Philosophy vs. Conspiracy

29 Responses to Philosophy vs. Conspiracy

1. Jared says:

   December 27, 2009 at 7:26 pm

   Short and to the point, I whole-heartedly disagree with the premise of your argument. All in all, you seem to have a difficult time dealing with the stigma that is so mainstream regarding those who point out OBVIOUS collusion between individuals and organizations working against the public good. The harsh and negative branding put on those who point out OPEN admissions of criminal workings by those in power. Example,

   “Some even believe we (the Rockefeller family) are part of a secret cabal working against the best interests of the United States, characterizing my family and me as ‘internationalists’ and of conspiring with others around the world to build a more integrated global political and economic structure—one world, if you will. If that’s the charge, I stand guilty, and I am proud of it.”

   –David Rockefeller, Memoirs, page 405

   Even pointing out these public, criminal admissions from those in positions of great influence is seen as a crazy, wacko thing to do. So if you point out evil, even when it’s out in the open and completely verifiable, then’s it’s crazy. Well I just wonder who may have created this mythical thinking in the first place, that of evil denying it’s own existence. (2 Nephi 28:22)
   Something that needs to be pointed out is the fact that we have to redefine some terms. I notice that you are using ths absurd and ambiguous term, “conspiracy theory”, and are applying it to what extactly? Concernced citizens pointing to real FACTS, not theories that are again, easily verified for anyone taking the time to research. I would like to hear your personal definition of this term you liberally throw around. For the word conspiracy, this one may do: Conspiracy: a combination of persons for a secret, unlawful, or evil purpose.
   So you are telling me, Jerry, that it is not pragmatic…that it is irrelevant…that it is harmful to the liberty movement…..to point out these combinations?? It is a good thing Moroni didn’t listen to this argument, when he decided to include this in the Book of Mormon. (Ether 8:18–25) D&C 123:13 clearly states the principle of bringing to light hidden things of darkness (see footnote). Ezra Taft Benson concurred with Moroni. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJNMcD2IY_k
   Also, regarding which book did ‘The Book of Mormon Prophet’ (Benson) make this statement? “I wish that every citizen of every country in the free world and every slave behind the Iron Curtain might read this book.” I believe it was, ‘None Dare Call it Conspiracy.’ This book specifically exposes some of these combinations. But if I am for liberty, then according to you, I must renounce any desire to expose evil combinations. Mainly because they are mostly just distracting ‘theories.’
   I disagree that those who expose corruption are not well versed in the philosophies of liberty. I disagree with the notion that it’s either one or the other. Understanding and spreading the philosphies of liberty OR exposing corrupt individuals and organizations. I strongly believe that BOTH are necessary. I DO NOT agree that we should discount exposing corruption in the name of educating ourselves and others about true principles. However, regarding sharing truth with others, I believe in the principle of milk before meat. (1 Cor 3:2 & D&C 19:22) In missionary work we follow this principle, because the meat given first will be hard to understand and hard to bear. It is the same regarding exposing secret combinations.
   In conclusion, I believe that Moroni and Pres. Benson had it right. That we should expose these things. I believe that the perfect combination (haha) of teaching true principles that lead mankind to ward freedom and toward Christ, while simulatneously exposing Christ’s enemies is the Book of Mormon.
   As Pres. Benson stated, “The Book of Mormon brings men to Christ through two basic means. First, it tells in a plain manner of Christ and His gospel. It testifies of His divinity and of the necessity for a Redeemer and the need of our putting trust in Him. It bears witness of the Fall and the Atonement and the first principles of the gospel, including our need of a broken heart and a contrite spirit and a spiritual rebirth. It proclaims we must endure to the end in righteousness and live the moral life of a Saint.
   Second, the Book of Mormon exposes the enemies of Christ. It confounds false doctrines and lays down contention. (See 2 Ne. 3:12.) It fortifies the humble followers of Christ against the evil designs, strategies, and doctrines of the devil in our day. The type of apostates in the Book of Mormon are similar to the type we have today. God, with his infinite foreknowledge, so molded the Book of Mormon that we might see the error and know how to combat false educational, political, religious, and philosophical concepts of our time.” http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hideNav=1&locale=0&sourceId=6dd279356427b010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD

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2. Lone Star says:

   December 28, 2009 at 7:03 am

   Thank you for that excellent article. I think for members of the LDS church, this is similar to trying to teach the Gospel without a solid knowledge or understanding of our scriptures. I too believe that if we have a desire to educate others on the importance of liberty and free agency, it is imperative that we have a solid understanding of the basics of that subject.

   As for conspiracies or secret combinations, I also believe that it is important to understand their actions and organizations as well. Moroni stated quite clearly that secret combinations caused the destruction of the two major civilizations in the Book of Mormon. Moroni also commanded us to awaken to our situation and to not allow such secret combinations to gain power over us.

   As a teacher, I’d usually say that the most important skill a teacher of any subject must have is to “know your audience.” However, in teaching basic Gospel principles, like liberty or free agency, the most important skill we must master is the ability to teach in a Christ-like manner. We should seek to emulate Christ in every aspect of our lives. In order to teach liberty, we must know and understand the subject as well as we do the scriptures or anything else we would attempt to teach and share that knowledge with those around us in a positive, uplifting and humble manner.

   The War in Heaven was fought over free agency. Preserving free agency should be our primary goal. The scriptures and the words of our prophets should be our model for how we go about teaching this subject. As this article states, we cannot presume to be able to teach this subject without a solid understanding of it.

   Reply
3. Lone Star says:

   December 28, 2009 at 7:25 am

   As an addendum to my last post. We know from Lehi’s vision how the world, or those in the Great and Spacious building treated the followers of Christ. The people in the Great and Spacious building pointed their fingers and were in the attitude of mocking those who were the humble followers of Christ. Unfortunately, many people were ashamed and fell away because of the world who mocked them.

   I find it interesting how frequently those who believe in secret combinations tend to be the subject of ridicule, even within our church.

   Our modern day prophets are excellent examples for us and we can model their behavior and techniques for teaching the principles of free agency. We should seek to have a thorough understanding of the principles of free agency and liberty as much as we seek to understand the scriptures. Knowing what our Founding Fathers stood for, knowing our Constitution and the principles that our country was founded on and the subject of liberty is essential for our salvation.

   In Alma 37:25 it states: I will bring forth out of darkness unto light all their secret works and their abominations; and except they repent I will destroy them from off the face of the earth; and I will bring to light all their secrets and abominations, unto every nation that shall hereafter possess the land.

   As long as we educate ourselves properly and emulate our Savior as we teach Free Agency, we will be successful.

   Reply
4. Edward C. Noonan says:

   December 28, 2009 at 10:09 am

   Dear Jerry,

   I am sorry my friend, but I disagree with 95% of what you say. You are the sort of person I have spent the vast part of my adult life fighting against.

   Wikipedia defines Conspiracy Theory as: “Conspiracy theory is a term that originally was a neutral descriptor for any claim of civil, criminal or political conspiracy.

   However, it has come almost exclusively to refer to any fringe theory which explains a historical or current event as the result of a secret plot by conspirators of almost superhuman power and cunning.”

   Bernard Bailyn’s classic “The Ideological Origins of the American Revolution” (1967) notes that a similar phenomenon could be found in America during the time preceding the American Revolution. Conspiracism then labels people’s attitudes as well as the type of conspiracy theories that are more global and historical in proportion.[14]

   I am proud to be in the same classification as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Ben Franklin and the rest of our founding fathers.

