As much as I would like to label people voting again their own interests thick I think doing so would do them and me an injustice.
People’s psyches develop from birth and are influenced by their families, communities and a whole range of social / environmental messages.
Propagandists capitalise on the consequences of this process to direct and mobilise peoples through their messages. All targeted at those underlying, deeply embedded emotional maps, individual or collective.
Further I am going to take a wild guess that deep within the human psyche is a fear of lack of resources. Perhaps best illustrated by the hysterical reaction of modern humans to running out of toilet paper.
If one adds these two strands together the instinctive willingness to act against personal, communitarian and collective interests becomes clear.
Humans are not rational per se. As the good people of Minnesota defending against evil oppression have shown. Which tells us that my theories can cut both ways when translated into action.
It is also ironic that the most self serving members of society are those who possess the greatest share of resources and have the greatest capacity to forgo them.
I enjoyed reading this and being reminded of Rawles' ideas. I wasn't aware of his second book ' Justice as Fairness' and will put it on my reading list.
On my way out the door but definitely on my reading list for later - thanks for this Bear - wasn’t aware of Rawls - and to have it explained is so helpful.🙌🏼
The worst example of unfettered capitalism must surely be the US health "system" where the richest of all are the insurance companies. Making billions in profits while denying anything and everything, apparently on the whim of a clerk. Your surgery to remove a tumour is deemed unnecessary. Appendicitis? No, it hasnt burst, (yet). Your life saving heart medication? You must use the cheaper and much less effective one that we just happen to have shares in.
And USians put up with it. Because, as one told me, when discussing universal health care, "why should my taxes pay for the guy next door". So many of them feel that way without realising that their hyper inflated premiums are also paying for that guy next door. There you have it. Selfishness and greed, the American dream.
What a fantastic post, thank you Bear and Mark for this.
This sentence has particularly struck me "Millions are being deceived into voting against their interests by a tiny minority whose objective is plain to see: to remove that most irritating of obstacles to unfettered oligarchy: democracy."
It's brought to mind a video I came across a few days ago of Zohran Madmani where he was asking people on the streets who they would vote for in the general election, so this was before he was elected Mayor of NY. It was surprising to see how many non-white people proudly said Trump because they saw in him the promise of a more stable life through job security. Funny that no one asked themselves how that would be achieved, which as we're seeing now is at the cost of oppressing, alienating, and harassing people who look very much like these eager voters.
Jump to Madmani appointing Stanley Richards as commissioner of the Department of Correction because he understands that to build a fairer, more equal society, you need to provide fair and equal opportunities to the people in it.
I think it's clear to see who governs with an appreciation of Rawl's principles and who doesn't.
I love this kind of discussion which fits well with my occasionally admitted reputation of boring Grandpa. The issue I have with Rawls is that his ideas were developed before we were all subjected to the persuasive power of social media. It didn't hit me until I was subjected to the deceitful Brexit campaign. Our next generations need to find a way to avoid historic tendencies to trust the boss to make the right moral decisions because, as we now understand, they tend to be drawn from the group of people who have accumulated wealth and are not adversely hit by unfair decisions. At present we seem to be headed for a society where most work for a fixed minimum wage and the middle income, middle class shrinks. That is a big killer of innovation where big corporations also absorb small innovative enterprises to remove competition and merge the technology into their own mass production lines. We need to find a way around trusting the boss or lord of the manner or dictator. Our beliefs and tax systems are designed to protect wealthy dynasties at the expense of the employees who create and sustain that wealth. That has been the trend from as far back as the Magna Carta.
Thanks Mark, good essay. It’s plain that the present system of democracy/economy in the west has become tired and corrupt - unfortunately Rawls’ thought experiment wouldn’t get a look in on Truth Social though.
It looks like we are well overdue a total political recalibration if our planet’s life support system is going to remain fit for purpose.
As much as I would like to label people voting again their own interests thick I think doing so would do them and me an injustice.
People’s psyches develop from birth and are influenced by their families, communities and a whole range of social / environmental messages.
