| Title | : | 1913 |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | - |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9780985338763 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 208 |
| Publication | : | First published January 1, 2012 |
1913 Reviews
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Yet another amazing book by Oliver DeMille. DeMille is so obviously keyed into his purpose, and his years and years of intense preparation, study, and experience allow him to deliver the message of liberty with clarity and accuracy.
The most important point I took from this book is that freedom can only exist when the people care enough to study out the issues and remain vigilant. DeMille writes:
"Another simple reality is this: When people lose their freedoms in such a system, it is always the people, not the system, which have failed. The people have all the power, but they must choose to exercise it."
DeMille explains three major events that occurred in 1913 that derailed America from its foundation of liberty. These are the creation of the Federal reserve and the passing of the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Amendments. These were followed by the ruling of United States v. Butler in 1936 which lambasted constitutional limitations on the federal government.
It is essential that we understand why these events are so damaging to freedom and prosperity, but I'll direct you to the book to learn more. Do yourself a favor and read this book. It is such a pleasure to learn from Oliver DeMille, because he will never stop with identifying the problems. He always offers solutions.
In 1913, DeMille builds on the ideas he wrote about in his book FreedomShift. (Also a must read for anyone concerned with liberty and government.) In short, there must be an increase in entrepreneurship, self-directed education including voracious reading, and community building that participates in leadership development. Without these changes, the American legacy of liberty and prosperity will continue to erode. -
Educational and well organized, like all of Oliver's teachings. Inspiring and practical.
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We often hear or read statements like "Freedom isn't free" or "We are losing our freedom." These comments are often made in articles or discussions about people serving in the military. We understand the price these brave individuals have paid. Sadly, their efforts and our consciousness of the problem have been directed by our politicians and the mainstream media toward external threats, some of which are very real. But external threats, as bad as they are, may not be the most serious attack on our freedom. Internal threats—championed by our own leaders and presented to the citizens as rights that everyone should have—pose a bigger threat to our freedoms than the external threats. Why? Because these threats come in the form of changes to the structure of the government set up by the founding fathers; they come as new laws of the land. In 1913, Oliver DeMille clearly explains how changes to the Constitution—in the form of the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Amendments, the formation of the Federal Reserve, and a Supreme Court decision in United States v. Butler in 1936 destroyed many of the checks and balances set up by the Constitution to keep the federal government under control. Few understand the connection between these events and the current condition of our federal government, but many now see that our government is out of control and dysfunctional. This is an excellent book; it helps identify how our freedoms are being taken from us. You may not agree with or believe everything DeMille says, that isn't the point. What we need, and we need it now, is people who are willing to study and think about the status of freedom in the United States. This book will give you things to think about.
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Displaying an exhaustive knowledge of his subject, Oliver DeMille details four specific events in American constitutional history that have led to the serious erosion of freedom throughout the past century. More importantly, he provides clear, concrete, and feasible action steps common citizens can take to restore our freedoms.
The subject matter is timely and vital. DeMille’s insights are piercing and original. In an era of vitriolic and shallow talk-show pundits, his focus on deep, root solutions is refreshing. His ability to connect the dots between these esoteric events and the effects they have on everyday freedom is masterful. Readers will understand in detail where America went wrong, and what must happen to fix our nation.
Perhaps the greatest strength of the book is how it bridges the gap between purely “academic” theory and concrete, practical action. It shows how these vital principles apply not just to politicians, policymakers, academics, and think tanks, but to common business owners, mothers, fathers, citizens. -
A powerful and well-written narrative of four events that changed the course of freedom in our country, a warning that we will face similar turning points in the near future, and an invitation to be among the vital few who will help turn us back towards freedom.
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1913 is the year that changed everything for the US:
1) The Sixteenth Amendment (federal income tax)
2) The Seventeenth Amendment (direct election of US Senators)
3) The Federal Reserve Act
The Sixteenth Amendment: Before this amendment, the government got a large portion of its tax money directly from the state governments as outlined in the constitution. Now the states are dependent on Washington for much of their funding. Hamilton himself argued that it is fine for the federal government to assess direct taxes on the state governments, but not on individuals or businesses. We have seen examples of direct taxing from Scotland vs Ireland.
The Seventeenth Amendment: Before this amendment, according to the constitution, senators were selected from each state according to the direction of the state legislature. Once it was implemented, senators were elected by popular vote within the states. States lost their control over the Senate and natural check on spending disappeared.
