available.  If they are available, we must use them exclusively.

By, using and setting up morally sound resources, we can become examples for the rest of society and bring them back from the brink of implosion.

In Going Local, I explained the reason why we may “Go Local” whether we want to or not due to factors that are out of control.  Now I would like to give a reason why one may want to “Go Local”.

One of the advantages of having many contacts on Facebook that are Distributists are that they post links to many interesting articles.  Many of them I cannot get to due to a busy schedule.

However, this morning a link to The Ruin of the Small Storekeeper by Hilaire Belloc over on ChesterBelloc Mandate was posted. In there, Belloc points out the moral and material sets of causes that work against the small storekeeper (i.e. the small business man).

The moral causes, in my opinion mostly can be categorized into one of the socio-economic plagues that are infecting society.  That plague is Materialism.  Many see the small storekeeper as inconvenient due to the fact that they cannot get all of their “so called needs” in one place and are “wasting time” by going to various different places.  I can see why one would believe this.

However, if one takes an inventory of their “needs” they would see many of them are “wants” not “needs”.  In addition, by going to places where one can “get everything in one place”, one tends to “get things” that they do not need since they are “conveniently there.”  This convenience explains the rise of the “megastores” and the “mall” or “mega shopping center”.

The second set, material” of clauses, in my opinion are more insidious since they actively against the “Small Storekeeper”.  They are the competitive advantages of the second socio-economic plague that infects society.  That plague is Global Capitalism (or big business).  Whether it be the “economies of scale”, “control of production”, and/or “preferential treatment” by banks and/or regulators, the Global Capitalist definitely has the advantage and uses it to either bring the “Small Storekeeper” under his control (i.e. franchise) or destroy them all together.  In either case, the “Small Storekeeper” is either reduced to a “wage slave” at the beckon call of his “master” the Global Capitalist or a slave of the State via welfare or employment.

Now, one can say that there are many “small stores” in the mall or along “Main Street”.  However, if one takes a close look, they are mostly either franchisees of global companies, sell products of the global companies, or sell goods that the global company has no desire to sell.  In all cases but the last, they are nothing more than the extension of the global company.  This is especially true of the stores in the mall.

Many will say that Global Capitalism is good.  I say it is just the opposite.  Except in the rare case, Global Capitalism is oppressive of those who want to compete in the same line of business, reduces people to wage slaves, and promotes the plague of Materialism.

We must look at our buying habits and determine if we really need the products and, if we do, try to find truly local “Small Shopkeepers” to buy those products.  Only then will we be able to crush the plagues that are infecting society.

Will it come whether we want it or not? And, how will you adjust?

As usual, I was at one of the local Borders tonight looking at possible books to buy. One of the books I have been looking at is Why Your World Is About to Get a Whole Lot Smaller: Oil and the End of Globalization by Jeff Rubin.  The premise of his book is that oil is going to get consistently more costly due to it dwindling supply and we are going to have to look more locally for our needs.

While I agree that energy, especially oil, is going to get more expensive, I do not agree it will be because of dwindling supply.  There are too many alternatives, albeit more expense, alternative sources of oil that is being developed that will more than replace the supply of oil.  However, I digress.

There are many more reasons then just “oil” that may force localization whether people want it or not.  More and more, we are hearing in the news about tainted products from overseas where quality standards are lacking or non-existent.  This I have discussed before.

Secondly, are economic factors that are coming into play now due to the downturn in the economic health of the country?  How much longer are people going to let jobs be shipped overseas while people are losing their jobs?

However, there is another economic factor that may come into play, and that is the falling value of the dollar.  With the drop, imports become more expensive.  At some point, it will (and probably has in some cases) become cheaper to produce goods in the country rather than importing them.   This is going to become more of a factor if the drop in the dollar continues.

The third is more of a psychological than a real factor.  And that is the constant reports of new diseases or new strains of existing diseases.  Yes there is a threat there, but it may force a consideration of the risk factors of importing goods from the far reaches of the world.  Is it really worth importing goods that are more of a luxury than a necessity?

