By November, 1952, SANCTIONED CHAOS was already a proven revolutionary strategy, when the first hydrogen bomb was successfully tested, leading to the discovery of a new radioactive metal.

  Einsteinium (Es) was a component of the fallout. It was discovered in the same manner as plutonium; A plane fixed with specialized filters flew through the cloud of debris, collecting material. Upon examination, the new isotope was found, theorized to have occurred as californium (Cf) decayed. After the isotope was re-synthesized in high powered nuclear reactors confirming the theory, it was added to the periodic table.

Principles are the order that surrounds us. They simply exist, whether we practice them, or not. They’re always present, and there are no substitutes. Their effects are known and repeatable, even when their cause isn’t. They're more enduring, in‐fact, than the elements on the periodic table. So, why does it feel like society is in a perpetual state of chaos, and decay? The answer is simple, perhaps confounding for some. Because principles are eternal to the dimension in which they’re fixed. Chaos does not have a natural state. It’s the fallout that results when we ignore, or perhaps don’t understand, principles. Truth is truth, you see. It either is, or is not. It is neither abstract nor relative. It’s not nearly as complex as nuclear fusion, but when a culture attempts to redefine, or distort it, dangerous chain reactions can follow. When this happens at scale in any society, it will disintegrate.

  Welcome to SANCTIONED CHAOS in the age of infotech! A completely new level of control in a post-internet, Un-United States. It makes FDR’s New Deal seem amateur. It’s the world’s most sophisticated marketing system complete with engineered speech, and behavior. Unimaginable power that the political puppeteers could only dream of a generation ago. It can fix elections, shut down the economy, and unchecked, it will re-synthesize the American way of life. But it's fascinating, the solutions are as rudimentary as the elements.

  What’s up everybody? This is the author, Jeremy Poulsen. I didn’t think I’d be the one doing this, but here I am, narrating my book. Before I introduce Sanctioned Chaos, I wanted to comment on the narration itself. I also wanted to offer perspective on how the book is laid out.

  Now, this nonfiction has some heavy content. It’s important that the content, maybe even some of the personality from the book, aren’t filtered through somebody else’s voice. It had to come from me. Of course, I should also be able to navigate it a bit more fluidly than someone else, right? I guess we’ll see. But given that there’s also a generous dose, of what some see as controversial, I need the ability to add context and perspective. And this might just be the setting where my bad OCD is a gift, and not a curse.

  So, here’s how it lays out: The first three chapters are the foundation for the entire project. In other words, the premises laid out in the beginning, are what make the other ideas comprehensible. Of course, it’s important to understand what a principle is, and how it might be practiced. It’s also important to understand there are foundational, or basic principles. And there are elevated, or higher principles. Self-mastery, for example, simply isn’t possible without the foundation of faith, and hope. In other words, we have to believe that we can affect change, before we can master anything, right? The first three chapters are also inward-looking chapters. And because they’re introspective, they’re also deeply religious. It’s an important part of who I am. But it’s also because religion is one of the most powerful catalysts for inward change, people will encounter. One of the beautiful truths we cover, is that we can’t truly effect outward change, in-fact our influence will always fall short of its potential, without first having changed who we are.

  As difficult as some of the subject matter is, this is where we tackle certain taboos. Addiction, for example. The struggle that affects every single one of us in one way, or another. Of course, nothing changes without principles and values, and change isn’t sustained, nor scalable, in an absence of religion. Not because I say so. But because religion is the only incentive individuals have, for both morality, and personal accountability. Here are some simple questions that illustrate this. Do societies thrive because they fear their government? Or, do they thrive because they fear their God? A more poignant way to ask this is, what does a society look like that only fears its government? We could call this a lot of things. I call it Sanctioned Chaos.

  Of course, we explore this in all eight chapters. All focus on specific sets of principles and values. And all eight have biographical elements. But chapters four through six are the more outward-looking chapters. These are where we go toe-to-toe with the biggest, baddest, cultural issues. And because we challenge the cultural norms, these will be considered the most controversial. Or perhaps entertaining, depending on how you lean, and where your formative experiences have been.

  Then in chapters seven and eight, we transition back to an inward focus. These are also the most storied, and illustrative chapters. By this point, there will be clear contrast between the micro, and macro-economics, of principles and values. Which is fitting as we evaluate the type of success that matters, and where we might find our greatest reflections of love.

So, there it is. Sit back, get comfortable, make sure you’re in good head-space, and enjoy. Thanks for listening (reading.)