   And you could go back another 1000 years and see that there were so-called CONSPIRACY THEORISTS accusing the local Nephite & Lamanite leaders of EVIL CONSPIRACIES a.k.a. “secret combinations.”

   Up until 1999 I was a faithful Republican. I was a member or my local county central committee and also the CHAIRMAN. For all my years of Republican faithfulness I was told by my Republican Party that the UN was NOT out to control the world, nor was the FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM outside of the overview/oversight of Congress, and that the CFR, Bilderbergs, and Trilateral Commission was our friend and benefactor.

   And once I abandoned the evil Republican Party and the evil combinations thereof, I have discovered our freedoms and liberties have been lost. The Republicans and the Democrats are two heads of the same evil demon. And I learned the Republican Party had been lying to me during the last 40-50 years of my life.

   You can call it a Conspiracies Theory…I call it the TRUTH!

   Philosophy? Your so-called Philosophy is LIES! No amount of PHILOSOPHY can show the FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM to be a righteous, honorable and patriotic organization. Ditto: UN, CFR, Trilateral Commission, IRS, etc, etc.

   Edward C. Noonan
   Chairman – Yuba County American Independent Party
   National Committee Member: America’s Independent Party
   Founder – CA Mormon Battalion
   Former 2006-2008 State Party Chairman – American Independent Party
   Former 2006 Candidate/Governor – State of California
   Former 2002 Candidate/Secretary of State – State of California

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5. Edward C. Noonan says:

   December 28, 2009 at 10:37 am

   Marxist Liberal Paul Krugman:
   http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/individualProfile.asp?indid=1688

   * New York Times columnist
   * Princeton University economics professor and advocate of bigger government
   * Former $50,000 per year advisor and booster of corrupt Enron Corporation, where he said he served on “an advisory panel that had no function that I was aware of”
   * “If Bush said the Earth was flat, the mainstream media would have stories with the headline: ‘Shape of Earth – Views Differ.’ Then they’d quote some Democrats saying that it was round.” — Paul Krugman

   Paul Robin Krugman writes a twice-weekly column in the New York Times. He is a Professor of International Trade and International Economics at Princeton University, and describes himself as an “unabashed defender of the welfare state.”

   Krugman was born (in 1953) and raised in Long Island, New York. He graduated from Yale University in 1974 and earned his Ph.D. in economics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 1977. He developed a passion for international macro-economics when he and a group of fellow MIT graduate students worked together on a project for the central bank of Portugal.

   Krugman thereafter went on to teach economics at Yale, MIT and Stanford University. As one of the founders of the “new trade theory” in international economics, he won the American Economic Association’s 1991 John Bates Clark medal, a prize given to “that economist under forty who is adjudged to have made a significant contribution to economic knowledge.” His academic research at the time was focused on economic and currency crises.

   In 1982-83, Krugman took a leave of absence from teaching at MIT to serve as chief staffer for international economics at the Council of Economic Advisors in President Ronald Reagan’s administration.

   According to one biographer:

   “As a defender of the welfare state, Krugman’s views were directly opposed to the majority in the [Reagan] administration. [But Krugman] observed that policy decisions in Washington tend to be based on the advice of advisors who generate a comfort level, rather than that of ‘those who force them to think hard. That is, those who really manage to influence policy are usually the best courtiers, not the best analysts.’ Krugman considers himself a good analyst, but a bad courtier.”

   During the 1990s Krugman wrote books whose popularity reached beyond academe. Among these were: Peddling Prosperity: Economic Sense and Nonsense in the Age of Diminished Expectations (1994); The Self-Organizing Economy (1995); Pop Internationalism (1996); and The Accidental Theorist: And Other Dispatches from the Dismal Science (1998).

   By 1998 Krugman was also writing monthly columns for Fortune magazine and the online magazine Slate.

   When he first began writing for a non-academic audience, Krugman did not hesitate to argue with Democrats and their ideological allies. For instance, after having initially endorsed the Bill Clinton administration’s economic plan, Krugman later derided the plan’s “dominant ideology” as “foolish” for allegedly preferring “policy entrepreneurs to real experts” — a thinly disguised dig at future Clinton Labor Secretary Robert Reich. In Krugman’s own estimation, such candor cost him a position as Clinton’s chairman of the Council of Economic Advisors.

   Parallel with his political heterodoxy, Krugman also showed a willingness to deal with inconvenient facts. In 1994 he published Peddling Prosperity, a book that, while unfriendly to conservative “supply-side” economics and its commitment to cutting taxes and regulation, nonetheless acknowledged its merits. Krugman conceded, for instance, that “conservatives” had “made a strong case that the distortions of incentives associated with taxes were larger than most economists had previously realized.”

   No friend of deregulation, Krugman nonetheless admitted that Democratic administrations, no less than their Republican counterparts, had made it a matter of policy — and moreover that the policy had its successes. Thus he noted that the “extensive deregulation of the oil, airline and trucking industry began under Jimmy Carter,” and that “[m]ost economists count these deregulations as a success.”

   In 1999 Krugman was part of an Enron Corporation board that paid him $50,000. In 1999, as journalist Andrew Sullivan has reported, Krugman wrote an article praising Enron’s free-wheeling entrepreneurial structure. (Enron would later collapse amid scandal and charges of financial wrongdoing. Thereafter distancing himself from the disgraced company, Krugman in a 2001 column would describe the aforementioned board as “an advisory panel that had no function that I was aware of.”)

   In January 2000 Krugman became a columnist for the opinion pages of the New York Times. With the election of President George W. Bush that November, Krugman’s writing underwent a dramatic transformation. His Times columns now became bitter screeds against the Bush administration’s “hard right turn,” “America’s radical right right-wing media,” and conservatives generally. “Yes, Virginia,” Krugman insisted, in all seriousness, “there is a right-wing conspiracy.”

   Krugman reveled in his new role as a scourge of conservatives. “If I have ended up more often than not writing pieces that attack the right wing, it’s because the right wing now rules — and rules badly,” he declared. He blamed virtually every mishap, economic or otherwise, on President Bush and Republicans.

   During California’s energy crisis in 2001, for example, he blasted the Bush administration for its failure to impose price caps through the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). At no point did Krugman see it fit to mention that the Clinton administration, under the influence of its economic advisors, had similarly resisted imposing price controls through the FERC.

   In 2004 Krugman claimed that job projections by the Bush administration’s Council of Economic Advisors were exemplary of what happens when “political propaganda takes the place of professional analysis.” But in fact, as economist Alex Tabarrok showed, it was Krugman who had allowed politics to distort his analysis. So flagrant were Krugman’s distortions that in May 2005, former Times ombudsman Daniel Okrent was moved to vent his exasperation in a farewell column for the paper. Warning that “Paul Krugman has the disturbing habit of shaping, slicing and selectively citing numbers in a fashion that pleases his acolytes but leaves him open to substantive assaults,” Okrent urged publisher Arthur Sulzberger, Jr. to “hold his columnists to higher standards.”

   Outsiders, too, have observed Krugman’s overt bias. A November 13, 2003 article appearing in The Economist states:

   “A glance through his past columns reveals a growing tendency to attribute all the world’s ills to George Bush…. Even his economics is sometimes stretched…. Overall, the effect is to give lay readers the illusion that Mr. Krugman’s perfectly respectable personal political beliefs can somehow be derived empirically from economic theory.”

