“A well instructed people alone can be a permanently free people”

Let’s take for example a musing of grand latitude.

“A well instructed people alone can be a permanently free people” — James Madison.

James Madison as we all know in American History is one of our founding fathers of our constitution and 4th president of United States. He had major significant works as well as influence on American way of life during and past his time. How far exactly does his influence lead us into his future, not ours? His future may have been an honorable memory basked in American greatness and prosperity that today’s Americans, only know to a glimmer by his works and memoirs so far to say that lay Americans asked who he was, will not know only basked to there ignorance of mundane life. Were these people well instructed at one time? What happened?

To be well instructed is to be knowledgable in some way on topics of grand stature to oneself. It could be gunsmithing, reloading, penal law, cooking, word processing, English literature etc. Topics become such a “hobbistical,” desire they manifest in an obsession to a specific point of greatness and overwhelming urge to nauseating gnosis to others, but not too oneself. How do we become well instructed though? As discussed above, a desire must be cultivated that spurs an emotional response of positivity and creativity. Why an emotional response? We as humans are driven by emotional responses to situations. Liberals in media are often “triggered,” by topics of irritation that can provoke a response that is both deep in meaning and physically mannered. That is because that topic often talked poorly, or just mentioned excites their emotional connection that drives their mental hysteria on a subject, manifests their knowledge and spouts verbal conversation. If this were true, and often time it is, ego is also at play. Level of cultivation and control of such desires also controls one’s ego. if an ego is out of control and triggered, ego takes over and little knowledge is conveyed, often false. When ego is subdued by logical restraint and some stoic education, truths can be conveyed. A well structured dialectic discussion can commence. Whether triggered or not, point here to make is that well instructed is to have a desire of knowledge to learn a topic and retain it. Information Retention?

To be well instructed is to be also willing to retain that information. Without any retention, AKA Practice, is like purchasing an expensive plant, only to put it on a shelf and let it collect dust, never water it and allow it to dry up and perish. Only a desiccated husk is left over, a mere reminiscence of its once beautiful, lush, life. For that plant to continue to exist for long periods, it must be fertilized and watered often. This is same for a well instructed individual. Constant practice is needed for information retention. How come? why can’t humans just learn something and retain it without practice. If we look at human behavior, we often see those reasons. Unhealthy habits, Routine degradation, and deliberate ignorance manifesting in one’s life, subduing that cultivation of good practices leading to “Once well instructed to knowledgable.”

When James Madison mentioned “Well instructed people,” we can deduce that people in his view, obtained that knowledge and put that knowledge to constant practice without fear of prejudice. Does James Madison’s view of “Well instructed people,” exist today? In a majority, No. Only in a minority and where cases of specific topics exist is there well instructed people. Look at society, democracy, government and overall political upheaval in this world and draw your own conclusions. You will be astonished.

A permanently free people, what does that really mean? Free of suffering? Free of tyranny? Free from influences that cause a negative outcome? If we intertwine A well instructed people into this conversation we begin to understand that knowledge leads to freedom. Having that knowledge of some topic instill’s a right to freedom of negative aspects from that specific topic. Having a well rounded knowledge of computer science via a collegiate education leads to a better paying job, hobbies surrounding computers and most importantly influencing others to get a better eduction. Having well rounded knowledge about machinist type work leads to credibility in that field and more customers asking you to perform their needs for a product. This can eventually lead to “setting your own price,” for that work since your knowledge is sublime. Freedom from poverty is achieved. We can see with these few examples that a test of a “well instructed people,” leads to a “permanent free people” given proper circumstances.

Now, with James Madison’s meaning of his quote may have been intended for American Democracy, but it means so much more.