The Drift to Totalitarianism
Posted by Orrin Woodward on January 22, 2013
LeaderShift by Orrin Woodward & Oliver DeMille
Earlier today, while writing on my corporate HR Toolbox blog, I read an extended quote from Gustav Cassel. His thoughts on the drift towards totalitarianism that every country experiences with the initiation of economic controls aligned perfectly with the Five Laws of Decline (FLD), which I first disclosed in my book RESOLVED: 13 Resolutions for LIFE. Indeed, every single human society has ultimately failed due to the unchecked effects of the FLD. The question of the century is: Will America follow in their footsteps by not addressing the debilitating effects of the FLD at work? LeaderShift, soon to be released by Hachette’s Business Plus division, is a business fable co-written with Oliver DeMille that teaches how to check the Five Laws of Decline by limiting government power and centralization. Any concerned citizen ought to study and learn how to check the FLD since they have been responsible for the decline in all human civilizations. This is what the LIFE business is: a community of concerned citizens. Here are several dictums of government from LeaderShift followed by Cassel’s extended quote.
Sincerely,
1. Government power must be checked by other powers, i.e., federal powers are checked by states, which are checked by localities.
2. Government taxation must be limited, or limited government is illusory.
3. Local leadership should solve local issues since local leaders are “boots on the ground” and have the most knowledge of the challenges and potential solutions.
4. Political leaders must learn how to balance budgets, or they are not leaders at all.
The most powerful brief statement of this interaction with which I am acquainted occurs in a lecture delivered by the eminent Swedish economist, the late Gustav Cassel. This was published in a pamphlet with the descriptive but rather cumbersome title: From Protectionism Through Planned Economy to Dictatorship.[1] I take the liberty of quoting an extensive passage from it:
The leadership of the state in economic affairs which advocates of Planned Economy want to establish is, as we have seen, necessarily connected with a bewildering mass of governmental interferences of a steadily cumulative nature. The arbitrariness, the mistakes and the inevitable contradictions of such policy will, as daily experience shows, only strengthen the demand for a more rational coordination of the different measures and, therefore, for unified leadership. For this reason Planned Economy will always tend to develop into Dictatorship.…
The existence of some sort of parliament is no guarantee against planned economy being developed into dictatorship. On the contrary, experience has shown that representative bodies are unable to fulfill all the multitudinous functions connected with economic leadership without becoming more and more involved in the struggle between competing interests, with the consequence of a moral decay ending in party — if not individual — corruption. Examples of such a degrading development are indeed in many countries accumulating at such a speed as must fill every honorable citizen with the gravest apprehensions as to the future of the representative system. But apart from that, this system cannot possibly be preserved, if parliaments are constantly over-worked by having to consider an infinite mass of the most intricate questions relating to private economy. The parliamentary system can be saved only by wise and deliberate restriction of the functions of parliaments.…
Economic dictatorship is much more dangerous than people believe. Once authoritative control has been established it will not always be possible to limit it to the economic domain. If we allow economic freedom and self-reliance to be destroyed, the powers standing for Liberty will have lost so much in strength that they will not be able to offer any effective resistance against a progressive extension of such destruction to constitutional and public life generally. And if this resistance is gradually given up—perhaps without people ever realizing what is actually going on—such fundamental values as personal liberty, freedom of thought and speech and independence of science are exposed to imminent danger. What stands to be lost is nothing less than the whole of that civilization that we have inherited from generations which once fought hard to lay its foundations and even gave their life for it.
68 Responses to “The Drift to Totalitarianism”
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Kyle Starr said
Can’t wait Orrin for your new book all valid great points well put together
Chris miller said
This is the best article to describe what is happening in America today. It is time for Americans to Wisen up and take the lead.
thanks for sharing Orrin
Joseph keller said
Thanks Orrin great blog informed decisions come from having the right information and being willing to act upon it. A small group can make a big difference while on its way to the masses and it all starts with one. Thanks
Chad Waters said
Joe in Canada you are doing just that!
Pat Edwards said
Orrin, Thank you for being you. I can’t wait for the new book. I hope and pray the decline is reversible and the shift towards freedom can be made. I know our children are counting on us to make that happen and they don’t even know it, they simply trust us to do the right thing. I will not be that Dad or Grandpa who has to apologize for doing nothing, I will be the one who says I gave it my all. Making a difference by changing lives present and future. That’s LIFE.