   Krugman, in his own defense, claimed political neutrality, observing that he had critics on both sides of the ideological spectrum. “These days I often find myself accused of being a knee-jerk liberal, even a socialist,” he wrote in his 2003 book The Great Unraveling: Losing Our Way in the New Century. “But just a few years ago the real knee-jerk liberals didn’t like me at all — one magazine even devoted a cover story to an attack on me for my pro-capitalist views, and I still have the angry letter Ralph Nader sent me when I criticized his attacks on globalization.” Krugman’s self-analysis was consistent with the fact that the tenor and aim of his writing changed drastically after the 2000 election of President Bush.

   Krugman’s reflexively partisan response to the 2008 financial crisis was typical. While conceding that the crisis was rooted in some causes other than the Bush administration, Krugman nevertheless assured his readers that much of the blame should be ascribed to an “administration whose philosophy of government can be summed up as ‘private good, public bad,’ which must have made it hard to face up to the need for partial government ownership of the financial sector.” He did not mention that one of the first steps taken by the ostensibly privatization-obsessed administration was to announce the largest government bailout of the private sector in American history, complete with a government takeover of mortgage giants Fanny Mae and Freddie Mac and a price tag of over $700 billion.

   Krugman’s penchant for blaming the Bush administration for the alleged horrors of deregulation is all the more curious given his previous recognition that similar policies were implemented by Democratic presidents. Expunged from his columns nowadays is any mention of the deregulation that took place under the Carter administration, or the Clinton administration’s partial repeal of the 1933 Glass-Steagall Act, which deregulated the banking industry.

   “Whenever Democrats were in charge he thinks it was a golden age,” observes William Anderson, a professor of economics at economics at Frostburg State University. “[Economists are] supposed to provide dispassionate analysis. What we get from Krugman is partisan shilling.”

   In January 2008, economist Daniel Stein published a comprehensive critique of Krugman based on an analysis of his columns from 1997 to 2006. He found that Krugman, despite his professed admiration of the free-market, routinely favors government intervention and increased regulation. Aside from a single column opposing rent-control and agricultural subsidies, Krugman’s support for the free market was nowhere in evidence. Beyond that, Klein found that Krugman now approached economics through a “liberal versus conservative” mentality, and there was no doubt about where Krugman’s allegiances lay.

   In 2007 Krugman published The Conscience of a Liberal, which examines the divergences occurring between rich and poor Americans throughout the 20th century. Despite advances in technology and medicine, Krugman believes that most people are worse off now than they were 35 years ago:

   “[I]in some crucial ways, things have not made progress… People aren’t nearly as much better off as they would be if the gains from economic growth had been broadly distributed.”

   Krugman blames this unequal distribution of wealth particularly on conservatives and Republicans, beginning with the election of Ronald Reagan in 1980. Krugman proposes a “new New Deal,” in which less money is spent on national security and more is allocated to social welfare programs.

   In October 2008 Krugman won the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences for his “analysis of trade patterns and location of economic activity.” Along with the honor came a monetary prize of $1.4 million.

   Portions of this profile are adapted from the article, “Paul Krugman’s Great Unraveling,” written by Jacob Lakisin and published by FrontPageMag.com on October 17, 2001.

   ========================================

   I’m sorry, Jerry, but I would have bood down Krugman too if I had been at one of his
   events…But then again, I would NEVER go to one of his events…he has nothing to say that I want to hear!

   Edward C. Noonan
   Chairman – Yuba County American Independent Party
   National Committee Member: America’s Independent Party
   Founder – CA Mormon Battalion
   Former 2006-2008 State Party Chairman – American Independent Party
   Former 2006 Candidate/Governor – State of California
   Former 2002 Candidate/Secretary of State – State of California

   Reply
6. Brian Mecham says:

   December 28, 2009 at 5:58 pm

   Jerry, great article. I agree that the focus should be on educating ourselves and others on the principles of liberty.

   We’ve also been commanded to awaken to our awful situation, awaken to what the Secret Combination is doing. I believe it’s important to understand how Satan works, but there’s no need to focus too much on that part.

   I know many who have woken up because of 911 and other similar events… some progress beyond just talking conspiracy and push forward the cause of liberty as well.

   Reply
7. Brian Mecham says:

   December 31, 2009 at 10:47 am

   I can see why some (based on the comments people left) would disagree with it. After all, we are warned in the Book of Mormon about the Secret Combinations and destruction of freedom, etc…

   I don’t think that the author of the article, Jerry Salcido, denies the existence of Secret Combinations / conspiracies (though I will ask him)… I believe the point he is making is one that I believe in, that promoting the principles of liberty is far more important than trying to convince everyone of conspiracies, like he said: “worrying may be justified, but your focus on conspiracy rather than the competing philosophies of freedom on the one hand and coercion on the other may actually hurt rather than help the liberty movement.”

   This may also be true: “…conspiracy theories, and those who are fixated with such, tend to do more harm than good to the liberty movement, because they focus on conspiracy rather than philosophy.”

   I would add though that 911 and other ‘conspiracies’ that have truly caused people to wake up to their awful situation, I think the problem arises when people focus too much on secret combinations, and never progress beyond that point.

   Reply
8. Connor says:

   December 31, 2009 at 9:05 pm

   An interesting post, especially in light of some of the comments received. I was alerted to this article and asked that I throw in my two cents, so here goes:

   I sympathize with both sides. In an attempt to find common ground, let me throw out an example.

   Consider ordained missionaries of the Church in their role as ministers of the gospel. Their main strategy is to offer the truth and testimony that they possess, and find those who are prepared, interested, and willing to learn more. They do not engage in battles over why other Churches are falsed, tell people that they are going to hell if they are not baptized in our Church, illustrate in detail why the potential investigator’s current church is party of the “church of the devil”, or anything of like nature.

   We would all, I hope, quickly see the futility of preaching the gospel in such a manner.

   Now, relate this scenario to politics, government, and world events. There are ample opportunities to demonstrate to people the numerous conspiracies, corruption, and evil that has saturated our society.

   But what is our goal? If our goal is to help this person “awake”, how is that best achieved?

   Personally, I think that this varies based on the individual. I have dealt with some people where I found it better to use the more “negative” approach — basically, hit them with a bunch of compelling and scary arguments to help them realize the magnitude of our “awful situation”, and then when they start asking questions, introduce the philosophy and principles that are involved. For others, perhaps the more sensitive types, I have thought it better to focus more on the philosophy and principles while hinting at the “awful situation” to ensure that they were aware of it, even if they don’t have the stomach to get into the particulars.

   As such, I think it’s important to follow the Spirit and tailor the message to the individual.

   What, then, of venues where you’re speaking to the masses, such as a blog post? Here it’s impossible to tailor a message to an individual. Personally, I favor dealing with principles, since as Jerry has noted above, the “truther” movement has been tainted. This is to be expected, and so we need to adapt and change our strategy accordingly.

   I don’t see a need to embrace every conspiracy theory out there, nor brandish them about at every opportunity. When relevant, I’m perfectly able and willing to get into those details and hash things out. But if, like missionaries, we’re out to convert people to the cause of truth and liberty, then I think we need to consider the suggestions Jerry has made above. Exposing evil has its place, and I agree that we should not shy away from “wast[ing] and wear[ing] out our lives in bringing to light all the hidden things of darkness” (D&C 123:13), but we need to be tactful, strategic, and understand that people are easily turned off from a negative message.

