A Christmas Message from The Free Capitalist

A Christmas Message from The Free Capitalist
by Rick KoerberDecember 23, 2006
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To the Producers:
I’ve been thinking recently about the idea and subsequent practice of giving money as a gift. I also have been thinking a lot about the practice of “raising money” for charity or a “good cause.” I thought I'd take a minute to share some thoughts with the community of producers.
It seems self-evident to me that giving money and raising money can be good practices. Of course both are simply activities or strategies for accomplishing some end. Means to an end can be either good or bad depending on the principle basis of the action. If divorced from the context of principle, means can never justify the ends nor can ends ever justify the means.
In the consumer condition, the world in which we all live (even if we’ve shifted paradigms because the world we live in, among and around has not), ideas of money and wealth are corrupted by the notion of scarcity. It is within this context that the desire to give what is lacking (a good desire and the root of production) is corrupted. The desire is too often divorced from the actual creation of value for another (which is always subjective) and is replaced by the creation of value for self. This of course is fine if it is recognized for what it is, consumption.
Let me illustrate with a mildly fictitious example. My mother has been poor (according to possession of material things) for most of her life. When I became “rich” I wanted to immediately help those close to me. Near the first on my list was my mother. Simply stated, I wanted to use my access to money and material resources to “make her life better.” I wanted to do things in a dramatic way, to “make a paradigm shift possible” for her and to “give her what she wanted”—or at least what she “needed.”
It is obvious, when one considers my intentions rationally and non-emotionally, that my entire context is corrupted by scarcity. If I were to persist in my efforts in the illustration above, I would have only contributed to the destructive nature of the consumer condition (which would have been quite the opposite of what I was intending). The mental paradigm shift experienced constantly by producers is often overpowered by the habits of emotional response to scarcity. It takes time and discipline to overcome these scarcity demons or devils as Les would call them.
Since it is Christmas time, a time full of emotion—generally speaking, I would like to take my fictitious example and do a short analysis to demonstrate just how destructive my subsequent actions could likely have been.
Let’s revisit the illustration point by point. My mother has been poor (according to possession of material things) for most of her life. Why? The physical condition of our life is the consequence of our ideas and actins; in other words, to reference Napoleon Hill, we tend to attract the material equivalent of our habits of thought. In brief, my mother has been materially poor over the course of her life for a reason. The universe is governed by law, and her condition is a result of law, not chance. The fundamental assumption of “do gooders” is that if they can change the current situation by giving their loved ones a chance, things will then change. Of course this is nonsense since gambling (the giving of chances) violates principle. Gambling is based upon a number of false maxims, the first and foremost of which is the idea of something for nothing. The only way I can ever help my mother, in my fictitious example, is to assist her in her own efforts to change her mental context, for that is the cause (creator) of her physical reality.
Now let’s discuss the next point of the illustration. When I became “rich” I wanted to immediately help those close to me. This is a great intent and the true motivation of a producer; it is the desire to create more value than is consumed by self. On a side note, this desire—when viewed from God’s perspective—is impossible because by accomplishing that desire in “this world” we receive more than we ever give; therefore, we will always be “unprofitable servants” (another discussion for another time and place).
Let’s revisit another point. Near the first on my list was my mother. Helping family and friends is among the most noble of desires; however, it is also a trigger to the emotional bad habits we must struggle to escape in order to accomplish our own paradigm shift from consumer to producer. Therefore, acting on such desires requires a double dose of caution and deliberateness to ensure that we are not using our emotional desire as a pretext for excusing our own violation of principle. Violating principle corrupts the context of our giving and becomes a starting point for future excuses for regressing into the mentality of a consumer in scarcity. Consider this as a subtle warning to all of us so-called “do-gooders” in the revolution.
Next point. I wanted to use my access to money and material resources to “make her life better.” There are two problems to grapple with in this statement. First, since it is my want, the value created is actually for me! This is important. Often we want to "do good to others"; and in the process of doing good, we judge what they "should value" rather than what they demonstrate, through their own choice, that they do in fact value. My want in this case would be tyrannical, even if it looks benevolent. Furthermore, it is impossible to "make" anyone's life better. It is only possible to offer value in exchange for value. If the exchange is a "free" exchange, the resulting "better life" will not be made solely by one party of the exchange; rather, it will be the mutual cooperation of all parties involved. Therefore, a more healthy way to conceptualize the desire to "make life better" for loved ones would be to "offer service to make a better life possible." Such offers should be given freely (this means without coercion).
