Revisory
An Axis of Logic
A couple of weeks ago,
I opined that one's right to vote is also the right to not vote.
I have recently found a beautifully reasoned argument entitled
Suppose They Called An Election And No-one Came by
Paul Richard Harris, an Axis of Logic editor and columnist, based in Canada. What he has to say is aimed at American readers, but with resonances for all supposed democratic nations. I urge you to read the whole article, but you may first wish to consider the following.
Prior to the rise of democracy a few hundred years ago, hunger was rarely a social problem.
One of the things our rulers have always relied upon is our willingness to be cowed. From time to time, here and there throughout the world, a movement arises that overthrows the order of the day. Unfortunately, in all but a very small number of cases, the movement quickly deteriorates into a carbon copy of what it just replaced.
What is needed is a completely new mindset. One that is based on thinking that the world really belongs to us all, not just a few of us; one that is built on the principle that society needs enough capitalism so as to maintain individual incentive, enough socialism so as to maintain individual humanity.
There is little to distinguish humans from the rest of the animal kingdom, except that they are generally better people than us. We have at our disposal the tools, the wealth, the opportunity to put aside centuries of bickering and warfare; we are more than able to feed all of our species; we are quite capable of allowing for the drive of those who want to succeed in capitalist pursuits and for allowing them to prosper while they help others.
Surely it must be self-evident that a society which cares for its weakest, that prevents unnecessary hunger and illness, that ensures the basic necessities of life are available to all, is a society worth having. Surely it is self-evident that such a society takes away much of the impetus toward anti-social behaviour that has caused so much strife among us. Surely it is self-evident that removing some of the want from people and addressing the needs of the dispossessed, the refugees, the poor, is an act of self-preservation.Dare you to disagree?
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