Money & The American Dream
It’s essential to remember and consider the wisdom in Thomas Jefferson’s words and the philosophy he stood for. Jefferson strongly believed in the freedom of ideas and thought as the foundation for human progress. He emphasized the importance of equality, not in material possessions but in our nonmaterial selves and spirituality. Jefferson’s vision of a perfect republic strived for every individual’s equality and freedom of mind, thought, and religion.
Today, we see a stark contrast to Jefferson’s vision. The influence of monetary success and the concentration of wealth in the hands of a few has heightened inequalities and undermined the principles Jefferson fiercely advocated. The control of the media, the dominance of money over science, and the encroachment of the deep state into crucial aspects of our society raise serious concerns about our direction.
Furthermore, the sway of the pharmaceutical industry, driven by profits over doing good, is a troubling example of diverging from Jefferson’s ideals. Mandating mRNA vaccines without addressing legitimate concerns and evidence of harm is alarming, especially as all-cause mortality continues to rise in many Western countries.
It’s crucial for us, as Americans, to reflect on and internalize Jefferson’s principles. The current state of affairs should serve as a clarion call for us to recommit ourselves to the ideals Jefferson envisioned. We must strive for a society where freedom, equality, and human progress are at the forefront, not overshadowed by the pursuit of material gains and the encroachment of elite interests. In honoring Jefferson’s legacy, we should advocate for a society that upholds the freedom of thought, promotes genuine equality, and ensures that decisions are driven by the common good, not individual or elite interests. As we navigate these challenging times, let us embrace Jefferson’s vision and work toward a future that aligns with the principles of freedom, equality, and the betterment of humanity.
The Declaration Of Independence
One of America’s founding fathers, an astoundingly accomplished and seminal leader, Thomas Jefferson, expressed in the opening lines of the Declaration of Independence:
“When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume, among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of humanity requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation. We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that their Creator endows them with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”
These lines speak volumes about the philosophy of Jefferson and the other signers, showing that belief in a higher power was a foundational principle of America. Moreover, distinguishing between “the laws of nature” and “nature’s God” makes a distinction between the laws of nature – science – and the creator of those laws, God. Jefferson believed in science as a path to well-being; he also believed in a superior being or power, though he never joined a particular church.
Jefferson feared that democracy would be undermined by the monetary success of a small minority, with inequalities of wealth allowing the few to dictate to the majority. In a world where a wealthy few could dominate everyone else, there was a risk that freedom of ideas and even religion would play second fiddle to monetary success. The nonmaterial would be ignored or belittled, and the material would reign. This stark reality should make us all pause and reflect on the direction our society is heading.
Present day, the U.S. has strayed far from Jefferson’s vision of a perfect republic. Equality has vanished as the country dedicates itself to the material. Control of the many by the wealthy few, Jefferson’s most feared outcome, is in full swing. The mainstream media has become more a conveyor of propaganda reflecting the narratives of the elite than a source of trustworthy information. Even science is under the thumb of money, as grants are awarded only to projects that support the narratives of the elite and the deep state. This should serve as a wake-up call for all Americans, motivating us to strive for the ideals Jefferson envisioned.
Jefferson’s Biography
The author Dumas Malone wrote a definitive six-volume biography of Jefferson. In his work, Malone clarifies that of all the freedoms every American should enjoy, Jefferson believed the most important was freedom of thought. Indeed, Jefferson felt this was the most essential freedom for human progress. Freedom of thought was the basis for the statement that all men are created equal, a revolutionary idea at the time. After all, in a material sense, enormous differences among human beings translate into significant inequalities in terms of material success. The only true sense in which every human is equal relates to our nonmaterial selves and our spirituality, which is our essence.
It follows that any attempt to shackle freedom of thought would constrain spirituality, humanity, and the overall improvement of our well-being for the nation. Malone notes:
“What Jefferson regarded as the worst of evils was the coercion of opinion.”
