A Lesson on People

Here's a key lesson I've learned about people...

People are fundamentally good.

I know that its an age old question that has been pondered by philosophers for centuries. They've often asked if man is fundamentally good and noble or is he fundamentally evil and corrupt. My answer is that man is fundamentally cooperative and wants to do, what he considers to be, good.

We have to recall that man is fundamentally a monkey and is, at his core, ruled by the same principles as all animals pursuing certain key goals

1. Survival of the self
2. Survival of the species
3. Perpetuation of the species

Like all animals, man interprets these priorities and brings them into action in ways that are appropriate to himself. All organisms do this; a violet pursues these goals by having natural immunities, turning as it grows to find the best sunlight, sending out roots to find nutrition and spreading its seeds; lions do it by killing prey, defending against predators, nursing cubs, and developing mating strategies to ensure survival. The violet cannot use the techniques of the lion nor can the lion use the techniques of the violet. For them to do so would be suicidal.

Likewise, man must use the techniques available to him. Since we have such massive brains, what is an appropriate way of living for us is far more complicated than what is appropriate for animals. One of the complicated survival mechanisms we have is our social drive and our communication skills. The social drive is one of the reasons we have the need to have moral codes: simply put, we need to agree on certain standards of conduct to allow us to know what the rules of cooperation were. These rules would vary from culture to culture and society to society but they are always there.

Essentially, moral codes of conduct are ingrained in us so we all want to do good. It doesn't mean that we always do good...but we all want to do good, whatever that code of good behavior is.

I've known a lot of cynics who would disagree with me. Frankly, for a time, I didn't think man was essentially good either. Frankly, I was a bit of an asshole when I was younger so its no surprise. I've noticed something about those cynics though; in general, they aren't happy people and happiness is my ultimate measure of success. Sure some of them may have made more money than me or maybe they got prettier dates than me etc. True, some of them had greater success than I did in certain areas of life but the one trait they had in common was that they simple were not happy people.

On Bailouts

As a cold hearted capitalist, my friends and family often ask me my opinion on the government bailouts of American businesses (or, as I like to think of it, the socialization of American business)and I generally avoid talking about the topic. I've tried to steer clear of this topic on my blog to avoid irritating my friends and family since I already routinely irritate them. But, the bug to write on this topic has bitten me. Fortunately, this argument is simple for me so I can answer it pretty easily:

No free person should be forced to support another person. Welfare is slavery, whether its providing welfare to the poor or welfare to a company.

I am stuned at all the complex arguments people come up with, for or against, the bailouts.

Even those who, like me, oppose bailouts are missing the point using arguments like "Business only works on the survival of the fittest principle." or "ultimately the ups and downs of the free market are what raises the standard of living for all of us in this country so we are all better off in the long run." blah blah blah yada yada yada. These arguments are true and neither of them matter. Ethics aren't pragmatic and are not based on "what works". Does capitalism always make everyone richer? No it doesn't. If pragmatism were our goal then we could justify an any means necessary mentality to improve our lot. So what's wrong with that?

Let's ask Hitler....that was his principle too. Few people can argue that, from an economic perspective, the mentally handicapped are a burden on society in general. From a pragmatic perspective then, we'd have to agree that his efforts to exterminate all the retarted and mentally disabled people in the Reich was the right thing to do. After all, by eliminating this burden from the economy he was helping out Germany. Pragmatic, right? But does that make it right? Is it appropriate for humans to act like that? NO! Only animals operate on the "whatever it takes" mentality. Among animals its okay to destroy the runts of the litter so that the stronger ones can survive. Humans do not work on that same principle. Sometimes, humans take the tough path or take on the burden because it is the right thing to do.

Clearly pragmatism isn't the basis for us to choose right and wrong. (Although...it is true that welfare for the poor or for businesses aren't pragmatic because they lower standards in the long run.)

On the other side of the argument is the view supporting the bailouts. "Woe are the 'victims' of the (insert name of aleged social problem here) who are suffering" is their mantra. "Let's help the victims of (insert name of aleged social problem here)." And so they write their senators and rally and get up in arms until a law is passed to solve the problems of the latest "victims" of the social issue du jour. So what's wrong with that? Accusingly I am asked, "Don't you want to help the poor?" or "people without healthcare?" or "the people who will lose their jobs if the auto industry dies in America?"

And to them I answer and emphatic......"Yes I do!" Surprising isn't it? To hear that a ruthless capitalist like me wants to ....gasp....help people? But its true. I'm a humanitarian. I do volunteer work, participate in fundraisers, donate to charities I believe in.

I really do want to help.....but no one should be forced to help which is exactly what happens the second the government makes any kind of help mandatory.

Once the government makes helping anyone do anything part of its policy, the people are forced to help, even when its against their will. You don't think you're forced? Then you are grossly misled, mon ami. All government aid comes from tax dollars which you have no choice in paying. You are forced to do it. You are forced to help. That's not help...that's slavery.

I will not be forced to help the auto industry any more than I will be forced to help a senior citizen get medical transportation, a child get a free education, or a cancer victim get treatment. No matter how you slice it....all welfare is slavery.