Thinking About Liberation

There’s nothing like a war of aggression to get us thinking about how great it makes us feel if we think we are free. That question makes me wonder whether feeling free is the same as actually being free, I wonder if Russians feel they are free when we believe they are living under a despotic regime with a government that lies to them about realities and physically suppresses opposition.

What about countries that live under regimes that we know are despotic. What about revolutionary movements that seek to install their own form of despotism? Do we have to choose between them?

Then I think about us, and how even democratic governments sometimes lie to the people who believe they live in a free country. Then I think about the U.S. and how so many of the states in America have gerrymandered districts to diminish the value of some people’s votes. How many states are passing legislation to make voting more difficult for some people. And how about women’s control over their bodies legislated away in the face of overwhelming approval by the public of such rights? The same with measures to ban some types of weapons. And I think about how lobbyists are able to prevent the passage of legislation that the overwhelming majority of people want to see passed...Do we see any of this moving in a direction we would like to witness?

This democracy business is a lot more complicated than we realize. When poor people become the majority don’t those who are benefitting from the system resist changes that will distribute the benefits more equally? What if the poor aren’t doing what they should to earn the benefits they would like to have?

On the other hand, I think about my friend who sponsored an immigrant, got them benefits to tide them over the adjustment period. He then got the breadwinner  a job and had it turned down. The man preferred to goi on welfare.. These people operate with a different ethic than the one we are used to. What about then? Should we agree to absorb those who see nothing wrong with aspiring to be a public charge?

Well how about the march of technology which will put a whole generation out on the dole because our technology has eliminated their kinds of gainful employment, the kind they would be most happy to take. Shouldn’t part of the savings of that new technology go to ensuring that these people have the purchasing power to maintain themselves. And wouldn’t that be good for our economy as well.?  And wouldn’t that a kind of liberation for a lot of people?

One of those who campaigned for the U.S. presidency advocated a basic minimum monthly check for everyone who needs it. This might be a way to ensure that the benefits to society from technological advance are shared with those who have been made redundant. And the economy benefits at the same time by providing people with some of the purchasing power they have lost.

It is getting pretty complicated isn’t it?

We can’t assume the all such people will be happy with the inactivity that has been forced upon them. How will we organize ourselves to provide these large numbers of people with an activity they will find meaningful. Will we provide public entertainments? Subsidized entertainments? Fun and games? It’s all beginning to sound Orwellian! We definitely have to give some thought to the outlets people will have to be provided with if gainful employment becomes something only the privileged can enjoy.

How would we order the incentives at play that induce people to take on onerous responsibilities? Probably money will not be enough when all are provided with the means of subsistence. Probably a culture of respect would arise as part of the rewards one would be entitled to for performing many of the onerous tasks our society may require. Different levels of accommodation? Access to activities available only to the few? Educational privileges? Procreation rights? Exotic activities or vacations? Who knows what we will require to incentivize those who will continue to bear the weightiest of society’s burdens? Liberation takes different shapes.

We haven’t begun to talk about the fate of so many people who live under truly despotic regimes. We have so much to worry about keeping our own societies as examples of true liberation.