Introducing "The Bootlegger's Guide to Critical Thinking"
A Thought Outlaw's Handbook
The Bootlegger’s Guide to Critical Thinking is a serial work in progress with new posts added as they are completed. Once all of the contents are finally compiled, the entire work will be paywalled. But for now, you may have access to this work in progress. Follow this link to the Table of Contents for all the sequenced posts in order as they are added to the volume.
We invite your active interaction and input! Please help us deliver a better end product by offering suggestions and comments. Thank you!
"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards."
- Soren Kierkegaard
Greetings, existing and potential Fifty-two Seven Allies!
We are Bryan Hyde and Russell Anderson, and we are pleased you stopped by!
Turns out we have been on a soapbox lately.
We didn’t realize it at first.
The topic of critical thinking has been on our minds.
A few days ago, we independently posted two content pieces on critical thinking: "What Happened to the Skill of Critical Thinking?” and “The Case for Critical Thinking.”
We were visiting on a conference call the other day and realized we had been hammering away on critical thinking in other related posts lately.
Apparently, we are a couple of aging dogs chewing away on that same critical-thinking bone!
It turns out we can’t shake the idea there are a lot of unjustified grubby hands attempting to reach into each of our personal time and freedom accounts.
That thought has motivated us to delve deeper into a handful of related topics that stem from the skill of critical thinking, like freedom, personal sovereignty, and taking control of your future by actively creating a personal strategic plan to live your life your way.
After all, we all want to live life our way!
It's in our nature to live free from the unwanted influence of others. We have an inner desire to think for ourselves and then create and implement a life plan that works for us.
The ability to think critically is central to knowing how to secure that personal freedom.
People are intelligent and capable of greatness.
Humans are pre-disposed to be strategic creatures and are at the top of the food chain as a species for a good reason!
We can feed, clothe, house, and protect ourselves because we react instinctively. We can solve problems and learn from our mistakes. That collective wisdom has been added to and improved through the generations, culminating in the modern body of knowledge.
Yet, despite being our divinely appointed human superpower, critical thinking is often underutilized today. That essential life skill may even be dormant, residing only in the subconscious of many.
Being eaten by predators is a threat well in the past. Our daily needs and wants are more than satisfied. The most significant threats today come from our fellow man.
America has a long cultural history of logical thought, problem-solving, creative thinking, and building "get it done" solutions as a collective of free individuals. However, that culture has shifted today. Reasoned thought is a limited commodity in today's world.
Much of the logic employed is based on some arbitrary false premise. Yet, the solution is accepted as truth because the argument follows logic.
Yuck!
That is how opinion replaces truth, and the laws of science and nature end up being frustrated.
Conspiring men with clouded thinking have slowly yet surely nudged our modern society where incoherent public opinion and fake news take precedence over facts.
In the post ”What Happened to the Skill of Critical Thinking?”, a reference was made to a study on the status of critical thinking among the youngest generations.
The news could be more encouraging. If you missed it in the last post, here is a link to the Mindedge Critical Thinking Study.
We are surrounded by behavior that is nonsense.
Given even a little thought, we can recall numerous examples of weird behavior and thought patterns witnessed during the past months.
Along these lines, and in the spirit of sharing, here are some examples of disconnected thinking we have noticed:
Unyielding special interest groups proclaim their social agendas are based on science. But to me, this “science” resembles a form of mental illness rather than the traditional scientific method based on logic.
"Mostly peaceful" demonstrations where the perpetrators openly get away with looting, beatings, the destruction of private property, and even murder.
Mass shootings now occur way too often. Then, the reliable follow-up battle cry from mainstream news sources is always the same: inanimate objects kill and, therefore, must be banned. Meanwhile, little or no commentary is provided about the shooter or their background.
Irrational open rebellion opposing established scientific and natural laws regarding climate, biology, genetics, economics, and freedom.
Traditional news sources can no longer be trusted or accepted at face value.
After decades of positive progress, there is a rampant return to blatant racism.
A broken political system where statesmanship and compromise are non-existent and seems determined to destroy the Constitution of the United States and personal freedom worldwide.
