What We Gave UpDan and Sheila Gendron, Contributors We gave it up by encouraging the factories to leave America behind to set up in other countries with grand tax incentives for leaving their dedicated employees in the lurch. Gone are the venues of production that gave us a tangible way to dig ourselves out of any economic problem. We allowed it to slip through our fingers until it was no longer available when we needed it. We could have stopped it. We should have stopped it. America taught the world to be farmers. The great expanses of arable land within our borders fed many of the hungry of the world. Our reserves of gain kept us assured that we would not starve, and that we could afford to feed our families. But we gave it up. We gave it up by depleting our stockpiles to drive up prices. We gave it up by allowing big agribusiness to buy out the independent farmers and then pollute the soil as well as our bodies with genetically engineered, patented seeds, protected by the government who should be looking after the interests of the people, but dont. We could have stopped it. We should have stopped it. We gave it up by being contented to sit before the television for more hours than we speak with other humans each week. We gave it up by being contented to purchase the distractions, the toys that were dangled before us instead of carving out the spiritually fulfilling lives we can have. We gave it up by giving our children over to the public schools (read: training ground for future slaves) where they learn to repeat, not to think. (The point is not what you can remember its what you can DO with what you remember!) We could have stopped it. We should have stopped it. America taught the world freedom for the people. Generations of us grew up knowing that those around us, those who were in authority were limited in their power by a document cherished as the only governmental document that mentions happiness as a God-given right that says that we may speak, follow a religion, move about the country and in and out of it, publicly air our grievances and opinions and be secure in our homes and persons without fear of interference by the government. We were the shining example to the world that when given such freedoms a country flourishes by the works of its people. We became, as a country, rich in scientific knowledge, rich in the arts, rich in athletics. We also became rich in economy, which, unfortunately, took reign over all other riches. Will you give up your freedom next? Will you stop giving your opinion because someone may hear you say it and report you? Will you stand in line to be groped or shown naked for the privilege of boarding a plane or entering a prom, or walking through a mall, or driving down the highway, or.? Will you limit what you say in an email because you dont want to set off the NSAs email reader? Will you choose another religion because the one that feels right to you isnt on the approved list? Will you take the pharmaceuticals because natural remedies are outlawed? Will you eat the poisons because its against your town ordinances to have a garden in your own yard? Will you take the chip in order to buy or sell? Or will you say NO at any cost? Some things are worth standing up for. And will you take the best of whatever led us to this mess we are in today, throw away what has proven useless and add new ideas for the future? Its up to you. Its you who will be affected by the outcome either way. It wont help to say, We should have Read other articles by Dan and Sheila HERE. Dan Sheila are the authors of Surviving Survivalism How to Avoid Survivalism Culture Shock, and hosts of the free podcast, Still Surviving with Dan Sheila. For questions about space in their Intentional Survivalist Community or other survivalist issues, they can be reached at surviving@lavabit.com. linkwithin_text=Related Articles: 