Let’s revisit another point. I wanted to do things in a dramatic way to "make a paradigm shift possible" and to "give her what she wanted”--or at least what she “needed." There are a series of problems with this intention. First, it is again my "want" that would be governing; so the result, even if it is successful, would be consumption. Secondly, a paradigm shift would require the other party to freely desire the same change. Additionally, it is the other party who is always the best, most important judge of what and how to obtain what is wanted and needed for themselves. The socialist disagrees and uses arguments that amount to essentially nothing more than, "but I know better what is good for them." Producers, beware of such thoughts.
To summarize the points of my illustration, let me remind all producers that money has no intrinsic value. If giving money as a gift, one should first consider what is the expected utility associated with the gift; in other words, what is it that can be done with the money by the person receiving it. If you want to give money to a family so they can buy siding for their new home, what would you do if they took the money and went to the race track instead? Wouldn't it be evident that the recipients’ value choice, if allowed to freely be exercised, would frustrate the effort of the giver? If that is the case, why not arrange with the service provider, the actual creator of the direct value—the siding man, to have the siding work done? Giving money to the one in need only ensures that a) the receiver will continue to make poor choices with resources since no substantive change in thought has occurred or b) the giver will force the "poor unfortunate party," through coercion of one kind or another, to use the money for that which the giver requires. This is a dangerous and often surprisingly depressive pattern of gift giving.
There is also danger in raising money (freely donated) for charity. It is appropriate to give with strings attached. Some argue it is more virtuous to give with no strings but such action would be deception. The "no strings" mentality is only right if by no strings one means no coercion or deception. Strings - there must be - unless we want to admit it is the giver’s job to grant the wrong doers, the evil doers and the desperate among us the drug of choice to further destroy their lives. Anyone raising money for a cause has an obligation to openly and directly define the strings attached. If not, free exchange is not being advocated and the charitable giving only facilitates the benevolent charity of the kind tyrant. God does not work this way neither should his children.
In a nutshell, money will not solve problems. The only way to truly bless the life of another is to work with them by affecting their life substantively in the Human Life Value category. Beware of the false deception that one can buy happiness, peace and prosperity—or anything else in this world—for money. It is a lie. It is destructive. It can undue your producer paradigm and result in further destruction of the world around you.
When giving a gift, the way to ensure value production is to involve the recipient in a principled path to a new life. This takes patience, meekness and long suffering. I invite you to consider 1 Corinthians 13 where the apostle Paul defines charity. Having charity is not simply giving; charity involves giving in the context of principle. Giving all your goods to feed the poor does not ensure charity. Charity includes realizing none of your goods have any intrinsic value and that real giving is using your goods to incentivize new thoughts, choices and actions. Honest gift giving must be done in a context of respect, love and, most importantly, freedom—the freedom of choice.
The challenge for producers is to learn how to really give—not to avoid giving and not to give mindlessly, but to really give. Real gift giving doesn't "look as nice" in the eyes of the world. Receiving the judgment of the world is its own reward, a reward we consume on our own. To produce, to be true disciples of the Lord and followers of the Eternal laws that govern, we must look forward with real charity and rely upon the judgments of God. God’s judgments are just and true. There is no legitimate way to give money or raise money pretending away any of this context.
I appreciate all the good that producers are doing in the world. It is my constant invitation to others and to my own self that we question our assumptions and ensure that when we "give our lives" we are really giving through free exchange and not as a tyrant demanding the result of virtue because we intended well.
The Lord himself gives the gift of eternal life and the opportunity of exaltation freely to all men; however, He does not try to "make our lives" better. He gently beckons each of us to come unto Him. His constant invitation is powerful to the honest in heart. No matter the pain of rejection, the cost of patience and long suffering he freely chooses to bare, his arms are outstretched still. He waits on those he loves. That we too may wait on those we love and allow them the real blessing of choosing wisely is my sincere desire at this special holiday season and always.
***
Rick Koerber is the host of The Rick Koerber Show which can be heard from 5-7 p.m in Utah on 630 K-TALK or streamed on the web at freecapitalist.com

