O Falcão Real
EUROPEAN EDITION - I
Note: This edition of O Falcão Real is the English version of the official weekly newspaper of the Kingdom of Hugoland. According to the rules of the Kingdom and of the Catholic Church, all the contributions to the newsletter are previously censured in order to preserve public order, morality and decency.
Featured Article
"Socialist social security systems: a fraud or a planned attack?"
by Dom Artur Vellozo, Duke of Bonfim and Minister of the Kingdom
The fate of many countries nowadays is decided - should we say sealed? - by their Social Security System. Few births, aging populations, historically low fertility rates, high divorce rates. Should we go further into the field of morality? Certainly, and so the disgrace continues: general rampant immorality, egocentrism, money-driven lives, etc. etc.
Why? Certainly, the loss of the true Faith is a factor. But the major weapon, the weapon of mass destruction of the pagan forces has been the Social Security System as we see it in many unfortunate countries.
The scheme runs like this: you contribute a certain percentage of your income during your active life, contribution which goes to a common basket to pay today's social costs: unemployment subsidies, retirement pensions, etc., and the State promisses to support you in unemployment, and, most importantly, in your retirement, which will be paid by the future workers.
This system might at first appeal, but it is in fact unsustainable, and not only that, but it destroys society. It is just a question of incentives: why to have many children, invest in their education, hope for their support in the future, if I can count on the future workers to support me?
Thus, I can lead an hedonist life, have one child - or none at all - and live with as many different "companions" (as they call them) as I wish. Why? Society will support me in my retirement days, right?
Alas! How difficult will be the adjustment of many people when they realize this is a fraud. As we said before, its just a question of incentives. When the majority follows the path we have described above, we can be sure that there won't be enough workers in the future to pay the benefits and the retirements of today's workers.
Of course, often immigration is suggested as the remedy for this problem. We have also seen how false a solution it is in recession-like economic environments. And, isn't a market with decreasing producers and consumers doomed to recession, sooner or later?
This leads us to the question: was this another marxist mistake, or a very intelligent and simple mechanism to destroy the Christian societies (providing incentive for birth control, abortion, divorce, immigration), much more efficient than speeches talking about dialectic materalism and simillar jargon?
Spiritual Article
"The Imitation of Christ", Book I, Chapter IV
Thomas à Kempis
DO NOT yield to every impulse and suggestion but consider things carefully and patiently in the light of God's will. For very often, sad to say, we are so weak that we believe and speak evil of others rather than good. Perfect men, however, do not readily believe every talebearer, because they know that human frailty is prone to evil and is likely to appear in speech.
Not to act rashly or to cling obstinately to one's opinion, not to believe everything people say or to spread abroad the gossip one has heard, is great wisdom.
Take counsel with a wise and conscientious man. Seek the advice of your betters in preference to following your own inclinations.
A good life makes a man wise according to God and gives him experience in many things, for the more humble he is and the more subject to God, the wiser and the more at peace he will be in all things.
This week's headlines
- Strawberry production declines 7% this year due to colder temperatures;
- Archbishop of New Mercoburg to chrism Her Royal Higness Princess Inês, Duchess of Porto, and five other children of the Royal Court next Wednesday in the Cathedral of New Mercoburg;
- As oil prices rise, horses are becoming an alternative;
- University of New Mercoburg to host the fith edition of the International Latin Summer University, where the participants are expected to speak and writte only in latin during two weeks.
Saint of the Day
St. James the Apostle, brother of the blessed evangelist John, who was beheaded by Herod Agrippa at about the feast of Easter. He was the first of the apostles to receive the crown of martyrdom.