The seventeenth-century philosopher Thomas Hobbes said, “I put forth a general inclination of all mankind, a perpetual and restless desire for power after power, that ceaseth only in death.”  This view of human nature led Hobbes to favor any kind of government, however authoritarian, that would keep the peace by blocking what he thought was the natural inclination of people to do violence to one another.  He talked about “the dissolute condition of masterless men” that required “a coercive power to tie their hands from rapine and revenge.”

Beliefs about human nature thus become self-fulfilling prophecies.  If you believe human beings are naturally violent and bad, you may be persuaded to think (although not required to think) that it is “realistic” to be that way yourself.  But is it indeed realistic (meaning, “I regret this, but it’s a fact ….”) to blame war on human nature.

- Howard Zinn – Declarations of Independence

Wondering what has changed? Read about it here.

There is a process of natural (or, rather unnatural) selection, in which certain orthodox ideas are encouraged, financed, and pushed forward by the most powerful mechanisms of our culture. These ideas are preferred because they are safe; they don’t threaten established wealth or power.

For instance:

• “Be realistic; this is the way things are; there’s no point thinking about how things should be.”
• “People who teach or write or report the news should be objective; they should not try to advance their own opinions.”
• “There are unjust wars, but also just wars.”
• “If you disobey the law, even for a good cause, you should accept your punishment.”
• “If you work hard enough, you’ll make a good living.  If you are poor, you have only yourself to blame.”
• “Freedom of speech is desirable, but not when it threatens national security.”
• “Racial equality is desirable, but we’ve gone far enough in that direction.”
• “Our Constitution is our greatest guarantee of liberty and justice.”
• “The United States must intervene from time to time in various parts of the world with military power to stop communism and promote democracy.”
• “If you want to get things changed, the only way is to go through the proper channels.”
• “We need nuclear weapons to prevent war.”
• “There is much injustice in the world but there is nothing that ordinary people, without wealth or power, can do about it.”

- Howard Zinn – Declarations of Independence

Wondering what has changed? Read about it here.

I moved into my house almost two years ago and shortly after that, met Alice.

Weighing in at about 17 lbs and about 150 years old, Alice struck a pretty mean sillouette coming in and out of her house every few days.  It was a painful experience to watch the 30 minute ordeal of making the ten-foot trek from her old Pontiac to her front door.

When I introduced myself to her, I told her my name was ‘Luke’, which is the street-version of Lucas.  Because she was about 90% deaf, she thought I said ‘Lou’, and no matter how many times I corrected her, it just didnt work.  Ever since that day, my evil-alias has been ‘Lou’ and that’s because of this woman who couldnt figure out how to leave a message on my phone and who wanted me to ‘teach her computers’.

Alice passed away last week at the age of 90-something.  You gotta hand it to her, for someone who didnt get a drivers license until the age of 88, when her husband passed, she knocked it out solo-style for a good long time.

Goodbye Alice

- Lou