The Distributist Review: May 2006

Henry Makow On Writing For the Internet

On another blog written months ago, there was a comment that the DR had "a lot of short posts", or words to that effect. Some people may see this as a flaw. So be it, God's Will be done.

But in these days of limited attention spans and deliberately dumbed-down minds - at least in the English-speaking world - one has to reach out to the average man in a manner he/she can understand and act upon.

To use a picture painted in words, so to speak.......

In Belloc and Chesterton's day, people thought in long sentences, paragraphs and essays.

In our day, people think in eight-second and ten-second "sound-bites" and bumber-sticker phrases.

So, to present Distributism to the general public - English-speaking and otherwise - we have to break it down into easily understood pieces. Given the decaying times we live and work in, it is our responsibility to teach all who are interested about Distributism in a manner that will avoid leaving them scratching their heads.

With that, here is a short article by controversial writer and author Dr. Henry Makow, inventor of the board game Scruples, called "The Key to Good Writing." We at the DR hope to always present the Distributist case and cause in print in good fashion.

GKC's Autobiography

In keeping with the celebration of Gilbert's Day, here is an essay from Fr. Randall Paine, a priest of the Catholic Archdiocese of Brasilia, Brazil and professor of philosophy at the University of Brasilia.

The essay touches on Chesterton's Autobiography, which has been recently reprinted by Ignatius Press of San Francisco. This neo-Catholic publishing house has reprinted a number of Chestreton's books, and has for years been publishing his Collected Works.

Our thanks to Nancy C. Brown and the weblog of the American Chesterton Society for the link to this excellent essay.

HAPPY GILBERT'S DAY!

Here in America, we're celebrating Memorial Day, honoring all those in the military who gave their lives for the country. We ask all of you, in your kindness, to pray for their souls and their families. May the dead rest in peace.

But this day is also the anniversary of G. K. Chesterton's birth. He entered into the world on this day in 1874, 132 years ago.

The Communists, Socialists, many anarchists and those in league with the accursed Illumunati have May 1st as their day of celebration. Around the world, those in league with them march and protest in "May Day" parades, pushing the bloody cause of global socialism and Communism under the disguise of fighting for "worker's rights" and their twisted version of social justice.

If we Distributists ever had a special day for us to mark, this day - May 29th - would be our day, along with the birthdate of Hilaire Belloc. A date to pray for the repose of Gilbert's soul, as well as that of his dear wife Francis. A date to remember the movement and cause he and Belloc co-founded, which others over the decades have refined and developed. A date to renew our commitment to God and ourselves to continue our efforts toward the dawn of a Distributist Earth.

We at the DR, therefore, wish to all our readers worldwide a Happy Gilbert's Day!

And in honor of his birthday, here are some quotes of his to ponder over:

"One may understand the cosmos, but never the ego; the self is more distant than any star."

"To the world you may be just one person, but to one person you may be the world."

"No animal ever invented anything as bad as drunkenness - or so good as drink."

"The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him."

"We make our friends; we make our enemies; but God makes our next-door neighbour."

"To be clever enough to get all the money, one must be stupid enough to want it."

And finally this quote from 1920 - originally found here - regarding child care outside the home:

"If people cannot mind their own business, it cannot possibly be more economical to pay them to mind each other's business, and still less to mind each other's babies....Ultimately, we are arguing that a woman should not be a mother to her own baby, but a nursemaid to somebody else's baby. But it will not work, even on paper. We cannot all live by taking in each other's washing, especially in the form of pinafores."

Small Engine Maker Has Big Dreams

This article, written by David Pitt of the pro-globalist Associated Press, was found on the website of the Lodi, California based Lodi News-Sentinel.

President Bush said during his 2006 State of the Union Address that America was "addicted to oil", and that such a state needed to be changed. We at the DR agree, which is why we applaud a company like the Iowa-based Hydrogen Energy Center Inc. They are working on a "multi-fuel engine" that can replace gasoline-based ones in buses, trucks, forklifts and tractors. The fuels would include hydrogen, ethanol, propane, gas from landfills and so on.

They are even looking into ways to use - if possible - ammonia as a alternative fuel.

This is good news, as reducing Ameirca's dependence on foreign oil is as important as re-creating the country's industrial sector on a small business and co-operative foundation. This is Distributism in action. Such companies should be congratulated and encouraged.

And if both political parties in Washington had any sense, they would stop over-regulating both small businesses and co-operatives. They would let companies like Hydrogen Energy help to rebuild our economy.

So keep pressuring them to do so. Never let up until they do so.

Belloc Answers His Critics

Chesterton wrote once, "Coincidences are spiritual puns." And by such a coincidence, I found this archived article from The Remnant, America's oldest Traditional Catholic bi-weekly newspaper.

It is an article written by Bruce J. Brommel, called "The Distributivism of Hilaire Belloc". This article points out several distortions of Belloc's thought and how he answers his critics. It is an outstanding work, and I commend it to you to read and comment.

Thank you.

DR Gaining More Readers - Slowly

According to the influential website ranking source Alexa, this tiny weblog is increasing in readership.

