All the King's Horses and All the King's Men

I've been thinking a lot about something I try NOT to think about on a regular basis: Our Economy and Government.

Now, those of you who have read the Ancient Stoic literature are very aware that Politics and Government were not topics that Stoics shy away from. Heck, two of the most prominent Stoics, Seneca and Marcus Aurelius, were deeply entrenched in the working of their government, the latter of the two men having been Emperor of Rome from 161-180 C.E.

However, I'm a bit of a recluse when it comes to politics. Except for some half-hearted Iraq war protests in my Grad School Days (me captured on the front page of the O'Colly of Ok. State University with a banner that read 'Bombing for Peace is like F%&King for Virginity--not the most mature choice I admit), I've stayed away from politics for a number of reasons.

Well, as I was sitting in my hotel room last night, I pondered the same question I do every night I sit in a hotel room, which is quite often: what do I do now? I flipped on the T.V. and in this hotel they have the Pay Per View movies on the tube. I scrolled through the selections, past the usual Girls Gone Wild and Cartoons, and happened across the Documentary by Michael Moore 'Capitalism'. Now, I'm not the biggest fan of Mr. Moore, not because I don't agree with a lot of what he says, but rather because I'm not always convinced of the cogency and validity of the methods he uses to prove his points. But, I thought, 'What the hell', and hit the 'ORDER' button.

The next two hours were filled with all-too-familiar scenes of the run up to, devastation of, and subsequent fallout from the Financial Meltdown of the past few years. Michael did a great job of painting a picture of greed, corruption, and self-serving interest that has been around in our government for as long as it's been around. The trending from the days of Reagan until now is astounding: insidious inclusion of Wall Street barons in top gov't positions, warping of tax laws to benefit the rich, and the list goes on.

Seeing good, hard-working people thrown from their homes because of predatory lending, bad choices, and greedy banks made me angry. I am the first to say that many folks got into the situation they were in due to bad choices, but does that exculpate banks, the government and regulators from the fact that so much of the bedrock of those bad choices was the intense greed of the institutions, banks, gov't agencies that made every effort to provide money to people to buy things they couldn't afford? Me thinks no.

In the wake of this financial crises, the taxpayers, the very people duped into 'buying into', literally, this pipe dream of capitalism were the same ones asked to bailout these institutions. Apparently, capitalism is good enough for the masses, but not sufficient to cull the ranks of these predatory institutions. Simply put, these institutions weren't able to take the very same medicine they've been pushing down our throats for 50 years: let the chips fall where they may,this is CAPITALISM. In the end, these bloated, greedy, unscrupulous institutions survived not because of their strength or resolve, but because they have so many damn corrupt politicians in washington that getting a bailout was about as difficult as Anna Nicole Smith getting another dose of ephedra. Not too difficult. Period.

So, as a Stoic, what should be my stance toward Capitalism, Socialism, Communism, etc?

The answer to this question, I propose, is not an easy one. It's not easy for a multitude of reasons, not the least of which is that none of these systems of government were present in Ancient Greece and Rome.

However, if you ask me, from a Stoic point of view the problems that underly Capitalism are the very same ones that underly them all: vice. Now, I say 'vice' not meaning that they are all evil. As a matter of fact, I would contend that they are neither good nor bad, but are in fact indifferent. This is a very common Stoic distinction, and one could say the very bedrock on which the Stoic theory of reality, psychology, etc are built. To know the difference between what is good/bad and indifferent is the key to tranquility.

So what? Ok, neither governmental form is good, neither is bad. Where does that leave the Stoic? To put it one way: the problem with these systems is not the systems themselves, but rather the people running them and using them. Until we are able, as a race, culture or people, to step away from material goods and see them as 'indifferent' we'll continue to run into the very same problems we see here.

Take ANY form of government to EVER have existed and you'll find that greed and human vice ultimately are its downfall. In the end, communities and countries rarely die because they are wiped out. Their demise typically comes from within. Communism, Stalinism, Feudalism, Capitalism all share the same fate: they become untenable under the weight of human vice.

Unfortunately, this means that until individually and collectively we are able to see 'things', money, power for what they are, we will continue this cycle. Until we can realize that none of these externals are really what makes us happy or truly human will we be free from their grip. Sure, we can topple this form of government, but what will rise up to take it's place? Most likely, the next form will have the initial appearance of being benign. But in a very short span of time, the same issues will arise. Folks who have it want more and those who don't will hate those who do.

My assertion is that we don't NECESSARILY need a governmental revolution; rather, we need a personal one. We need to realize that:

1. We ultimately can only control our own choices, aversions, and desires
2. That outside things do NOT provide real, lasting happiness
3. That being human has far less to do with things than with each other
4. That fairness is a human quality that sets us apart and we'd do well to embrace it
5. Only when we are able to see the above, will we have a fair system of governance

In the absence of the above, I promise that we'll continue to see what we've always seen. And, the likelihood of having a wholesale, complete personal revolution is not highly likely.

With that in mind, I contend that changes must be made to our government if it is to live up to any form of virtuous and benevolent government, and if we are to move past this current crises.

We must enact laws that reign in human greed and avarice, at least in financial terms.

We must provide basic services to our citizens so that our children can grow up and work toward the betterment of our society.

We must fix the disparity created by unchecked greed or face the peril of a nation so divided that human progress will be untenable

We must govern in such a way that 'fairness' returns to how we allocate money, exact taxes, and expect contribution from all sectors of our society

My fear, my friends, is that we are way past any rectifying the unjustness done in the name of greed and corruption. I can foresee that the damage is just too great. However, until that time when we are too far gone, it is my Duty as a Stoic to work toward the betterment of my fellow humans. Like Seneca, Marcus Aurelius, and Epictetus, my Duty overrides my sense of resignation and I must find ways to help improve our social environment.

How might I do that? I'm not sure. But it is my Duty to find out...

Thanks,

Brett