RESPONSIBILITY: Not a golden age for everyone

A portion of Chapter 53 of the Tao Te Ching, translated by Stephen Mitchell, reads as follows:

“When rich speculators prosper while farmers lose their land; when government officials spend money on weapons instead of cures; when the upper class is extravagant and irresponsible while the poor have nowhere to turn — all this is robbery and chaos. It is not in keeping with the Tao.”

Some meanings associated with the Tao are “The unseen, unnameable origin and driving force behind all existence and reality.” and “The natural order and rhythm of the universe that keeps everything in balance.” Western thought might call it “the will of God.”

The Tao Te Ching is estimated to have been written around 500 BCE, and the words above describe our current societal status. Since the Tao Te Ching was written, we have made great strides in technology, yet we seem to have made limited progress in our humanity.

Our current legislators have enabled the government to shape the issues we face today. Only speculators and the wealthy are prospering; we are not living in a golden age for everyone.

Forces that drive the cultural narrative focus on who to blame, who to despise, and the illusion that our lives would be better if only “those people” were not among us. This is also an age-old tactic—give the populace someone to look down on while the powerful take advantage of everyone.

Some of the issues we face can stem from prior administrations, but when an administration blames all issues on prior administrations and takes no responsibility for its actions, it may be time for a change.

ERNEST WARNER

Coeur d’Alene