Mt. Holly Club and Jack Nicklaus

Mt. Holly Club Selected as Prestigious Jack Nicklaus Golf Club
New Course Is Centerpiece of World's Only Ski-in/Ski-out, Golf-in/Golf-out
Private Luxury Resort
MT. HOLLY, Utah, March 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Mt. Holly Club, the world's
finest private luxury ski and golf resort, today announced its selection as
a Jack Nicklaus Golf Club -- the most exclusive designation granted by the
Nicklaus organization. This prestigious designation is reserved for only 25
Jack Nicklaus Signature courses worldwide (5 in the U.S.) and includes an
exclusive reciprocity program with other Jack Nicklaus Golf Clubs located
in unique settings around the world. The Mt. Holly Club course is the only
mountain course to receive the designation.
"Nicklaus Design is far and away the top golf course design group in
the world," said Stephen Jenson, owner and partner of Mt. Holly Club. "To
receive this elite designation and Jack's personal involvement in the
project is a thrill for our company and a testament to the incredible
beauty and uniqueness of the site. Jack's vision and creativity in bringing
this mountain course to life cements its position among the elite luxury
clubs in the world and ensure our members a one-of-a-kind resort
experience."
Located on 2,000 acres in one of the world's most spectacular alpine
settings, Mt. Holly Club is a self-contained private village at 10,000
feet, surrounded by more than 750,000 acres of national forest land. It is
the first and only private community in the world to offer a
ski-in/ski-out, golf-in/golf-out experience in a luxury resort.
From his first visit to the Mt. Holly Club site, Jack Nicklaus was
taken with the prospects of developing a truly spectacular course.
"Typically, when I survey a potential course site, I'll think through 1-2
holes if I'm not particularly impressed -- 4-5 holes if I really like it,"
said Nicklaus. "When I walked Mt. Holly Club, I was so captured by its
potential I thought through all 18 holes. In fact, I have been so impressed
with the club and its management team that I became a founding charter
member."
The Mt. Holly Club course will become a centerpiece of the innovative
ski-in/ski-out, golf-in/golf out design that sets the area apart from all
other luxury resorts in the world. Many of the 1,200 luxury home sites are
arranged to provide literal back yard access to the golf course. In winter,
members' "on the course" golf-in/golf-out homes become ski-in/ski-out back
doors to some of the finest Utah powder skiing in the world under the
direction of Olympic gold medalist Ted Ligety, Director of Skiing.
Thirty-five Mt. Holly Club Charter Members will be eligible to enjoy an
exclusive reciprocity program with other Jack Nicklaus Golf Clubs
throughout the world, with all the clubs' amenities at their disposal.
Additionally, a beautiful new home where Jack stays when he visits each
location is available to JNGC Members.
To date Jack Nicklaus has 250 Signature courses open for play
worldwide. Of those, and others to be built in the future, only a total of
25 will be designated as Jack Nicklaus Clubs, and will include some of the
world's most sought-after destinations. Current JNGC sites include New
Zealand, Royal Island (Bahamas), St. Lucia and Anguilla in the Eastern
Caribbean, Ucluelet British Columbia, and the Patagonia region of
Argentina.
Construction of the course will begin in early 2007 and the front nine
holes will be open in summer 2008. The back nine holes are scheduled to
open in summer 2009.
About Mt. Holly Club
Mt. Holly Club, the world's finest private ski and golf resort, is a
self-contained luxury village at 10,000 feet -- the first and only private
community in the world to offer a ski-in/ski-out, golf-in/golf-out
experience. Located just 22 jet minutes north of Las Vegas in Mt. Holly,
Utah, the club enjoys one of the world's most spectacular alpine settings
-- providing world class amenities, services and adventure on 2,000 acres
of unique mountain real estate surrounded by 750,000 acres of pristine
national forest. The Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course has the rare
distinction of being selected as one of only 25 worldwide (only 5 in the
U.S.) to be designated as a Jack Nicklaus Club. Olympic gold medal skier
Ted Ligety directs the club's world class private ski resort, featuring
access to 48 runs of world famous Utah Powder via 10 high-speed quad lifts
spanning 1,500 vertical feet. Club membership is limited to 1,200, and
requires real estate ownership. Mt. Holly Club is privately owned by Mt.
Holly Partners LLC. For more information visit http://www.mthollyclub.com.
CONTACT:
Bill Quick
(801) 335-3305

