Why Morality Matters
by C.A. Matthews
America is in its last days. We are suffering from late-stage cancer--er, capitalism. Perhaps my Freudian slip is closer to the truth than many think. Our world is dying because of the long-held belief that rich men know what's best for the rest of us. That is, somehow the obscenely wealthy actually care for their fellow human beings.
If we're honest with ourselves,we know that's not true. The one-percent care for one thing and one thing only--their net worth. Their fellow humans are an afterthought. We are simply here to serve the rich man and to do his bidding. Above all, we're not supposed to get in his way or confound his plans to amass more wealth because of his "golden rule" that states, "One can never have enough gold to rule."
In a purely capitalistic society everyone must meet his/her needs by selling needed products and services. Those who cannot sell (or entice anyone to buy) their products or services are poor. They become dependent on their relatives or other kindhearted people to provide for them--food, clothing, housing, etc.
In recent times this list also includes providing funds for education or training and health care coverage via a private insurer. When a family cannot afford to provide these necessities for one or more family members, they often all go without. Capitalism sees this unfortunate situation as a necessary evil. You can't sell enough of your product or service because of a natural disaster or unfair trade practices favoring the rich over the working poor? You don't eat. You don't have a place to live of your own (or a home at all). You don't have access to health care even if you or a loved one becomes seriously ill.
Persons who don't produce don't have a reason to exist in a purely capitalistic society. Infants, toddlers, children--they don't produce products or services so they're not needed, are they? The elderly who can no longer work--not needed. The disabled--not needed. People who cannot provide a wanted or needed product or service--not needed.
"But," you say, "We don't throw our children or our blind grandmothers under the bus! We take care of them." If you are able to provide 100% of their care without taking any aid from the government, then you are free to keep the non-necessary people in your household, just as you would take care of a cat or dog. No one can tell you how to spend your money, right? But if you ever find you can't afford these non-productive individuals, or no longer wish to care for them, they will become a burden to society and will have to go.
How do we get rid of these unnecessary and unwanted individuals in a purely capitalistic society? Through the cheapest and easiest methods, one supposes. We stop feeding them. We don't give them health care when they need it. We don't worry if they're homeless or not, unless they are cluttering up our local park benches or sidewalks--then we give them a one-way bus ticket out of town or lock them up in a for-profit prison and force them to work for free.
It makes sense in a capitalistic society. You don't waste your resources, and you certainly don't waste time and energy on maintaining unnecessary "eaters." You let them die off and fade away.
Is this the sort of society you envision America becoming?
Can you see why morality matters now? Do you have a picture in your mind of how late-stage capitalism acts like a cancer upon our country? The United States isn't a purely capitalistic society, of course. We have instituted several socialistic programs over the last 100 years or so, such as a progressive income tax, Social Security benefits, Medicare and Medicaid.
When people argue about the "evils of socialism" they seem to forget that without Social Security/Medicare/Medicaid their grandparents might not be able to pay their heating bills or afford to go to the doctors or pay for a bed in a nursing home if they need one. By accepting a "social safety net" for our most vulnerable family members, Americans are acknowledging the fact that we are already practicing "socialism."
Democratic Socialism is the idea of instituting social safety net programs such as universal health care while maintaining a democratic form of government, one where all can vote and no one is prevented from voting because of race, gender, religion, etc. Alas, Democratic Socialism is often confused by right-wing commentators with Soviet-styled Communism.
Soviet-styled Communism is authoritarian. It is a government led by an authoritarian leader or governing body. Democratic Socialism on the other hand supports grassroots democracy. The voice of the people is paramount in a Democratic Socialistic society and becoming active in the governing of society is encouraged. It provides social safety nets for the vulnerable members because the people demand a moral and just society. It sees all Americans as equals and having the same rights. Democratic Socialism affirms the dignity of all individuals since all individuals are seen as worthy of having those rights. Money, class, race, religious preference or gender does not make one person better than another or deserving of more rights than other members of the society.
Whenever someone tells you that morality has no place in a discussion of American politics or government, tell them you believe in a moral and just society, not a selfish and immoral one. Remind them of the social safety nets Americans already have in place and ask them if they're willing to give them up. Let them know that, if they should become sick or disabled, you're not financially able to care for them or that you believe only certain classes of people deserve to be helped. That statement alone might make them think twice about why morality matters. Nobody likes feeling unwanted.
After all, no man is an island. We exist in society. The word society comes from the Latin for "community." A moral and just society is healthy and productive. And even a die-hard capitalist can see that a productive community is a profitable one, right?
Morality matters because all human beings matter. Make a difference today. Practice moral behaviors and support moral causes.
Originally posted at The Revolution Continues:
http://bernie2016.blogspot.com/2018/03/why-morality-matters.html