These simple biological economic realities of hedonic movement have been overlooked by most forms of government. Needs for freedom and power must be accommodated before cooperative structures can evolve. All social structures can be likened to organisms, for they reflect human nature. Any form must address the body, (the needs of its people), the mind, (its mass knowledge and values), and the spirit, (its unified cooperative interactive whole.) Ensuring the basic human rights to free self-determinism ensures that bodily purposes can be met. Attempting to skip over them, and structure life around the mind, will only bring further inner and outer conflict. But this has been what many governments have done---attempting to enforce cooperation, while inadvertently setting the stage for competition and struggles for basic freedom and power. Until there were two predominant world governmental strategies, which have broken free from those that rule through rigidly controlling religious ideologies. They are generally known as Communism and Capitalism. Both try to make up rules for the game of life by which individuals are forced to play, yet both leave out some aspect of the biological needs and scuttle the self-regulating process.
The basic reason that both are doomed to failure is that each one of them puts a low value on self-expression. While attempting to create the facade that democracy is a highly valued quality in a society, processes are set up behind the scene that ensure that governing will be carried out by the fewest possible, by manipulating the masses to conform with the will of this power-hungry minority. The workplace does not allow or appreciate a democratic philosophy unless it is producing profit. The distribution of information is controlled by corporations which own most of the media. The political system is strongly influenced by the vested interests. The above would appear to apply only to the Capitalist system, but as the Communistic system defaults, it is being replaced by the Capitalistic system which includes the characteristics listed above. Whew!
For example, Communism embraces the connection need, and seeks a cooperative, socialistic structure based upon equal empowerment of its citizens. They attempt to provide equal access to education, job opportunities and health care to all citizens. Establishing cooperative structures for individual self empowerment is an enlightened idea, but it often comes at the expense of the need for individual freedom. Their desire for equal results does not recognize the rich diversity of human creative focus, the many destiny paths; nor does it accommodate the necessary free movement. They often offer a bland limited menu of resources and opportunities which stifles creativity, esteem, and the ability to find meaning in one's existence. This puts the cooperative cart before the horse of justice, and the citizens suffer in silence until they eventually revolt. This approach also recognizes that group ideals are necessary and has often attempted to control ideologies and religious choices of its members, through controlled information, media, and propaganda. This requires a certain amount of isolation, which immediately severs the connection with other humans, as well as violating the free choices and developmental opportunities required for a fulfilled spirit.
For many of the reasons listed above, the Communist system was doomed to failure. One might presume that it was defeated by Capitalism, a myth trumpeted by the politicians of the Capitalist system, but this is not quite the case. Communism failed in its competition with Capitalism as a result of the stifling of the basic freedoms of a truly democratic system, i.e. those listed in the American constitution. While limiting the freedom to expand intellectually and economically, it handicapped its citizens on the path of development in all areas. The end result became stagnation in most areas, a fact that became more evident with the development of more sophisticated systems of transportation and communication.
Capitalism, on the other hand, embraces individual freedom, but fosters empowerment through win-lose economic competition, often leaving many unempowered. The misunderstandings about the true nature of competition discourages true connection and promotes individual and group isolation. (It should be recognized that all American competition relies upon cooperative frameworks. Raw win-lose competition is seldom allowed.)
One example of cooperative competition might be members of a particularly large corporation working together to defeat another, smaller corporation until the latter is forced into a financial condition where it must allow the larger corporation to buy it out. Following this "buy-out" the larger corporation initiates a "down-sizing" policy and many of the employees of the bought corporation are forced to seek employment elsewhere. This, inevitably, leads to a mentality of cynicism and a loss of faith in the system.
Win-lose competition in terms of freedom and empowerment will not work. Basic opportunities to learn how to meet needs, and job opportunities are often linked to financial economics, but are essential to biological justice. It sets people apart and allows individuals to run roughshod over one another, and to assume that some are capable of taking care of themselves and some are not. They celebrate the diversity and do not seek equal result, but use it to rationalize away equal opportunity. They ignore huge pockets of the disempowered and disenfranchised, and allow subcultures to arise which will work against the cooperative whole. At least building from the initial priority of individual freedom satisfies one of the conditions of justice, but the full concept of freedom and all its implications have yet to be embraced. Even Americans profoundly limit human freedom unnecessarily, which correspondingly limits the opportunities for empowerment.
While most may believe that they are
enjoying the benefits of free thought and movement, the very system that grants them these privileges is, at the same time, depriving some in their environment of these needs. Knowing that they operate in a system that, at any
moment, can put them in that "deprived" state, takes its toll in fear and insecurity. Both states of mind are uncomplimentary to true freedom. Where the benefits of the empowered are not enjoyed by all, those deprived of
its benefits will seek to empower themselves through less acceptable means, which may often times include violent acts. It is any surprise, then, that America imprisons a significantly higher percentage of their population than any
other democratic nation? Dare we look for a deeper explanation for this confounding state? Some would say it is the price we pay for a "free society". It is NOT!
