We talked yesterday about the manufactured America is going to the dogs narrative.
There seems to be an agenda in motion to convince us that everything is falling apart in this country. There was a time when I believed this. But not anymore…
My own observations suggest otherwise. We’re seeing a resurgence of self-reliance and self-responsibility in America once again.
I see homeschooling as a great indicator of this.
Not too long ago people considered homeschooling to be weird. Many looked down upon it.
Today it’s estimated that ten or eleven percent of American households with children are now homeschooling. Talk about a turn-around.
The Covid hysteria served as the catalyst for this rapid shift.
Of course, it started when they closed the schools and went to a “remote learning” model. This showed parents that their kids could in fact learn at home. It’s not hard to facilitate.
But more than that, parents finally got a glimpse of just how bad the public school system is.
In the best scenarios, the kids simply aren’t getting an education that’s suited for the modern world in which we live. The schools do not set kids up for success in the 21st century. They are a relic of the factory era.
In the worst scenarios, the teachers are pushing disturbing ideas onto the kids. Gender fluidity… the idea that all white people are systemically racist… a love of communism – I’ve heard stories of public school teachers pushing all these things and more on their students.
As a result, millions of families have taken their children’s education into their own hands. That’s the American spirit at work. I love it.
The other thing the Covid hysteria taught us is that we still retain a lot of power and control at both the state and local levels in this country. American federalism can still serve as a check against centralized government power… just as it was intended to do.
That is to say, we’ve learned that state and local governments still have a lot of control. They can refuse to adopt policies handed down from the federal government if they deem them harmful or unnecessary.
I’m incredibly encouraged by this. And I think it paves the way for a renewed sense of mutualism in this country.
Americans are seeing the need to work together to solve problems at the local level once again. Despite its promises, the federal government is not the ultimate arbiter of civilization.
And this is why I just don’t buy the America is falling apart narrative.
It looks to me like many Americans are willing to roll up their sleeves and work together to solve their own problems. Just like they used to do by default. We’ll talk about the great mutual aid networks of 19th century America tomorrow.
But I think the key insight here is that we, as individuals, have the power to shape the world around us.
Our energy is incredibly transformational when it’s focused on a clear and specific task. Clarity of purpose might be the most powerful force in the Universe.
That’s why I love the work Connor Boyack and the Tuttle Twins team is out there doing.
If you aren’t familiar with the Tuttle Twins, it’s a series of children’s books that convey critical lessons. Personal responsibility… accountability… mutual collaboration… empathy… standing up for what’s right. Each book portrays these values in some capacity.
What’s more, the Tuttle Twins books instill a mindset of self-empowerment. They depict individuals and communities that work together to solve problems and accomplish tasks. I think this is critical in our world today.
So for anyone in need of gift ideas for the kids or the grandkids – the Tuttle Twins books are a great pick. You can browse the book selection right here:
The Tuttle Twins Book Collection
-Joe Withrow