The actual words
of Stanislaus Leszinski were “I prefer a
perilous freedom to a peaceful slavery”. Personally, I can fully understand
the sentiments behind his words, but regrettably, the vast majority of the 6
billion souls on this planet prefer the latter to the former comment – but they
are completely unaware of the fact.
I ask each of us
to consider two aspects. First, the ‘peaceful slavery’ we undergo thanks to big
business, who “encourage” us to become slaves to their “gadgets” whether we
need them or not. We are ‘hot-wired’ to respond to this “encouragement” whether
it be for our own satisfaction of ‘ownership’ or our internal desire to be
“better than them next door” – the biggest, newest, faster, brightest ‘must-have’
is a powerful motivator, and this is well-known to those in business.
Secondly,
consider the additional burden placed upon all of us by “The State” in all its
forms. It is a money-sucking machine, sprawling like a beached octopus with its
fingers everywhere. For example, every town has its own administration (paid
for by the people); every district has its administration (paid for by the
people); each province has its own administration (paid for by the people);
Central Government has its sprawling administration (paid for by the people),
thus overwhelming everything…. So many burdens perpetually exhaust the people.
Moreover, far from being better governed by all these layers, they (we) are
much worse off compared with a less stratified environment. Taking this aspect
to its finality, hardly any resources remain in cases of emergency; and when it
is necessary (vital) to have access to them, the state trembles on the brink of
ruin. What a way to run a country!
Thus, all this
is regarded as ‘civilisation’ when in fact it is a state of virtual slavery.
Forgive me, but this is not for me.
Re-reading ‘The Social Contract’ by J.J. Rousseau
and using my poor words, I, as an individual, wish to develop as fully as I
possibly can, so that I am not merely a ‘money-machine’ for layers of
government, but a free being and a moral equal to all.
Until next time
(and enjoying my perilous freedom),
Well done, P.S. This is a very deep post for a cold Sunday - just right for sitting by the fire (with a glass of something Scottish!) and discussing with friends.
ReplyDeleteJames Totnes
James, thank you. Enjoy your musings - and the "Scottish".
ReplyDeleteI fully agree with you, yet I am not sure we are all always given the privilege of choice. Perhaps I'm mistaken here. Whilst I believe we can easily be freed from big business slavery, I am not currently aware of how I could become entirely free from "the State". Perhaps I should read "The Social Contract", too.
ReplyDeleteThank you
Lucana
Thanks, Lucana. I don't think any one of us can be entirely free from "the state" but I do believe that "the state" is far too large and complex (too many tiers of bureaucracy as well as dominating or lives too much). There has to be a balance between freedom to live as we wish (so long as our actions do not impinge on the freedoms of others) and the attitude of "the state" to get us to live our lives as THEY want.
ReplyDelete