Reference: The Happiness Rundown
10. SUPPORT A GOVERNMENT DESIGNED AND RUN FOR ALL THE PEOPLE
Unscrupulous and evil men and groups can usurp the power of government and use it to their own ends.
Government organized and conducted solely for self-interested individuals and groups gives the society a short life-span. This imperils the survival of everyone in the land; it even imperils those who attempt it. History is full of such governmental deaths.
Opposition to such governments usually just brings on more violence.
But one can raise his voice in caution when such abuses are abroad. And one need not actively support such a government; doing nothing illegal, it is yet possible, by simply withdrawing one’s cooperation, to bring about an eventual reform. Even as this is being written there are several governments in the world that are failing only because their people express their silent disagreement by simply not cooperating. These governments are at risk: any untimely wind of mischance could blow them over.
On the other hand, where a government is obviously working hard for all its people, rather than for some special interest group or insane dictator, one should support it to the limit.
There is a subject called “government.” In schools they mainly teach “civics” which is merely how the current organization is put together. The real subject, “government,” goes under various headings: political economy, political philosophy, political power, etc. The whole subject of “government” and how to govern can be quite precise, almost a technical science. If one is interested in having a better government, one that does not cause trouble, one should suggest it be taught at earlier ages in schools; one can also read up on it: it is not a very difficult subject if you look up the big words.
It is, after all, the people and their own opinion leaders who sweat and fight and bleed for their country— a government cannot bleed, it cannot even smile: it is just an idea men have. It is the individual person who is alive—you.
The way to happiness is hard to travel when shadowed with the oppression of tyranny. A benign government, designed and run for all the people, has been known to smooth the way: when such occurs, it deserves support.
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Exercise
0. Make sure you have completed the exercise section at Happiness: Precept 9. Study the precept above.
1. Check the responses to the following questions for false data (see false data steps at Happiness: Prologue).
(a) “Have you been told or taught not to support a government designed and run for all the people?”
(b) “Do you have any rules or ideas contrary to supporting a government designed and run for all the people?”
(c) “Have you been led to believe that you shouldn’t support a government designed and run for all the people?”
(d) “Do you know of anything that conflicts with supporting a government designed and run for al the people?”
(e) “Do you have any false data about governments?”
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2. Go over each of the following questions repetitively, until there are no more answers:
(a) “How have others transgressed against the precept: ‘Support a government designed and run for all the people’?”
(b) “How have you transgressed against the precept: ‘Support a government designed and run for all the people’?”
Do a quick review to see if you did not miss any answers on this step. You should be feeling good about this step.
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3. See if the following question definitely brings up some name you know of:
“Is there any specific person in your past who really transgressed against the precept: ‘Support a government designed and run for all the people’?”
If no name comes up then go to step 4. if a name has come up, then continue with step 3 as follows:
“Can you recall an exact moment when you observed ___(name)___ transgressing this precept?”
If there is a realization, go to step 4. Otherwise, continue contemplating as follows, until there is some realization.
“Is there any time when you wanted to be like ___(name)___ ?”
“Is there any time when you decided that not supporting a government was a good thing?”
“Did you ever do anything bad to ___(name)___ ? (Get all possible answers)
“Are there any differences between ___(name)___ and yourself?”
“Are there any similarities between ___(name)___ and yourself?”
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4. Handle any anomalies that come up on the following question by looking at the anomaly more closely.
”Do you have any reservations about supporting a government designed and run for all the people?”
If the anomaly does not resolve then review the precept as well as all the exercise steps above to see if anything was missed. Then do step 4 again. When there is no anomaly go to step 5.
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5. Contemplate on the following question.
“Do you have any reservations about getting someone else to support a government designed and run for all the people?”
If any reservation comes up, then consider the following:
“How would that be a problem?”
Get answers to this question until there are no reservations.
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