Agreeing to participate in Robert Tucker’s Pacific Coast Futures Retreat in Santa Barbara has challenged me to explore some of the trends and forces that will influence America’s future. The most impactful forces that define periods in history are often not linear. They are cyclical, a tension of forces that force movement between two extremes. Defining such tensions and where we are on them can open us to opportunity and possibly save us from disasters of our own making. Here are ten tensions in play at this time in history:

Energy Scarcity or Energy Abundance: Affordable energy is needed for economies to prosper and citizens to reach their own potential. With the current administration’s rejection of fossil fuels and promotion of specific alternative energies, energy scarcity with its inflationary pressure is winning the day. Within the next ten years, increased use of nuclear energy, less restrictions on fossil fuels, and developments in fusion energy will help reestablish energy abundance.

Embracing Technological Innovation or Rejection of Technology: Rapid technological innovation and artificial intelligence (AI) have increased our dependence on devices to perform daily activities. This trend will increase with those rejecting such advances falling behind and limiting their employment opportunities. Today, embracing innovation is winning the future, but there are dangers on the horizon. Will the AI innovations we create eventually create machine cognition that becomes hard to control increasing resistance?.

Human Relationships or Virtual Reality: You don’t have to look far to see the preoccupation with smart phone interaction in place of actual social conversations. Expect that metaverse advances in the use and quality of virtual reality (VR) interaction and augmented reality (AR) headsets will become more intense and attractive. True relationships take time, can be frustrating, and are seldom as consistently satisfying. Sadly, pornography will likely be leading the way in driving the expansion of virtual reality. This powerful force will strike a blow at our social fabric and cohesion.

Government Dependence or Personal Responsibility: Biden’s administration has argued for guaranteed income and established more government entitlements. With a small Republican majority in the House and Biden’s veto power, more citizens remain dependent on the government, and those producing services and products face increased taxes. The conflicting draw of socialism and capitalism will always be with us, but free-enterprise capitalism will win the future on the basis of economic results.

Soft on Crime or Strong Enforcement: We’ve witnessed increased criticism of law enforcement abuse and growing demands to defund the police. Traditionally, one of the basic functions of a civil society is for authorities to hold people accountable for crimes and protect citizens and their property. Far too many district attorneys and politicians are refusing to prosecute criminals and are calling for gun control. With citizens feeling unsafe, guns and private security systems have proliferated. The growing call for stricter enforcement will continue to grow in response to the riots and increases in crime. Law and order is a winning campaign issue for 2024 and beyond.

Peace or War: The longing for peace and the reality of war have always been with us. With the proliferation of more powerful weapons, waging war is far more destructive. There is hope that diplomacy, global economic interdependence, and the resulting economic opportunity will be enough to maintain world peace and limit destructive conflict. Unfortunately, the existence of biological, nuclear, EMT weapons makes the likelihood of mutual destruction a frightening reality. The current open conflict in Ukraine gives war a scary advantage for the immediate future.

Out of Many One or Out of Many Tribes: The civil rights movement and the dream of Martin Luther King Jr. was to make our motto e pluribus unum, “out of many one,” a reality. Since that time there has been a strong focus and progress in eliminating racial bias. Recent societal forces have worked to divide citizens by skin color to justify ‘special interest” rewards for certain groups. A reaction to this new “tribal racism” is beginning to gain support and fuel a fight against special interest reparations for past racism. Expect a hard-fought resistance to reparations and a renewed call common rights and responsibilities for all citizens, no matter their age, gender, race, or ethnicity.

School Choice or Public Schools: After the poor performance and questionable indoctrination from public schools, there is a strong drive for school choice. Parents want more control over what schools children attend and what they are taught. With strong minority support, this is a trend that will win the day and result in a better education for our children.

Open Borders or Controlled Immigration: There is no question that we need more workers to continue to drive our economy. With the flow of drugs and illegal immigrants adversely impacting cities throughout the country, there is renewed interest in controlling our borders. Expect a resurgence in demands for secure borders, accountability for drug cartels, and increases in legal immigration.

Greed or Compassion: America has always supported individuals pursuing happiness and success, but it has valued others being able to do the same. A commitment to compassion supports benevolent self-interest where compassion for one’s fellow man is realized as the only way for all to thrive. Care for one’s community over selfishness will remain a strong force that should win the day in coming years.

Secular or Sacred: America has been a Judeo-Christian country that anchored its freedoms and future in the assurance of a loving God who cares about every individual and demands ethical behavior. Dostoevsky’s would observe, “If there is no God, everything is permissible.” Without faith, ethical absolutes are not shared. Although there’s been a decrease in church attendance, there seem to be signs of a spiritual revival. In tough times, people search for and depend on God. Expect a renewed focus on faith, ethics, and involvement in religious communities in the challenging times ahead.

At any given time, all of these tensions become forces that define what the future holds for countries and individuals. There are dangers ahead that must be managed, but tough times develop stronger citizens and demand more responsive politicians. Those who thrive in these times will do so by finding ways to tap and capitalize on the ascending forces impacting society. Thankfully for America, President Biden’s radical liberal changes have created strong counter forces that will result in a rejection of many unpopular changes and fuel a call for more conservative policies and priorities.