Malone cites a letter Jefferson wrote to a college student, William Green Munford, in which Jefferson implies he sees the spiritual as the driving force in human progress. He writes:
“To preserve the freedom of the human mind… every spirit should be ready to devote itself to martyrdom… for as long as we may think as we will… the condition of man will improve.”
Freedom of mind and thought went hand in hand with freedom of religion, which Jefferson viewed as fundamental to each person’s unique humanity. Malone wrote that Jefferson “was convinced that complete religious freedom should be recognized by human law because of the very nature of religion. The care of every man’s soul belongs to himself, no one can prescribe the faith of another, God himself cannot save man against his will, and any form of spiritual compulsion is doomed to inevitable failure.”
Jefferson was schooled in religion (with just about everything else) and was thoroughly familiar with the New Testament. It is nearly sure he had read Timothy 6:12, which contains the iconic warning that the love of money is the root of all evil. Today, however, after nearly two centuries in which the U.S. continued to aspire to Jefferson’s conception of a perfect republic, making our future seem limitless, we’ve given into all the evils that ensue when hunger for money and, relatedly, war dominate a country’s direction.
American Exceptionalism
One of the main narratives in post-1970 history has been American exceptionalism. It has been used to justify our constant stream of money-making wars. But perhaps even more horrifying are the narratives we’ve constructed to justify our mandating vaccines. We say you must follow the science, calling it the ultimate authority. When science is controlled by money and the deep state via grants given to researchers and monies donated to significant journals, then in effect, those that run the show, the deep state, have de facto elevated themselves to gods. If any of these people ever pray, it is to pray that no higher power exists. Who can say a nanosecond of being a god is a possible tradeoff for an eternity of becoming something much less glamorous? This might be the case if there is a universal morality consistent with the sacred, as Jefferson believed.
I don’t believe spirituality has vanished from the American psyche, though it has been deeply suppressed. As I said above, a catastrophic economic accident – and one that is almost certain to happen – could give us a chance to start over. Then gold must come to the fore if America will ever be America again, with virulent evil losing its grip, letting us return to our former greatness. I believe that the memory of the Kennedys remains part of our legacy, and their spirituality may still serve as an inspiration.
President Kennedy, no surprise, had a deep respect for Jefferson. Kennedy’s spirituality is evident in a speech he gave shortly before being assassinated. It was to the Irish Parliament that reminded not just the Irish but all of us that despite the ongoing Cold War, “we must remember that there are no permanent enemies. Hostility today is a fact, but it is not a ruling law. The supreme reality of our time is our indivisibility as children of God and our common vulnerability on this planet.” I will fervently pray for the emergence of a leader who will again echo those sentiments.
Final Thoughts For Investors
In my last book, China’s Rise And The New Age Of Gold, I detailed America’s decline and will have more to say regarding this topic in future blogs. For now, I want to focus on what America needs to regain its mojo. The critical question is whether or not it’s possible. Likely, Americans will first have to live through the most challenging economic period the United States has ever experienced.
I’m not alone in believing bad economic times lie ahead. Even the nearly perennially optimistic Warren Buffett agrees. In his most recent letter to investors, Buffett said Berkshire Hathaway holds record amounts of cash because an economic catastrophe could be close. He commented:
“I believe Berkshire can handle financial disasters of a magnitude beyond any previously experienced. This ability is one we will not relinquish. When economic upsets occur, as they will, Berkshire’s goal will be to function as an asset to the country – just as it was in a minor way in 2008-9 – and to help extinguish the financial fire rather than to be among the many companies that, inadvertently or otherwise, ignited the conflagration.”
The key phrase is “magnitude beyond.” It suggests that the next crisis could be on a different scale than the 2008-09 crisis. Buffett doesn’t predict when he thinks his outsized cash position – far more considerable in actual and relative terms than in 2008 – might be called upon or even whether it ever will be. But there’s a clear implication that he thinks the next disaster could be a natural-born killer. For my avid readers, I just want to express a high probability of a financial crisis on the horizon that may be an order of magnitude greater than 2008-09. And the road to recovery will be long and painful.