The Federal Reserve Act: Secretary of Treasury Hamilton initially pushed for a national bank in 1790 to serve as an emergency measure to assure foreign nations and investors that the US economy is stable. This bank came handy to loan money to the government at low interest rates in times of war and economic challenge. However, these problems could have been addressed without a national bank simply by requiring all currencies to be redeemable in gold or silver.
16th amendment allowed congress to get more money directly from people without consent of the states. the 17th amendment removed the naturally frugal tendency of the senate and led to increased spending. And finally, creation of the Fed gave Congress a more efficient mechanism to borrow, print, and spend greater amounts of money as it deemed desirable.
There are three solutions to these problems:
1) Entrepreneurship: America has overcome numerous national challenges since its inception. Many of entrepreneurs used these times as opportunities for growth. This is due to unconquerable enterprising spirit of the entrepreneurs and the way free government has unleashed human initiative, ingenuity, innovation, resiliency, tenacity, virtue, and drive. By creating new businesses and jobs, entrepreneurship leads to an increase in gross national product and per capita income. They identify market opportunities, develop new products and services, and create value that spurs economic activity. They are often key drivers of economic progress and development.
2) Voracious readers and independent thinkers: A significant part of the problem is that for at least three generations, young Americans have been taught to leave governance to the experts. We need to regain our freedoms and culture of prosperity. Our textbooks are dumbed down and in schools we are teaching our kids "mindless obedience to Officials". We need to be citizens that "understand" what is happening, "read and think" in the tradition of the American founding generations.
3) Tribal Leaders: The true freedom system includes establishing as the most basic unit of society — next to the family — small government councils that are small enough to include all adults in the decision-making meetings for major choices…These councils make decision by majority vote after open discussion. They also appoint mayors/chiefs, law enforcement leaders, judges, and other personnel. All of these officials report directly to the full council of all adults and can be removed by the council. Our federal and state governments can only be successful if we have active participation by the adults at the local level. -
Exceptional and should be a classroom book for every high school and college kid In America. Put on your Must-read list. Oliver is a captivating speaker. Know your history and what has changed our freedom in the past 100 years and what absolutely must happen to get it back.
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I really liked the quotes he gave from a president that is not well know in history but was fighting for the things that are mentioned in this book
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Oliver DeMille is an amazing thinker. I've read two of his books now and found that he inspires me to do better in my life and to teach my children all the things that they might be missing out on. Not that I don't already try to do that, I just never thought of focusing on the history of the things before.
This was an amazing book. The back of the book is a great teaser for what's inside, "Three critical events in 1913, followed by a corresponding event in 1936, together struck a resounding blow to America's freedom. In fact, they triggered the greatest Turning Point away from freedom in modern times. What were these dangerous events? Why do so few American citizens know about them - especially since they dramatically and negatively impact every detail of their lives? Most importantly, how can their effects be reversed and freedom restored?"
Doesn't that just make you want to pick up the book and see what you've been missing and what you could be working at harder to make this country better? I know I did. I also knew that I enjoyed Mr. DeMille's style, so there was no downside to taking on this book.
I forced myself to read it in small chunks so that I could digest all that he says. It was really the only way to read it because there is so much information.
I enjoyed learning that all the branches of government except the Supreme Court could be checked by others and that Jefferson tried enacting an amendment to fix this but it was never adopted so the Supreme Court continues to consider itself above the other branches of government. Also, that the common people used to follow the Supreme Court's cases. I don't remember the last case I heard about which tells me that I am lacking in important information because I hope they are not getting paid just to sit around and wait for a case. I need to get more informed.
I enjoyed learning that since 1936, twelve of the thirteen US presidents have drastically increased US spending over the levels of their predecessors (the thirteenth tried but didn't succeed). And that of the thirteen presidents leading up to 1936, only four significantly increased US per capita budgetary spending. Looks like a case of one-up-manship to me. Or the greed finally set in. Makes me wonder when we'll get a president who will make sure that the government isn't paying inflated items just because they're the government and everyone wants something for nothing nowadays. It makes me wonder what I can do to stay informed on these matters. Mr DeMille says that you need to make sure to read the fine print in everything in-order to find out what it's all really about.
I loved this quote, "Where political freedom is concerned, inalienable rights and freedoms must be applied to everyone equally. This is the main purpose of government, and when it falls short of this (or tries to do much beyond protecting equal rights), freedom for all is decreased. History is absolutely clear on this point."
