The Civil Contract

A wrench being thrown into a set of gears.Pretty much from the start we are all trained how to behave in society. We learn that we can’t take things that belong to others, among other “moral” concepts. Obviously, the people who fare best ignore that principle when it’s of benefit to them.

Why don’t homeless people break windows and take what they want or need? Most of us would kill an animal if we were hungry or cold, why not a person who has far too much? Again, there are many who do very well by effectively killing those with far too little—but they’re not the question—they’ve found their way.

A few French dared to protest German occupation by breaking the windows of collaborators and throwing a metaphorical wrench into the Nazi machine when they could do so without being caught. America’s own patriots used similar methods to get done what they determined needed to get done.

It would seem hard for any government to ignore 30, 20, or even 10 percent of its citizens if they were so dissatisfied that they started smashing things when no one was looking. Particularly since a resolution would be of interest to business. But that’s not how we do things in a civilized society—we grin and bare it.

 

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