On the Alexa scale, the smaller your number, the larger your reach and influence. As of today, we rank 3, 640, 138th on their scale. So we are nowhere near the Top 100,000, which gets daily tracking. Maybe we will never reach it at all. God's Holy Will be done in any case.

But as of today, May 16th, in the last three months - thanks to you reading us and telling others about us - we are up in the ranks by over 1.4 million in the last three months!

Please keep up the good work informing folks about us and Distributism as a whole.

And please keep praying for us at the DR. Thank you so very much.

"Real Wealth Society" Take on Dollar Meltdown

This link is to the blog of the Real Wealth Society, posted on May 13th. It has several links to reports on how bad things are economically worldwide. Not just America, but Japan, Zimbabwe and other places.

Neither Capitalism, nor Socialism, Communism or Fascism will pull our fannies out of the fire. It is a mass returning to Our Lord and implementing the insights of the co-founders of Distributism that will ensure a return to sanity.

We ignore or discard it to our peril.

Batten Down the Hatches

This information, posted May 13th, comes from Mike Whitney of the alternative news website Information Clearing House.

As Whitney said about the dollar, "It’s like watching the blood ooze from a hemophiliac."

As we've said in the past, it is necessary to get out of debt as quickly as possible. Inform people about Distributism, and implement it as best as you can in your neighborhoods. And pray, pray, pray as hard as you can.

Haiti's Parliament Meets

This report, written by Stevenson Jacobs for the pro-globalist Associated Press, was posted in The State, one of South Carolina's biggest newspapers.

The Haitian Parliament has met for the first time in two years. Rene Preval, former president of the country and re-elected to run it again, has his hands full. His party is in the minority. Many allies of former president and Marxist Aristide stil have influence and want their exiled leader returned. And Haiti is one of the poorest countries in the world, as well as having one of the most chaotic and violent of histories.

This area, like so many others in the Third World, can benefit from learning about Distributism and applying it's principles to their country. Promoting de-centralized government, as well as small businesses and worker-owned and managed co-ops, will only benefit their people in the long run. Staying out of the UN and WTO will keep them from the dark designs of both the multinational conglomerates and global government fanatics. Protecting and nourishing a social order that treasures the traditional and extended family, as well as fighting the Sexual Revolution, will help to stabilize Haiti.

A more stable Haiti can only benefit the Caribbean. If they learn of and practice Distributism, it can only strengthen that sad nation in the long run. Pray for Haiti.

The G-7 And America's Future

This essay, originally posted on the neo-Gnostic and New Age alternative news website Rumor Mill News, is written by Robert Chapman of the financial newsletter The International Forecaster.

The G-7 Group of Nations have their place in the tale of woe that is America's current financial state. Mr. Chapman points this out in detail.

Yes, this is the third brief report in a row on America's economic predicament posted today. This is only to give you all a sense of urgency in how late the hour is for the average American to get out of personal debt and promote Distributism where they live. We cannot afford to be lax in this.

And for foreign readers of the DR, we encourage you to do likewise where you are. All the world is in this together, whether we wish it or no.

Thank you all for your patience and kindness.

The Dollar Doldrums and You

As also reported today on the controversial news website Rense.com, this article from Kitco Bullion Dealers gives further background on our earlier report on the US dollar's woes in Asia.

Let this further spur our efforts to get ut of debt QUICKLY! As well as inform people about the way out of these economic turmoils -- Distributism.

Will Asia Dump the Dollar?

This opinion column, dated May 8th, is written by columnisy Andy Mukherjee for the globalist financial website Bloomberg.com

According to Mukherjee, at a meeting of financial ministers in Hyderabad, India, the Red Chinese are preparing - possibly along with other governments - to no longer anchor their currencies on the US dollar. They may start anchoring it on a proposed "Asian Currency Unit", which sounds similar to plans the notorious Trilateral Commission proposed decades ago.

If acted on, according to Mukherjee's column, the American dollar would drop in value by 25 percent.

How will this affect the average American? Red China and Japan hold a vast amount, if not the majority of American government debt. If they call in their notes, or peg their currencies to something else, the dollar loses value. That, in turn, will affect everything from interest rates to prices on all our daily necessities.

What should we do? As a government, we must cut spending. Not the rate of spending, but spending, PERIOD! Then cut wasteful government bureaucracies, keeping those most needed to keep things going and keep a check on big business and big banks.

What should we do as individuals? Permit me to put this in bold type -- GET OUT OF ALL DEBT AS QUICKLY AS YOU CAN!!!

For excellent advice on how to do so - although from a capitalist bent - I suggest the website of national financial expert and commentator Dave Ramsey. He has been on national television warning folks about the perils of debt, and has even been featured on 60 Minutes. Please go here for the relevant information.

And above all, pray and work to inform your neighbors about Distributism, wherever you read this weblog. And thank you.

UAE Co-ops Forge Ahead

This article, dated May 5th, is written by Amira Agarib for the United Arab Emirates (UAE)-based newspaper Khaleej Times.

The capital city of Dubai celebrated it's 11th annual Cooperative Shopping Festival. The Chairman of the nation's Consumer Cooperative Union called for co-ops to, according to the report, "keep pace with globalisation and capitalise on the advantages of e-commerce."