Purchase Dr. Paulson’s newly released ”Joy Comes with the Morning” course today! Get ready to enjoy the 31 short, recorded messages on your computer or smart phone. Each message is designed to expand and enhance your joy-filled faith experience whenever you need or want it. Visit tomeapp.com/joy to start bringing more Christian joy to your morning today. Contact him at [email protected]

With apologies to Matthew West and his Christian hit, Truth be Told, his lyrics could just as easily be adapted to fit many of our Washington politicians:

Truth be told
The truth is rarely told
Everything’s fine, yeah, it’s fine oh We’re fine, everything’s fine, but it’s not
DC’s broken
And when it’s out of control they say it’s under control but it’s not
And we know it
I don’t know why it’s so hard to admit it
When being honest is the only way to fix it

…So let the truth be told….

Political dialogue in America often lacks the clarity that makes a true discussion of issues even possible. A Generic Fallacy is when you reject any statement or position based on the source rather than the merits of the argument and supporting facts. If you even mention your source is from CNN, some conservatives reject it immediately. If Fox News, liberals often immediately discount the content.

That is why many appreciate Prager University for their thoughtful messages on the issues of our day. They provide invaluable content conservatives can use to make their case and a way for independents and liberals to better understand Republican views. Whether deepening your own understanding or sharing with others, here are some of the top issues and relevant Prager University messages worth viewing and discussing.

Freedom of speech is not freedom from speech. Just because someone’s comments offend you is not a reason to silence those comments. Greg Lukianoff – “Does Free Speech Offend You;” Seth Dillon on “The Moral Case for Mockery.”

Securing our Southern border and completing the wall is necessary. Our current “open border” is overwhelming border states and communities and flooding America with deadly drugs. Will Witt on “Who Cares about Illegal Immigration;” Reihan Salam on ”America Wants Legal Immigrants.”

Capitalizing on our rich supply of fossil fuels is critical to our economy. Limiting fossil fuel development in America while importing fossil fuels to meet our needs makes no sense and increases inflation. Alex Epstein on “Fossil Fuels Greener than You Think;” Alex Epstein on “Why You Should Love Fossil Fuel.”

Racism exists in all races and must be fought by all. Singling out one race and expecting them to pay reparations for past racism is another form of racism and only creates more racial animosity. Larry Elder on “Is America Racist?” Burgess Owens on “Why I Don’t Want and Don’t Deserve Reparations;” Derryck Green on “Who Are the Racists.”

Student loan forgiveness and rent control create more problems than they solve. Our culture is built on personal accountability. You make a loan; you pay it back. You rent an apartment or home; you pay the rent. Inez Stepman on “The Student Loan Forgiveness Scam;” Nicole Gelinas on “Why Rent Control Hurts Renters.”

Election reforms are necessary to ensure that only citizens vote. Same day voting, showing identification, and personally requesting a mail-in ballot when needed help limit voter fraud and help restore trust in our election results. Hans von Spakovsky on “The Georgia Reform Law Who Wants Fair Elections;” Eric Eggers on “Is Voter Fraud Real.”

Men and women are different. Calling yourself a man or a woman when you are not doesn’t change your sex no matter what pronouns you use. Selina Soule on “The End of Women’s Sports;” Sean McDowell on “Are Men and Women Different;” Ashley McGuire on “Gender Identity Why All the Confusion.”

Our energy crisis is fueling Inflation and the cost of everything we buy. The inflation that is destroying our middle class is being fueled by the limits on the fossil fuel necessary in driving our economy and producing many products. Alex Epstein on “The Real Climate Crisis;” Steve Forbes on “What Is Inflation?”

Government entitlements create dependence and stifle self-sufficiency. A free-enterprise economy requires that working pays better than staying dependent on government funds. Dinesh D’Souza on ”What Is Identity Socialism;” Lawrence Reed on “Was Jesus a Socialist;” Johan Norberg on “Milton Friedman No Free Lunch.”

It’s time for school choice by parents instead of maintaining a public school monopoly. Many of our public schools are not producing the results our children need. Allow parents to use public funds and pick the best public or private schools available. Corey DeAngelis on “Fund the Children Not the Schools;” Jill Simonian on “What Are Your Kids Learning in School.”

Higher taxes impact every income level. Increasing taxes on only the rich can limit the capital needed to fund innovation and is often passed on through higher costs for the products and services we buy. C. Bradley Thompson on ”Understanding Marxism from Each According to His Ability;” Daniel Hannan on “As the Rich Get Richer the Poor Get Richer.”

Unless nuclear energy is included, proposed wind and solar energy will never meet our demands. Most of our energy comes from fossil fuels, and most alternative energy sources are inadequate and impractical. Brian Gitt on “Confessions of an Environmentalist;” Mark Mills on “What’s Wrong with Wind and Solar;” Micheal Shellenberger on “Abundant Clean and Safe.”

Effective law enforcement is critical to our society in a time of increased crime. With crime on the rise, we need more police and sheriffs to protect our communities and arrest criminals. Hold abusive cops accountable and also honor those who serve us well. Rafael Mangual on “Fewer Penalties More Crime;” Heather Mac Donald on “Are the Police Racist;” Heather Mac Donald on ”Police Go Where the Crime Is.”

It’s been said that wise voices set you on the path to wiser choices. We can all thank Prager University for providing these invaluable five-minute messages. Consider making a donation in support. Even if you end up rejecting the opinions expressed, listening to different points of view helps deepen your understanding and sharpen your skills in countering those views.

Save this column for reference, share it with others, and let the wisdom shared add depth and a better understanding on the issues that matter most to our country.

Purchase Dr. Paulson’s newly released ”Joy Comes with the Morning” course today! Get ready to enjoy the 31 short, recorded messages on your computer or smart phone. Each message is designed to expand and enhance your joy-filled faith experience whenever you need or want it. Visit tomeapp.com/joy to start bringing more Christian joy to your morning today. Contact him at [email protected]