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27 June 2008



Due to the recent sudden death of long time close friend Dennis Fecher I have been doing battle with depression in addition to working through the usual grieving process. As a result I have found it difficult to write or do much of anything for very long...I keep thinking "what is the point?" Singer/songwriter Tom Waits, my favorite living recording artist, observes in one of his songs that (I am paraphrasing), "all the good in the world can be placed inside a thimble and there would still be room for you and me," and, "there is one thing you can say about mankind; there is nothing kind about man." This is precisely how I have been feeling lately. But, the truth is that if I am going to continue living, as long as I am alive and cognizant, it is my human obligation to do what little I can to make every possible effort and use any limited ability that I may possess to promote and enable human happiness and progress. With this thought in mind it is time to continue exposing and explaining Humanistic Equalism: Philosophy for Ethical Government.

In 1792 French philosopher, C. F. Volney, published the conclusions of his exhaustive multi-year research and study regarding what makes a nation or empire strong, healthy, and prosperous, and what brings about decline and dissolution. In his work entitled, The Ruins of Empires, Volney writes:

"And this spirit of egotism and usurpation produced two effects equally operative and fatal. One is a division and subdivision of societies into their smallest fractions. The other a pressuring tendency to concentrate power in a single hand. ..This has in all instances been the constant progress of societies."

In other words, according to observable and verifiable historical evidence, as leadership and government become increasingly egotistical and arrogant ultimately seizing power by force and denying citizens their rights, there are always two fatal results; the people are divided against each other and this creates pressure to give all control to a small elite minority faction. This ruling minority is usually the super-rich and powerful. This process has been constant and consistent throughout the history of human civilization and continues today, even at this very moment.

What is the driving force of this process? What is it that creates the condition for and causes nations and empires to always progress in this manner, to always decline, ultimately fail and fade from prominence?

In my original manuscript, Humanistic Equalism: Philosophy for Ethical Government of Common Sense, by Common People, for Common Good, I state unequivocally that, "Religion and its influence are the source of failure for all governments, and all nations." I realize this statement sounds way over the top, outlandish and too simplistic for most people to accept. However, I believe it is true and that I can prove it. At least I can prove it logically, but because I want to use this posting to delve deeper into the rationale for the development of Humanistic Equalism and begin laying the foundation of my overall argument, I will not present the proof of my reasoning at this time.

First, concerning the rationale for Humanistic Equalism. It is undeniably obvious that there have been, and are, two fundamental and tremendously import elements or qualities that the United States of America lacks; humanness and equality. By that I mean that for all the rhetoric one hears, in spite of the extensive effort by historians, and more than two hundred years of exhaustive education about America as the "shining city on the hill"- a new and different system of government, an experiment in democracy of, by and for the people-the truth is that the United States system of government is an instrument of the wealthy and powerful elite minority faction. Yes, there have been very brief periods when a seemingly overwhelming majority of citizens came together for the benefit of common working people and the poor. But all such movements ultimately failed because from the time of the Constitutional Convention until today the ruling faction has given just enough rights, liberty and benefit to enough of the so-called middle-class so as to garner support, maintain the Status Quo and quash widespread demand for radical change. The United States is, in effect, no different than any type or system of government that has ever existed.

Again, a statement that at first glance appears to be without merit and ridiculous. I guess in some limited ways it might be, but when examined honestly and in detail the overall conclusion must be that when one gets to the bottom line citizens in America are only as "free" as the government allows us to be. There is no doubt that even a poor common person can become wealthy and powerful in America given the right circumstances, but the same has been, and is, true in all nations and under all systems of government. Regardless of whether that government is theocracy, divine monarchy, anarchy, despotism, tyranny, dictator, fascist, socialist, or communist. Given the right set of circumstances a poor Jewish Austrian can rise to near world domination and an average peanut farmer from Georgia can become president of the United States. The point is that, regarding our nations lack of humanness, America, like every nation that has ever come to power subjugates and exploits the average citizen, the poor, the immigrant and the displaced in favor of property, profit, power and position.

Since I have already written several posts concerning equality, that is to say, absolutely equal status, privileges, and rights for all citizens and will undoubtedly devote much more attention to it over time, I will only say here that true equality has never been any part of life in America. Although I do find it very interesting that equality is so closely associated with and related to the United States. Not only in its teaching of American history but around the world. Or, at least it was until the administration of Bush II.

So, after nearly thirty years of reading, research, discussion and debate, it became unmistakeably clear that in order to fundamentally change America and its future, in order to stop our country's inexorable progress towards decline and eventual failure requires a system and process of government predicated strictly and foremost on its living citizens and absolutely equal status, privileges, and rights for ALL citizens without exception; thus, Humanistic Equalism. Therefore, I will argue that our only best hope going forward is to overthrow the present broken and corrupt body of government in America, and institute the system and process described by Humanistic Equalism: Philosophy for Ethical Government.

Please, let me know any thoughts you may have. Send this post to a friend or enemy using the link below, and if there is time in your schedule rate this page by clicking the button at the bottom of the right panel. I am feeling somewhat better after communicating with you and look forward to continuing soon. Give Peace a chance.
James B. Tinsley, B.A.