I have just read through the Four Freedoms address given by Franklin D. Roosevelt to Congress in January 6, 1941 – again.  It is a cautionary bit of advice I give to all who are concerned with the wordiness of the upcoming election in 2009.  What Mr. Roosevelt did during the first days of World War II was to condense the worries of ordinary folk down to these Four Freedoms. 

First, is the freedom of speech and expression – everywhere in the world.

The Second is freedom of every person to worship God in his own way – everywhere in the world.  The third is freedom from want – which , translated into world terms, mean economic understanding which will secure to every nation a healthy peacetime life for its inhabitants – everywhere in the world.

The fourth is freedom from fear (and here is the longest explanation of what Mr. Roosevelt meant in this condensation of basic wants and needs of every person – everywhere in the world). “Translated into world terms, means a world-wide reduction of armaments to such a point and in such a thorough fashion that no nation will be in a position to commit an act of physical aggression against any neighbor – anywhere in the world.”

It is this “FREEDOM FROM FEAR” that is so problematical.  Guaranteeing, -no, just wishing – for freedom from war just has not worked.  The whole of the world’s economy has changed and many of the peoples living in primitive ways have upgraded their conditions so that they resemble you and me – in the way we wear clothing, house ourselves and adopt our culture – even when going hungry. They speak out loud about it and bring their belief in God way up front as the justification of about any abominable act of war against their neighbors and even against giant countries far across the seas - far away from them.

We haven’t even made a dent in assuring the people – anywhere in the world – freedom from fear of war and aggression. They have real fear of their neighbors and from deadly terrorist groups that have no real concept of life in this world while seeking martyrdom so they can have their way to heaven greased with the blood of those they murder.

Our politicians lined up for “debates” leading to caucuses and conventions that will pluck out the most popular are not talking about these four simple ideas.  They are persuaded that catchwords and bumper-sticker phrases will energize voters to select them even while they bash each other on the heads and muddy reputations so that fear of their “opponents” will get the most popular elected.

That troublesome fourth freedom – from FEAR – always eludes us.