from Verse Eighty-EightWhen rulers like benevolence, people are rewarded without having achieved anything of worth, and people are allowed to go free even if they have committed crimes. When rulers like punishment, worthy people are neglected and innocent people are charged.~ Wen-tzu: Understanding the Mysteries ~
While I understand the philosophic thrust of this passage -- that the middle path through life is the safest and most just -- I see both of the elements Lao Tzu mentions above playing out in the world today!Particularly in my country, the well-to-do are granted a lot of benevolence by the powers-that-be, while the average person sees more punishment than reward. For example, within the last 18 months, those who have laid waste to our economic system have been treated with kid's gloves; billions upon billions of public dollars have been showered upon them and few have been held responsible for the mess they created.
On the other hand, average folks have lost their jobs, pensions, health care, homes and self-respect. More people are on the Food Stamp program than ever before. Bankruptcy laws have become more stringent and, when Congress had the opportunity to reign in the credit card sharks, they yawned.
This post is part of a series. For an introduction, go here.
As I understand it:
ReplyDeleteThe entire west has been subverted by marxist saboteurs.
The messiah obama is one.
How to tear down the capitalist system in order to rebuild it into the communist utopia?
Destroy all the wealth!
The economic meltdown was orchestrated.
That made a fine excuse for the economic bailout.
Medicare is a late cherry-on-top.
Gordon Brown, under Blair, sold off all the gold in the UK at fire-sale prices.
Nothing of value in the UK is owned by the UK any more.
Both UK and US are far beyond bankrupt.
Do I care?
No I don't.
As Lao Tzu maybe didn't say:
The world is perfect.
And as I say:
It's only the human parasites that often are not.
Obama is not Marxist. He's not socialist. Heck, he's not even a liberal. He's a moderate! We on the left don't like what he's doing any more than those on the far right.
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