Whether it's cold, or whether it's hot,
We're going to have weather, whether or not.
-- Pug Mahoney
When cold air systems meet hot air systems, the clash raises a storm. Just as this can cause conflict in the atmosphere that can affect the general population, so also does conflict in how to handle hot air generated by politicians -- people who believe their way is the proper way for people to behave. This can result in civil conflict among voters.
Curiously, each side criticizes the other for generating "hot air," as if that makes their comments less believable. It is this clash of belief systems that causes a verbal tornado among voters and destruction in an otherwise civilized society.
Result: People are no longer civil.
This is the danger now facing American society. People of varying political beliefs try to work out their differences without resorting to violence.
At least, that is the ideal for a civilized society. It has not always been true, and in America differences like this have led to violent confrontations. That was the case in the 19th and early 20th Centuries, as workers united and demanded better treatment from employers.
One example was wages. At one time, when business went down, so also did wages. This led workers to unite in the cause of steady income.
Eventually, government steps in to settle such conflicts. At first, government sided with employers. Later, when the Great Depression hit both employers and workers, government stepped in to stabilize the economy and to help workers.
One such helping step was the minimum wage law, which prohibited companies from reducing salaries when business declined. Employers were free to pay more, to attract workers of higher skills, but they could not pay less.
Government action such as this kept a balance of power between workers and employers, and prevented major social change such as the rise of dictatorial communism.
It's useful to remember the origin of the words socialism and communism. Both were concerned with the social welfare of all members of the community, seeking a balance between the needs of workers and the desires of employers.
We're going to have weather, whether or not.
-- Pug Mahoney
When cold air systems meet hot air systems, the clash raises a storm. Just as this can cause conflict in the atmosphere that can affect the general population, so also does conflict in how to handle hot air generated by politicians -- people who believe their way is the proper way for people to behave. This can result in civil conflict among voters.
Curiously, each side criticizes the other for generating "hot air," as if that makes their comments less believable. It is this clash of belief systems that causes a verbal tornado among voters and destruction in an otherwise civilized society.
Result: People are no longer civil.
This is the danger now facing American society. People of varying political beliefs try to work out their differences without resorting to violence.
At least, that is the ideal for a civilized society. It has not always been true, and in America differences like this have led to violent confrontations. That was the case in the 19th and early 20th Centuries, as workers united and demanded better treatment from employers.
One example was wages. At one time, when business went down, so also did wages. This led workers to unite in the cause of steady income.
Eventually, government steps in to settle such conflicts. At first, government sided with employers. Later, when the Great Depression hit both employers and workers, government stepped in to stabilize the economy and to help workers.
One such helping step was the minimum wage law, which prohibited companies from reducing salaries when business declined. Employers were free to pay more, to attract workers of higher skills, but they could not pay less.
Government action such as this kept a balance of power between workers and employers, and prevented major social change such as the rise of dictatorial communism.
It's useful to remember the origin of the words socialism and communism. Both were concerned with the social welfare of all members of the community, seeking a balance between the needs of workers and the desires of employers.
One attempt to resolve this issue was the rise of communes in America. However, these communities focused more on the needs of workers than on the benefits due to management.
The problem arose in other countries when those in upper levels of the community resisted attempts by workers to achieve better living conditions. That happened in America also, but was resolved when government officials more concerned with the health and welfare of all members of the community stepped in and passed laws forcing employers to be more considerate of workers.
This included minimum wage laws, pension plans (Social Security), and other social welfare requirements to help stabilize conditions for all members of the community, and not just the wealthy.
However, there are still many who believe workers should be subject to the needs of employers. This ultra-conservative movement remains as part of politics, and periodically there are attempts to revert to earlier social welfare and economic values.
We see it taking place in Great Britain, as government moves to the political right as a way to conserve earlier systems. Hence the party label Conservative. Likewise, those more concerned with the economic health of workers are members of the Labor Party.
America also has two major political parties with similar economic attitudes. The difference is only in labels: Republican and Democratic.
(Sidebar: It's interesting to note that Republican politicians refer to their opponents as the "Democrat" party, as a way of implying they are not "democratic.")
The problem arose in other countries when those in upper levels of the community resisted attempts by workers to achieve better living conditions. That happened in America also, but was resolved when government officials more concerned with the health and welfare of all members of the community stepped in and passed laws forcing employers to be more considerate of workers.
This included minimum wage laws, pension plans (Social Security), and other social welfare requirements to help stabilize conditions for all members of the community, and not just the wealthy.
However, there are still many who believe workers should be subject to the needs of employers. This ultra-conservative movement remains as part of politics, and periodically there are attempts to revert to earlier social welfare and economic values.
We see it taking place in Great Britain, as government moves to the political right as a way to conserve earlier systems. Hence the party label Conservative. Likewise, those more concerned with the economic health of workers are members of the Labor Party.
America also has two major political parties with similar economic attitudes. The difference is only in labels: Republican and Democratic.
(Sidebar: It's interesting to note that Republican politicians refer to their opponents as the "Democrat" party, as a way of implying they are not "democratic.")
Will it change? That's for the future to decide.
No comments:
Post a Comment