There are problems in society that seem to be perpetual. Some of them suggest that in standard societal life we do not really address main points that would change the profiles of mankind in society, both in personal and social life. One of these contexts has been mentioned rather often in literature, but usually in passing, without much effort in addressing solutions, or in communicating the ways persons follow for life survival and functioning. Just one short article in The Week (11/12/2012, pg. 23) will provide citation that can be replicated from other publications: …. If people with your surname in 1800 were members of the elite, you’re likely to be elite, too; if your family name was linked to poverty back then, odds are it still is. ‘As much as 60 percent’ of our social status ‘is determined at the time of conception’ . . . . What’s really shocking about this finding is ‘that the number is as constant as it is.’. . . . when researchers looked even farther back in the record books, they found that the speed of social mobility hasn’t changed since the Middle Ages. The article calls the conclusions surprising, that they are applicable in any of a number of countries reviewed, and that the presumption of the researchers before they uncovered the evidence was that there would be a dramatic shift upwards, but they found the opposite. Few articles about mankind strike me as depressingly as do these that reveal the deep flaws of individual lives – inherited.
The story is similar for social lives related to institutions – like government. The Romans were characterized in their decline as keeping in check the general public by providing bread and circuses. The bread became less nourishing and the circuses became more vicious, ending after Christians were fed in numbers to the lions. It is tragically evil and bizarre that the public was entertained by the suffering and death of prisoners and gladiators. Two thousand years later actual death in entertainments has been reduced, but the concept remains for violence. As this is being written my state is working on a program to build a new stadium for the professional football team in Minneapolis. The cost will be above one billion dollars. This is being done even with several stadia already available – a new one at the university across the river for football at the University, a new one under way for the St. Paul professional baseball team, and a new one downtown for baseball. This being done while states are struggling with a recessional turn in the economy that has hung on for more than seven years, governments stalled in party politics, high unemployment, increasing public indebtedness, and a stern malaise among the population and elders threatened with losses of their retirement savings in the decline of the economy. Except for the massive blood shedding the public is called upon to fund entertainment in the modern era, as it was in the ancient. This becomes especially bizarre in that the persons most benefitted by the admitted profits from the investment in stadia and surrounding areas are already rich beyond the common imagination. This story might be fleshed out to other near unbelievable contexts and dimensions. This is part of our mystery.
Government ought to exist for the welfare of its citizens, for health and environment, for cooperation with the public in organizing and monitoring public services, and to develop good-will among nations. That’s about it – except for the magnificent context it ought to foster to generate public pride, good will, history and legacy. There ought to be plans to meet emergencies caused by disasters. Some of its important work ought to be done by volunteers who return to the public, some in government services, what has been given in a free society. The wealthy and middle class in society ought to provide the extras through foundations, gifts, and volunteer service. Our present system has created a significant population which works the system because the coddling concept has emerged shadowing any serious attempt to address old nagging problems. The concept of entitlement has now taken so strong hold on some groups of the population that new approaches, creative and nurturing to an adult and mature population has been diluted of its intended meaning, its social necessity and its dignity. Eminent historians may have struck the chord rightly – that all nations ultimately fall of their own weight in what is either stated to be, a fall to lesser conduct, to selfishness, to dependence on something other, but not on themselves and God. The good life is partly dependent upon leadership, work, values and proper order. *Mark W. Lee, Sr. — 2016, 2020