Human societies are in never-ending struggle between the forces seeking to optimize State Power and those seeking to optimize Social Power. The gain for one is the loss of the other. Accordingly, the reason society finds it so difficult to rest the Power Pendulum in concord is that these two forces wage an endless war within society. … [Read more...]
Why the “Five Laws of Decline” are Behind the Recent Scandals
June 19, 2013 by 3 Comments
By Orrin Woodward & Oliver DeMille Americans are both outraged and energized over headlines highlighting scandals in Washington related to the Benghazi tragedy and the IRS targeting of conservative groups. But there is a bigger concern at play in these events. It's something very few people are talking about, although it underpins and links … [Read more...]
A Lone Voice Crying in the Wilderness of Economics
May 8, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Editor's Note: The following is an excerpt from Orrin Woodward's book, Resolved: 13 Resolutions for Life. Ludwig Von Mises, an Austrian economist, stood for truth against the economic trends of his day. He defended free enterprise and classic liberalism when nearly all were stumbling over each other to receive perks and preferment offered by … [Read more...]
The Man Who Killed the Bank, Part II
April 18, 2013 by 2 Comments
Read Part I Here In his historic veto address, Jackson declared war on the wealthy aristocracy attempting to subvert the American Republic. His veto address should be read by everyone concerned with freedom and equality of opportunity. Jackson, in part, stated: “It is to be regretted that the rich and powerful too often bend the acts … [Read more...]
The Man Who Killed the Bank, Part I
April 17, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Editor's Note: The following account of Andrew Jackson's battle with the Second National Bank, written by Orrin Woodward, is fairly lengthy. This is such a critical story that American citizens need to understand that we've broken it up into two pieces. Part II will be published tomorrow. **************************** Andrew Jackson was always … [Read more...]
Raising a “Natural Nobility”
March 20, 2013 by 3 Comments
In the early 18th Century, three young colonial Americans resolved to build lives of virtue through the study and application of daily resolutions. George Washington, through tireless sacrificial leadership and against indescribable odds, defeated the mighty British Empire with his ragtag group of colonial volunteers. Benjamin Franklin, … [Read more...]
The Art of Tact
March 8, 2013 by 1 Comment
The Center for Creative Leadership lists "political savvy" -- the ability to influence people to obtain goals -- as a vital soft-skill of leadership. The heart of being politically savvy, according to CCL, is networking, reading situations, and thinking before speaking. Political savviness is the tact to say the truth that needs to be said, … [Read more...]
Middle Class Squeeze Part II: America and the Entrepreneur
February 12, 2013 by Leave a Comment
The working middle class dreams of an actual meritocracy, where performance is rewarded regardless of race, creed, or color. The American ideals were birthed as a level playing field, rewarding people based upon their contributions, not their social status or credentials. The American Dream promised: Do a little, receive a little; do a lot, … [Read more...]
The Middle Class Squeeze, Part I
February 7, 2013 by 4 Comments
*Note to the Reader from CSL Editor Oliver DeMille: Over the past weeks we’ve posted articles by Orrin Woodward, CSL’s new Leadership and Business Editor. These articles include: American Government Righting Sports Wrongs—NBA Stimulus Package, Separation of Education and State, and The Drift to Totalitarianism. Orrin has a long history of … [Read more...]
The Drift to Totalitarianism
January 28, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Earlier today, while writing on my corporate HR Toolbox blog, I read an extended quote from Gustav Cassel. His thoughts on the drift towards totalitarianism that every country experiences with the initiation of economic controls aligned perfectly with the Five Laws of Decline (FLD), which I first disclosed in my book RESOLVED: 13 Resolutions for … [Read more...]