Orrin Woodward said
AMEN Pat!
Justin Stevens said
I wish everyone would read this along with Leadershift, and all of your and Mr DeMilles books. We would see a huge change if we all applied what we learned from those books and awesome leaders like you.
Larry Pahl said
Orrins leadership and insight is decades overdue. It’s definitely time for this insight and our collective efforts to distribute this message to all. If we are going to change this country and then the world we need to get it done. I too am looking forward to the release of “leadershift.”
Micah Kramer said
Orrin, excellent article. Can’t wait to get my hands on LeaderShift. There is so much excitement about this movement across the country. Thank you for all you do to change lives.
Sincerely,
Micah Kramer
Keith Sieracki said
Wow. What a “slippery slope” we are walking these days. I vow to do my part to learn, educate, and support those who believe in the freedom of America. Thanks for leading the way Orrin!
Tiffany Pakulski said
I can’t wait for this book to come out!! The impact that this is going to make will be HUGE. Thank you for your persistence and passion for making a difference in not only my life, but the country and soon to be the world.
Robby Palmer said
Wow, what time frame was cassell from? That was incredible. Amazing how some men, usually true students, can see these trigger points. We can do this America! We can make a stand, and we can Definately make a difference. The life business is set up to truly change the world. There are few thing in this world that are set up to drive a difference making community to greater and greater heights. Orrin Woodward and chris Brady are genius’s!
Peggi Kern said
Great blog Orrin! Thanks for always challenging me to think!
Mark haas said
Orrin, I really love these articles and can’t wait for that book. Thanks for giving us the LIfE business as a tool to get the message out. It takes courage to get on the field of influence. I know producing information is not enough. You have to be able to influence people with it. That’s where the work comes in and the verification of how important freedom is to someone. Thanks for being that kind of example – the kind willing to do the work of influence. http://Www.markhaasblog.com
Chad Waters said
Orrin I love this Blog!
Catherine & I are from Canada and do belong to the Life community and have been to your place. The principles you state out are the same with the Canadian economy too and I can t wait for the new book! 20 months ago we didn’t study economics and now its one of our main priorities!
See you in Ottawa at the thursday meeting!
Chad Waters
Orrin Woodward said
Chad, you said it! Unfortunately, the principles apply to all of Western Civilization and that is why freedom is at a low tide currently. We must change that! 🙂 thanks, Orrin
Bill Eder said
Orrin: Well said! I can’t wait to read and study “Leadershift.” Many more people would benefit if they adobt principles outlined in books you and Oliver have wrtten.The time is NOW for all of us learnand lead. Thanks so much.for being a leader who serves.
Chris Schill said
Orrin! So fired up for our cause and your book helping to move it forward!! The key point for me in Mr. Cassel’s quote “And if this resistance is gradually given up — perhaps without people ever realizing what is actually going on — such fundamental values as personal liberty, freedom of thought and speech and independence of science are exposed to imminent danger.”
Perhaps without people ever realizing what is actually going on!!!! That is what I love about LIFE. We go OUT every night to put truth into people’s lives so that they DO know. This is our calling, we were made for this purpose!
Thanks so much, let’s start the march to mainstream!
Chris
Chelsea said
This is such an important subject that tends to get swept under the rug by outlets in mainstream media. It is scary to think that our society has become so convoluted and misinformed. It is even scarier that people have tuned out the possible outcomes of their ignorance or the mentality that “it would never happen in this day and age”. The pioneers of America are probably turning in their graves as we speak! Keep fighting the good fight Orrin. Thank you for leading the charge! God bless you and the true cause! Thanks for the informative post!
Clint Fix said
I cannot wait for this book to come out! I don’t believe that it’s too late to turn our country around. There is a vacuum of leadership in our country and I’m proud to be associated with a group of people that are going to fill it. Thank you for leading the way Orrin!
chris volkmann said
So true can not wait for the book to come out and we need to start leading fast. Thanks for leading the charge.
Tim McNeil said
Orrin, what you and Mr Demille are doing for our Nation – our World is nothing less than Heroic! For my Father and Uncles whom fought against tyranny in WWII, and for my Friends, Cousins, and myself who have served either in VietNam or the Cold War, I salute You!
