Many people have a rather quaint view of human
relationships. In that view kind and considerate individuals
engage in self sacrifice to help others. The most sacrificial get
the most stars after their names. How does this measure up to
reality?
Real people seek to increase their satisfaction. Facing a
choice they always choose the option they believe will yield the
most satisfaction. They may willingly choose to sacrifice wealth
and time. They don't voluntarily sacrifice satisfaction.
Everyone is greedy about satisfaction. Thus, it is
pointless to brand some as greedy and others as not. So, how
will this all work out? In pursuit of satisfaction everyone needs
many things from others. We all use others to get those things.
Employers need workers. The employer would prefer
that those workers work for nothing. The workers need some
wealth. Most employees would prefer to get that wealth without
working. Neither is likely to achieve the ideal.
When everyone enjoys the liberty to freely choose or
reject offers by others, the workers and employers compromise.
The worker consents to being used by the employer. The
employer consents to being used by the workers.
As long as each believes that the compensation for being
used is worth more than the detriment from being used, the
arrangement works well for both. Many may miss the point that
the worker and the employer are each using the other in pursuit
of satisfaction. Both are greedy.
All voluntary interactions, including social relationships,
work the same way. Consider a date. Each party seeks to use
the other to gain some satisfaction. Each hopes that the benefit
from using the other will be more than the burden of being used
by the other.
In complete liberty no one can use another without the
consent of the one used. Everyone can say "No" and make it
stick. Thus, individuals generally pay rent for the use of other
people. Every individual is free to refuse to accept rent he
considers inadequate compensation for the use.
The rent may be money, a back rub, or anything else that
the recipient considers to be of value. All interactions are
voluntary. Each person seeks to increase his rental value to
others so that in return he can collect higher rent.
A big problem rears its ugly head if some individuals can
use others without the consent of the ones being used. First, the
one used is denied the option of refusing. Second, the one used
isn't compensated for the use. Such one-sided use can be
accomplished only through stealth, deceit and threats of force.
The user either tricks the one used, or threatens "Do it
my way, or I will hurt you." The results are exploitation, strife
and instability. Any society where a substantial percent of the
members use others without their consent, and without
compensation, is headed for big trouble. When everyone tries to
live from the forced, uncompensated use of others, the society
faces collapse.
In our society only government can legally force the
uncompensated use of others. Those who want to use others
must hitch a ride on the government bus. They are doing it big
time. Welfare payments, business subsidies, government paid
medical expenses, and government funded subsidies of any other
kind all are based on the recipient using others without their
voluntary consent.
The users and their enablers in government are no less
greedy than anyone else. It isn't their greed that makes them a
threat to our survival. Their ability to make use of threats and
force to use others is the foundation of the problem.
We can't fix the unfixable. The only hope is to
substantially reduce the power of those in government to forcibly
use others. No one should be subject to being used by others
without his consent. Government can't help anyone without
using others.
* * * * *
* * * *
* * *
* *
*
Copyright 2012
Albert D. McCallum
18440 29-1/2 Mile Road
Springport, Michigan 49284
relationships. In that view kind and considerate individuals
engage in self sacrifice to help others. The most sacrificial get
the most stars after their names. How does this measure up to
reality?
Real people seek to increase their satisfaction. Facing a
choice they always choose the option they believe will yield the
most satisfaction. They may willingly choose to sacrifice wealth
and time. They don't voluntarily sacrifice satisfaction.
Everyone is greedy about satisfaction. Thus, it is
pointless to brand some as greedy and others as not. So, how
will this all work out? In pursuit of satisfaction everyone needs
many things from others. We all use others to get those things.
Employers need workers. The employer would prefer
that those workers work for nothing. The workers need some
wealth. Most employees would prefer to get that wealth without
working. Neither is likely to achieve the ideal.
When everyone enjoys the liberty to freely choose or
reject offers by others, the workers and employers compromise.
The worker consents to being used by the employer. The
employer consents to being used by the workers.
As long as each believes that the compensation for being
used is worth more than the detriment from being used, the
arrangement works well for both. Many may miss the point that
the worker and the employer are each using the other in pursuit
of satisfaction. Both are greedy.
All voluntary interactions, including social relationships,
work the same way. Consider a date. Each party seeks to use
the other to gain some satisfaction. Each hopes that the benefit
from using the other will be more than the burden of being used
by the other.
In complete liberty no one can use another without the
consent of the one used. Everyone can say "No" and make it
stick. Thus, individuals generally pay rent for the use of other
people. Every individual is free to refuse to accept rent he
considers inadequate compensation for the use.
The rent may be money, a back rub, or anything else that
the recipient considers to be of value. All interactions are
voluntary. Each person seeks to increase his rental value to
others so that in return he can collect higher rent.
A big problem rears its ugly head if some individuals can
use others without the consent of the ones being used. First, the
one used is denied the option of refusing. Second, the one used
isn't compensated for the use. Such one-sided use can be
accomplished only through stealth, deceit and threats of force.
The user either tricks the one used, or threatens "Do it
my way, or I will hurt you." The results are exploitation, strife
and instability. Any society where a substantial percent of the
members use others without their consent, and without
compensation, is headed for big trouble. When everyone tries to
live from the forced, uncompensated use of others, the society
faces collapse.
In our society only government can legally force the
uncompensated use of others. Those who want to use others
must hitch a ride on the government bus. They are doing it big
time. Welfare payments, business subsidies, government paid
medical expenses, and government funded subsidies of any other
kind all are based on the recipient using others without their
voluntary consent.
The users and their enablers in government are no less
greedy than anyone else. It isn't their greed that makes them a
threat to our survival. Their ability to make use of threats and
force to use others is the foundation of the problem.
We can't fix the unfixable. The only hope is to
substantially reduce the power of those in government to forcibly
use others. No one should be subject to being used by others
without his consent. Government can't help anyone without
using others.
* * * * *
* * * *
* * *
* *
*
Copyright 2012
Albert D. McCallum
18440 29-1/2 Mile Road
Springport, Michigan 49284
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