| It looks like we're still being victimized by 'the | | | | broad diversity strengthens our country, and |
| tragedy of the commons' (I originally typed 'again', | | | | whether or not society has an obligation to |
| but I guess this is more like an ongoing process). | | | | protect its most vulnerable citizens. It's really a |
| Remember that 'the tragedy of the commons' | | | | continuation of our earlier cultural squabbles, only in |
| describes this phenomenon: since the promotion | | | | subtler terms: the question of individuality versus |
| of the common good requires good will, anyone | | | | the collectivity, and the question of uncertainty |
| can subvert the common good just by behaving | | | | avoidance. |
| unscrupulously. Perhaps this has been going on | | | | Perhaps, if we look at the basic concepts |
| longer than I've been aware of it; but it's now so | | | | underlying the ideological wars going on now and |
| open and pervasive that I see its effects | | | | compare them with the ideological concepts of |
| everywhere. The will of the majority of | | | | the Civil War, we'll find that we're still fighting over |
| Americans for a stable, responsive government is | | | | the same ideologies, only with different social |
| being thwarted by a handful of powerful and | | | | veneers. How much real diversity is our culture |
| unscrupulous political hacks. | | | | willing to accept? How much support does the |
| The American democracy took root and grew in | | | | 'ingroup' (us) owe to the 'outgroup' (them)? |
| compromise. When the Constitutional Convention | | | | Few of our current political hacks seem willing to |
| was facing an impasse, Ben Franklin gave a | | | | follow Ben Franklin's lead and 'doubt a little of their |
| speech in which he declared that he would "doubt | | | | infallibility'. They've picked up the ideological clubs, |
| a little of my own infallibility" in order to reach a | | | | and seem furiously to be beating their opponents |
| compromise, and suggested that his fellow | | | | with it. Our entire system of government |
| delegates do the same. Fortunately for us, they | | | | becomes compromised because of individuals' |
| did. Yet, each time that ideology has taken center | | | | need to be ideologically 'right' - and they seem |
| stage in our country's history, bad things have | | | | ready to go to any unprincipled lengths to |
| happened. The Civil War was the result of two | | | | accomplish that: lying, cheating, stealing, using |
| intractable ideologies in collision. A win-lose | | | | psychological scare tactics and even publicly |
| proposition if we ever had one. | | | | promoting the subversion of our democratic |
| So now, for the past few decades, ideology has | | | | institutions to obtain their ends. They may, in fact, |
| once again taken the ascendancy. The causes for | | | | do so (that's the 'tragedy of the commons') but |
| which the hacks choose to subvert the system | | | | at what price? 'Freedom' becomes just an empty |
| are neither as obvious nor as clear-cut as | | | | slogan once the systems that support it have |
| whether or not we'll allow a slavery-based | | | | been gutted by unprincipled people. So now the |
| economy. The lines are still being drawn over | | | | operative question should be, 'Would you rather |
| economic and social issues: whether or not a | | | | be right, or would you rather be free? |