Congratulations Teacher Associates of the Year!

At the recent FTCN annual Board meeting in Chicago, IL, we honored three teachers with the David & Annette Jorgensen Award of Excellence. Pictured here with Bob Chitester (far left) and Dave Jorgensen (far right), from left to right, are Connie Walsh-Toler, Karlee Dodson, and Love Merryman.

The teachers participated in the Board meeting on Friday, offering their insights into the needs of students and teachers. Their input will assist us in delivering products and services to teachers that will be valuable for them. It also provided us with a better understanding of what's currently going on in classrooms/schools around the country.

We salute these dedicated, hard-working teachers for all their efforts to educate and enlighten the next generation.

Choose or Decide?

What is the difference between "to choose" and "to decide?"  Does the difference have implications on the nature of freedom?  For this and more, read this neat analysis on the fundamental component of liberty: Choice.

Johan Norberg discusses Economic Freedom at CATO

Johan Norberg, the host of our "Economic Freedom in Action: Changing Lives," speaks to the sincere improvements around the world due to increased economic liberties.  Changing Lives is airing now, go here for National Review's review of the documentary broadcast.

 

A Letter to You, From our Founder

            by BOB CHITESTER

            In the "libertarian" worldview there is a tendency for
people to think that "anything goes." One result is, defense of the family is
largely left to or thought to be the purview of conservatives. Many a classical
liberal/libertarian has addressed the central role of culture in determining
political outcomes, yet when Jennifer Roback Morse published her book "Love and
Economics"  she was thought by some to have joined the "touchy-feeling"academics in building a case for her conclusions rather than drawing
conclusions from rigorous research.

            Since the family is a powerful force in shaping culture it
deserves more serious consideration by those who seek to live in a society with
the least governmental intervention in people's lives. Indicating favor for "gay rights" is thought consistent with such a position. If you support "family
rights" you're often demonized. And yet neither of these rights should be part
of our agenda when real human rights--the rights of the individual--are all
inclusive.

            We adopted the phrase Winning Ideas to symbolize the values
for which we stand. I define the phrase thus: winning idea / "active" noun
/  1. An idea about how societies should
be organized to maximize the well-being of all citizens. 2. An idea reflecting
humans — desire to make tomorrow better than today. 3. An idea that has been
tried and tested over centuries and remains useful. 4. An idea resulting from
Friederich von Hayek's concept of civil evolution.  5. An idea that advances human freedom.

            These thoughts came to mind as I viewed this photo capturing the realization of a personal goal — to celebrate my 75^th year by running a 10k (6.2 miles) race with my son Mark and grandson Andrew. My son, who has completed the Alcatraz Triathalon, had to moderate his pace so Andrew
could finish his first 10k, and I could complete what may be my last and we all
finish together.

            We've just completed an inspiring one hour TV special: stories
about people in South Korea, Zambia, Slovakia and Chile who have made their
lives and those of many others better through the power of economic freedom. In
every case it was a "family story," not by our design, but because around the
world family is at the heart of human survival and flourishing. The program,
titled "Economic Freedom in Action: Changing Lives," hosted by Johan Norberg,
will be released to public TV stations October 31. As they say — check your
local listings".  in fact call your local station and tell them you're looking
forward to seeing the program.

            In January we'll release a program hosted by Hernando DeSoto
examining the role that denied property rights play in the unfolding Arab Spring
story. And in April, public TV viewers will watch our biography Walter
Williams, in which  "again" family played such an important role.

            And among several programs in development we are working
with Jacob Mchangama, a Danish lawyer who heads  Justicia.
Our hope is to counter the use of |claims of rights, "claims of
victimhood," to distort the meaning of human rights and justify
governments and tyrants forcibly directing the lives of citizens and the
families that for millennia have been the overwhelming source of support for
those in need.

WashPost's clear depiction of Congress' stance on Syria

Can be seen at this link.  As of today, the 4th of September, the vote still appears up in the air.

Fear Mongering For Liberty

            by KEVIN CZAR

            Fear
is a natural, necessary animal instinct.  It serves as an indicator, signaling
when we should snap into a state of extreme awareness.  When fear strikes,
time slows.  The state of fear struck me six separate times today.

            This
morning, I was driving to work when an old man drifted his truck into my lane.
 I awoke from my morning haze, slammed the brakes, he returned to his
lane, and I went about my day.  That was the first time, today, that I
felt fear, and it served me well.

            The second
time I had a scare was around noon.  I was reading the words of our
president.  He suggested that college tuition should be more affordable
for working class families.  I agreed, but then he said something
terrifying.  He proposed to fix the problem of high prices by making loans
cheaper.  His plan, in short, was to give student loans to however many
18-year-olds wanted them—at below the market price.

            Oh my goodness, I thought.  The
president of the most powerful country on Earth does not understand a
fundamental economic law.  If he stimulates the amount of college attendees
by essentially handing out money, the colleges will have no incentive to keep
their tuition down.  I was frightened, the commander and chief doesn't get
basic economics, and if he does comprehend it, then he is purposely inflating
the cost of tuition.