   Can those who have disagreed with Jerry here agree with what I’ve said?

   Reply
   • Skyler Collins says:

     December 31, 2009 at 10:44 pm

     Good comments Connor. I’ve always felt that talking about conspiracies is a bit “nutty”. I’ve always been turned off by such discussions and have never felt comfortable bringing them up. Principles on the other hand I’m extremely comfortable with. With all the talk about “secret” combinations and conspiracy, I think the reason they’re “secret” is because of ignorance of principle. My learning of economics helped me to see the flaw in so many public policies that I didn’t need to reason that their promoters are apart of some sort of secret combination. Understanding economics was enough to see the folly in their logic.

     Reply
9. Ken Bowers says:

   January 2, 2010 at 11:21 pm

   After reading Jerry Salcido’s blog, I am reminded of a general who was preparing for battle. A war correspondent came up to him and said, “Well, general, I just want to ask you a few questions before you go out to this battle today. First off, who will you be facting?”

   The general anwered, “I’m not sure. It could be one of three or four enemy generals. I’ll find out when I get out there.”

   “Well, if you don’t know who you’re facing, do you at least know the size of his forces?”

   “No, not exactly. But I’m not afraid. Their armed forces don’t scare me.”

   “Do you know how those forces are deployed, or what they consist of? For instance, how many armored divisions does he have, how many infantry, what does his artillery consist of and where are they placed, or even if he has air support? Do you know any of this?”

   “Oh, I imagine he has some armor, but I’m not sure how much. But you know, I’m not scared of any of that, because I’m the head of the U.S. Army, and we are fighting for liberty. If you ask me about the great principles of liberty, I can name them. I’m very astute on American history, why our Constitution is the light of liberty to the world, and how these principles will help us conquer our enemy. It’s not so important to know about the evil designs of our enemy. I know I’ll be victorious because God is on our side.”

   Now, after having read that story, let me ask this: Do you think that general will be victorious in the upcoming battle? Anyone who thinks he or she can conquer evil without knowing his or her enemy is doomed to failure on a big scale.

   That was brought out in American History.
   In 1755, an American force of 300 men under Major George Washington of the Virginia Militia joined forces with British General Braddock, who had a force of 1,000 British regulars. They were ordered to push into the Ohio valley and take fort Duquesne from the French. That fort occupied the same spot that would later be called the city of Pittsburgh.

   General Braddock’s military education came from the European view of war. In that scenario, opposing armies would face each other across an open field. They would first talk to each other to see if one side would yield, and if not, a formal declaration of hostilities would then be issued by one or both sides. They would then fire a cannon or give some type of warning that hostilities would soon commence, then they would start advancing on each other. There was a lot of style, and war was very ritualized.
   Braddock was stupid enough to think that it would be the same in the New World. He also suffered from the mistaken idea that his enemy were just ruffians and 10 were not worth one good redcoat. Not knowing his enemy was a fatal mistake that day.

   As they advanced toward Fort Duquesne, they came across a ravine about 8-10 miles from the Fort. Braddock ordered his men into the ravine, over Washington’s objections. He knew that it was a great spot for an ambush but couldn’t convince Braddock. He said, “I’m not afraid of any ambush. Those Frenchies will be given a good spanking if they try to attack us.” And off they went.

   Washington was right. They walked into an ambush, which turned into the most disastrous defeat the British had in the French and Indian War. 1,000 out of 1300 men were either killed or wounded. Braddock was wounded, and died three days later. One of the last comments he made before dying was, “Well, we’ve learned our lesson. We’ll do better next time.”

   Don’t you think it would have been wiser for him to learn his lesson THIS time?

   George Patton was America’s most successful general in WWII because he made it his job to know his enemy. He not only was ingenious at tactics and strategy, but what set him apart from other generals is that he made it a rule to know his enemy general before meeting him. If that enemy wrote anything about war, Patton scoured heaven and earth to find it and studied his enemy most assiduously. He knew his enemy sometimes better than the enemy knew himself. And that is why he was so successful.

   A great American, J. Edgar Hoover said, “In any struggle, it is essential to know both what you are fighting for and what you are fighting against. If knowledge of the former is lacking, the will to win will be absent. If knowledge of the latter is lacking, confusion and uncertainty will result.”

   Just think about that. In these latter days, we’re all soldiers in a war for the agency of man. I tell you, if we don’t know our enemy, we will be confused, as Mr. Salcido is, about where to strike, whom to strike, and when to strike. The problem is two-fold. We may strike at someone or something we think is the enemy, but is in reality a friend. Or we may defend someone or some idea that we think is great, but find out to our chagrin that it is a cleverly disguised Trojan Horse that will prove to be to our downfall. That is the mistake Mr. Salcido is making. He’s falling for a clever piece of propaganda.

   I have met this objection time and time again. This thinking comes from the Braddock syndrome. In my humble opinion, it is false and comes from Satan himself. He wants us to think that all we have to know are the principles of freedom, and forget about little old him. That is shown in the following scripture:

   “For behold, at that day, shall he rage in the hearts of men, and stir them up to anger against that which is good.” (Let us ask how could he do that? The answer is that those whom he stirs up to anger don’t know who their enemy is. If they knew the truth, they wouldn’t get angry against those who are on the Lord’s side. To go on with the scripture–)
   “And others he will pacify, and lull them away into carnal security, that they will say: All is well in Zion, yea Zion prospereth, all is well–and thus the devil cheatheth their souls, and leadeth them away carefully down to hell.
   “And behold, others he flattereth away, and telleth them there is no hell; and he saith unto them: I am no devil for there is none–and thus he whispereth in their ears, until he grasps them with his awful chains, from whence there is no deliverance.”
   2 Ne. 28:20–22.

   Later, Nephi says this:
   ”
   Wo unto him that hearkeneth unto the precepts of men . . .” (vs 26)

   I guess that Mr. Salcido isn’t aware that the powers that be in this world are trying to convince everyone of the same line that Mr Salcido believes in. That is, the news media, being controlled by this great secret combination, tell us that there is no conspiracy so we don’t have to look into the matter. Anyone who says there is a conspiracy is a nut and right-wing extremist.

   I guess that all we have to do is study the Constitution, the principles of liberty, ignore our enemy, and all will be well in Zion. Study the good and ignore the bad. In my opinion, that is living in a fool’s paradise. Here’s the proof.

   Let’s consider the last election. Let me ask everyone who reads this blog to answer a question I’ll pose. Don’t tell me, just answer to yourselves. The question is this, “Who did you vote for in the last presidential election?”

   Many of you will say either Obama or McCain.

   Here’s another question: “How about the election before that?”

   Many will say either Kerry or Bush.

   “How about the election before that?”

   Many will say either Gore or Bush, and so on and so forth.

   So here’s the kicker: “Which of those candidates in those three previous elections represented the good side and who was on the bad side? Or was it a question of voting for “the lesser of two evils?”

   My friends, the truth is that we haven’t had a good choice for president for over forty five years, and before the nomination of Goldwater in 1964, no one for another forty or fifty years. ALL of the presidential candidates in ALL of the elections were bought off. They represented the the powers that be, not the people and certainly not the Constitution.

   The Savior once said, “Ye can tell them by their fruits.”

   Well, the fruits of ALL the presidential candidates, with the exception of Goldwater, were those for 1- bigger government, 2-bigger deficits and national debt, 3-more power to the government at the expense of our liberties. It is true that as the power of government grows, our freedoms shrink.