Take something that one portion of the population finds acceptable and allow another portion of the population to make it unavailable, and you set up a situation where conflict is initiated between the two varied points of view. This state of conflict ultimately results in ramifications throughout the society. Create undo stress in such a society and some will choose to escape through the intake of recreational drugs for example, whether they be legal or otherwise. This will eventually produce an environment where laws are flaunted and crime is rampant.
Thus, both Communism and Capitalism have part of the human story, but neither has it all. Both groups suffer social spiritual corrective signals of fear, anger, crime, violence, revolution, and emotional malaise. For all life forms are intended to be free and empowered within the context of connected cooperation. And the feelings will settle for nothing less.
They are, in effect, two peas in the same political/economic/social pod, opposites in their goals, but quite similar in their methods. Both adopt the principle that the end justifies the means and attempt to subvert the spiritual nature of humans in an effort to achieve a perceived ideal. When each evolves toward its own extreme state, those under its influence move perpetually toward a state of dissatisfaction.
Communistic attempts at cooperative living will immediately dissolve if either freedom or empowerment is compromised. Likewise, although individual freedom is essential, Capitalistic "competition" is not the way to get the highest kind of freedom in an interconnected cooperative world. Disempowerment occurs frequently under the guise of innocent competition, and despite jingoistic affirmations to the contrary, American competition only ensures "liberty and justice for...some". Those without it will rebel and secede from the cooperative unit. Where fear and anger exist, free-flowing justice is sure to be missing. Where justice is missing, defensive self-preservationary, amoral actions will be commonplace, as will external forms of control seeking to prevent them.
It has often been presumed that the reason cooperative systems fail is that humans operate on a basic instinct of greed, when in fact it is the squelching of "freedom or empowerment" that has been most responsible for the failure. In like fashion, the typical capitalistic enterprise usually discourages most forms of free thought and action, removing the protections normally guaranteed in the social and political realms. The choices are most often to go along with a policy or move on to another environment or risk being ousted from one's job. Thus, an inevitable schism evolves between workers and owners.
Justice is the required global condition that must be promoted by all world leaders. Justice ensures the fundamental respect and defense of natural biological boundaries that are valid for every human being despite the rich cultural diversity. In fact, justice encourages diversity of thought and action and life style, for it allows the freedom of each individual to creatively self-express in its own unique way. Justice opens doors and never closes them, unless to enforce the prevention of violations, (which are far less likely, when justice prevails). Justice provides to the world what bodily boundaries and safeguards offer the trinity of self.
The very words "...with liberty and justice for all", capture the essence of the above paragraph and are incorporated in our pledge of allegiance to our flag, a symbol of the freedoms and rights guaranteed by the Law of the Land, our Constitution. Would that these words be put into practice on a uniform basis and a great deal of the intent, as expressed in the above paragraph, would become a reality.
Justice ensures that humans will be free to move about and feel the evaluative outcome of their thoughts and actions in order to find and progress upon the developmental path. Justice will ensure that humanity can lift themselves beyond the survival level, and discover the much fuller potential of the being and transcendent levels of human experience. For indeed, humans are intended to be pulled toward their purposes by positive feelings instead of being pushed away from misguided thoughts and actions by painful experience. In short, a society is not just if it denies the universal rights and freedoms that the Creator has bestowed. Such arrogance should be self-evident.
Once the attractiveness of physical, mental and spiritual fulfillment is made plain to humans, there need not be systems in place to force them to move in a particular direction. The only systems that need to be kept in place are those that favor freedom, justice and of appreciation for one's fellow human beings.
The Biological Condition of Civilization
Connection without justice is simply not possible. Only when the environment is structured in ways that ensure basic freedom and empowerment to control one's own destiny, can it begin to evolve into a true civilization.
It is one thing to know an ideal. It is another thing to put it into practice. To do the latter requires a full appreciation of what we are, in a most complete sense. To know that we are physical, mental, emotional and spiritual and that we are free and creative beings. Then we can start to explore.
The biological condition of a true civilization, is one wherein justice prevails at all times, and individuals can then unite into a cooperative, connected social whole. Civilizations are advanced kinds of social structures that offer opportunities for their members to meet all six of the universal human needs. There are no right or wrong ways to do this. In fact, the more imaginative and creative the structures, the more opportunities they can provide. Civilization is not dependent upon technological advancement, only the effectiveness of its cooperative nature. Contrary to popular belief, the most technologically simple "savages" that have attained true cooperation are far more civilized than even the most technologically advanced warrior competing for basic power.
The best example of advanced civilization is nature. Unless interfered with by humans, it maintains an overall balance while continuing to evolve. We can observe it and we
can even compliment it, but we can only improve upon it when we learn to emulate it.
If we can picture what we would like the world to be, understand the level of freedom necessary to work toward that goal and respect all the forms of existence around us while we strive to reach that goal, then we will be able to begin to call ourselves "civilized".
Any enlightened global social structure must ensure that it provides justice alone, and allows each individual community to devise the desirable civilized structures. The rich cultural traditions that have arisen are testimonial of the human creative expressive abilities and the natural enjoyment from tasting the fruits of many diverse customs and values. A cultural civilization can be likened to a mind---ever evolving, improving, and expanding in ways that allow for the maximum spiritual expression and fulfillment of its members. And many minds are, of course, better than one.