New Websites for MT HOLLY CLUB

Here are some new websites for the MT HOLLY CLUB

www.mthollyclub.com, www.mthollyclubinformation.com, and www.mthollyclubresort.com.

Gold Medalist to Direct Mt. Holly Skiing Operations

Gold Medalist Ted Ligety to Direct Mt. Holly Club Skiing Operations
Posted on : Wed, 28 Feb 2007 13:05:00 GMT Author : Mt. Holly ClubNews Category : PressRelease

MT. HOLLY, Utah, Feb. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- Mt. Holly Club, the world's finest private luxury ski and golf resort, today announced that Ted Ligety, Olympic gold medal skier and World Cup champion, will serve as the club's director of skiing operations. Ligety will oversee growth of this unique ski-in/ski-out private resort -- the mirror image of the golf-in/golf-out capability members enjoy in the summer playing the prestigious Jack Nicklaus Golf Club golf course.
"In creating the world's premier ski and golf club resort, we needed a premier, world-class skier directing our skiing operations," said Stephen Jenson, owner and partner of Mt Holly Club. "Ted Ligety is precisely the right person. We couldn't be happier."

No stranger to Utah powder, Park City native Ted Ligety strapped on his first pair of skis at age two and was racing by the time he was 11. Through hard work and bone-chilling speed, Ligety earned a spot on the U.S. Ski Team in 2005, and won an Olympic gold medal the following year in Turin, Italy in the combined event. It was the first gold medal for an American skier since Tommy Moe in 1994. In 2006 Ligety won the national titles in slalom and combined at the U.S. National Championships, repeating the feat he accomplished in 2005. He is currently skiing on the world cup circuit.

"Even with all the skiing opportunities I have around the world, I can't wait to get back to Utah to the greatest snow on earth -- and some of the greatest terrain as well," said Ligety. "Working to create a one-of-a-kind resort like this is an exciting prospect. We have gleaned ideas from many of the best ski resorts globally and implemented them in a way that will make this area rival the top luxury resorts worldwide, adding ski-in/ski-out access to your own private resort."
The Mt. Holly Club ski area will become a centerpiece of the innovative ski-in/ski-out, golf-in/golf out design that sets Mt. Holly Club apart from all other luxury resorts in the world. Many of the 1,200 luxury home sites are arranged to provide literal back yard access to the ski slopes. In summer, members' ski-in/ski-out homes become "on the course" golf-in/golf-out backdoors to some of the finest golfing in the world on the club's prestigious Jack Nicklaus Club golf course -- one of only 25 in the world.

"Working with Ted on the design and operation of this resort has been an exciting experience," said Jenson. "Like everything else at Mt. Holly Club, the elements of terrain, flow, challenge, convenience, and beauty have all come together in a way that is superbly world-class."

About Mt. Holly Club
Press Contact: Bill Quick 801-231-8383 cell
Mt. Holly Club
CONTACT: Bill Quick, cell, +1-801-231-8383, for Mt. Holly Club