Why is it so difficult
for democracies to persuade most of the people that they're "all in this
together"? (125)
President John F.
Kennedy famously said, “A rising tide lifts all boats (Khan).” This quote comes
from the idea that “improvements in the general economy will benefit all
participants in the economy (Wikipedia contributors).” Though this quote means
well, it is a flawed philosophy rooted in the thought that we are all in this
together. Democracies seek to push the greater good forward, but the greater
good is made up of individuals. Individuals will always look after their own
interests before they look out for the interest of others. Thus, democracies
are left trying to persuade the often unpersuadable.
Democracies are built
to promote the idea that a collective we is greater than an individual I. The
flaw in this philosophy can be traced back to a clear, distinct flaw. The
concept of the true nature of good and evil serves as a hurdle to bringing the
masses together. Look at the plight of Julius Caesar! Caesar desired to give
people a voice, but that idea threatened the interests of the aristocrats. Thus,
the evil side of man rises to the surface and the good essence of man suffers.
Therefore, we come face to face with the reality that interests of a few will
endanger the hopes of many.
Works Cited
Khan, Shamus. "We
Are Not All in This Together." The New York Times 14 Dec. 2013: n. pag.
Web. 25 May 2016.
Wikipedia
contributors. "A Rising Tide Lifts All Boats." Wikipedia, the Free
Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc, 2016. Web. 25 May 2016.
The current election season COULD be an opportunity to really debate the perennial question of how to balance individual "libertas" with the collective interests of the community: the billionaire who defends unfettered individual self-seeking in the unregulated marketplace VS. the liberal who said "it takes a village" etc. I'm afraid the Circus Maximus will overtake serious debate, though, once again. But note, Bernie keeps saying "we're all in this together" and calls that, correctly, a spiritual view.
ReplyDelete