   All of the presidents, even Reagan, performed all of the three ideas above very well, even if they said that they were against those three principles, and we are all worse of for it. All of them put members of the secret combination, (the CFR), on their staffs and in their cabinet. All of these CFR members hounded all of the presidents to expand the role of government.

   Because Reagan did the same thing as all of his predecessors and put members of the CFR on his cabinet, he also was hounded to make decisions that expanded the role of government at the expense of our freedoms. He promised to eliminate the Department of Education when he ran, but not only did he not eliminate it, he proposed budgets that actually allotted them more money every year of his presidency, except one. He promised that no insiders would be on his cabinet, but did an about face and put them in there.

   These members of the CFR are the greatest advocates for one-world government and the destruction of the Constitution. They are wolves in sheep’s clothing. Please don’t challenge me on this. The evidence is overwhelming. So all of the presidents, including Reagan were promoting one-world government by putting CFR members on their cabinets. This is true even if they themselves were not in favor of one-world government.

   After we’ve boiled all this down, here is resulting observation.

   Anyone who voted for a Republican or Democratic presidential candidate in the last forty years actually voted to destroy the Constitution and voted for their own, eventual slavery. Does that make any of you who voted for these monsters like Obama or McCain, Bush or Kerry, Bush or Gore happy?

   The reason you voted for them is not because you’re evil, it is because YOU DON’T KNOW YOUR ENEMY. Hyrum Smith once said, “To vote for an evil man is a sin.” the rub is to know how to distinguish an enemy from a friend. I believe that we will all stand before God in judgment and He will ask us if we defended His sacred Constitution. Not knowing how to vote correctly is, indeed, a sin.

   A rebuttal to that is, “Well, my candidate, (we’ll call him Mr. X,) said all the right things on the campaign trail and seemed to be in favor of small government, so I thought it would be all right.”

   The answer, of course, is that they ALL say the “right thing” to look appealing to most people. You have to go back to the Savior’s saying, “Ye shall know them by their fruits.” From that, you can tell the right candidates from the wrong ones. Didn’t McCain vote for Bush’s unconstitutional Prescription Drug Supplimental to Medicare? Didn’t he want to grant amnesty to illegal immigrants and not enforce our borders? The same question can be asked of all the politicians who ran for office.

   For all this, there is an answer on how to vote correctly, and that is given by the First Presidency in November of 1964. I won’t tell you what they said, just contact me at ken.bowers@yahoo.com, and ask me for a lecture on the political parties and the secret combination. I’ll help you learn 1- how to vote right, according to the First Presidency, 2- I’ll help you learn what happened to our two major political parties, and 3- I’ll help you know how to discern constitutional candidates from unconstitutional ones in the future. Email me and we’ll go from there.

   The summary of all this is: We need to know both what we’re fighting for as well as what we’re fighting against. What we’re fighting for is learned in the various lectures and seminars given by good people here and in the Salt Lake Valley. If you want to know correct Constitutional principles, ask Glenn Kimber, Steve Pratt or Gary and Carolyn Alder. They conduct great seminars on the Constitution and our political freedoms. That is important.

   If you want to know who your enemy is, contact me at the email given. I’ll tell you once more, we need to know both what we’re fighting for AND what we’re fighting against. In this important fight for freedom, we will be doomed unless we know both. Both are vitally important. Those who say we don’t have to worry about knowing our enemy are falling for a propaganda ploy that is generations old.

   May we all learn our enemy so that we can come through this struggle in the last days victorious. Knowledge is power.

   Ken Bowers

   Reply
10. Edward C. Noonan says:

    January 3, 2010 at 12:49 pm

    To: Ken Bowers

    Thank you for your comments. Jerry Salcido’s last post was so much out of character from his former posts. He is such an rabid fan of Ron Paul and he definitely seems to be a believer in the Ron Paulite doctrine of non-interventionist in foreign lands, and the Paulite doctrine of ANTI-FEDERAL RESERVE, and the Ron Paulite ANTI-United Nations stance…then all of a sudden he jumps up and saying anyone decrying such illegal conspiracies against the Constitution and the American People is WRONG AND BAD!

    All of Salcido’s posts have been signed under the banner of CAMPAIGN FOR LIBERTY (a Ron Paulite organization) (a so-called prime CONSPIRACY THEORY WHACKO group). Personally, I agree with 100% of what I see on Ron Paul’s anti-Federal Reserve webpage — http://www.campaignforliberty.com

    But Salcido’s last post pretty well slugged his hero, Ron Paul in the jaw and spit in Ron Paul’s face!

    Posts by Jerry Salcido:

    Philosophy vs. Conspiracy
    His signature now is “Copyright © 2009 Jerry Salcido” vs. “Copyright © 2009 Campaign for Liberty” in the past! Did Salcido leave the Paulite camp?

    Save Those Bullets for the Monsters
    Laments about Alameda County Republican CC failure to get an introduced resolution advocating a non-interventionist foreign policy for the ACRCC adopted. 20 GLOBALIST REPUBLICANS against 13 less globalist republicans.

    See: http://www.lewrockwell.com/paul/paul255.html

    Too Kooky for the Constitution?
    Pro-Ron Paul piece: Salcido laments GLOBALIST SEACH FOR MONSTERS by the Globalist Republican Party and Democrat Party.

    Obama Deserved It
    This again, was written under a Ron Paulite banner “Copyright © 2009 Campaign for Liberty.” Salcido points out that GLOBALIST OBAMA continued the GLOBALIST WARS first started under the GLOBALIST REPUBLICANS.

    Independence Requires Independents
    This seems to be a “List of sins of the Republican Party” – a Pro-Ron Paul piece. Both Ron Paul and Salcido know the Globalist Republicans are EVIL but daily get in bed with the evil globalist republicans. This is Independence? And this makes them Independent? Hmmmmmmmm!

    Publik Edumacation Refermation
    Blames Obama for the continued corrupt Globalist Education System but fails to acknowledge that the Republicans embraced our educational system for many past decades.

    The Return of America’s Anathema
    Conspiracy Theory? Anti-Federal Reserve thoughts are NOT in the mainstream Republican Party! But this piece is what Salcido writes about in “Philosophy vs. Conspiracy.”

    Lockeing Up Leviathan
    Evil Beast= Leviathan; Levianthan=GLOBALIST State; Globalist State=GLOBALIST Republicans!

    Proposition St8
    Anti gay marriage discussion. Great piece.

    I have respect for most of RON PAUL’s issues. However, I do not have respect for him BECAUSE OF THE PARTY HE REPRESENTS. I also do not respect him for the fact he FAILED TO INVESTIGATE our concerns that BARRY SOETORO a.k.a. BARACK OBAMA is not a citizen of the UNITED STATES. We mailed him a copy of a school record that showed Soetoro to be a citizen of the nation of Indonesia. We demanded to discover when and where Soetoro regained citizenship to the United States of America.

    We also sent Ron Paul a copy of a page from Soetoro/Obama’s book, DREAMS FROM MY FATHER where it claimed that Soetoro’s father was a foreign national (British/Kenyan). This would automatically disqualify Soetoro from being a NATURAL BORN CITIZEN of the United States and unqualified from holding the office of President.

    Ron Paul (as most Americans) buried his head in the sand and prefers to ignore this issue “of the century.”

    I have been a member of two Constitutional CITIZEN GRAND JURIES that have indicted Soetoro for fraud and treason. I have been a member of Tea Parties protesting various grievances I have regarding the current condition of our state and nation. The government has ignored all of our petitions!

