Roots and Branches

Henry David Thoreau said,

“There are a thousand hacking 
at the branches

for every one striking at the root.”

How easy and convenient it is

to be distracted from root causes.

Cut off a weed, 
it comes back stronger

and multiplies.

Prune a bush,

it becomes fuller.

Symptoms though problematic,

are caused by underlying problems.
Treat the symptom
miss the problem.

Distinguishing problems from symptoms

is therefore one of the primary keys 
of the door to knowledge.

A radio does not work.

That is a symptom.

It is unplugged,

That is the problem.

Think.

Symptoms happen because.
Cause and effect.

Symptoms are navigational tools.
 They are a road map to the problem,

understand them as such.

Learning to navigate,
distinguishing

the symptom from the cause

is the means to the end,
of finding the root,

of any broken system 
with which you are dealing.

If you do not know the mechanics 
of a circulatory system,
are you competent to diagnose?

If you do not understand rocket science,

could you troubleshoot a propulsion system?

If you do not understand 
the nature of Man,
the nature of family,

the nature of society, 
of political science,

of government,

economics,

religion,

how could you presume 
to distinguish 
symptoms from problems

to diagnose and remedy

that of which you have no knowledge?

Here is a good place to begin. 
It is written in Holy script that:
"The love of money,
is the root 
of all 
evil."

Therefore,
presuming this scripture 
trustworthy,
When it comes to 
evil,
the love of money, is
the root.

What is the love of money?