Creating Jobs & Security: Codeword for Slavery

It takes a great deal of faith and effort to sustain freedom.

When I hear politicians promising to create jobs for the people, or when I hear citizens demanding that it's every citizen's right to have a secure job, I believe we've lost the true spirit of what it means to be an American.

Security is an illusion born out of fear.  Freedom is a byproduct of those living by faith.

Is our country the land of the secure?  Or is it the land of the free? 

Home of the scared?  Or home of the brave?

The more a nation leans towards favoring security out of fear, the more power and freedom will be extracted from the lives of its citizens.  

You want 100% employment?  Look no further than the ancient Israelite captivity in Egypt.  You want it?  You got it: 100% employment equals slavery.

People who cling to security the most end up in prison.  That's why they call it maximum security.

Speaking of the typical job vs. prison, let's note the contrast. 

I read this years ago, and have always thought it funny and somewhat sad considering our tendency to cling to job security.  Compare the contrast between prison life and the typical job: 

•  In prison you spend the majority of your time in an 8' X 10' cell.
• At work you spend most of your time in a 6' X 8' cubicle.
• In prison you get three meals a day.
• At work you only get a break for one meal and you have to pay for that one.
• In prison you get time off for good behavior.
• At work you get rewarded for good behavior with more work.
• In prison a guard locks and unlocks all the doors for you.
• At work you must carry around a security card and unlock and open all the doors yourself.
• In prison you can watch TV and play games.
• At work you get fired for watching TV and playing games.
• In prison they ball-and-chain you when you go somewhere.
• At work you are just ball-and-chained.
• In prison you get your own toilet.
• At work you have to share.
• In prison they allow your family and friends to visit.
• At work you cannot even speak to your family and friends.
• In prison all expenses are paid by taxpayers, with no work required.
• At work you get to pay all the expenses to go to work and then they deduct taxes from your salary to pay for the prisoners.
• In prison you spend most of your life looking through bars from the inside wanting to get out.
• At work you spend most of your time wanting to get out and inside bars.
• In prison you can join many programs which you can leave at any time.
• At work there are some programs you can never get out of.

"If a nation values anything more than freedom, it will lose its freedom; and the irony of it is that if it is comfort or money that it values more, it will lose that too." - W. Somerset Maugham

The 3rd Alternative: Worth a Shot

In his new book, "The 3rd Alternative", Stephen Covey explains the paradigms and processes necessary for resolving conflict. 

Being involved in a lawsuit at this time, I'll admit being a bit skeptical about the probability of success.  I suppose my skepticism is already part of a flawed paradigm.  So, why even try?

There's a saying that goes, "you can't make a good deal with a bad partner."  I would agree.


Another one of Covey's principles from 7 Habits which I fully believe is that it takes 2 independent people to be in an interdependent relationship.  If you're dealing with a fragmented person, which frankly is what we're dealing with here - how do you create a 3rd alternative solution - a win-win solution - an interdependent solution - with a fragmented and shifty person?

The evidence, the law, the contracts, - everything is in our favor on this case.  We have a right to claim what's due under the demands of just laws and binding contracts.


But, the whole premise behind the 3rd Alternative mindset is that there is in fact a 3rd alternative out there somewhere that's better for both parties, so long as the 2 opposing parties work together to try to create this 3rd Alternative.

And so, I figured it's worth a shot.

I called and left a message to the defendant in the case, basically stating the following script as outlined in the book:

"Hi ________, this is Brig.  Hey I've been thinking about this book I've been reading called The 3rd Alternative, and I wanted to see if you would be interested in sitting down and discussing a possible solution that's better than either one of could have come up with on our own.  The premise behind this book is that there is in fact some 3rd alternative solution out there that's actually better for both of us.  I'm not sure what it will look like, and I frankly don't have any ideas just yet.  But rather than beating our heads against one another, perhaps we can think of something together that would give us what we both want.  I want to see you and the company succeed.  I also feel I've been wronged and that our case is pretty solid in that we're owed what was agreed upon and we're entitled to be paid.  But I'm willing to give this a shot if you're interested in having a discussion.  If you're more comfortable having your attorney present, that's fine too.  If you're interested, you have my number.  I look forward to hopefully connecting with you and talking soon."

I haven't heard anything back, but I'm hopeful we can at least make the attempt.

Should anything come of it, good or bad, I'll be sure to keep you updated.

Top 15 Quotes from Ronald Reagan

Today is Ronald Reagan's birthday.  If he were alive today, he'd be 101.  To remember him and his legacy, I've listed some of my favorite quotes below.

1. All great change in America begins at the dinner table.

2. Concentrated power has always been the enemy of liberty

3. Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same.

4. Freedom prospers when religion is vibrant and the rule of law under God is acknowledged

5. Government exists to protect us from each other. Where government has gone beyond its limits is in deciding to protect us from ourselves.

6. Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it.

7. If we ever forget that we are One Nation Under God, then we will be a nation gone under.

8. If we love our country, we should also love our countrymen.

9. Inflation is as violent as a mugger, as frightening as an armed robber and as deadly as a hit man.

10. It has been said that politics is the second oldest profession. I have learned that it bears a striking resemblance to the first.

11. People do not make wars; governments do.

12. Republicans believe every day is the Fourth of July, but the democrats believe every day is April 15

13. Surround yourself with the best people you can find, delegate authority, and don't interfere as long as the policy you've decided upon is being carried out.

14. There are no easy answers' but there are simple answers. We must have the courage to do what we know is morally right.

15. When you can't make them see the light, make them feel the heat.



In a time when men's hearts are failing them, and the cause of freedom seems but a faint wisper from yesteryears, our hearts long for the time when men like Reagan stood firm, upholding and defending the principles of our founding fathers.

We miss you, Ronald Reagan!