Erin Gilligan said
This is fantastic Orrin! It is a refreshing change to look to the true issues rather than listen to party rhetoric that will not address them. Thanks for leading! We cannot wait for the book. We are proud to lead and serve alongside you.
Wendi Witkowski said
How awesome to be part of a community that is taking a stand!
Richard Kroll Jr. said
Orrin, thank you for all that you are doing to create an “informed citizenry”! I am proud to be part of the LIFE business: a community of concerned citizens.
The difficulty lies in helping every citizen to understand not only the problems, but also the solutions. By you and Oliver breaking down the complex to the simple, it helps accomplish that.
Think how difficult it is to understand that because of our government’s involvement in local and private affairs, they have actually set up a self-propagating system of activity that will lead to a dictatorship- all because it is sincerely trying to “fix” an infinite mass of the most intricate questions and problems relating to private economy. Talk about a “Catch 22”!?!
I can’t wait for your new book. LeaderShift, to be released!
Gordon Goetsch said
Thank you Orrin for your diligence as a watchman on the walls of our troubled society. I cant wait for the book. Looks like its destined to ignite a revolution of the mind for sure!
Jason Fredrick said
Orrin
I can’t wait to read Leadershift. You, Oliver DeMille, and the LIFE founders are absolutely leading the charge towards our Great Awakening. I don’t hear anybody offering solutions, with their own action behind them, like the LIFE leaders. I think somewhere, in our society, we have forgotten that leadership is a verb.
Thank you for putting action behind your words. Thank you for having the courage to persevere and develop the greatest vehicle in the world for people to fulfill their God-given purpose.
God bless
Jason Fredrick
Chris Gornik said
This is the beginning of the end for the decline of our countries. God Bless America. Go LIFE and thank you Orrin.
Randy Robson said
Orrin first introduced me to the “Austrian School” of free market economics. Over the past 4 years, I’ve dove into so much from Mises, Hayek, Rothbard, Schiff, Woods, Bastiat, and more. It’s now one of my favorite topics, especially since it the most pivotal topic that effects all the others of liberty. I can’t wait for the new book. Orrin Woodward, Chris Brady, George Guzzardo, Claude Hamilton, Bill Lewis, Dan Hawkins, Wayne MacNamara, and Tim Marks have such great blogs! I love the information being taught in the LIFE business. Thank you!
David Bennett said
Absolutely the most succinct description of what we have going on here in the US, in Europe and the Middle East today. We live in interesting times. May we all survive it.
Rob Robson said
Ever since I started reading Orrin Woodward and Chris Brady’s blogs, as well as books like “Leadership and Liberty”, “Resolved”, “Rascal”, and “Launching a Leadership Revolution” my life’s purpose was revealed to me. I know that I was called to help restore liberty to America and then the world! I am so excited for “Leader Shift” to come out! Thanks for your leadership Orrin!!
J & P Harteis said
Orrin, we are so thankful that God put you into our lives & the lives of all of us associated with Team & LIFE! As parents & grandparents, if we just think of the problem, it becomes so overwhelming & downright scary! We need to shake ourselves from the lethargy & realize that we all are part of the solution. You can certainly not to this on your own! You are definitely the head of the spear, but it is our responsibility to add to the army of the willing! With God’s help & grace, we can make a diference! God bless!
Alaysha said
Another great blog Orrin! That is why we do what we do!
Jason Dames said
I cannot wait for this book to come out!!!! Thank u Orrin and God bless u!!!
Hilary Dorr said
Can’t wait for the new book!!
JeanetteP said
Orrin, I applaude you, the PC, Oliver and all other leaders in this great community for having the courage and tenacity to defend liberty and freedom! I do believe this association has been called “for such a time as this!”. God Bless!
Kevin Knuteson said
Orrin, my family is chomping at the bit to get our hands on your new book. We have already been promoting it inside as well as outside of our business lives. We appreciate so much everything you are doing for future generations. You are a GREAT American and a very selfless individual! We MUST become a self educated society, or the sentence is life. I’ve made a commitment to my family to do whatever it takes, for as long as it takes, to ensure our kids grow up in a free country. I look forward to learning more through recommended readings of yours as well as Steve Leurquin and Dan Hawkins.