    Dr. Orly Taitz has recently commented that perhaps it is time for ARMED RALLIES. One such just happened recently:
    http://m.ocregister.com/ocregister/db_13184/contentdetail.htm;jsessionid=B0901F7DDBA0B009E48381F38992C886?contentguid=09lmbwvu&storycount=792&detailindex=7&pn=2&ps=10&full=true#display

    Armed Tea Party in New Mexico
    http://www.lcsun-news.com/las_cruces-news/ci_14113973

    Republican Candidate – Catherine Crabill calls for armed rallies!
    http://teablogging.net/2009/07/16/republican-candidate-calls-for-armed-uprising-at-tea-party-rally/

    I would LOVE to hear what Jerry Salcido has to say about armed rallies? What does he think about having a Commander in Chief that is NOT a citizen of the United States? As the Chairman of the ACRCC he took the oath to defend our Constitution. Is he doing so if we have an unconstitutional squatter in the White House?

    Let me hear from you all!

    Edward C. Noonan
    Chairman – Yuba County American Independent Party
    National Committee Member: America’s Independent Party
    Founder – CA Mormon Battalion
    Former 2006-2008 State Party Chairman – American Independent Party
    Former 2006 Candidate/Governor – State of California
    Former 2002 Candidate/Secretary of State – State of California

    http://www.4xtreme.org

    Reply
11. Abe Day says:

    January 4, 2010 at 5:33 pm

    Jerry,

    It’s a COMMANDMENT to bring conspiracies to light. (Ether chapter 8). Exposing secret combination for what they are is looking at the the ‘other’ philosophy to contrast freedom with. All of the people I associate with HAVE woken up because they’ve awakened to the awful predicament we are in. Everyone believes in freedom, no one wants to be a slave. Speaking about freedom and not about those who are taking it away from us by Conspiracy IS the problem. And remember IT’S A COMMANDMENT!
    See http://www.ldsfreemen.com/the-11th-commandment-of-the-book-of-mormon/

    Reply
12. Brian Mecham says:

    January 4, 2010 at 5:48 pm

    Abe wrote: “Everyone believes in freedom, no one wants to be a slave. Speaking about freedom and not about those who are taking it away from us by Conspiracy IS the problem”

    Abe, I think you’ve made an excellent point there. I’ve definitely noticed a difference between ‘LDS Patriots’ who understand the Secret Combination and those who don’t… Those who don’t understand Secret Combinations are often like the false patriot President Kimball warned spoke about in “The False God’s We Worship” and also tend to be a ‘constitutionalist’ only to the point of opposing the democrat’s/liberals, but not true support of the principles of freedom.

    Reply
13. Brian Mecham says:

    January 5, 2010 at 2:58 pm

    Ezra Taft Benson counseled us to become familiar with both the principles and the conspiracy…

    Once you get the facts about our American Constitutional Republic and the threats to it-then you are going to want to do something. Certainly those who are organized and have a plan and are dedicated, though they be few, will always defeat the many who are not organized and have no plan or dedication. The Communists have proved this and the fighters for freedom must realize it too. If, then, you want to have impact through an organization, make sure that organization squares with the scriptures and the prophets and the spirit. Then move forward and use your free agency to accomplish that which is virtuous and praiseworthy and let the devil and his agents and dupes howl.

    Yes, the Fabian Socialists are as busy as bees rolling out the red carpet which leads inevitably to Communism. Faced with this situation our first duty is that of education. Starting with ourselves we must become familiar with the broad outlines of our movement toward destruction. We must, as President McKay has urged, become alerted and informed. After becoming informed ourselves, we must carry the word to all within hearing or seeing range, so that they, too, can become awakened. Take every opportunity to pass sound literature and books around so that your neighbors and their neighbors will awaken before it is too late. We are literally in a race against time and we must take every opportunity to spread the word.

    We must not become confused over side issues… Our mortal enemies are the Satanic Communists and those who prepare the path for them.

    It is not, however, enough to be acquainted with the grave dangers facing these United States. We must also instruct ourselves, and others, in the great spiritual values underlying our Divinely inspired Constitution and our American free-enterprise system. One of the many sure ways of defeating our enemy is to instruct the people about the eternal verities of our own country. A mind, so enlightened, will reject Marxian Socialism whether it be in the form of Communism, Nazism, Fascism, Welfare-Statism or some other man-made monstrosity.

    A Race Against Time

    Reply
14. RamSam says:

    January 5, 2010 at 8:49 pm

    I agree with this article 100%, in fact it is such a breath of fresh liberty loving air!
    I know, as I can tell you do as well, that there are indeed secret combinations of all kinds involved in the government, however I agree that it becomes a distraction.
    I want to discuss freedom, I want to discuss the Constitution, I want to promote a righteous and liberty loving politician, and throw out those who are stealing our precious freedoms out form under us. I just don’t see how becoming enraged over 9/11 helps me insure freedom for my children.

    Even if every conspiracy I hear is true (which I have never said it isn’t) isn’t our GOAL still the same thing? Limiting government? Protecting our Constitutional rights? Electing men of integrity? If we could just put these debates of conspiracy aside and meet on what we agree on, we might actually come together and be a force that could make some serious change…..for the better. That I truly believe.

    I should add I clicked over from ldsconservative.com, where a recent post is on attack of this article.

    Reply
15. Darren Andrews says:

    January 6, 2010 at 5:15 am

    I agree with the comments made above. There has been a lot of mature feedback here and I have not read anything I would describe as coming from “conspiracy nuts” :) We do need to understand BOTH the principles and the nature and identity of those who oppose those principles. I think we would all agree that the principles should be our foundation. These are the things that lift and inspire.

    I believe that, in the gospel, we need to have a “testimony” (if that is the right word) of the Adversary. Indeed, I wonder if we can truly progress and repent if we deny the “role” of that being. We need to understand how he works. Today, however, many people – including LDS – fail to understand political methods of warfare. Pincer movements, pressure from above and below, thesis-antithesis-solution, the ancient power technique (as President McKay called it), etc. are all blanks in peoples’ knowledge which leads to a lot of manipulation in the world.

    Of course, a true understanding of the attack must first be predicated upon the value of the thing being attacked.

    We do not defend liberty strongly enough when we do not comprehend its principles and value. We do not defend it effectively enough when we do not understand the methods employed to attack it and the nature of the enemy.

    Reply
16. Jerry Owens says:

    January 6, 2010 at 7:40 am

    Dear Patriot Friends …Brothers and Sisters…

    Let me tell you how I see it. When we stretch out a ‘time line’…here’s what I see…

    1 .America is established…a land blessed IF it follows Christ. A nation cursed and destroyed IF it turns its back on the Savior. So far we have seen 2 nations come and go. The Jaridites and Nephits are gone!….They did not honor the Lord Jesus Christ!

    Aside: Fact: Liberty loving nations tend to desolve within an approximate 200 +/- years.

    2. I believe most ‘Patriots’ would agree that America, for THE MOST PART, has REJECTED CHRIST. This can be pointed out by the TRAITORS we have elected over the past 40+ years! (As Ken B. has pointed out)…In my opinion this can also be said about the VAST MAJORITY of LDS folks who ‘supported’ the TRAITOR BUSH!!! MOST LDS ‘have eyes, but do not see”

    3. Along the way SOME LDS…A HAND FULL!!!…. have “awakened to their awful situation.”….and for the past 30-50 years ‘WE PATIOTS’ have DONE OUR BEST to “awaken” our brothers and sisters…..WITH LITTLE REAL CHANGE FOR GOOD>>>>THE “BAD GUYS” ARE WINNING THIS ‘PHASE’! And our ‘brothers and sisters’ STAY ASLEEP!!! ….We ‘Patriots” are getting “Brownie Points in Heaven”!!!