I loved this one too, "Only a few people got on the Mayflower, but this event changed the world forever. Only a few sailed with Columbus, or even knew of his journey. Only a few stood firmly for their religion while the roman soldiers herded them into arenas to be slain by lions. Only a few participated - both for and against - in the life, trial, and crucifixion of Jesus Christ." This summed it up that it won't take all of us to turn this country back around, just a dedicated few who are willing to educate themselves and teach others and take a chance on the unknown for a belief in something better.
Mr DeMille takes a moment in the book to touch on President Calvin Coolidge. He shares what a great thinker he was even if he is portrayed as weak in our textbooks. There are two quotes Mr DeMille shares that I think you may like.
First, "Individual initiative, in the long run, is a firmer reliance than bureaucratic supervision...We do no need more knowledge; we need more character. We do not need more government; we need more culture. We do not need more law; we need more religion. We do not need more of the things that are seen; we need more of the things that are unseen...If the foundation be firm, the superstructure will stand."
The second, "We have been successful beyond others in great commercial and industrial enterprises because we have been a people of vision. Our prosperity has resulted not by disregarding but by maintaining high ideals. Material resources do not, and cannot, stand alone; they are the product of spiritual resources."
These tell me that we need to inspire more dreaming and goal setting in our kids. Goal setting should be taught day one in school; what do the kids want to accomplish this year? We know what the teachers want to accomplish, but what about our kids. I bet if we asked them, they would be more excited about school, be more involved in their learning process and our schools would excel overall. Give them a reason to be there. It's not always fun working on other people's goals, but your own...that's a different story.
I loved Mr DeMille's definition of freedom. "Put simply, freedom means one has the ability to improve his situation in life - whatever it may be."
And the slap in the face excerpt: "When people lose their freedoms in such a system, it is always the people, not the system, which have failed. The people have all the power, but they must choose to exercise it.
If the people understand freedom, read history and the Constitution and the great political and economic classics, and stay actively involved in maintaining their freedoms, the complex arrangement of constitutional freedoms will not fail."
Which tells me that I need to get out there and dig for information that I want to know. I need to stay informed on who is making decisions for me and what those decisions are. I can't blindly stand by the wayside and let those who are supposed to be more informed than me make all the decisions because by the looks of things, they aren't who they've been telling us they are.
We are all human and we are all programmed to look out for ourselves. We need to overcome that and start thinking about our communities. The people we interact with every day, what impact do we have on their lives and them on ours and how can we improve the interaction in-order to begin the shift towards more freedom. If we start caring for each other, we won't want to rely on the government so much. We'd rather receive from those we know instead of those who say they have our best interest at heart....because they are only human after all. -
Very informative read about four very specific events in history that changed the trajectory of our freedom. The first half of the book explained the history very well. The second half gave much needed suggestions on action steps to preserve the freedom we love and are losing.
Particularly in the 2nd half I would have liked to have seen more specifics to back up statements I found to be rather broad and unproven. Even references to articles etc to further explain the author's claims would have been helpful.
Random flipped-to example from one of my many margin notes where I'm seeking clarification, specifcs, evidence or references to prove the author's claim: "Sometimes, even when such things are taken out of legislation by our representatives, the agencies which implement these laws simply write them back into their operating policies and enforce them anyway -even though they are not technically law." No specifics are ever given to support this claim.
I don't actually doubt this is factual. It's the type of thing I can see happening, but I expect the author to support his/her points with evidence. I found the 2nd half of the book lacking in this regard.
Still, worth the read. Has an optimistic tone and is helpful to understand both the history and the way forward (although the author seems a bit more optimistic about the future of our freedoms than I am). -
A great introduction to the three pivotal events of 1913: The 16th Amendment (Which allowed for direct taxation of the individual by the Federal Government. i.e. Federal Income Tax), the 17th Amendment (Which destroyed State representation in the Senate by allowing direct election of the Senators; essentially now functioning as a secondary House of Representatives), the creation of the Federal Reserve in 1913 which has led to an ongoing debasement of currency (inflation and the decline of the US dollar). This is followed nearly 30 years later by a Supreme Court case in 1936 - United States v. Butler which led to an expansion of what Congress could spend taxable revenue on via the Commerce Clause.
This is a period of history that is rarely studied at the high school or the collegiate level, and yet the effects of that period still resonate and directly effect us today.
