Les Phillips
Our national argument to define our guiding values is an example of how the US is still an active experiment in democracy and governance. What we decide, through confrontation and debate will set us on a path that will affect generations into the future; prosperity and peace or, poverty and conflict.
There are some Americans, often conservatives, that believe that the world is ruled by Darwinian, dog-eat-dog forces. There is a set amount of wealth, security, and freedom in the world and it is necessary to protect what you have because, if not, someone else, an immigrant, political opponent, or other undeserving person will take it from you. Because the pie has only a limited number of slices it is necessary to approach everything as a transaction, an exchange of goods or services that, at best, leaves both parties even, but most often creates winners and losers. This transactional world is one of keeping and settling scores.
In a transactional world, ironically, when I succeed I pay a heavy price that increases the threat to my wellbeing. My gain means that others have lost, generating resentment, a desire to settle the score and likely more problems in the future.
This perpetual shortage implies that things will only get worse and the struggle will become more desperate. The future contains only struggle and loss. No wonder then, that many conservatives find immigrants, border security, taxes, government, and unencumbered voting so frightening. In each case, it is a personal loss that puts them at a worse advantage in their struggle to have a decent life. This is a legitimate concern in a transactional world.
However, there is another world view, supported by everyday experience, that shows us that we can have a world where there is cooperation and concern for fairness on both sides in an agreement. This is the Transformational world, where both sides understand that there is ample wealth to share and no need for a shortages or desperation. This doesn’t mean there aren’t transactional activities, they will continue, but that they are performed mindful of transformational values. The world is not dog-eat-dog; it’s more like dog pack, where each member works for the well being of its pack mates.
Ample wealth? Currently, there are about 7.6 billion humans on earth. Yet, in the last 25 years, through the efforts of the UN and its members like the US, the percentage of people in abject poverty has dropped to its lowest level ever, even as our population continues to grow. In other areas, such as the growth of the middle class, the same is true. World-wide, the middle class is growing. In the US we are wealthy enough to give $1.5 trillion to the wealthy and powerful.
History demonstrates that new wealth is created every minute by the efforts of everyday people who make, sell, or buy things, i.e. the labor and middle classes. Main street is where wealth is created. That is why wealth world-wide is increasing. The real question is, how to distribute it fairly. In the US we have chosen to give our treasure to folks who are already wealthy and powerful. We impoverish ourselves.
The real problem isn’t illegal aliens, crime, Democrats, Liberals, or even Russians. It is us. We Americans have locked ourselves into a win, lose mind set; where the claim is that there is not enough money, work, security or respect. They are right, so long as we continue down the transactional path.
On the other hand, the transformational approach would see everyone prosper, including the wealthy and powerful. Transformational interactions are far better at gathering information and evaluating the transaction in the light of its impact on society and the environment. The wealthy will need to be patient about receiving their cut, because prosperity will start at the bottom and trickle upwards, allowing everyone to share. Besides, if you are wealthy and powerful, you are already set up for security and your physical needs, waiting a bit for your share isn’t unreasonable.
Thus, in the end, we suffer due to the actions we ourselves have taken. We have not seriously looked at other approaches, particularly the transformational, that promise to be fairer in the sharing of our nation’s success. We built this economy over 250 years and have shaped it all along the way. Our economic system is man-made and reflects the thinking of the time. Today, with our fuller understanding about human nature, business, and the interdependence we share with the rest of the planet, we can adjust our capitalist system to be more responsive to human needs while still maintaining its intent.
We need to stop blaming others for our misfortunes. We have done it to ourselves and need to take responsibility and then fix the inequities. In the end we can improve the lot of all groups of Americans; even the wealthy.
Let’s keep this experiment in democracy alive.
