Things to Know About Politics

Politics, as articulated in the social sciences, often indulges itself in rhetoric and conceptual descriptions which lend themselves to abuse. At times this is intentional and practiced by charlatans, particularly those having attachments to illiberal causes. To preserve the integrity of language and concepts as it relates to, not just political science, but politics as a whole, this book seeks to offer clarity.

This collection of essays and articles on various political subjects, however, is not just descriptive. It does, undeniably, contain a bias which espouses political systems that place liberty as a primacy and embrace, as a matter of practice, notions of consensual government. It is, therefore, prescriptive as well. Believing that a self-governing republic legitimated by popular sovereignty is the best possible social arrangement, variables that lend support to the success of a constitutional republic that exercises democracy are outlined.

A transcendental belief order is important to form a society capable of living free and governing itself. Therefore, religion will be touched upon. A free enterprise economic system is understood as the best complement to democracy. Consequently, competitive capitalism underpinned with a democratic ethos is included. Works on liberticidal models such as Marxism and Fascism will forcibly be a part of the book. These variants of Socialism present the gravest internal danger to free societies and seek to extend despotic rule in places where they are in power.

A dictionary it is not. It does not purport to be all encompassing in its analysis, given the limited volume of the book. It does signal valuable nerve points that hope to serve on setting a path to greater civic formation. A free, democratic society requires a vigilant citizenry. Helping to ignite that spirit is the purpose of this work.