Revolution, Evolution or Devolution?

There are multiple banners being waved about now, and everyone has an opinion. People are roused up to stand on the barricades and declare themselves as something or the other, as long as they choose a side. Does this really advance us as a species?

Liberals versus conservatives; socialists versus capitalists; communists versus reactionaries; government control freaks versus anarchists; morons versus… other morons. They’ve all forgotten – or maybe they’ve chosen to ignore – the one trait that unites us all. Humanism. Instead, they persist with their petty squabbles through their own choosing.

All of the above ideologies have already been tried and tested and found wanting in more ways than one. Except pure humanism combined with common sense. And yet, while these ideologies profess to solve all of humanity’s problems, each one of them remains blinkered enough – dare I say painfully stupid? – to ignore the overwhelming similarities and instead focus on the few differences, too ignorant or too brainwashed to try and resolve these peacefully to everyone’s benefit.

Read the list below and see if there’s anything you don’t approve of. Regardless of your background and political leaning, I dare you to disagree with any of the following:

• Personal safety, whether from street muggers or overzealous police
• Absolute equality, regardless of who and what you are, or where you live
• Getting most of your paycheck in your hand, instead of the government taxing you and making you bleed, then apportioning parts of it back to you in any way it sees fit, just because “it knows best”
• Being unemployed and yet, regardless of the reason, continue to get sufficient financial support by the government until you pick yourself up and get another job
• A faultlessly working public infrastructure under government control, i.e. transport, education, health, mail – you’ve paid for it through taxes, after all
• Freedom to do what you want and when you want to, in the privacy of your own home and without government interference, as long as it doesn’t affect or harm anyone else
• Know that your parents, old and frail enough to require round-the-clock care, receive this care as the state had promised, after all it taxed them heavily throughout their lives
• Expect your pension to be commensurate to your lifelong contributions to the state coffers, allowing you to have at least a decade or so without worries

(There are many, many more compelling reasons for being a Humanist. In fact, I’ve got an extra bunch of ’em ready but I’m saving them for the next post, just in case you don’t get this one.)

I know. The list above reads like an unholy mix of capitalism and communism, with some crazy liberal and socialist and right-wing ideas thrown into the mix just to confuse everyone. But step back, take a deep breath or two, then think about it. It’s all about being human and all of us wanting and expecting fair treatment. Wouldn’t you?