Two different philosophies - one of self and one of selflessness are frequently portrayed as mutually exclusive. And while they can be, it's frequenty a decision based in limited information that makes us think we need to choose one or the other, when there is frequently a third option.
That is both. Getting where you are going by helping others get where they are going.
Scarcity mentality pushes the idea of self. Every man for himself - I win, you lose. The issue is, scarcity is actually fairly rare for any of us living in wealthy nations.
Conversly, giving away everything you have or all of your time may be a result of not valuing yourself or seeking approval from others.
But sharing - something we're usually taught at a very young age, is both. It's nourshing for self and others. It's where we should live. It's the essence of good. It's what Christianity preaches and virtually every other major religion says. It's teamwork. It's building more than the some of the whole.
Yet somehow, in our political and economic world, sharing is demonized and scarcity mentality is pressed. Don't let others in, they will take what you have. What can you do for me? I win, you lose.
There are some that think that capitalism is win/lose and that's how they play the game. And for a time they win, by never allowing others to achieve. But there are others, who don't just win, they help others and achieve more greatly because of it.
It is why teams work. It is why we defeated evil in WWII. It's how we solve huge problems.
Working together, to mutual or mutually compatible goals gets us farther almost every time. It's taking a smaller slice of a bigger pie and making sure others can eat.
And even in capitalism, where we seek personal gain, we expect this - I work for a company. In return they pay me. We both benefit from the relationship. If it becomes onesided we look to move somewhere that is balanced again.
Lets call this sharing. At it's worst it is comprimise, but at it's best is collaberation. Let's call it the real definition of winning.
So why is sharing demonized? It's called "socialism". It's called "communism". It's called these words by people playing the scarcity game- greed. It causes people to give up the idea of sharing. It makes them think that unless they only think of themselves, they will lose. It pushes self achievement at the expense of others. It's where slavery and child labor come from. It's where nationalism comes from.
Instead I aspire to be a socially responsibile capitalist. That means effort is made to help others, as well as yourself. That we don't make decisions that put the good of one citizen over the other. it's comming to common ground rules so we can all live free, reasonable, high quality, full lives. To get where I am going by helping others get where they are going. It means rules that make sure we consider others, that we share risk and reward.
It means we make good on our promises to Veterans, Retirees and Employees. It means that business shares in the maintenance of the community that they pull on and contribute to. In some cases, it means we forgo profits for the public good. It means we understand contribution varies - some cand and will do more than others (that's the case in any system). It doesn't mean neglecting oneself. It means maintaing oneself and sharing.
In reality, we have done all of this - your water and other utilities are publicly owned. We have rules about how pensions are funded, how jobs are protected, how public safety and property are maintained. We have national plans that aspire to care for all of us. We work to help others, both here and abroad. We do it every day at work, with our families and friends.It's how the best of our lives are actually lived.
Those that are greedy, work to tear those things down and turn them into tools for their own profit, at the expense of all of us - wheras if we built these up, everyone benefits. Those that are greedy use terms to talk about others like "they want to raise taxes" to defeat the idea of public investment. They try to find ways to skirt the idea of sharing.
And again, isn't this what our parents taught us? Isn't this what we hold up as an example of living a good and just life? What Thanksgiving and Christmas are about?
If we are truly thankful for our bounty, we open our eyes and see our neighbors and invite them to it. We invite everyone to walk the road together. Because together is how we get there. Not seperately, not by shunning or hoarding. Not by winning at the expense of others.
We do it by winning together.