Finally, there are geo-political factors.  Many parts of the world are becoming very unstable.  This has always been an issue, however, where the geo-political problems are now could adversely affect the supply of oil, which, of course, will dramatically increase the price of energy.  This, in turn, will increase the costs of shipping and, ultimately, the final costs of goods that are imported.

There are other factors, but these are the major ones.  However, all of these will probably force people to look locally more and more for the goods needed to survive.

With this shift, many changes in lifestyles will have to be made.

We will have to look for local alternatives to goods like coffee, tea, and many fruits and vegetables that have become commonplace all year round.  Yes, some of these will be available fresh when they are in season.  However, when out of season, one will have to look for alternatives, use in preserved forms (i.e. frozen or cured), or do without.

We will also have to make changes in our leisure activities.  Traveling to exotic places whenever we want to will not be an option if travel becomes too expensive.  We will have to look locally for recreation.  This is not necessarily a bad thing.  It may promote a greater sense of community.

Distributism, which I am an advocate of, looks to place the means of production of all goods at the most local level as possible.  However, it does not stop there, it promote the self-sufficiency of the family as much as possible while not promoting individualism.

An additional benefit, in my opinion, is that Distributism, in its purest form, is rooted in Catholic Moral and Social teachings.   Because of that, it can be used to rebuild a moral foundation to a society whose foundation has been rotting away from the ravages of the plagues of Relativism, Globalism (in the form of Global Capitalism), Materialism, Socialism, and Liberalism.

“Going Local” is not a bad thing.  In fact, it is a good thing since Global Capitalism is proving to be, like it opposite Socialism is proving to be a dismal failure.

For me, it depends on what I am doing but it basically comes down to two genres of music; Classical and Country. Yes, sometimes I do listen to other genres, but that is very few and very far between.

Yes, I know it sounds like a weird mix, but it is what I like.  I never got into the “rock” genre other the “southern rock” which can, in some cases, get close to country.

As I said before, it depends on what I am doing.  95% of the time, however, it is classical music. The only real time I listen to country is when I am driving for an extended period of time and do not want to fall asleep.  Classical music tends to relax me.

When I am relaxing, I listen exclusively to classical music with preference for the Renaissance, Baroque, and Classical periods.  There are some from the Romantic Period composers (i.e Wagner, Dvorak, Bruch, and Tchaikovsky) but they are few and far between.

There is one time where I will listen to a specific genre and that is when I am praying.  At that time, I like listening to Baroque music.  It is both relaxing and, unlike Renaissance Music which does has many sacred works, is mostly instrumental music and very little vocal in composition.  When I pray, vocals in music distracts me from my prayers.  When is strictly instrumental music, I can concentrate.

As for the other genres of music, I do not listen to them since much of it these days gravitates towards the immoral and obscene.

I have always wondered how much we are to be in this world but at the same time be apart of this world.   These days, this question seems to be more important than ever due to the socio-economic plagues like Liberalism, Socialism, Relativism, Materialism, and Global Capitalism infecting society as a whole.

Yes, we are to be lights to this world as stated by Our Lord:

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. (Mt. 5: 14-16 RSV)

but, at the same time, He said:

“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. (Mt. 6: 24 RSV)

This begs the question, how far to be in this world, but set ourselves apart for the glory or Our Lord.  We have to selective about our participation in today society due to the almost constant threats of Near Occasions of Sin while always being a shining example of how we are to live.

This balance, although difficult, must be determined for each and one of us.  For some, it means being more in this world than others.

As for me, I am gravitating more towards removing myself more and more from this world to serve Our Lord more.  What this will entail, I am not quite sure yet.  I am being more selective of what I do and where I go.  This will increase in the next year or so until I fully determine the path I am to take.

