A couple of years ago I wrote a post about social myths. I would like to apologize now to all you hundreds of freshmen political science students who have googled the phrase and been directed to that post as a source for your pape. And now there will be another one you will not find to be very authoritative. In the context of political science a social myth is a fear that is created by a person or entity in power for the purpose of maintaining that power. It is the creation of a fictitious common enemy, and insidiously plays upon the human weaknesses of fear, selfishness and prejudice.
One of the things that makes the strategy so dangerous is that the masses who are being misled and manipulated by the powers that be are like me. I would never be so foolish as to fall for such a thing. But I might.
It is still difficult for me to imagine that the good people of Germany fell for the rhetoric of Hitler prior to World War II. They were good people. And yet, somehow they became so convinced by the myth created by der Fuhrer that they at best allowed and at worst participated in the atrocities of the holocaust and the other outrages of his effort to conquer Europe.
Immigrants, minorities, liberals, intellectuals, homosexuals, religions, communists, unions, and witches, real or imaginary, have been the stuff of which social myths have been made, not only in the past, but in the present.
It seems to me that social mythology has become commonplace in today's politics. Perhaps the results are not as horrific as the holocaust, but it is certainly becoming an obstacle to intellectual discourse and progress in solving the problems that beset us. For example:
"Big government."
Makes chills run up your spine, doesn't it?
But why? What has big government done that is so odious, so evil?
I will tell you.
It has protected, or attempted to protect you from big business. The scary reality is that the power that is creating the social myth regarding "big government" is the real power in our society. That power is big business and big money. The only thing, and I mean the only thing at this point in time that can, or is, offering any protection to ordinary people from the soul-less will of big business is big government.
Perhaps you are thinking that Bob is just on another liberal rant. And you might be right. But it doesn't mean I am wrong.
If "big government" were not regulating "big business" in its use and abuse of the environment, water, air and natural resources, would "big business" regulate itself? Seriously?
If "big government" were not regulating the financial industry, would "big business" look after the best interest of the consumer as a matter of conscience? Did you sleep through the past ten years?
If "big government" failed to pursue safety standards for consumer products, like seat belts in automobiles and testing for medicines, would "big business" have foregone profit and done it voluntarily? Can you say Ford Pinto? or Monsanto?
If "big government" had no interest in protecting labor would "big business" have voluntarily addressed limiting work hours, safety, overtime, and minimum wage?
If "big government" ignored the constitution and turned a blind eye, would "big business" have dealt with discrimination against minorities, age groups and women?
If you believe that "big business" would have done any of these things, you may be in danger of swallowing the latest social myth.
"Business" is not bad. It is not good. It is just a structure for exchange of goods and services and amassing capital to do more business. It has no conscience, in and of itself, other than making a profit. The less it spends on compensation for resources, or for protection of or damage to the environment, or safety for labor, or for safety of its products, or for assuring justice in employment, the more money it can keep as profit.
Government, while far from perfect, has at least one component that business does not have. It must answer to all the people. If it does not, it will change. Ideally, big government does have a conscience, and that is the conscience of the people.
There is a common line that often surfaces in these discussions. "What is good for business is good for America."
Is it good for America to have a toxic environment? Is it good for America for its consumers to use inherently dangerous products? Is it good for America for its labor force to be at risk of physical injury or disease because of work? Is it good for America to allow discrimination based on race, religion, gender, sexual orientation or age?
Is it good for America that jobs, good jobs, have been exported to other countries?
Is it good for America that trillions of dollars of real cash are being held by "big business" while the country is in a recession and millions of people are unemployed?
That's crazy talk, you might be thinking. Those are just good business decisions. And you would be right. But those decisions, and others like them, are not good for America. They are just good for business.
Business is important because of the way our cultures and economies have evolved. It can be a very, very good thing. It can make our lives far better. Many do.
But I don't believe big business can be a good thing without strong government.
Maybe I'm wrong.
And maybe you're a witch.
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