The Politician and the State

[Guest guest]

JUST AS THE PRIEST IS THE PROGRAMMER OF A FUTURE IN HEAVEN, the

politician is the programmer of a future on Earth. Both offer a

better time to come than that which is actually happening to us now.

In order to achieve that future which " does not yet exist, " both

priest and politician are prone to believe that any " means " are

justified. In order to achieve peace one must go to war. In order to

achieve the golden future we must get past the present (make the

present the past) as soon as possible. Both programmers find their

main leverage to accomplish those aims, which may in fact be both

benign and well-intentioned, in the manipulation of the ego.

As egos we derive a sense of identity from our social group and

peers. We need others as mirrors to reaffirm our existence. We need

recognition and attention. It is estimated that most of us spend as

much as 90 percent of our lives seeking such personal reinforcement

or what are popularly known as psychological " strokes. "

We use many strategies to maintain our constant sense of identity.

One of these is the acquisition of material possessions. Who we are

is often seen as what we have and most advertising campaigns, for

example, are directed at that need to reaffirm our sense of status.

One such reinforcement of a sense of ongoing self and a strategy for

bolstering up a sense of ego importance is the joining of a group

which gives a sense of belonging to a shared belief system.

There is a constant need for such supporting enterprises as family,

material possessions or the security of a " belonging identity. " A

politician, on his campaign staff, might, for example, play upon the

ego's passionate reactions to any threat, real or imaginary, to any

of these " crutches. "

Any other group which threatens these beliefs, possessions, or any

mirrors of self-esteem, will be subject to mindless, irresponsible

and often violent reactions. And this is where both politician and

state can exploit our worst motivations rather than our best.

In the worst situations, the authoritarian, parental state appeals to

our childish dependence. Once a community is fed ersatz and

materialistic reasons for living it weakens and collapses, leaving

only the state as the one sense of sanity, security and identity.

 

Unknown Man.....Yatri

 

posted .......bob