Every new regime comes dressed in new language and promises of fairness and “a new day ahead”—but it’s often the same old structure with new bullies at the top.
Those who promise to be ruthless for you will be ruthless to you once they gain power. The real failure of socialism, communism and capitalism isn’t the system—it’s letting wolves replace wolves. Predators always serve themselves. From the schoolyard to the palace, we treat bullies like gods—and they agree.
Closer to Home
Such failures aren’t limited to bloody revolutions or national power struggles. The same vices and seductions are rife in society, in families, local politics, homeowners associations, gardening clubs, school boards and religious denominations.
A wronged individual or group protests, organizes and eventually overcomes the bullies—real or perceived—who held power. They’ll then wield whatever levers of power are available to punish former opponents—or even bystanders. Public shunning, shaming, fines, permit denials, access blocking, firing, even arrests—whatever tools are at hand.
Should bullies be resisted and restrained? Of course. But when those who win against them simply become the new bullies, everyone loses.
Imposed, persistent and ingrained authority is not solved by swapping out the bully. Never trust a wolf who claims he’s there to protect the sheep. In both large and local conflicts, we must see the character and methods of the predators—bully or parasite—and replace them with leaders deeply committed to action toward mutual care.
The good life is one inspired by love and guided by knowledge.
– Bertrand Russell, “What I Believe” (1925)
Here’s the basic pattern of authority in a society created for mutual care: We consent to the expert authority who chooses the seeds and directs the timing of planting and harvesting, and we consent to the supervisor who assigns and oversees the various complex and extensive duties needed to plant, tend and harvest. The supervisory authority is genuine and directive, but it is granted by us, consented to, and we all benefit from it.
Clearly there are ways that granted authority can fail or be abused. But mutual care relies on expertise and supervision—experience and social wisdom—to coordinate shared efforts for the best outcome.
The authority is granted by us, not imposed on us. We elect leaders with knowledge and skill, not bullies who impose their will. This is the basic model and genius of representative democracy. We elect local and national supervisors to coordinate our common life and work. We give them power to govern—and we expect them to use it for everyone’s benefit. If they fail, prove corrupt or inept, we vote them out.
It’s messy, because bullies and parasites will attempt to manipulate any system to serve themselves. Their goal is always to benefit themselves at others’ expense. Bullies, Parasites and Slaves—the BPS model—always repeats: take, exploit, hoard.
Any effort by humans to do something together will be complex, because we are complex. But avoiding becoming slaves once again means always resisting and restraining bullies and parasites, most especially those that pretend to be our friends, allies and advocates. Which means seeing them where they are and knowing how they work. And then refusing to concede an inch to them.
Our standard for our leaders—those we entrust with authority—must always be mutual care. If they work well for the good of all, we celebrate their leadership. If they fail, we replace them with only those who will champion and enable mutual care—our rights and needs, fulfilled by our obligations and abilities. This is the wisdom of loving. This must always be our model.
We must ask of every law and initiative: Does it foster mutual care? Does it fulfill our shared needs—for food, clothing, housing, health, education, safety? Does it affirm our obligations to each other? Fulfilling both, needs and obligations, creates the greatest prosperity for all.
That’s the test.
It follows that there will be laws and leaders from whom we must withhold consent, and initiate protest, civil disobedience, refusing to obey unjust laws or participate in corrupt systems. This is a legitimate exercise of the rights of the governed, when those rights are threatened or denied. We use them to challenge and remove what threatens our mutual care.
And finally, use this as a lens at the ballot box, to judge the proposals and individuals that seek your consent. Withhold it if they don’t measure up. Grant it only if they do.