15 September 2008

It's a crazy world out there right now; what's happening?

I have been pondering it, and although you (a euphenism since there are no yous out there) don't much care what I think about it, but I am going to tell you anyway, although what I think is not clear, even to me.  And it is strongly subject to preconceived prejudices, of course; all such thoughts always are.

I think my assessment at the moment is that we are falling into a caldron of egalitarianism - also known as the politics of envy.  Once it was called to each according to his needs from each according to his abilities.  I think that means those who don't want to work; or possess no talents, education or initiative; need to be provided for by those who do.

Jonah Goldberg (Liberal Faschism) suggests that the model is shifting from Nineteen Eighty Four to Brave New World, but perhaps the result is the same: most people think they are content to be taken care of by a government - any government that supports them in doing whatever they want to do, which seems mostly to be sit and be entertained.  Certainly the Media industry is ready and willing to provide the wherewithall, and "the masses" seem to be ready to partake of it.  Seem is the opperative word.  The difference is a dictatorial Big Brother and a benevolent one.

The problem, if one agrees it is a problem, is that the masses think they kind of like it, and the politicians are ready to try and provide it - as long as the masses vote for them if they promise it.  Well, that's not the real problem; the real problem is that someone has to fund it, and that takes some initiative, which it tends to destroy.  But then I say that, any transient reader might disagree and in our free society they are welcome to do so, as long as such freedoms continue to exist, seeing as they are rather fragile.

We have forgotten, for example, that the current economic crisis stems from the combination of government that is desperate to egalitarian-ize us and consumers who want something for nothing, or almost nothing.  You want cheap credit?  Do I have a deal for you.  It's inevitable: something for nothing?  Ahhhhhh yes.  That's egalitarianism in action, and greed, and envy, and exploitation.  It takes two to tango - he who is gullibly greedy and he who is culpibly greedy.  The partnership works every time , and always with disastrous results.  Do we learn?  Nahhhhhhhhhh.