Authoritarianism is brutal whatever brand is attached to it, right, left, or theocratic. And yes, I think the Enlightenment Era philosophies that informed much of the social theories of our founding documents tilt leftward. However, I am impressed by the Oracle at Delphi (Pythia) and the three maxims engraved before the temple: Know thys…
Authoritarianism is brutal whatever brand is attached to it, right, left, or theocratic. And yes, I think the Enlightenment Era philosophies that informed much of the social theories of our founding documents tilt leftward. However, I am impressed by the Oracle at Delphi (Pythia) and the three maxims engraved before the temple:
Know thyself
Nothing to excess
Surety brings ruin, or "make a pledge and mischief is nigh"
I note that biological systems are a mind-boggling array of mutually interactive balances (thus we are unwise to %#@& with our climate) but we humans are more comfortable with simple answers. Back in the '70s I met people who thought there should be no private property at all. I have since met or read people who think that any public property whatsoever (even pubic roads) is an anathema. Both seem to me to throw out the babies with the bathwater. I seems to me that both robust private enterprise and public works are the right tool for the right job. Reconciling both can be tricky, but extreme purity loses the plot. In any case, unaccountable power tends to corrupt.
The social theories of Jesus always seemed to me to lean leftward. So did Lincoln. Lincoln's "The legitimate object of government, is to do for a community of people, whatever they need to have done, but can not do, at all, or can not, so well do, for themselves -- in their separate, and individual capacities" sounds more like Marx, or even the "Declaration" than Reagan or Trump, as does “Labor is prior to, and independent of, capital. Capital is only the fruit of labor, and could never have existed if labor had not first existed. Labor is the superior of capital, and deserves much the higher consideration.” Lincoln was not attacking capital, just placing it in its proper perspective.
To JL Graham: you hit the complexities quite squarely. Kermit the Frog sang “It’s not easy being green.” I would substitute “human” for green. Your approach to the problem is commendable. Practicing it will give you lots of friends. When the next pandemic hits, I look forward to the discussion we might have.
Authoritarianism is brutal whatever brand is attached to it, right, left, or theocratic. And yes, I think the Enlightenment Era philosophies that informed much of the social theories of our founding documents tilt leftward. However, I am impressed by the Oracle at Delphi (Pythia) and the three maxims engraved before the temple:
Know thyself
Nothing to excess
Surety brings ruin, or "make a pledge and mischief is nigh"
I note that biological systems are a mind-boggling array of mutually interactive balances (thus we are unwise to %#@& with our climate) but we humans are more comfortable with simple answers. Back in the '70s I met people who thought there should be no private property at all. I have since met or read people who think that any public property whatsoever (even pubic roads) is an anathema. Both seem to me to throw out the babies with the bathwater. I seems to me that both robust private enterprise and public works are the right tool for the right job. Reconciling both can be tricky, but extreme purity loses the plot. In any case, unaccountable power tends to corrupt.
The social theories of Jesus always seemed to me to lean leftward. So did Lincoln. Lincoln's "The legitimate object of government, is to do for a community of people, whatever they need to have done, but can not do, at all, or can not, so well do, for themselves -- in their separate, and individual capacities" sounds more like Marx, or even the "Declaration" than Reagan or Trump, as does “Labor is prior to, and independent of, capital. Capital is only the fruit of labor, and could never have existed if labor had not first existed. Labor is the superior of capital, and deserves much the higher consideration.” Lincoln was not attacking capital, just placing it in its proper perspective.
To JL Graham: you hit the complexities quite squarely. Kermit the Frog sang “It’s not easy being green.” I would substitute “human” for green. Your approach to the problem is commendable. Practicing it will give you lots of friends. When the next pandemic hits, I look forward to the discussion we might have.
In the context of history (written or sung), Lincoln looks good. These days if you characterize him as “left,” however, there’s stigma.