quote:
Originally posted by Thoran:
The weakness of socialism is that they tried to deny this simple and unavoidable reality. If a high performing individual is given the same life as a low performing individual... you eventually reduce the entire civilization to a "least common denominator" state where no one is motivated to achieve... because it gains them NOTHING that "Nature" (and thus those base drives we all live with) values.
I would LOVE to be able to say that humanity has evolved to the point where the motivation for "group" success within a person is stronger than the motivation for "self" success... but we aren't there yet, and given the time required for even basic changes in physiology I'd guess it will be thousands of years before that might happen... and even then it will ONLY happen if there's a clear "Natural" advantage to doing so.
We can kid ourselves with the notion that we live in an enlightened world... but in the end "Nature Rules". All we can strive for is to UNDERSTAND the things that really motivate and try to exert a positive influence over the more self centered drives.
Maybe that sounds a bit pessimestic... in reality I'm an optimist about human prospects. I see slow change, and if we can hold it together long enough we may get there. Keep in mind that Humanity has only been the "Master of all it surveyed" for a bit over a century. Before that we were struggling for survival against nature... the true hope IMO is that we change from struggle against nature to the "Guardians of Nature". Some already are there in this world, most are not. But I have faith.
[ 01-16-2002: Message edited by: Thoran ]
Good post! Socialism and communism have a hard time working because of a lack of motivation. That's why propaganda is so popular in these types of governments. Regardless of what government you have, you always get the same thing. The rich and the poor are existant in every one! As far as chrity goes, people are willing to help others. As long as it doesn't hurt them. Really, can you blame us? Helping other third world countries requires more than pumping money into them. It requires a change in the way they live. It requires enlightening the ignorant. It's not as easy as it sounds. Change scares folks and scary things are evil to the barbaric. Do you watch educational channels? Some places are still so primitive and barbaric that they practice body mutilation as rites of manhood and womenhood! Some tried to bring their practice with them to the US. They were quite surprised and outraged when they were prosecuted for what they did to their children! That's how strong the ignorance is! They weren't running away from ignorance, they brought it with them! I think I'll open up a thread on what I read. I'm getting off topic here.