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Dr. Herb Ruhs & grandson
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Ideology is a poison
regardless of the flavor
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by Herb Ruhs, MD, Unknown News July 12, 2008
Relative economic equality is the foundation of personal liberty and
societal success. Poor health, as reflected in shorter average life
spans, declining productive capacity and progressive social decay, as
reflected by increasing violence and anti-social behaviors, are all
closely correlated with extremes of economic inequality.
Movement towards equality and movement towards inequality |
are both
self-reinforcing phenomena. Movement towards greater economic
equality enhances a whole host of desirable changes in a society and
accelerates the movement. Literacy and education increase. The
various racial, ethnic and gender discriminations wane. The overall
standard of living improves
This process is observable when
comparing diffe-
rent societies at a given time, and within societies
over time, as economic equality increases. How-
ever, economic
equality is extremely difficult to maintain in complex societies as
wealth and advan-
tage always seek to concentrate and established
redistributive measures are repeatedly undermined and sabotaged as
concentrations of wealth press relentlessly to aggrandize by seeking
control over societal institutions.
The exact opposite is observable in societies moving toward greater
inequality. The end point of the progress toward inequality is
feudalism. Feudalism, as opposed to the condition of a society that
has attained a marked degree of economic equality, is a highly stable
system and can persist for hundreds or even thousands of years with
extremely low productivity, longevity (including the lords
themselves), and literacy.
On the positive side, feudal societies
generally are kinder to the environment, use fewer resources, and
promote localized diversity in culture and the arts, but the cost in
lost human potential is extravagant.
In the past, the drive for greater economic equality has been
reflected in struggles between powerful groups in a society. One
group, be it defined by religious, class or occupation seeks to
replace a traditionally dominant group. When successful these
struggles, even if they at first result in greater degrees of
equality, inevitably decay into another move towards greater
inequality. The core belief that drives this aborted process of
achieving equality is the belief that equality is achieved by
alliances of the oppressed organizing to defeat the interests of a
privileged elite. Liberation for some always leads to oppression for
the many.
As Einstein famously said, "Insanity is doing the same thing over and
over again and expecting a different result." This insight, as
applied to the process of political reform suggests that the standard
ideology of liberation is grievously at fault, if not simply a
reflection of mass insanity.
An alternative approach, and the only
one that has historically produced prolonged periods of eco-
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As Einstein famously said, "Insanity is doing the same thing over and
over again and expecting a different result."
This insight, as
applied to the process of political reform suggests that the standard
ideology of liberation is grievously at fault, if not simply a
reflection of mass insanity.
An alternative approach, and the only
one that has historically produced prolonged periods of economic
equality, is to focus instead on the enforcement of human rights, as
codified now in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
When we
can achieve the maturity to see that an injustice to anyone is an
injustice to everyone, and that those experiencing the greatest
injustice deserve priority attention, we will have earned the right
to live in peace and abundance.
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nomic
equality, is to focus instead on the enforcement of human rights, as
codified now in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. When we
can achieve the maturity to see that an injustice to anyone is an
injustice to everyone, and that those experiencing the greatest
injustice deserve priority attention, we will have earned the right
to live in peace and abundance.
As long as the petty concerns of self-identified groups, no matter
how worthy that identity is seen to be, are allowed to overshadow the
extremes of suffering of individuals, we will continue to be plagued
with cycles of mass suffering and destruction. If we fail to abandon
the calculus of self-assertion and continue with the dogfight of
identity politics then we can be assured of a future, if we have a future
at all, of universal feudalism and barbarity.
Democracy as well as
tyranny can demonstrably lead to this fate. In either case one
group, the majority in one case, or the most violent in the other,
seeks to dominate and dispossess others. Ideology is a poison
regardless of the flavor.
If we can establish a social hierarchy of virtue and reject
hierarchies of dominance, reject the rightness of merit as well as
might, we can hope to fulfill our full human potential. Only if
concern for others, especially the poor and the weak, the young and
infirm, the foreign and remote, becomes the dominant rallying cry of
political discourse can we hope to save ourselves from ourselves.
Otherwise, humanity deserves its fate. Evolution can go back to the
drawing board and work on manifesting a more intelligent species to
replace us.
© by the author.
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