Furthermore, the Chairman - Dr. Suleiman Al Jassim - reminded all that the yearly festival was held to "spread awareness about the cooperative movement in the country, protect the consumer from inflation and substandard products and display quality products of choice under one roof."

Wouldn't it be wonderful if ALL nations have this fundamental part of a Distributist society supported this well as it is in the UAE. It also keeps the nation's economy de-centralized and lessens the risk of terrorist activity by keeping economic and political bad times to a minimum.

Congratulations to the UAE for continuing to improve your country and working toward a Distributist future.

Hooker Scandal in Catalonia

This report, dated May 5th, comes to us from the Times of India.

According to the Spanish newspaper El Pais, the northeastern state of Catalonia is proposing that the prostitutes in their region form "sex worker co-operatives". The ostensible reasons for this proposal, which must receive the approval of the state's parliament, was to reduce disease among so-called "sex workers", control prices for their "services", be free from control by criminal gangs and pimps, and regulate both brothel size and working hours.

This is horrifying, to say the least.

We reported on a similar deal in the works coming to the Boston area back in late August of 2004. It was for the proposal for a "sex toy" shop in this area to not only unionize, but become a worker-owned co-op. Now a Spanish regional government wants to go a step further and encourage "hooker co-ops" amongst themselves?

Along with this plan being immoral in itself in the eyes of Almighty God and His Divine Law, this degrades sexual purity and keeps these women within the prison of being sex objects.

That is - in it's essence - treated as things, not women.

This is all the more reason why Distributism must continue the global fight against the Sexual Revolution in all of it's variants, no matter how long it takes.

Such a proposal to the Catalonian government must be nipped in the bud and soon. We encourage any Spanish DR readers to take action to keep such a proposal from becoming law.

Co-ops Eye Filipino Financials

This report, dated May 8th, is written by Edison D. Ong for the Manila Bulletin Online.

Zoili Jesus dela Cruz III, president and CEO of Infoserve - a Filipino banking software company - boldly stated that "cooperatives are more stable than banks". One reason why he states this is that "management’s accountability to cooperative members is taken seriously".

High praise indeed.

Financial cooperatives are more oriented toward the rural and small business sectors in the Philippines. They should be able to reach out also to the urban markets, making themselves more attractive to both the individual person and businesses alike. Distributists in that country - and throughout Asia - should be encouraged by such positive news about financial co-ops.

Little Town's Fight Vs. Wal-Mart

This article, dated May 5th, is by columnist Ted Twietmeyer of the controversial news website Rense.com.

This story about the citizens of Lima, New York fighting against a proposed Wal-Mart store set up near them is heartening. More folks - whether Left, Center or Right - are getting more involved in keeping this colossus from destroying their neighborhoods and small businesses. Fighting the chain stores is a major task in helping America become, of it's own free will, a Distributist State.

If any of our readers know those fighting Wal-Mart in that area, let them know we at the DR back them to the hilt. And we will pray for them all.

Bahamas Looking Toward Green Energy

This report, dated May 2nd, is written by Stephen Gay for The Bahama Journal.

The Caribbean nation's energy leader BEC is looking into alternative energy to help meet the increasing demand on her electricity supplies. They are "looking into" using solar and wind power to help with the demand.

Frankly, instead of "looking into it", they should be doing it. De-centralizing production of energy, reducing demand of oil and gas, energy conservation and development of so-called "free energy" sources discovered by inventors like Nikola Tesla can only help the Bahamas get the energy it needs.

Increasing energy independence fits in well in the Distributist view of things. Congratulations to the Bahamas on a good job so far and continued success in the future.

Abortion Vote in Nicaragua

This report, posted April 28th, is written by Gudrun Schultz for Life Site News.

Once again, the forces of the Culture of Death are trying to force Third World nations to legalize killing their unborn children for the sake of sexual anarchy. Nicaragua, which has an election coming up later this year, has enough problems to deal with. It doesn't need the spectre of her future citizens being murdered for the sake of the Sexual Revolution.

Let their country's National Assembly vote NO! to legalizing abortion. Do not repeat the folly that America, Russia, China, Britain, France and other countries have done. Cling to Christ and protect the unborn from harm. Down with the Sexual Revolution!

The End Of Blogging?

This article, dated May 2nd, is written by Steve Watson of the alternative news website Infowars.

If what Mr. Watson wrote is correct and verifiable, then these proposed laws in the US Congress must be stopped cold NOW! Those who rule us in the American government - the majority of DR readers are American - seem to be hell-bent on tracking us like cattle. They don't want Americans to wake up to how BOTH Big Government and Big Business are co-operating to keep us dumb, in debt and under their thumb.

But all is not lost, and to despair is to sin against God's Mercy. Continue to contact both your Representatives and Senators. Continue to warn your friends who are Internet-savvy to do likewise. Don't stop telling people on what the congress is doing to destroy our access to unfiltered (by them) news and opinions. Never give up ever!

Remember what Chesterton wrote in his classic work Orthodoxy:

"Hope means hoping when things are hopeless, or it is no virtue at all. And faith mean believing the incredible, or it is no virtue at all."

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