Ann Sieg said
Orrin, this looks to be another great read. I’ll definitely be ordering you book asap once it’s released. I read “Resolved” two times through and likely will do the same with this one.
Charles-Edouard McIntyre said
Can’t wait to read the book! We need a Leadershift in Canada as well!
Cheryl Koziol said
Wow! This is so true! I can’t wait to see more eyes opened to the truth that the LIFE community makes readily available.
Alex Obiden said
That article was intense. I can’t wait to read this book, and get in action!
Scott Staley said
Great article Orrin! I’m so looking forward to your new book – cant wait to get it!
Larry Auman said
Great Blog Orrin. I can’t wait for the book to be released. As Chad stated earlier, I too have developed a keen interest in History and Economics over the last year and a half. It feels good to be able to begin to understand what’s happening, and to know we are being lead by someone who has our countries best interest at heart. Thanks for all you do. On to a million.
-Larry
Robert Daley said
Wow….. It sounds like this book is going to be one of our strongest arrows in our quiver to be used to win the fight of getting our country back ! I think we need to remind most of our country that the citizens are supposed have control of the government….. Not the government controlling the citizens. Sounds like this book is centered around the idea of ” WE THE PEOPLE ……. ”
Thank you Orrin for having the wisdom and strength to lead so many of us in this most important fight.
God bless
Gloria Phibbs said
Wow that is a frightening idea to have those fundamental values taken from us, while we ideally sit by and just let it happen.
Renee Oettinger said
Thank you Orrin for your dedication to improve so many lives from the information you share with us. I know many great changes, improvements, are happening in many families as they learn these principles. I cannot wait to be able to read Leadershift and share it with others. Making a difference does have an urgency
Steve Meixner said
Orrin, I am looking forward to buying many copies of this book. I want to get it into the hands of as many people as I can. I will do all I can to help you and Oliver get this Great Country back to where it is supposed to be. Back to where our Founding fathers wanted it!! I want my 3 Grandaughters, and future granchildren, to have the chance to grow old in a free country. I thank you, Oliver and the TEAM for all you do to help teach people to see just what is happening to our Great Country. I know that this book is going to open some eyes!!!! Thank You, Steve
Larry Allswede said
Orrin,
I cannot WAIT for this book to come out! I can’t wait to see the effects this book will have on the world at a time when everyone will be looking!
Thank you for your sacrifice and your forward-looking preparedness to make this book come to fruition. One thing you can never be accused of is providing your community the proper tools to win in life and in LIFE!
Honor. Valor. Humility.
Today’s The Day!!!
Josh Dames said
Orrin, there are many things I can say right now as I read these articles, but want to give you a personal thank you for holding the line on your charecter and always doing what you say you are goin to do!!! Our country is counting on us!!! God bless
Steve Duba said
Thanks O We have been given an opportunity today to truly make a difference.What we do with it will be our legacy.I thank
my Lord Jesus Christ for the gifts we have been given.Together we will turn this tide.I have the utmost confidence in our cause,
our purpose,and the battle ahead.We will be in it to the end with you,elbow to elbow,shoulder to shoulder in the cause of Freedom.
God Bless
Jill Heller said
Thanks Orrin and Oliver for this Long overdue book for our nation and Canada and more countries abroad! I believe this book is the tool and knowledge THAT WILL help change our country and our peoples way of thinking and with that…. Bring on Leadershift!….. Bring on The Leaders!….. Bring on a million people!!
Sherri Elenbaum said
Orrin, thank you for pointing out truth to read & helping us be able to listen to truth and most of all be able to associate with people who want truth in their lives as well as go share these truths with others to give them the opportunity to do the same. We ARE affecting each person we come in contact with. We are choosing to apply those truths in our lives and start to affect others positively with the truth! Thank you for taking the lead!
Tom & Sherri Elenbaum
Dan Schaenzer said
How often we hear in news or hear the common people complain or fear of what is coming. I love how the people are starting to wake up and realize it is us first that must change, then a family, town, city, state and then a country as a whole. I feel confident in knowing that first off, Our God sits on the throne, and that he has blessed us with such great leaders in a time like this, on top of that, this book come April will set the new pace for America’s restoration. Thank you Orrin and Oliver
bill lewis said
I was able to read a pre -release copy of LeaderShift and it is a guaranteed best seller. The book is set in a story format, which makes it a very easy read and the content is amazing. As I was reading the outline to fix the government I just kept thinking,”this will work!” If you have any interest in fixing our country this is a must read.
