American greatness is soundly based on a citizenry that thought independently, creatively, innovatively and metaphorically.

 

The educational system encouraged such thinking, and adult discourse continued it throughout the citizen's life.

 

Great education teaches one to listen to the experts, and to then take one's own counsel on the important decisions.

 

Indeed, such education prepares the adult to weigh the words of experts and all other sources of knowledge and then to choose wisely.

 

Metaphor matters.

 

Metaphorical thinking is vital to freedom.

 

The classics are the richest vein of metaphorical, and literal, thinking.

 

Every nation that has maintained real freedom has been a nation of readers--readers of the great books.

 

Freedom is in decline precisely because reading the great classics is in decline.

 

Fortunately, every regular citizen can easily do something to fix this problem.

 

The books are on our shelves.