Today I am pulling back from the traditional Selling Point-type message that I usually post about in favor of exposing you to something I stumbled upon that I just feel compelled to share. Considering that you, as readers of this newsletter, are typically middle class, hardworking, freedom loving Americans who cherish their country and way of life; I feel you are as concerned as I am about the America our kids and grandkids will inherit.
What I’m sharing was written by William J.H. Boetcker (1873–1962), who was born in Germany but immigrated to the United States as a young man. He was ordained as a Presbyterian minister soon after his arrival in America and became known publicly for his eloquent and inspiring speaking style and content. Many consider him to be the forerunner for today’s motivational speakers and coaches.
In 1916, he produced from his lectures, a booklet of maxims, which eventually were codified and became known as the Ten Cannots. When I first read these I was shocked to see they were penned nearly 100 years ago, as they could have easily been written last month. In 1916 he published The Ten Cannots. They are often incorrectly attributed to Abraham Lincoln, but are Rev. Boetcker’s words. Every child in our American public school systems really need to be exposed to these pearls of wisdom.
These 10 Cannots are perfect examples that “there are no new ideas”, and they apply today at least as accurately as they did 99 years ago. They are not laws in the sense that they’ve been passed by a legislative body, but rather that they are laws of nature, common sense, and “how else could it be” type principles. Boetcker’s cannots are in bold, followed by my (Doug’s) personal comments in italics.
- You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift – Although this statement makes perfect sense, our own government continues to tax our savings plans, interest, and investments, thereby reducing our future retirement sum.
- You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong – This is a consummate socialist ploy we hear over and over. They push for not encouraging people to achieve, but rather drag the achievers down and spread the misery among everyone.
- You cannot help little men by tearing down big men – Our own president included the “You didn’t build that” statement into his speeches, while a large percentage of Americans disrespect “The evil 1%”. You know the drill, so I won’t waste your time reciting any more rhetoric.
- You cannot lift the wage earner by pulling down the wage payer – Capital goes where it is treated well. When job creators/wage payers are mistreated they take their money and their jobs elsewhere, often outside the USA.
- You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich – Although it sounds so simple the progressive populists continue to include this as part of their mantra and their politics.
- You cannot establish sound security on borrowed money – As a nation we have borrowed and owed over $10 trillion before the current administration took over in January 2009. When a new president takes office in January 2017 that debt will be over $19 trillion. That’s nearly as much new debt in 8 years as the previous 230 years. The Keynesian’s economic theory doesn’t work so well, does it?
- You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred – Making the rich into scapegoats for society’s ills unites the left. This group divides the country between rich and poor much more than they divide it between good and evil.
- You cannot keep out of trouble by spending more than you earn – In the second quarter of this year the government took in $1 trillion, but spent $1.2 trillion in 90 days! What does $1 trillion look like?
- You cannot build character and courage by destroying men’s initiative and independence – Although government statistics won’t admit this, almost 1/3 of our population is unemployed or underemployed, yet they all still live and eat due to a myriad of entitlements that are sapping their initiative.
- You cannot help permanently by doing for people what they can/should do for themselves – That natural human will to support themselves and their families, and to do for themselves is being bled out of us all by our own government’s uber-liberal policies.
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Virtually every blogger and newsletter writer is extremely light on content, producing incomplete postings, offered primarily as teasers to entice readers to buy their products and services. Don’t get me wrong, I too love for readers to purchase profitable materials and services from my site, but I’m also committed to producing meaty and complete newsletters (750-1000 words vs. the typical 300-400 words posted by others). From day one my goal was to offer posts worthy to be used as lesson plans for sales meetings. Why not do everybody a favor and expose my work to your friends and colleagues?
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