One thing that nearly all of us could agree on, is that we are seeking a world that is better than the one we find in our experience. If it was perfect, we would not need a government – they would have nothing to do.
Why are people so unhappy?
The trouble is, there are a lot of unhappy people. The reasons are many and include the practical concerns of finding food, shelter and clothing for ourselves and those we love. For many, it involves finding love and maintaining a loving relationship, yet it seems that meeting these wants and needs is easier ‘said than done.’
Searching…
The idea of utopia is an imagined place or society that is considerably better than the one we have. It comes from a Greek word meaning ‘no place’ or ‘good place’ and was coined by Sir Thomas More, who wrote Utopia in 1516. He was the Lord High Chancellor of England and opposed King Henry the 8th and his separation from the Catholic church, for which was executed in 1532. He was subsequently canonized as a saint by Pope John Paul II and is the patron saint of statesmen and politicians.
When choosing a president, senator, governor, or other politician, it is wise to seek out what kind of policies they espouse. It is also wise to ascertain whether they are honest or not, at least in the sense of whether they will do what they promise or not. It is so easy for power to corrupt human beings who value earthly treasures and not seek the guidance of our higher power. In all cases, one should seek inner guidance as to how to proceed in anything in life, as it is so easy to be deceived in this endeavor.
If it is so hard to find good honest politicians, how does one evaluate those who espouse a perfect utopian system of government where everything is better and everybody is happy? Especially if these folks’ campaign on how bad things are (which they always are) get rid of the current system and put in something better (i.e. Build it Back Better) without getting too specific as to what that might be. That is why one must seek guidance and perhaps, understanding as to what one is voting for and giving permission to happen.
The Upside of Socialism
All people in human bodies have needs and do what they can to meet them. It can be getting them from somebody else or working hard to earn them. In either case, many people try to control others in various ways to get those wants and needs met. In some cases, people reciprocate and work together. Socialism is one way that everybody is treated equally in all forms of life: “from each according to his ability, to each according to his needs” – a slogan popularized by Karl Marx. Ideally, it would ensure peace and tranquility as everybody is treated the same, nobody hoards, and there are no rich and poor because all human needs are provided for.
It sounds like Perfection, like Heaven.
The Downside of Socialism
Nothing in this temporal changeable world is permanent. Changes sought after do not always look the same after they are accomplished. Often it is because of what comes with the change. The romantic dream of a perfect world collides inevitably with the destruction of the “old way” and meeting the day-to-day needs of people. Visionaries are seldom good managers as they get bored with the minutiae of getting competing groups to cooperate. History shows that these managers often have their own agenda, often at variance with the visionaries. The managers usually then insist on cooperation, or else! The first casualties usually are the most productive folks in society, those with a desire to do things their way. The result is the inevitable leveling down of productivity and creative energy. Near poverty often is the result when one side doesn’t want to support people who don’t want to work and the other side feels entitled, having been promised a better life, just as good as anybody else, without having to work as hard for it.
Which is better: Forced Equality or Unbridled Greed?
The enlightened folks remember Heaven dimly and wish to return to it. That is the basis of many who seek escape from a temporal world where nothing is permanent and is thus in a perpetual state of chaos. The idea of ‘Heaven on Earth’ is asking for permanent perfection in a place not capable of it. It has been tried numerous times, (Socialism), sometimes seriously. All too often Socialism has been used as bait by people seeking power. Once the power-hungry have it, they switch to a controlling, tyrannical form of government to try to meet people’s needs and their own as well. Greed is a common denominator: the socialists are greedy for power and money while the out-of-control capitalists are greedy for money and the power it brings.
Some have said that there are only three ways to get money and survival supplies: 1) work for it; 2) steal it from someone who has it; or 3) get power brokers or the government to take it from the workers and give it to them. Hardly anyone has formulated a system to get everybody to work together, except a government ruled by laws and not temperamental individuals.
Enlightened Leaders seek Unity and people working together for shared goals.
Unfortunately, unity of thought is impossible in a world of billions of separate temporary bodies. Permanent Peace and Love are illusionary in the physical world. The pressures of survival, life and death, sickness and health and many other influences intrude and force people to choose between the survival of the world they know or the Heaven they remember and long for.
Still, most people want the same things: a happy family, a satisfying pursuit, peace and safety and a good place to raise this family. There are different ways of making sure that these goals are met, but the goals are ultimately the same. Deciding how to do this requires finding guidance as to what is purely personal and what is there for the good of all the people. It isn’t always easy to discern this, which is why an overarching viewpoint is necessary. God is the only viewpoint bigger than all humanity. If we hold on to our own ideas of what is the right thing to do, we pretty much guarantee that we will not be happy for long. As A Course in Miracles puts it, “Do you prefer that you be happy or right?”
The founders of the American Experiment stressed that this system would not work unless all people shared a spiritual perspective. They specifically said not a religion mandated and manipulated by the government. Capitalists often have to seek guidance to grow their businesses as they must meet the needs of many people, often before they even know it. You must love people and treat your workers well, or the business will begin to fail.
A downside of socialism is that they tend not to be spiritual. They find that religions and spiritual groups tend not to be controllable in the ways they want. It helps if people begin to see the government in the same light as a god, controlling their lives and responsible for all good things in life, if they comply with the micromanaging tendencies individuals have.
Does it really matter, in the end?
The good thing is that all paths lead to LOVE and Heaven. The enlightened are sure of it. A successful economy with plenty of opportunity lets one spend less time on making a living and more on finding ways to help their neighbors. For others, a lousy economy with not enough of anything motivates them to seek something better and work with their neighbors to do so. Good times, bad times, and in-between can all motivate spiritual searching.
Some prefer success enough to share and to spare. Some prefer to be begging for more all the time, hoping to find answers. In any case, “Seek not to change the world, but choose to change your mind about the world.” – ACIM
The Enlightened Politiholic might just help people to see the good inside of themselves and others, accepting and helping them as best we can in any way that we can. It isn’t the government’s job, it is each individual’s job. The things of this world have no value in Heaven, so we must lay aside the valueless. Entering Heaven means no money or things. We are all ‘empty-handed’ and have open minds.
Heaven on Earth?
The search for a perfect world is not found in this temporary one. This world cannot conceive of Heaven as it really is; that is there is nothing like it here to compare it to. When we recognize that we really are One and see each other as a part of that One and treat all others as Ourself, then what appears to be “Heaven on Earth” will just be the prelude to the disappearance of anything not Love or separate or not peaceful. The secret is that giving up everything here in this temporary world means realizing Love everywhere for eternity.
Is that Utopia or what?