If you are not already familiar with what happened in 1913, I'd highly recommend this book as required reading, and then going and reading the actual documents cited. i.e. the 16th Amendment, the 17th Amendment, and the actual court document of United States v. Butler. -
A fantastic primer on freedom in the U.S.A. and the world. since growing up listening to my dad lecture me and my siblings on finance and political science- or more on the principles behind them, I thought I had a strong foundation. I expected this book to be mostly about the Federal Reserve Bank. I was surprised to learn about 3 other simultaneous events- passage of the 16th and 17th amendments, and the United States v. Butler case. I found his formula for reclaiming freedom sound, and within reach of any american, though certainly not convenient. Lastly, I loved how the book references many great books on related topics from Aristotle to modern day, and am looking forward to picking these books up soon.
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This book talks about three events in 1913 and one in 1936 that decreased freedom in the U.S. It talks about all the things that can take away freedom and how we as individuals can help stop it. It gave some pretty good council like: getting involved in your city council and creating your own entrepreneurial community. This book also impressed me on how important the States are but that their rights have been reduced in the past decade. This book has inspired me to read the Constitution and become more familiar with it's fine print so I can know when our freedoms are being taken away.
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Let me get this out of the way first: he's not wrong.
He just presents the facts in such an overly simplified and superficial manner that it's difficult to take seriously. For example quotes are not cited in the text or in footnotes. He also makes broad and sweeping statements and jumps to conclusions. For the conclusions he draws, there is significantly little time spent showing the mental work used to draw them. -
This book opened my eyes and set me on a path to want to better understand our history, our culture, our government, where we are heading and what role I'm to play in influencing that future...
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Really great points, but DeMille focuses on these points in every chapter, opting to reinforce ideas through repetition. It starts creating an effect of déjà vu for the reader.
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I'm afraid I cannot do this book justice with a review. I am very thankful for the author's artful explanation of the Turning Points a hundred years ago that have led to our current debacle as a nation. I will never look at legislation the same again and feel inspired and motivated to read all historical documents and current laws. As a citizen, it is my duty to read and understand what is happening to and in our government.
DeMille explains four Turning Points that need to be reversed, giving us viable solutions to reverse the negative effects of the loss of freedoms we are experiencing from the Turning Points. While they seem easy on the surface, they will actually take effort of a great number of citizens all working towards reversing these negative trends. It is quite a paradigm shift to effectively change our thinking to embrace the solutions. Doable? Yes, but it will take a shift in thinking and tenacious focus on changing our present lethargy towards individual action.
My duty as a citizen is clear. I understand the need for change in the right direction. With the knowledge this book explains, it is difficult to turn one's back on the need to be actively pursuing to educate ourselves on the laws and what our government is doing, with our consent I might add. We elected them. We put them in office. We are responsible. -
I know I'm pretty ignorant about US History. I know enough about the Founding Fathers and the beginning of this country that I have great admiration and gratitude for the life they set up for us. But when I read things they said, and the things they believed in, I find that we are so far from what the founders had intended or hoped for. Somehow, we really messed things up. I wondered where we went wrong. Was it a gradual decline, or did something big happen in the last two hundred years that got us so off track? When I heard Oliver DeMille speak, and read this book, 1913, I found the answers. 1913 is very clearly written so it is an easy read for those who aren't history or politic buffs. DeMille explains 4 events that happened (beginning in 1913) that led to this "worldshift" (in other words, what the heck went wrong). But that is only the first half of the book! The second half tells us what to do about it! That's what is different about DeMille from so many others who like to talk about politics. He doesn't just complain or blame, he gives real solutions! The second half gives 3 main solutions that each of us can do to turn this country around. I'd recommend this book to anyone.
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I really appreciated how easy it was to read, grasp the facts, and understand the underlying principles. In this book Oliver discusses the impact of three events that happened without much fanfare in 1913, and a fourth in 1936, that dramatically changed the course of freedom in America.
I believe anyone could read this book and understand it, regardless of their prior knowledge in history, political science, or civics. I also think everyone should read this book regardless of their level of interest in history or politics. As Oliver writes, it’s our duty as Free citizens to study and understand our government and its history. -
A very convicting read. It saddens me that many Americans will not read this book and those that do may just shrug off the need to change. Without a renewed mindset to diligently take steps to educate ourselves and our children on what freedom is and how to protect it; therefore instilling in them a responsibility to maintain those freedoms; I'm afraid we will continue to see our freedoms eroded as giants of power and nobility entertain themselves to death! Real solutions are in this book for the true patriots who will not go down without a fight!!