Opposing viewpoints and reasonable questions are not respected but instead shouted down by shrill, hysterical voices directed toward the opposition intending to bully using shame and threats of economic, legal, or physical violence.
Civil leaders and experts in positions of authority demand compliance to their unexplained dictates simply because they say so.
A growing entitlement mentality that government entities and sovereign citizens must fulfill individual self-defined personal expectations and demands.
A reversal between the lines distinguishing good, evil, right, wrong, good guys, and terrorists.
Impatience is regularly manifested by road rage and malice between vendors and customers.
The current state of affairs is a reminder that critical thinking skills promote beneficial effects.
People exercising critical thinking skills tend to make decisions that lead to systemic satisfying results in their professional and personal lives. Those who choose based on facts rather than emotions enjoy favorable financial, mental, and health results.
Their life path can be filled with additional intended positive results and consequences over time.
But it is painfully apparent good thinking is different from what is happening. There has been a fundamental cultural change in how the younger generations think today. Or, we simply do not put the required effort into thinking.
Folks, we are being gaslit and divided by self-proclaimed "authorities!”
We cannot continue down this path thinking we can shout each other into agreeing with individual values and lifestyles. Shame, bullying, and physical violence are not uniting behaviors and will only continue to push us apart.
It is time to start thinking and being responsible for ourselves, just like in the "olden days!"
The Bootlegger’s Guide to Critical Thinking
The Driving Force
For our culture to survive, enough of us must come together and return to the basics of clear thinking and statesmanship. Only then will we turn the tide of thought oppression and reclaim natural law, the basis of our God-given freedom.
A Serial Work
In a nutshell, that is why we are driven to do this serial deep dive on the skill of critical thinking and related topics like freedom, personal sovereignty, and taking control of your future by actively creating a personal strategic plan to live your life your way.
In addition to other regular content posted on the Fifty-two Seven platform, you can expect to receive regular posts organized within the “Bootlegger’s Guide to Critical Thinking” volume.
We will explain that curious title as we move along through the series.
What to Expect and Look For
In the following weeks and possibly months, we will contribute content we each personally find interesting on various aspects of critical thinking.
Then, just like The Federalist Papers series, we will combine all those critical thinking essays into a single publication.
Okay, Okay. Don’t roll your eyes!
We admit we are no James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, or John Jay.
But we are a couple of guys who want to help younger generations revive the skills required to think clearly and discover real purpose in their life journey.
Good, Better, and Best Ways You Can Help
Good: Subscribe
A stable of loyal subscribers who read and support our work is the lifeblood of the Fifty-two Seven Alliance.
All of us benefit by learning and honing our critical thinking skills.
We appreciate your subscribing and considering the content we post.
Better: Become a Critical Thought Ally
We are looking for more than passive subscribers.
We are soliciting allies willing to lock arms with us and create a renaissance of critical thinking skills in our culture.
Best: Rise to the Challenge of Leading Your Own Following in Mastering Critical Thought
Actively share your knowledge and insight as we strive to improve critical thinking skills. Let your voice be heard within our community and among your society of family, friends, and associates.
Let’s Get Started!
To kick things off, we shout, “Wake up that thought gene dozing on our chromosomes and regularly exercise your human critical thinking ability! This life is yours to live according to your moral imperative and plan! That state of mind and agency is called freedom.”
Living your life your way in love and peace defines our purpose here at the Fifty-two Seven Alliance.
That is our movement.
There is more to come!
If any of this resonates with you, be sure to stay tuned and check out the coming content we post on the topic of critical thinking.
Mindset Shift #1: The Ability to Think Critically resides In Your Human Genetics.
Thanks for reading and thinking for yourself! Be sure to subscribe so you do not miss out on future posts.
Bryan Hyde Russell Anderson
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P.S. Helping each other publish peace and tidings of great joy is a big part of what we hope to accomplish with the Fifty-two Seven Alliance. You are invited to join us in this endeavor when you are ready!
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You may also enjoy Latter-day Voices, another quality publication in the Fifty-two Seven Alliance family.
Interesting. I'll be watching -- critically, of course ;-) -- for the project installments.