Rich said
Orrin, Thank you for your courageous leadership and for addressing these unpopular and very important subjects. You and this awesome Team of servant leaders has made a great difference in our lives! We are committed to the media war for the long hall, what ever it takes! God Bless!
Jonathan Brandenberger said
Cant wait for leadershift! A few months ago I read a book called Americas Providential History. My favorite read so far. It gives history on the developement of humanity and Christianity. And how all history shows an evident plan. Gods Plan. Best stated in Matthew 6: 9-13 The Lords Prayer. The latest and greatest developement was the first christian republic, America. Now, its either the end of the world(plan fullfilled) or freedom must go worldwide because God has a plan. A plan for His kingdom to come ad His will to be done in earth as it is in Heaven. So, Christians, lets take this freedom thing and take this world over for Him.
God Bless,
Jonny Brandenberger
Alison Ruhlman said
Can’t wait to read! Thanks for the LIFE business, thanks for the books you write and for what you and Laurie stand for! Can’t wait to lead along with you and the PC leaders and the RT leaders!
Jamie said
Wow! I wish most people would read this, your new book coming out as well as all of Oliver DeMille’s work. So much available to read to help fight off what you mention about. Thank you for all you do!
Kevin Hamm said
Orrin,
Excellent post! Next Monday I am speaking at the Wisconsin Arborist Association’s annual meeting. The topics are So You Want to Start a Business and the Mechanics of Business. Arboriculture is still an industry where the vast majority of the work is performed by small independents. Consequently, it is still possible to simply start a company,employ your skills and make a comfortable living as an independent. I will do my part with the influence God has given me to encourage those who would wish to start a company with words of affirmation that it is available to them and that society would be the better for it. Yes, much of what I have learned from you over the past five years will assist in these presentations, thank you. Interestingly, I bumped into one of my competitors yesterday and he made a sarcastic statement about how I was going to drive everybody out of business by sharing entrepreneurial secrets. He continued to say that laws should be created outlining mandatory licensing and qualifications to ensure that “unqualified” people don’t enter our dangerous profession. Just like electricians and other trades. By the way, it is nearly impossible, due to regulations, for even a master electrician to start a company. I thought to myself, “so you would climb a ladder and then collaborate with the government to remove that ladder so that others could not follow.” Either he will be educated next week, or he will be infuriated or both, but thanks to you, he and all of the others will hear a different way of thinking…FREEDOM thinking. Thanks Orrin
Greg Johnson said
Orrin,
I look forward to reading LeaderShift as there is no denying that without a shift in leadership, we will be another great society to fall and once again history will repeat itself.
Kim Decker said
Orrin,
I pray that this book gets into the hands of all americans and they realize what it really going on around us. Thank you for a heads up on the book.
Chris Olson said
Awesome insight and perspective.
Bob Rasmussen said
Wow! Talk about an accurate prediction or explanation of how things go when power is unchecked or ignored! Cant wait for the book!! God Bless!
SJ Barakony said
As always, a fantastic post that makes the reader think. Thank you for sharing your wisdom, intellect, & piercing historical insight w/ all of us, Orrin! Like many of the other commenters above, I, too, very much look forward to reading, sharing, & publicizing ‘LeaderShift’ with as many as I can. I’ve done essentially a full 180 on my views of politics in the West since I was first introduced to LIFE, and my mind has never been clearer; I thank you, George, Chris, & Oliver DeMille for this 🙂
Jim Martin said
Wow Orrin we are following the wrong part of history, thanks for bringing this information to light so more people can realize what’s happening today. We are really looking forward to this book coming out it will be a must read for my whole family. Glad to be in the battle with you.
Thanks,
Jim Martin
LT-IT
Angie Ballah said
So excited for Leader Shift to be released!!! I can’t wait to be able to spread this truth to everyone we come in contact with!
Brian Sommers said
I am chomping at the bit for the release of this book. We are so blessed to be fighting the fight with you and the rest of the PC and RT leaders. I can’t wait for the impact this book is going to have!
Tony DeLeon said
Excited to be a “boot on the ground” and have knowledge of the challenges and potential solutions. Let’s make the LeaderShift!