    Aside: IF you want to know EXACTLY WHY we Americans AND LDS are asleep…go to 2Thes.2:10-12…>>>>>WE LOVE THE LIE!>>>>”And for this CAUSE GOD shall send them STRONG DELUSION, that they should believe a lie…” (please read this)

    4. So as the time line goes…..we finally reach the>>>POINT OF NO RETURN>>>>The “going over the falls” HAPPENS>>>>or as Helaman says: “…your days of probation ARE PAST, ye have procrastinated the day of your salvation UNTIL IT IS EVERLASTINGLY TOO LATE, AND YOUR DESTRUCTION IS MADE SURE.” Helaman 13:38 The evidence is all around us…..HOW ON EARTH DOES A NATION “REPENT” OF MURDERING 40,000,000+ BABIES???!!!>>>>IT DOESN’T!!!! BUT IT DOES REAP THE WRATH OF A JUST GOD!!!

    5. So here’s the BIG PICTURE and BOTTOM LINE:

    A. America’s “DESTRUCTION IS MADE SURE”!
    B. Sometime in the NEAR FUTURE>>> D&C112:23-27 “…ALL FLESH has become corrupt…vengeance cometh SPEEDILY…AND UPON MY HOUSE SHALL IT BEGIN.”
    C. D&C 29:16+17 “And there SHALL BE a great hail storm sent forth to destroy the crops of the earth.”
    D. Isaiah 3:1 “…the Lord…deprives…all food and water supply…”
    E. What we MUST DO to survive: Isaiah 26:20 “Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast.”….Do you have your “years supply”???? (of food and water!)

    Aside: The WISE VIRGINS will BE PREPARED>>>BOTH temporally and spiritually….
    The FOOLISH VIRGINS will NOT have ‘oil’ for their lamps….i.e. FOOD & WATER!
    The FOOLISH VIRGINS are those who will face the Anti-Christ…and according to the Book of Revelations they will either:
    A. Take the ‘mark of the beast’ and ‘be damned’! OR
    B. They will be BEHEADED!!!…and go on to their ‘glory’.

    The WISE VIRGINS are those who go to Missouri to build ZION!>>>>Isaiah 1:9 “Except the Lord of hosts had left unto us a VERY SMALL REMNANT , we should have been as Sodom…”

    So where does that leave us!!??…..Those who are prepared BOTH SPIRITUALLY and TEMPORALLY>>>>WILL BE GOING TO MISSOURI….AND THEY HAVE JOY KNOWING THAT THE “END” OF THIS WICKED WORLD IS ABOUT OVER!!!>>>>AND THAT THE MILLEMIUM IS ABOUT TO BEGIN!!!! PRAISE THE LORD!!!!

    Those who are NOT PREPARED are in for a HELL OF A TIME>>>>And I mean HELL LITERALLY!!!

    So my 2 cents worth….BE PREPARED….you can RE-ARRANGE THE CHAIRS ON THE TITANIC ALL YOU WANT….BUT DON’T FORGET TO PREPARE….
    BECAUSE …”IT IS EVERLASTINGLY TOO LATE, AND YOUR (AMERICAS) DESTRUCTION IS MADE SURE.”….

    And READ AND UNDERSTAND ISAIAH….the ONLY scriptures we are literally COMMANDED to read and UNDERSTAND (One key to understanding Isaiah>>>>It IS written to and about the ‘COVENANT CHURCH”>>>>US!!!

    Also realize that WE HAVE “POLLUTED THE HOLY CHURCH OF GOD”!!!
    Mormon 8:38….It’s a good time to NOT rely “on the arm of flesh”!….but to be guided by the spirit.

    Aside: I want to say that I am in no way a ‘righteous person’….I’m a “want-ta-be”…I’m a sinner who is trying to repent….

    I believe I have ‘seen’ some things BECAUSE I HAVE ‘ASKED’….but knowing something doesn’t make you ‘righteous’…..LIVING THE TRUTH IS WHAT IT IS ALL ABOUT!…LIVING HIS WILL>>>>>I think you’d agree.

    I HOPE WE MEET UP ON THE ROAD TO MISSOURI…

    I WANT TO SING A SONG OF PRAISE WITH YOU!!!

    You Brother in Christ; Jerry Owens

    Reply
17. Elizabeth says:

    January 6, 2010 at 8:01 am

    I enjoyed skimming/reading all of the comments (but I do have to find time to eat and pay my bills and get some other things done or I would spend all day ) and found Jerry’s commentary to be highly intelligent and in no way condemning of those who walk and talk “conspiracy theory” lingo. Jerry admits that it has its place and that it is all true. No need to bash Jerry here; he is only asking that people tailor their comments to individuals who would be otherwise “turned off” to joining the liberty movement due to not having learned for themselves “YET” that conspiracy theories are true.
    Jerry is one of you/us and we need to stick together here. No need to “nit-pick” poor Jerry’s great commentary. Find where he is agreeing with you please and see what he is truly saying ….that those “fixated” on the conspiracy theories to the point of turning people off to the movement rather than bringing them into the movement is doing more harm than good. He did not saying being fixated on it is bad only if you do it in a way that causes you to bash people in the head with your information thus turning them off so you can feel great about standing up for your own beliefs even if it means losing a needed follower….and we need all we can get…so let’s not turn them off…that is all he is saying…..still believe, still speak it, but be careful with some of the people…..that is all he is saying…
    This is a no-brainer people. You can get more flies with honey etc. That is all he is saying. He is not saying you shouldn’t preach conspiracy theories to those who are ready for it but he is saying careful please how you go about trying to bring people into the liberty movement. He is saying that there is a far far far far extreme side to the conspiracy theories which involve aliens inside of people’s bodies etc….now maybe that is true , ugh…okay..I’ll give you that those who really believe it….however….and I am really going out on a limb here….who the heck knows if that is true unless you have had direct opportunity, the unfortunate opportunity of meeting one of them, again, ugh…but…let’s say it isn’t true…or even if it is……who the heck is going listen to you if they think you regular middle of the road conspiracy theory proponents are associated with those extremists ….that is Jerry’s point…hello?? He is just saying …tailor your comments appropriately….maybe you guys just missed it because it was just too darn logical and easy to understand….I know when you are all fired up about wanting to win the revolution is must be easy to vent your intensities at the wrong guy but ….ease off, Jerry …he is one of you/us…..
    Way to go Connor!! btw…and Brian …I like your comments and that other man, Ed..was it…you know a lot about what’s his name…Krugman? sorry if the spelling is wrong….I will reread your commentary to get more info on him….but Jerry’s your bud..
    A lot of intelligent well-read people here…..I really enjoyed reading everyone’s comments….let’s spend more time seeing how Jerry is agreeing with us all…that is all I am saying…he is not dissing talking about conspiracy theories or educating the public about them…he is merely saying downplay that public image so as to bring in the newbies who need “milk not meat”…..doesn’t that make sense? Get them in …then ease them into the larger truth…..scaring people into it may work for a few and may be necessary soon enough…but it ain’t gonna work right now guys (now I know you must be intelligent enough to know that I am not a high school drop out but am college educated and with an IQ of 154……don’t be so easily fooled by your own fears that somebody is not believing you or that they might be dissing you…..shucks…get over your fears of losing ground with your own fellow co-patriots…..chill….thanks for listening…your sister in Zion, Elizabeth (btw Teddy Roosevelt was my great grandfather’s cousin and also, my fourth great grandfather’s brother sat on the Constitutional Convention so I am not at all a non-patriotic type with that background; I Iove our country and our Founding Fathers and love you men for standing up for what you believe in. Thanks for all your commentaries; you are all awesome brothers!! I am so proud of you all for taking the time to comment and that you have educated yourselves. You inspire me to do more of the same. Bob you are awesome also!)

