Monday, December 29, 2008

The importance of control

In a related follow up to last nights post, comes this scientific study on how as people lose control over their lives, they start seeing patterns that dont exist, and developing paranoia about their circumstances.

This seems to me a central point that many on the right, especially of a libertarian bent miss. Unless people have a base of stability they will not see the world as it is and all its opportunities and possibilities (as this study shows). From there, people can actually engage the world and take risks towards improving their station in life. This is the spirit we wish to cultivate in these capitalistic times, yet so many libertarians want to engineer it by instead throwing people to the ravages of the system, and hoping the sheer panic of their circumstances will force them to act.

It is a mis-reading of human nature, and at best indifferent to human suffering if not inherently cruel. Give people a solid education, a social saftey net to keep them fed and able to put a roof over their head, and they can begin to step out and engage the world. It is the basis of confidence, the launch pad of individual freedom.

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