German philosopher Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel contended that the State is the march of God on Earth.
German philosopher Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel contended that the State is the march of God on Earth. Put another way, Hegel believed that the State is the divine manifestation on the earth.
Today, in our country there are those who believe that most problems can be solved by the State, that the business sector is oppressive, if not corrupt, and that the State should control virtually every aspect of the economy and society more broadly. Beyond that, there is a movement to redistribute wealth from those who created it or inherited it, to those who haven’t earned it nor inherited it, all under the banner of justice and equality. Both of which will only be accomplished under State control.
Not surprisingly, there is a battle that will only intensify between those who possess wealth and those hoping for government redistribution. This alienation needs to be bridged by something or someone. For Hegel and for today’s Progressives, this must be the State.
Could there be another approach to economic reconciliation?…
The State cannot form a friendship, it cannot create a real lasting sense of community. It never has been successful in this attempt, anywhere in history. What does create lasting community and lasting friendships are people. Importantly, relationships can be developed across any socio-economic differentiator. It may involve getting out of one’s comfort zone, but relationships can be built between people from all walks of life. I’ve been blessed to have made wonderful friends through my coaching experiences and mission trips. Nothing the State has ever done has created a friendship or sense of community for me or anyone I know.
And once relationships are established all things are possible. It is possible, and not really that complicated, to encourage, inspire, and assist, those with challenges (of any kind) to advance economically or socially in any fashion. Progress instills hope and confidence that continued progress is possible, and this creates self-motivation, self-reliance, and can even create a sense of thankfulness for what we have achieved and can achieve. All this happens through personal relationships, not through State mandates or programs (as we have seen through the history of entitlement programs in the U.S.)
The behavior of the business sector needs to change, as I’ve said in previous newsletters, and will continue to in future newsletters, but suffice to say, that servant leadership, a commitment to integrity, and living within our means will play significant roles in this much needed transformation.
In the meantime,… Hegel was wrong, and the Progressives are today. The State is definitely NOT our higher and better self. So, what is our better self? Here’s a few ideas on that.
Our better self is…
- When we do something for someone who can never repay us
- When we do a random act of kindness
- When we make a new friend When we forgive
- When we say please and thank you
- When we sacrifice and serve
- When we seek first to understand rather than being understood
- When we listen more than we speak
The viewpoint today that socialism would be a better system than what we have now is a really bad idea. Granting too much power to the administrative State is a step closer to totalitarianism. It’s up to each one of us to reverse this mindset by demonstrating our better self. Each day, every day, one relationship at a time.