As we evolve intellectually we accumulate beliefs formed by impressions - some are physical such as an accident or giving birth, others are based on an event while still others are based on a history of events.

Most have to do with ourselves  and probably everything we do as humans can be traced to ourselves.

How we think.

Thinking forms opinions which aren't necessarily facts  - in truth they are rarely based on facts but an amalgamation of truth and lies.

The proportion of truth to lies has been shrinking but has never been all that great to begin with.

Teaching for me is an effort to reduce lies and the goal is 100% truth.

Science provides a path to achieving that goal - yet science rarely plays a role in our decisions.

Smoking is an example. Nicotine is an addiction many cannot kick. Still other younger more impressionable humans become hooked on "nicotine" for different reasons. In the end it is an addiction and nicotine is responsible.

I digressed to make a point about learning. Humans lack the self-control and the knowledge to respect nature. Externally we destroy nature in millions of ways everyday - and as for ourselves we consider it freedom to disregard what is best for others and me,me,me trumps common sense.

We can learn from the young and often if we pay attention they will teach us what we have long forgotten and they have yet to remember.

I once believed in Santa Klaus ... hopefully most have like me grown up believing in Santa Klaus.

Yet the world is vast and their are many cultures and societies and different forms of belief tracing back to the beginning.

We each are teachers despite what we don't know or what we believe that is not true.

Our first student is ourselves - not each other.

What I write on newsvine is meant to teach. My sole student is me.

The reactions I evoke from readers enlightens me and tests my beliefs. What I write or respond too are probing for answers.

Some of the questions I raise seem obvious to me and simple common sense. I am not any more enlightened than any other among us - although I have led a full life and am older than most here.

What I teach myself is based on empirical evidence  -the accumulation of events in my life and events that have surrounded my life.

Some I can recall  -  Kennedy's assassination, Nixon's disgrace, Clinton's humility, OJ Simpsons pardon, 911 putting a man human on the moon and recently the election of OUR President. There may be a few others if I pause to gather them up - but overall my beliefs in God and Country have been shredded over time.

I did not know then what I think I know now.

We all tend to view life based on what we want, what we have and what we once had.

Sadly the most valuable items are not of intrinsic material worth.

Our spirit, mind and inner most feelings are of most value to each of us.

Yet due to external influences we are distracted and forget what true value is.

Nature for example  - which is something I believe in and try to teach to all that will read what I write or hear what I say.

But first to myself always .... for what is of most value to me is learning.

And so we can each teach ourselves and what we learn we can impart to others to decide.

The important things in life are free .... NOT freedom created by laws.

The ability to walk and see and hear and feel and taste.

Most of us must struggle to acquire these inherent freedoms.

OUR ability to go where we may, hear and see the truth is hampered by society.

A society devised by others for all of us. Some will argue that those whom we appoint to represent us are merely

fulfilling our wishes and dreams.

Yet reality teaches us otherwise.

Education or the acquisition of knowledge is the single most important and single most divisive element that controls and manipulates and rewards and denies humankind.

Entire nations with overall inadequate education exist on earth.

America is one of them. Perhaps now 17th from being the best - but still even the best could be much better as should America should have been and once strived to be.

Over time success breeds complacency and sloth and a lack of universal purpose. Partisan wants replace idealism and what is good for humanity is displaced by what is good for individuals.

The difference is simple - humanity living free or humans having freedom allocated as defined by our captors.

These captors are governments and army's and law enforcement and ultimately each of us.

We are held captive by what we are taught. Education has been displaced by the media and what we now think we know and what we are taught is 100% media created and driven.

The media is one massive group of corporations.

Citizens united.

The new individuals whose rights are protected - the corporate personhood.

And so it behooves me to teach myself - by simply reminding myself 0f the difference between living free and freedom.

Freedom is NOT depending on mass media to determine what I believe or think.

The Supreme Court has said that the corporate owned, sponsored and managed media can lie to us, and they do.

The Supreme Court has said both that money represents a person and also that corporations are persons.

Most of us know that is false.

But what can we do about it?

We have a Government that is influenced by money. We have laws that allow money to influence those whom we elect to Government.

From this we can all teach ourselves something extremely important.

We are not being equally represented and counted as individuals when we vote. We think of ourselves as being part of homogenized ideologies that are constructed by just a few individuals like for example Dean and Rove.

But most of all there is a difference between living free and freedom. War is not a fight for freedom  - it is a fight for money using fear as an excuse. Food stamps do not take away freedom but allow us to live free of hunger. Health care is not Government control of our lives but allows us to live free of worry and fear.

Once we have each taught ourselves the difference between the conventional wisdom we have had crammed down our throats and the truth, we can all vote as individuals to correct our mistakes.

Live free or live for the freedom of those in control of our lives.