Propagandists capitalise on the consequences of this process to direct and mobilise peoples through their messages. All targeted at those underlying, deeply embedded emotional maps, individual or collective.
Further I am going to take a wild guess that deep within the human psyche is a fear of lack of resources. Perhaps best illustrated by the hysterical reaction of modern humans to running out of toilet paper.
If one adds these two strands together the instinctive willingness to act against personal, communitarian and collective interests becomes clear.
Humans are not rational per se. As the good people of Minnesota defending against evil oppression have shown. Which tells us that my theories can cut both ways when translated into action.
It is also ironic that the most self serving members of society are those who possess the greatest share of resources and have the greatest capacity to forgo them.
I need to read more about Rawls. I would have liked to meet him. A lot more people need to see this. Thanks for posting another interesting read.
I enjoyed reading this and being reminded of Rawles' ideas. I wasn't aware of his second book ' Justice as Fairness' and will put it on my reading list.
On my way out the door but definitely on my reading list for later - thanks for this Bear - wasn’t aware of Rawls - and to have it explained is so helpful.🙌🏼
The worst example of unfettered capitalism must surely be the US health "system" where the richest of all are the insurance companies. Making billions in profits while denying anything and everything, apparently on the whim of a clerk. Your surgery to remove a tumour is deemed unnecessary. Appendicitis? No, it hasnt burst, (yet). Your life saving heart medication? You must use the cheaper and much less effective one that we just happen to have shares in.
And USians put up with it. Because, as one told me, when discussing universal health care, "why should my taxes pay for the guy next door". So many of them feel that way without realising that their hyper inflated premiums are also paying for that guy next door. There you have it. Selfishness and greed, the American dream.
Good to be reminded of John Rawls! Not read his works but have seen many of his basic ideas, observations and analyses referenced.
Cheers, Bear!😃✊️
What a fantastic post, thank you Bear and Mark for this.
This sentence has particularly struck me "Millions are being deceived into voting against their interests by a tiny minority whose objective is plain to see: to remove that most irritating of obstacles to unfettered oligarchy: democracy."
It's brought to mind a video I came across a few days ago of Zohran Madmani where he was asking people on the streets who they would vote for in the general election, so this was before he was elected Mayor of NY. It was surprising to see how many non-white people proudly said Trump because they saw in him the promise of a more stable life through job security. Funny that no one asked themselves how that would be achieved, which as we're seeing now is at the cost of oppressing, alienating, and harassing people who look very much like these eager voters.
Jump to Madmani appointing Stanley Richards as commissioner of the Department of Correction because he understands that to build a fairer, more equal society, you need to provide fair and equal opportunities to the people in it.
I think it's clear to see who governs with an appreciation of Rawl's principles and who doesn't.
I love this kind of discussion which fits well with my occasionally admitted reputation of boring Grandpa. The issue I have with Rawls is that his ideas were developed before we were all subjected to the persuasive power of social media. It didn't hit me until I was subjected to the deceitful Brexit campaign. Our next generations need to find a way to avoid historic tendencies to trust the boss to make the right moral decisions because, as we now understand, they tend to be drawn from the group of people who have accumulated wealth and are not adversely hit by unfair decisions. At present we seem to be headed for a society where most work for a fixed minimum wage and the middle income, middle class shrinks. That is a big killer of innovation where big corporations also absorb small innovative enterprises to remove competition and merge the technology into their own mass production lines. We need to find a way around trusting the boss or lord of the manner or dictator. Our beliefs and tax systems are designed to protect wealthy dynasties at the expense of the employees who create and sustain that wealth. That has been the trend from as far back as the Magna Carta.
Excellent timing - will it take a catastrophe in the US for the rest of us to take notice…? Thought provoking Bear 👏🏻
Thanks Mark, good essay. It’s plain that the present system of democracy/economy in the west has become tired and corrupt - unfortunately Rawls’ thought experiment wouldn’t get a look in on Truth Social though.
It looks like we are well overdue a total political recalibration if our planet’s life support system is going to remain fit for purpose.