Wen Tzu - Verse 55, Part I

from Verse Fifty-Five

To have trustworthy men distribute goods does not compare to determining portions and drawing lots. Why? Because the attitude of the concerned toward fairness is not comparable to that of those who are not concerned.

~ Wen-tzu: Understanding the Mysteries ~

Regardless of the type of government utilized in a region, the haves get to determine what the have nots will receive. Of course, we know why this scheme is followed time after time: the haves are the ones with the power to decide.

It's an unfortunate fact of life that the haves rarely understand what the have nots need to maintain a subsistence lifestyle. This point has been driven home over the years in the US when government officials have participated in experiments related to Food Stamps.

It has not been uncommon for officials -- who tend to vote against increases in the social safety net -- to change their tunes when asked to live for one week or one month solely on the amount of food that can be purchased with these coupons. All of a sudden, they come to realize that what they thought worked out well on paper does not translate at all in the real world. They quickly understand how difficult it is to put nutritious food on the table in enough quantity to fill the average belly!

This post is part of a series. For an introduction, go here.