How can we dispel the myth of political salvation? How do we lay to rest that old canard that through democracy and representative government, humanity can be improved? How can it be shown that it is completely absurd to trust that a politician can make life on this earth easier to bear? Maybe it's not just political salvation that needs to be done away with, but salvation itself. The notion that we human beings are unnatural invaders of this planet, a parasite in need of reformation, permeates all of society. The Christians believe that most of us are Hell bound sinners. There seem to be plenty of Muslims who are happy to exterminate those they deem to be infidels. The environmentalists think of themselves as Earth's representatives against the exploitations of mankind. The United States government uses a seemingly endless supply of weapons in an attempt to mold the world into a "better" place.
Is there a god? Did he make a broken world? Are human beings a menace? Are we a disgrace to God and a threat to the planet on which we reside? This all seems silly to me. As I write this, I am drinking a vodka-tonic and listening to Rimsky-Korsakov. I can hear the bubbling of the olive oil in the pan of chicken I have baking in the oven. The central air unit is protecting me from the humidity of the day. There is no way to improve upon this scene. Some will say that if it were not for the government, if not for politicians, I would not have the electricity needed to power this little CD player, or my oven, or the very tablet I am composing this on. They will say that without the protection of the police, I would not be able to enjoy the relative safety of my little apartment. Without regulations, how could I trust the quality of my vodka or my chicken? Anyone who argues in this manner is arguing that coercive violence is the wellspring of my contentment. Are they correct? If so, put a political sign in your yard, slap a bumper sticker on your Buick, and get a tattoo of Bernie's spectacles.
But I believe in a different idea. I believe in liberty for the individual. I believe that it is mankind's nature to seek mutually beneficial trades. I believe that art, literature, and science thrive when and where the State is reduced. I believe that Ghandi was right when he advised that you should be the change in the world that you wish to see. I don't believe in a creator who would create sinners and then be offended by their sins. I don't believe that waging war will establish peace. I don't believe that voting for the least evil candidate will improve my government. I do not believe that mankind is a menace to the Earth any more than I believe the Earth is a menace to mankind. I believe that there is no such thing as acting against your nature.
It is natural for men to be dissatisfied with their circumstances. And it is natural for some men to use coercive violence in order to alter these circumstances. But resistance to this violence is also natural. And it is natural for some to explain that peaceful cooperation leads to greater happiness than does violent appropriation. It is our nature to present new ideas, weigh them in our minds, and choose to accept or reject them. It is my nature to see no use in picking between a career ciminal and an obnoxious charlatan. It is your nature to ignore the stupidity of it all and to enter into the polling booth.
No matter which candidate proves victorious in November, I can assure you that there will be no alteration in human nature. We will remain dissatisfied as we ever have been. Over the centuries, the characters have changed but the story has remained the same. Only rarely does the idea of Liberty make a strong enough impression to reduce hunger, crime, and ignorance for the mass of men. Mostly we just cry out for a mightier shepherd to relieve us from the burden of choice. But don't be sad. Just pour yourself a drink, turn off the television, and try to appreciate every ounce of freedom in your life. The sky at dusk, the soft glow of the lamp, and even the sound of your ceiling fan can be enjoyed without the permission of any authority and without the contribution of anyone else's opinion.
It is human nature to try and find solutions to problems. The only solution for dealing with the inadequacies of the human race is to improve the only person you can control: yourself. Politics is not only non-conducive to this goal, it's downright inimical.