            That led
me to my third scare.  I started fretting about the debt crisis—yes, it is
a crisis.  $17 trillion in the hole?  $50,000 per citizen?  $150,000
for every tax payer?  My children and grandchildren should not be laboring
to pay off debt they did not induce.

            The
fourth time I felt fear, I got to thinking about my future.  After all, it
is uncertain, and mostly all decisions are inherently risks.  However, I
quickly remember I'm an individual in charge of my time, and there is peace in
that sense of control.

        The fifth time I felt fear
was around dinner time.  A stranger knocked aggressively at my door.
 I wasn't expecting anyone, but the knocks kept coming—again and again.
 I wondered if it was someone trying to cause trouble, so just in case, I
grabbed my weapon and hid it in my pocket.  Fear passed as I felt the
comfort of control.

        I asked who it was, and a
deep voice replied.  It was my neighbor, Stew.  Stew is a socially
awkward, seven foot former basketball player.  He was asking if I could
move my car to create space for a visitor of his.  I did so, and we went about our way.

        The last time I felt fear
was late at night.  My mind hung on the fact that most of today's politicians
do not obey the free market principles cherished by our founding fathers.
 I mean, think about it: Price fixing and indebting!  Forget the
economics for a moment—intuitively that is wrong.  That is un-American.
 We didn't sign up for this.

        The fear filled my veins as
I wondered if I was doing enough to protect my life, liberty and property as
the US Constitution was designed to help defend.  Adrenaline rushed as I
concluded, I wasn't doing enough.  George Washington and Thomas Jefferson
would be ashamed of me.  The fear of falling short was present, and it
signaled more awareness.

       My response was this.
 In hopes of connecting with someone who was also concerned, in hopes of
even making someone concerned who has until now been indifferent, I picked up a
pen and wrote these words.

Happy 4th of July!

...from the FTCN!

IRS Lois Lerner update

            Lois Lerner has agreed to testify before congress under the condition that she receive immunity. However, this is a bizarre request, as she issued a statement before congress, then pleaded the 5th Amendment denying cross-examination.  The IRS Scandal seems to have lost traction--in light of the many other scandals occuring.  Is this an opportunity for the Oversight Committee to revive talks about a sincere injustice, or is this more tricky in nature on Lois Lerner's behalf?

Did Ayn Rand and Murray Rothbard take liberty down a bad path?

            by KEVIN CZARZASTY

            Nelson
Hultberg, author of The
Golden Mean, suggests that in response to exploding government in the
1930's, some libertarians became too extreme.  In turn, Anarchy-leaning
Libertarians dividing the freedom movement into one part radical, one part
conservative.  From there, Hultberg argues, Liberty had a tiny chance at
prevailing, because its proponents were fighting against themselves rather than
exponentially growing government.

            This
battle, I believe, illustrates the genius of Milton Friedman.  Freedom
fighters often run into the following problem: To be principled or to be practical?
 All too often, this is seen as a black and white issue, but as Milton
Friedman showed, the grey area is where the most progress can be made.  It
is in the spectrum between principles and practicality that we can begin to
reunite the cohesive freedom-thinkers that split apart in the early 20th
Century.

Below is a short explanation by Hultberg...

"When it first began in the early 1940s, the freedom movement in America was not split between libertarians and conservatives. It was one coalition unified in rebellion against FDR's welfare state. By 1970, however, the movement had become tragically bifurcated. Ayn Rand and Murray Rothbard took libertarians off into anarchy, while the Burkean philosopher Russell Kirk drove conservatives into the complacency of welfare-statism. This split has created two incomplete visions (contemporary libertarianism and conservatism) that are, in their singularity, incapable of effectively challenging the authoritarian mega-state."

Snowden seeking Asylum in Russia

            The ball is now in Putin's court, as Edward Snowden's passport has been cancelled by the US government, and he remains in the Moscow Airport. While Ecuador has shied away from their innitial suggestion that they may take him, Russia has tried to remain neutral but may not have that luxury much longer. The entire debacle is turning into a mess, with some French politicians pushing for Paris to take him in, and with Germany declaring that the NSA revelations have greatly damanged US-German relations.  The catch: Snowden is still leaking information every few days.

The Biggest News that hasn't made the News...

            Barack Obama said of Ben Bernanke in an interview that aired yesterday, �He�s already stayed a lot longer than he wanted or he was supposed to.� Today, the market has reacted to the Fed's inconsistency with volatility. Where is this going, and shouldn't this shake-up be getting more coverage?

NSA Exposed

            Today, it was uncovered that the NSA has been hoarding phone data from virtually all Verizon customers...daily.  This should come as no surprise.  The ironically named Patriot Act provided fertile ground for eroding privacy, and considering the size of the NSA database in Utah for "Domestic Surveillance" this was bound to happen.  Below is the logo of the NSA's domestic surveillance program.  We think that this image, featuring a red-eyed eagle wearing headphones and holding a bundle of cables, says it all.

