Posted on 12/20/2019 4:30:21 PM PST by ProgressingAmerica
I'd like to have a frank discussion about the cost of entry for you or others who wish to discover more about the Founding Fathers, and even moreso the barrier that presents toward educating others. As we approach the completion of the audiobook version of James Madison's Notes, one of the goals for this project is cost reduction. I would like for you to consider three aspects:
I assume people will automatically think in terms of money, and it is true that the scope of what I'm looking for could have been better asked in terms of "commitment" instead of "cost", but I prefer the original wording because time spent is a cost paid.
I would also like to explain what I mean about exclusivity as well. Do you like to sit down for two hours at night and read a book? Many people do. But that's a nearly 100% exclusive task. A warehouse worker isn't going to read a book at the same time they unload a truck during early morning receiving hours, for example. An audiobook, however, overcomes the cost of exclusivity and introduces the advantage of multitasking.
Now, I would just like to know, what's your money cost? Only for the Founding Fathers or immediately relevant to the Founding era. Have you purchased this book, that book, a three pack of something else. Was it $50? $345? Some other number? Thousands?
Now, I would like to know what is your time cost? How many minutes or hours or days or weeks did it take you to read those books? Be it the Federalist Papers, the Law of Nations, Novanglus, Jefferson's Notes, John Locke, Letters from a Farmer, or any number of other works? Because I'm quite sure that a handful sought out the text online and downloaded. But did you print? That wasn't free either.
Since most of the work of the Founders only exists as paper, you were stuck in exclusivity, weren't you?
This is a discussion of cost, and of course you know I'm looking forward toward cost reduction. If we want to defend our Constitution and advance the Founding principles, and help others around us do the same, then cost reduction in areas such as this need to be discussed and the bar must be lowered. Because if you're going to buy one copy of a book for yourself, and one for your friend? Now you have doubled your cost, and doubled the (reading)time investment. Do you think your less-committed friend will be just as inclined as you to do the same? Don't bet on it. They wouldn't even buy one copy, why would they purchase several copies?
But if the cost can be lowered, is it more likely you can get even more people involved? I think so!
Ping
Do you think folks should learn from you?
You’re smarter than others?
I know how smart everybody is, otherwise who would the audiobooks be for?
And if I really thought someone was dumb, why would I put such a high value on their time?
I am sure they are nice but I am beyond the founders and into who the founders read/learned from.
Sure, I did mention John Locke and the Law of Nations.(Vattel) I think it would be instructive if you would mention at least a few.
What is the cost/time on your part?
The first work of the socialists towards burying the heritage of the American Republican form of government began in earnest in the mid nineteenth century, and it was massively successful.
It continues to this day, but the first strides, the very greatest strides were made way back in the mid to late eighteen hundreds.
It’s good to be mindful of both Founder and Framer self-education.
A great place to go, is Hillsdale for their publication (Imprimus) and online lectures. Both can be gotten to, no charge, from their website.
I was flummoxed in a discussion here on Fr and said : “Hey, I’ve got to know something if I’m going to make a contribution here!”
I went to the library and checked out “The Business Of May Next” by William Lee Miller.
It’s a general book with a LOT of background on the Founder’s int4ents.
Cost me nothing but the time to read it, which was pleasantly spent.
DON”T go searching the web for ‘quotes’ and snippets to support some specific belief of yours. You will find them alright, but miss the genius of our Founders.
“...since the neighing of Darius’ horse”.
I’m so grateful for that homage to Herodotus by Adams!
What a great discovery.
“Do you think folks should learn from you?
You’re smarter than others?”
My reading of his post suggest that he thinks we could
learn from the founding fathers, and that producing
audio-books of their writings could reduce the “costs” of
more people doing so.
This could certainly have a negative impact upon your
personal mission (read your own posting history...) against
such things...
Hence your latest in a long line of evidence free attacks
upon yet another messenger.
Constitutional Debates.
The Federalist Papers.
The anti-Federalist Papers.
The many many quotes of the FF's.
Their essays in publications of the time.
Their diaries/journals.
Their correspondence to each other.
It's all there regarding their positions and intent while creating a nation that has become the envy and standard of the World. I've read all the above and still amazes me that their words/actions have been so spun, parsed, misrepresented, lost context, and forgotten throughout the years. Until, the Impeachment dims wrapped themselves in the flag and the Constitution, which they have ignored for decades.
My wife and I were astounded when we saw an impeachment snippet on Fox where some dim/socialist claimed Trump's crimes were the equivalent of the Revolutionary War in severity. We looked at each - did we just hear that? Of course, a couple others were making some obscure connection to slavery or the civil rights movement. These people have lost all sense of proportion and I am starting to believe their TDS has made them insane.
I was born in Boston in 1935. Still living in the area.
I know the weather, the geography and the conditions our founders lived in. No shortage of past historical remnants in this area.
I am amazed at the Founders knowledge of the world since they were isolated, and mobility was restricted.
Their life span was much shorter than ours, although some lived long lives..
The Founders knowledge of human behavior is also amazing.
I have to conclude the Founders spent these long winter days reading about the World, and its Governments.
To me there is no other way they could have gotten this knowledge considering their location and isolation. - Tom
flr
Why Richard the 3rd? The King who killed the Princes? Because he was instrumental in installing the Bail system as well as some other very important issues.
All the way back in history to biblical times and scripture.
Yeah, all their stuff is free, at first. They use a Hari Krishna type of sales tactic where they send you stuff and then ask for money afterwards. They’re rolling in money too.
There are a lot of great materials on our founding fathers and the origination of our Constitution. My favorite starter was George Washington’s farewell address. After that, the Federalist papers.
Once you read those, you can pick and choose wherever you want to go.
Thank you for posting.
They do as Heritage and just about every organization does, advertise after someone has shown interest. Just write back on their mail-in coupon once or twice to get removed from the mailing list.
As far as your claim that Hillsdale is rolling in money, they are using their budget to avoid government funding and interference in what they teach, which is conservative American history and governance; they are providing scholarships for new students of government, the constitution and conservative thought; they have recently opened a graduate school of government in Washington DC where conservative speakers and thinkers can be readily available to our "overlords"; and as noted, they offer many publications and courses for free.
Yet you bitch about receiving an advertising circular. Okay.
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