Important questions …

[vc_row][vc_column][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/12″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”10/12″][vc_custom_heading source=”post_title” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:center” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text]What is the purpose of government?

What role does economy play in a society?

These are two seemingly simple questions, but it just may be that the answers could well determine the path that humanity as a whole will ultimately follow. Essentially there are two choices for both questions. Control or service. Are governments meant to rule over others, or should they be there to serve others? Are economies tools for the growth of society, or is society a tool for the growth of the economy?

Civilization has been experimenting with many different answers to these questions, resulting in a whole slew of -cracies and -isms determined to define the path of humanity. And none have seriously done the trick yet, for humanity is no closer to being a cohesive whole than it was two thousand years ago. So what is the problem? Why can’t we get it right? What are the correct answers?

To me the problem is not which is the correct theory, but rather what we find truly important. Governments basically fall into two categories … those that believe certain individuals are more important than others based on such criteria as how much is owned or perhaps circumstances of birth, and those that believe all individuals have equal value to a society. The first places more value on possessions and power, viewing humanity as just another resource. To such governments, society serves the government. The second choice places more value on life, viewing government as a way to protect and serve all life equally. Economies fall into the same categories. They either view humanity as a means to an end, just tools to promote the economies, or the economies are the tools themselves, to be USED by humanity for the growth of society.

We have gotten our priorities so mixed up, that we confuse economies with forms of government, focusing more on the ideas they represent then the purpose they serve. We get so focused on the ideas that they start becoming dogma, to the point that government and economic theories start taking on the semblance of religion, complete with their own share of rabid zealots.

What's being held, or what doing the holding?
What’s being held, or what’s doing the holding?

Meanwhile society continues to suffer.

No form of government … no economy … will EVER be successful until humanity as a whole starts AGREEING on what it values most. Either things and power are what is important, or LIFE is. It is not my place to tell anyone which is the correct answer, though I am sure it is pretty clear which my choice would be. But  as long as we are split between these two opposite views, we will NEVER obtain peace in the world. So I put a few more questions your way. Do you place more value on owning things? Do you believe worth is determined by how much one has? Or by other equally arbitrary criteria? Or do you believe all life has equal value, and therefore deserves equal treatment?

Do you believe competition is more important than cooperation?

Do the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few? Or are the few what is truly important?

Do you value things, or life?

Which idea do YOU think would be more productive for humanity as a whole?[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/12″][/vc_column][/vc_row]