The only uniformity we need to concern ourselves with is that all are free to choose their own path, so long as that path brings no harm to another. Only with such a blessed attitude can we open ourselves to our true potential.
A civilized society is a purposeful society. For when all six needs are met, all three purposes can be met. For example, libraries, educational and technological systems exchange mental resources, share the knowledge we gather, and ensure avenues for gaining esteem and self-development. Our social, economic and political structures promote connection, cooperation, and accommodate the ongoing creative resource exchanges and social refinements. Our arts, religions, and sciences facilitate creativity and provide meaning. The flexibilities within our justice system ensure that cooperation is the #1 rule, violations are not tolerated, and just conditions are maintained.
As we expand along our path, we may even come to find out that there are more than "six needs" and more than "three purposes". It is when true freedom of possibility begins to seep into our institutional overlays, that we will escape from programmed strictures. If we look closely, we can already begin to see our institutions crumbling before our eyes.
Recognizing the simple economics of need-meeting can define the role and dramatically enhance the effectiveness of government. A government is simply a structure through which the cooperative choices of the people can be carried out. If it becomes a controller or manipulator of freedom and power of its people, it shall never work, and should be heartily rejected---in revolutionary ways if need be.
When governments stray beyond their defined purposes, those who are affected by the increase in tyranny can act individually and collectively, within established guidelines or outside of them. We need not assign ourselves a perpetual role of victimization, unless this is all we can create for ourselves. We too easily forget that government is in the role of "employee" and that citizens are the collective "employer". Thus, it is the will of the latter that governs the former. Just as an employer would not tolerate an employee taking control of his business and operating it as he might wish, so the citizenry should not tolerate a government doing so at any level, i.e. conducting itself without consultation with and approval of that citizenry. When those elected to represent the public tend toward favoring the needs of the selective and vested interests, then it behooves the public to force those elected representatives from office or force them by public will, to alter their behavior.
Government at its raw essence is an organized structure which ensures that the cooperative unit is established, maintained, and continuously improved, based upon individual contributions which increase freedom and add opportunities. Good government adds resources, and facilitates that maximum creative, and ingenious forms of resources exchange. If it works with human nature, and succeeds in its role of facilitating justice, the economic and social health will naturally improve. It will promote far more pleasure than pain. (In fact, economic shifts accompany all social change and a healthy economy in the global interconnection is a sign of enlightened progress.)
While a government that institutes policies that enable its citizens to prosper at the expense of the disenfranchised or disadvantaged, may be favored by those who financially benefit, it lays the ground-work for upheaval, whether it be on the economic front or the political/social front. All boats must rise with the tide. Those that get ahead of the tide will only become unbalanced and eventually run aground.
Good government will provide additional resources and opportunities for all members to freely meet their needs. For it will not promote isolation of present methods, but will assist each individual in self-development and self-expression and to be embraced within the cooperative whole.
Part of maintaining a balanced society is seeing to it that those who lag behind are given the opportunity to catch up with those who are enjoying the fruits of the system. This is not "help for helps sake", but "helping those who wish to help themselves".
Good government will focus only upon ensuring justice. The focus will remain upon individual freedom and empowerment. Opportunities will be built into the structure wherein each and every human can find avenues to meet their needs within the structures, regardless of money, family birthright, sex, age, race, or any other arbitrary distinction between spirits in flesh.
We do, in fact, create the level of freedom we deem appropriate for ourselves. To the degree that we believe in what we are entitled to, we acquire those things we feel we need. Good government should compliment that process and does so when we define its role as such.
Bad government will attempt to interfere with and control the natural flow of resource exchange. It will attempt to limit, to legislate external morality, control free information and resource exchanges, invade privacy, and cause far more harm than good. It will attempt to judge and prop up "the weak" while at the same time disempowering its members, creating man-made victims, martyrs and criminals. It will experience inner conflict, warring factions, and gridlock to the point that cultural evolution grinds to a halt. Over-regulation, welfare states, prohibition, victimless crimes, over-crowded prisons and even revolution will all result; as well as fear-driven, volatile or black market economies, and the subcultures, crimes and isolation they promote.
Much of what is described in the above paragraph can easily be found in our society and the societies of other cultures around the world. While we delude ourselves into believing that other cultures are inferior to our own, we are in danger of failing to hold ourselves responsible for our own shortcomings.
In a general sense, government must ensure structures which facilitate and protect self-determined actions of need-meeting self-preservation, while fostering the maximum opportunities for self-development and self-expression for each of its members. It should not attempt to externally control or remove power beyond the ensuring "liberty and justice for all". For without liberty and justice there can be no individual value fulfillment, without which there can be no expansion of the consciousness of the species, without which there can be no unobstructed expansion of All That Is.
Beginning with what we appreciate about ourselves and taking it the point of what we wish to have preserved by our tools of government, we fortify our environment with those characteristics which move us along our spiritual path.
With these simple principles of self-regulated self-determinism in place, we can now turn to the specific activities of enlightened, twenty-first century governments.