When reading the news, there is a perception that we are a nation more divided than ever. There are problems with that perception. There was a serious division in 1862 that took some difficult years to resolve and some of those attitudes still linger. More recently, but just barely within my memory, were the McCarthy hearings of the early ’50s. In between there were some horrible times that we tend to forget and it would be pointless to revive them.
In my lifetime the divisions seem to have narrowed. Like a swinging pendulum, without an outside push the oscillations diminish until they are less extreme. The attitude pendulum is near its apogee and will probably reverse itself soon. Most of us welcome some diversity, in our diet, entertainment, acquaintances, even our friends. Some welcome diversity in their family by adopting, or marrying outside their tribe.
There seem to be some extremes of opinion on economics.
Some believe in totally unrestrained capitalism, survival of the fittest. Convinced they claim that the rich and superrich will provide all sorts of public amenities out of their inherent generosity. Some well-known capitalists, after an aggressive (to put it kindly) career, put their fortunes into charitable trusts.
Some believe in socialism: The state will provide everything. Socialism is based on the concept that each must contribute according to his ability and each receives according to his need. This works for bees and ants where the community is all siblings where the needs and abilities are genetically programmed to fit the needs of the hive.
This has basic problems. The obvious one: Why would a human with free will do more than the minimum to survive if there is no reward for performance? A less obvious problem was well said in the movie Enemy At The Gates: “There is always something to covet.” No matter how evenly the state or community divides the assets or chores there is a perception of inequality. My neighbor’s flat has a better view, his wife is prettier, his kids smarter, the cooks put more on his plate, his job is easier.
So unlike with insects, a ruling class evolves to try to maintain order. They inevitably take care of themselves first. Loyalty becomes more important than ability. Some animals are more equal than others.
If unrestrained capitalism worked according to theory there would be a capitalist paradise somewhere, because there have been plenty of opportunities. Unfortunately the capitalist, like colonial planters, European aristocrats or alii, have their own needs and desires that will inevitably take high priority. The workers, peasants, serfs, slaves, kanaka, well, let them eat poi.
Again a ruling class evolves to maintain order. They take care of themselves. Loyalty becomes more important than ability.
About 1812, Hawaii began to export sandalwood. Most of the profits went to support the royal family, in imitation of European royalty. It was not long before the alii demanded a share too, and so, many kanaka were put to work gathering piculs (armloads) of sandalwood to fill the ships. No one was tending the crops. Fortunes were spent on imported luxuries, like woolens and cast iron heating stoves. It was not long before the sandalwood was virtually extinct and the farms in ruins.
Most of the modern world has devised hybrids of regulated capitalism and limited socialism. We have at alphabet soup of agencies to prevent capitalist bullies from hogging everything and to socialize some things that won’t take care of themselves. Taxes pay for things that would not otherwise be done like public roads, schools and fire protection.
It is not perfect, but perfect can be the enemy of good so we constantly try to improve while extremists on both sides insist that their ideology would work perfectly if we would only let them have it their way. Ours is the worst system, except for all the others that have been tried.
Ken Obenski is a forensic engineer, now safety and freedom advocate in South Kona. He writes a semi monthly column for West Hawaii Today. Email obenskik@gmail.com.
