Run for Your Life! The Road Less Traveled

For as long as I can remember, I have held political, sociological, and philosophical views that have made me feel as if I am alone in holding such views. Even among those who have political views that are broadly similar to my own, I have always found deep disagreements in a great many areas. Compounding that, I have always had extremely poor diplomatic or persuasive skills. In addition, I have rather strongly held views and a rather evangelical nature (I have a relatively strong drive to express my views and convince others of the merits of my views). These things lead to my often being considered "antagonistic," "stubborn" and disagreeable. Oddly, I consider myself to be rather agreeable, open to new ideas, kind, gentle, and caring. Why are my views so uncommon? I'm certain it is because I've tuned out the mainstream media since about 1980. In addition, ever since about 1980 I've read from 60 to 80 books a year. According to recent surveys, that means I read about 60 to 80 more books a year than nearly any adult in my society (the vast majority of adults read ZERO books a year). Book reading and avoiding mainstream media is, in our non-reading and media-mesmerized society, a powerful recipe for having exceptionally uncommon views. So uncommon that they are easily seen as being deliberately provocative for the sake of being provocative. Am I a provocateur? I don't believe so. I don't tend to express views with the intention of their being provocative. I sincerely and firmly believe the truth of what I say to people. When I make political or philosophical statements, it is almost never to provoke people. Instead, most of my most controversial statements are said because I'm worried about the direction our society is heading. I will admit, however, that I while don't shy away from saying things I know are uncommonly believed, I do get a mild amount of entertainment out of hearing someone express disbelief with what I've said. But even if I got NO entertainment out of hearing disbelief from others, I would STILL be expressing my uncommon views regularly due to my concerns about our societal trends. It has made for a rather lonely intellectual life. The collection of essays found in this book exemplifies my passionately held yet "controversial" viewpoints on many topics. Be forewarned that you will surely find much to disagree with. On the other hand, much of what you find here will likely be entertaining. And there may be much you will agree with. Or at least find yourself thinking that "I never thought about it in that way before!" "Mob rule" occurs in a society when an enraged, righteous, irrational mass of people – often in the grip of a "moral panic" -- resort to intimidation and violence to control society, groups in a society, or individuals in a society. An example is the Salem witch trials. One of the foundational principles of Western Civilization is to strive to eliminate the threat of mob rule by protecting the civil rights and liberties of groups and individu-als through the use of the rule of law and other constitutional measures. A powerful tool to minimize the rise of mob rule includes courageously speaking up and dissenting from the mob. Many essays in this book represent my efforts to dissent from what I believe are misguided ideas. Someone who takes the road less traveled is acting and thinking independently. It is someone who has freed himself from conformity for the sake of conformity. A leader rather than a follower. As Everett Piper once said, truth is central toleadership; the minute you put something else ahead of truth is the minute you have designated yourself to be a follower, not a leader.