FTCN Producer Meeting

Our producers discussing trends in media, the freedom movement and upcoming projects.

FreedomBook #1: Ideas & Action by George P. Shultz

            by KEVIN CZARZASTY

            The following is the first of many micro-commentary on books that foster freedom.  The FTCN Blog's goal in covering "FreedomBooks" is to present the basic background and knowledge of liberty-minded books that could serve contemporary politicians and voters.  The range of books will vary, but all FreedomBook reviews will have the goal of understanding and defending the Constitutional principles of the United States.

            The 21^st Century has presented many difficult
tasks to American diplomats.  It can be
said that, considering the unprecedented American involvement in international
affairs combined with the tradition of the USA as chief defender of life and liberty,
our diplomats are as challenged�and should be as apt�as ever.

            With the mess that is Syria, the embarrassment that is
Benghazi and the limitless war on terror, our stretched State Department could use a look at the principles that guided one of history�s finest statesman: George P. Shultz.

            George Shultz was a Marine in the South Pacific during
WWII, earned a Ph.D. in industrial economics from MIT, was dean of the
University of Chicago Graduate School of Business, president of Bechtel, and
held four cabinet posts including Secretary of State.  Among his wide-ranging accomplishments are
his agreement with the USSR to remove INF missiles, not to mention the ending
of the Cold War.

            Below are Shultz�s 10 Commandments of Negotiation, taken
from his Ideas & Action, which is available for purchase from FTCN here.

1) Be in Control of Your Constituency

2) Understand the Needs of the Other Side

3) Personal Factors (in other words, emphasize
Individuality)

4) An Educational Process (in other words, recognize role of
limited knowledge and curiosity)

5) An Ongoing Process

6) Credibility

7) Timing

8) Strength and Diplomacy Go Together

9) Trust is the Coin of the Realm

10) Realistic Goals

Don't forget...

...to watch our documentaries, free, at www.freetochoose.tv 

Fed Stimulus still Essential to Recovery, says Bernanke

            Today, Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke told Congress he needs to maintain interest rates at record lows in order to continue to alleged economic recovery.  As he does at every Congress hearing, he further pressed Congress to get its act together, reminding our elected officials that he only has so many tools.  It should be asked, however, if Bernanke only has a select amount of tools, and as he is human only has a select amount of knowledge, should he be trusted to supply neverending cheap money to markets, thus creating bubbles in the face of an actionless Congress?

FTCN's Thoughts are with Oklahoma

            Following the tragic hurricane in Oklahoma, FTCN sends our thoughts and prayers.  Let this remind us of how precious life is.  Also, be sure to appreciate the good stories coming from the tragedy, such as this elderly woman being interviewed about losing her house and dog...and then finding her dog during the interview.

Reflecting on The Socratic Imperative

            by KEVIN CZARZASTY

            Socrates pioneered the philosophy of questioning.  He explained that there are two ways of teaching.  On one hand, I can be told an answer, and then memorize it.  On the other hand, if I'm asked a question, I must then look inward to find an answer True to myself.  The more questions, the more full-proof a given premise.  While the memorization happens all too much, self-exploration is falsely labeled as useless.  We're too obsessed with thinking about what we do know; we're not concerned enough with wondering about what we don't
know. 

            The Athenian government persecuted Socrates for corrupting the youth with questions, and because he preached critical thought, he was given the choice between exile or death by poison.  In
hopes that his message would be heard, or maybe repeated by FTCN thousands of years later, Socrates drank the toxic Hemlock, and died a man of virtue.

            Tragically, Socrates seems to have failed.   Today, many know his name, but few hear his lesson, and even less live by the man's prophecy.  Why are we so afraid to question?  What's so Bad about curiosity?  The most curious people in the world are kids, and they're arguably the smartest. Consider how much knowledge kids retain in their first three years.  Indeed you have to feed and clothe, but through their own experimentation, they learn to move, interact, and survive independently.  Children are conditioned by their environment, but it is their curiosity that enables them to function within the environment.

            Perhaps we shouldstart analyzing governance in a curious manner. Similarly, maybe our government should not mimic the Athenians, but instead encourage and even practice critical thought.

Friedman's columns for Newsweek via The Hoover Institute

            Want to learn liberty? The Hoover Institute's archive has all Newsweek columns by Milton Friedman here: http://hoohila.stanford.edu/friedman/newsweek.php

Defense Distributed shutdown by Department of Defense

            FTCN has been extremely interested in the developments of Cody Wilson's DefDist, a company opensourcing data to print and distribute 3D printed guns.  After having success fired the first 3D printed handgun last weekend, and after the resultant 100,000+ downloads of the data, the Department of Defense has shut down the operation.  Below is the text now found on DefDist's website.

This file has been removed from public access at the request of the US Department of Defense Trade Controls. Until further notice, the United States government claims control of the information.