    Reply
18. Brian Mecham says:

    January 7, 2010 at 2:50 pm

    I just came across this while writing a paper on a different topic… it’s very relevant to this discussion…

    “I think it is time for every patriotic American to join with neighbors to study the Constitution and the conspiracy. Subscribe to several good patriotic magazines.” (Ezra Taft Benson – TL 40; compare Enemy 44; from an address given at Boise, ID, 19 Dec 1963)

    Reply
19. Steven Montgomery says:

    January 8, 2010 at 9:53 am

    Here’s an article John F. McManus wrote in direct reply to Mr. Salcido:

    http://bit.ly/6UQN95

    Reply
20. Skyler Collins says:

    January 8, 2010 at 2:56 pm

    I thought this was relevant: http://www.lewrockwell.com/spl2/33-conspiracy-theories.html

    Reply
21. Bryce Beattie says:

    January 11, 2010 at 11:49 am

    I tend to agree with Jerry. From a practical standpoint, I can almost never convince someone of anything if I start by attacking his hero or someone he respects.

    If somebody came up to me and said “Brigham Young was really a communist, so all you Mormons are idiots.” or “You Mormons have all been duped into believing…” My response would be to turn off everything he said after that.

    If someone came up to me and said, “I think the government has a responsibility to promote the general welfare by increasing social programs.” I would probably be willing to talk to them and debate the subject.

    Reply
22. terry brown says:

    January 11, 2010 at 1:27 pm

    The extremely long and nutty comments make Jerry’s point — a lot of people are wasting time and precious rare brain space on things that just aren’t true or are simply irrelevant.
    Case in point: some angry idiot copied a long article about Paul Krugman’s criticism of free market abuses to prove 1) he is a Marxist (which is not true), 2) therefore it is correct to censor his speech (through boorish booing of his speeches).
    For angry idiots, this is what freedom means: Freedom is the best, therefore I can make sh*t up when I defend freedom. If someone disagrees with my sh*t, it’s because they disagree with freedom. Those who disagree with freedom, are enemies of freedom, and are therefore dangerous. I am justified in using any sh*t I can to defend myself from danger — it’s just self-defence.
    Some call that “crazy.”

    Reply
23. Lone Star says:

    January 12, 2010 at 8:05 am

    I can’t help but read the last post and restate a point I made earlier.
    The people in the Great and Spacious building pointed their fingers and were in the attitude of mocking those who were the humble followers of Christ. Unfortunately, many people were ashamed and fell away because of the world who mocked them.

    I find it interesting how frequently those who believe in secret combinations tend to be the subject of ridicule, even within our church.

    How is it that we can think it’s acceptable to mock others with a hateful attitude and think we’re doing the Lord’s work? The War in Heaven was fought over free agency. This war is still taking place today. If we expect to be victorious, we must emulate Christ in everything we do.

    It is just as important to know the principles of liberty and freedom as it is to know and understand the nature of the secret combination that seeks to destroy the freedom of all nations. Moroni was explicitly clear when he commanded us to awake to our situation. Ether 8 contains warnings and commandments meant for us as Latter Day Saints today. If we fail to understand or follow the commandments we’ve been given, we will certainly suffer the consequences.

    Our prophets today have provided excellent examples for us in teaching the principles of free agency. If we follow their example and do our best to follow Christ’s example for us, we can and will prevail over the enemies of freedom.

    Reply
24. Connor says:

    January 14, 2010 at 11:54 am

    I have published a response to this article here: http://www.connorboyack.com/blog/on-whether-to-tear-down-or-build-up

    Reply

25. Pingback: On Whether to Tear Down or Build Up | Mormon Bloggers

26. Cory Seegmiller says:

    February 8, 2010 at 12:13 pm

    I’ve found that with a little probing you can usually tell who is going to be amenable to a conspiracy throw-down and who is not. Many have been prepared by the Spirit and are willing to soak it up. I love that. Then there are those who aren’t so ready. They are fun, too! You just have to be willing to go the distance with them.

    If you push those who are not ready, by getting all up in their grill about conspiracy stuff, then you have lost a convert for life. All you’re gonna do is make them mad and prove that you are a socially inept freak. On the other hand, if you give them their space and gently approach them multiple times with evidence that would lead one to believe that Moroni wasn’t a big fat idiot, or liar, and that John’s revelation isn’t totally opaque to our understanding, and that Pres. Benson wasn’t a looney-toon, then most people will come around as soon as they are ready to listen to the Spirit.

    The milk must come before the meat. A foundationless house won’t stand. Understanding why the conspiracy can do what they do, i.e. violating the principles of freedom, is usually a good thing to understand if you are even going to have a chance of comprehending what they are doing to us.

    Reply
27. Tremain Petersen says:

    April 11, 2010 at 8:27 pm

    The key to destroying secret combinations is not necessarily in exposing them. After all, the Gadiaton Robbers became so numerous in the first part of 3Nephi that they were hardly a secret any more. Their destructive and tyrannical intent was obvious to all. The key to overcoming secret combinations of any size whether known or not is in learning, living and promoting correct principles. Only by being strongly rooted in the true principles of liberty can we sort the good from the evil and/or ignorant in our political leaders, and hold those we elect to office accountable to those same principles when making our laws. The constant most important point in all of this is to find the founding principle behind every belief, practice, tradition, policy, theory, etc. and examine it thoroughly in the gospel light we’ve been given to determine it’s veracity or not. This is our only sure protection. Because of this it seems clear to me that teaching and expounding correct principles should come first in our efforts to promote liberty to our fellow man.

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28. Steven says:

    April 18, 2010 at 7:03 pm

    This approach this article suggest seems similar to discussing the principles of the church without getting into any of that crazy “Joe Smith” stuff. I really don’t think you can divorce the two. The fact that our government was complicit or responsible for 911 has everything to do with understanding just what we are really dealing with and also understanding the extent to which things have deteriorated. 911 & JFK are elephants in the room. The fact that most people either don’t care or can’t see the elephant in the room speaks to how well Laman and Lemuel would fit in to our society. I have a very difficult time believing that things in this country are going to change and that a critical mass off individuals are going to pay attention long enough to stop us from driving right off the cliff. The typical beer a day well meaning idiot gulping down Bill O’reilly doesn’t want to talk about the constitution or its principles. They want to get back to the football game. I really think it’s easiest to awaken them to the consequences and evil that have been evidenced by the conspiracy. The fact that JFK is decades old and hasn’t spurred much concern is the canary in the mine. 911 is almost 10 years old, more than obvious to anyone that will take a half hour to look at the facts. I don’t think there’s a chance that we’re going to turn this bus around. The time of the gentiles has passed. These are perilous times.

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