Bubok

This book offers to the parent, teacher or high school student a basis for discussing and seeking valid, personal answers to questions, such as: What is more powerful, good or evil – and why? What are the risks in voting for the ‘lesser of two evils”? In what way are men equal, and in what way are they no? When is it useful to vote – and when not? What are the three kinds of human liberty – and what are their limits? Why doesn’t the use of free will  guarantee human liberty? If I can’t give myself authority to rule over you, is it possible to give it to another person, or to a group of people, so they can rule over you? What roll does the “consent of the governed” play in forming their government? Is the only power we can give to another person our obedience? Does authority depend upon a person, or upon the office of responsibility he occupies? What is “subsidiarity”, and why does it play such an important roll in preserving the balance of liberty in a society, or n a family? Why are justice and mercy two sides of the same coin? Who ends up with more freedom: a person who chooses to do what is wrong, or a person who refuses to do what is wrong? What is the “common Good”? Why is it not possible for a person to demand doing what is unjust as a “right”? What is the best way to establish justice within a society: by everyone demanding their “rights”, or by everyone fulfilling their responsibility? What are the three basic kinds of government, and what do they become when corrupted? What are the strong and weak points of a democracy? Is it possible for the arbitrary “will of the people” in a democracy to become as oppressive as the arbitrary rule of a dictator? What is the best possible relationship between “State and Church”, to obtain the “Common Good” of the governed? – – These, and many more subjects are covered in this book, with many examples high school students can easily understand.

The objective of this book is to root the basic principles presented in a student’s heart – not simply in his or her head. A suggestion for those using this book is to use it as a “basis for discussion”- encouraging students to look within themselves, and to feel free to bring out their own thoughts – and even to challenge these ideas as presented, if they believe they either have better ideas, or a better way to present these.

Note : This text is also available in a Spanish version called : “ La Cinta de Medir”.