Special interests are deeply invested in people maintaining a menu of falsehoods and distortions in their worldviews. Untold trillions in wealth are at stake. Critical thinking and entry into certain paradigm shifts can rapidly expose such falsehoods.
It is therefore no surprise that in contrast to authentic learning today stands most of government-orchestrated, mass-produced “education.” This highly state-cartelized industry is dominated by the influence of state institutions which have inherent power-expanding, monopoly-preserving, and tax-consuming incentives. The resulting systems are brilliant successes for the cause of state-orchestrated exploitation of populations, but abysmal shackles from the standpoint of truth and human freedom. Our indoctrination begins at an age at which we lack the critical abilities we need to evaluate what we are taught.
Such institutions can clearly inhibit the discovery, development, and dissemination of truth, particularly in just those fields—especially economics and history—that are most potentially threatening to special interests. Thus, an approach to learning that operates entirely outside of this “education” system is part of what is needed to help move us closer to the truth.
Reforming such institutions and creating new ones may be laudable goals, but this site is primarily concerned with the best ways we can each learn now, regardless of the current state of educational institutions. Fortunately, tremendous progress can be made through a simple and ancient learning procedure that does not depend on participation in such institutions—reading books. Oh, but different books, different from the ones we have been assigned.