posted
There's a little old man at a coin shop that I visit on occasion who has given me some sage advice over the years. Back when platinum was at $350 an ounce he told me to buy. That investment has payed off in a big way recently.
Once I asked the little old man what I should do when I had enough invested in precious metals (he's big on investing in things that you can hold and protect and control, as opposed to investing in numbers on a piece of paper). He responded by asking me: "do you own a place where people can assemble?"
I've thought about that over the years, not fully understanding what the little old man was talking about.
A couple of years ago a friend invited me to attend a gathering at somebody's house, and I went along. It turned out to be a gathering of polygamists and sympathizers. There must have been 70 people in that house. They had invited some religious speaker to come and address them. Now I'm no polygamist, but I thought it was cool that somebody had a house with a room large enough to host a gathering of that size.
Thinking back on that gathering, I realize that a house is probably a good place for a gathering of that type. No public school or church would be willing to host such a gathering, and few businesses with large meeting rooms would want to associate themselves with such a cause.
I am also aware that various groups within the gay community have gatherings in people's homes to discuss their issues and coordinate their efforts.
Suppose a religious issue or a government-related issue came up that you thought was important enough to call a meeting. Where would you host your meeting?
I've been thinking about the 1st amendment:
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
What good does it do us to have the right to assemble if we are denied a place to meet?
We think of investments in terms of wealth and possessions, but maybe there are things that we can invest in that secure our rights and ensure our well-being beyond what money and possessions provide.
An education comes immediately to mind as such an investment. What good does it do us to live in a country that promises equal opportunity to receive an education if we fail to get one?
Many believe that the Bill of Rights includes the right to own firearms. This is sometimes a touchy issue, but what good is that right if you chose not to own a firearm? In a more general sense, what good is the right to bear arms if we know nothing about organizing ourselves for our own defense?
What good is freedom of the press if you never read a newspaper?
What good is freedom of speech if you haven't gained the ability through practice of expressing yourself convincingly?
What good is the right to petition for redress if you know nothing about how your government operates?
Posts: 2655 | Registered: Feb 2004
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Many read newspapers, many express themselves convincingly, and many know how to far too effectivly manipulate the machinations of our government.
The beauty of the freedoms allowed in this country is that you have the freedom to do things only in preportion to your willingness to do them. If you want to be politcally active there are many paths to follow. If you want to read the newspaper you can choose whatever bias you want. There is no shortage of convincingly expressed viewpoints.
I do not imply there are no limitations to the ability one individual has to effect the national political climate. However there are some who have overcome them.
Even though others choose to live thier life associated with politics only fleetingly, they are active in religions, charites and other activities they find noble or worthy of thier time.
The opportunity to define our actions as we wish is the freedom spoken of in the bill of rights. The laws of our country define how we as a people state the acceptable boundries of individual action and the define the accountability we have as citizens.
Posts: 686 | Registered: Sep 2001
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posted
Is platinum floating at around 1000 an ounce now?
On topic: that old guy sounds awesome, and I completely believe in what you're saying. Very few people nowadays understand what rights we have been given and why, it's nice to see someone going back to the root of the thing.
Posts: 1156 | Registered: Jan 2004
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posted
Yeah, platinum is way up. It peaked at $1080 about five weeks ago.
I haven't seen my friend for awhile. I think he retired. He always had a sidearm strapped on, just like in the wild wild West.
Posts: 2655 | Registered: Feb 2004
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