Thursday, February 26, 2009

The tragedy of ignorance coupled with hopelessness

This interview is a few weeks old, but Michael Munger hits the nail on the head:

"But I would also say that economic booms and recessions are facts of life in capitalism...The government must never give citizens the impression that they are insulated from risk. Personal anticipation of risk, and choosing an investment portfolio to limit risk, are key private responsibilities of every citizen. The government can’t do it for you."

At least part of this fruitless search for a risk-free utopia on earth comes from the desperation that springs from hopelessness, and that hopelessness comes from a lack of knowledge of the fallen nature of the earth and a lack of faith in the hereafter. It induces people to put their faith in a tangible "messiah" in an irrational attempt to find someone who's able to perfect a life that they themselves are unable to perfect. If only they can find that special someone who can smooth out the highs and lows, reverse the inequality, and hold each corner of the safety net, then they'll surely have personal peace.

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