Now that something that has been taking up a sizable chunk of my time has been resolved, I am trying to figure out which of the many projects I have been thinking of doing to actually do.  Some of these include:

1. Graduate School (thinking of getting advanced degrees in a number of disciples including Catholic Theology, History, and Economics)
2. Create a practical blueprint for the development of a self-sufficient Distributist community/society based on Catholic Moral and Social teachings
3. Research and document the progression of Catholic dogmatic and doctrinal teachings (concentrating on Catholic Moral and Social teachings) since the Council of Trent

I picked these three since they could be interrelated.  A graduate degree in Catholic Theology would help me with the other two while a degree in Economics would help me with the blueprint in number two.  My ultimate goal in all three of these endeavors, however, will probably go into teaching and/or writing.

In addition to the above, I would like to get back into web development that I have dabbled in before.  I could also this to document the above projects on-line.

Like I said, these are just a couple of the projects I am thinking of, it is just they are at the top of my list right not.  That may change.  Who knows?

Some who know me know I was a prolific poster over at Catholic Answers Forums.  In recent months, however, my activity, although still substantial, has dropped off considerably.  There were many reasons for this but it was a general dissatisfaction with the forums and the direction it was taking.

Today was the last straw.  I did not like something was going and I made it publically known.  Due to that, I received an infraction.  At that point, I had made up my mind to “retire” from the forums completely and stated so on a thread that I frequent.

However, before I could send the “retirement” notification (I was going to do it tonight), I got notified that I had been banned for posting my intention to “retire”.

To tell you the truth, I am glad.  I was spending too much time over there following too many threads.  I have many other projects that I could better spend my time on.

Will I miss Catholic Answers Forums, maybe, but I doubt it.  In fact, I may consider it a badge of honor.

Today is the Feast of Out Lady of the Rosary.  For those who do not know:

Feast of Out Lady of the Rosary is an annual feast to commemorate the victory of Lepanto. The victory was attributed to Our Lady, as a rosary procession was offered on that day in St. Peter’s Square in Rome for the success of the mission of the Holy League to hold back Muslim forces from overrunning Western Europe.  First instituted in 1571 Pope Pius V as “Our Lady of Victory”, the name was changed to “Feast of the Holy Rosary” in 1573 by Pope then to “Our Lady of the Rosary” in 1969 by Pope Paul VI.

The event that this feast celebrates shows how powerful the power of prayer is.

This seems to have been lost in the modern day.  With all the affronts to life and liberty that is happening due to the plagues of Liberalism, Socialism, Materialism, Relativism, and Global Capitalism, we must consider prayer as part of the battle against those plagues.  For without prayer, the battle will be lost.

We currently live in a society and so integrated that I am wondering if we could actually go back to a true local society that could survive without outside resources.  The main reason that makes me skeptical about a truly local society is “Energy”.

When I talk about energy, I am not just talking about Electricity.  I am also talking about fuels to run vehicles and machinery, and to heat homes and businesses.  Yes, some, if not much, of this can be produced locally, but could it be enough to adequately and reliably serve the needs of any sizable population.

If there were a sufficient amount of natural resources like coal, oil, and/or natural gas, I guess the needed infrastructure could be created to utilize those resources.  But not all areas have those resources in any appreciable quantities.

That means that alternative resources have to be found.  Yes, wind and solar can be used, but they can be unreliable at best. If there were a way to store the produced electricity for any appreciable amount of time then maybe they could be a more viable option.

Biofuels are an option for fuels, however, at the present time, utilizes resources that are best left for their intended uses.  Saying that, there are a myriad of technologies being developed that will allow biofuels to be created from waste material, weed trees, and even algae that will produce better yields and varieties than what is currently produced from feedstock like corn and soybeans.  However, theses are either years away or are proprietary at the present time.  This means we would have to wait or rely on others for the technologies.

Now one can say that do we really need these types of energies to survive?  The answer is no, but are people willing to go back that far in time (even though it is really only about a century since much of this has been available to the populace).  In most cases, I would say it would be a resounding NO.

In conclusion, if the natural resources were available, then I would say that, yes, there is a greater possibility of creating a truly local society.  If there were not, I would say it would be hard, but not impossible, for those who are willing to go without.

There are other reasons that it would be hard to “go local”, but those are easier to overcome and subjects for future entries.