The means to control behavior can produce more defiance than the intended goal in what is considered our progressive society. This allows for expedience to be the deciding factor in issues that require futuristic and rational decisions.
It is natural for someone to want to follow a system where they can make decisions based on their personal perspective rather than be coerced to react due to being unfairly governed.
The belief that transportation was a key element to the growth and prosperity of the United States has led to many valuable inventions, but it has also fed an insatiable need for speed that often impairs our ability to make sound judgments.
There was a time that railroads were seen as a key element to the progress of the United States and our government forced people off their land which they bought for pennies on the dollar in order to expand those railroads. Fighting against the government was sometimes seen as noble for much of the impoverished population who was expected to tolerate this injustice.
Sometimes having a corrupt enemy is seen as a justifiable reason for fighting oppression. Some train robbers were revered because of stories about them which focused on the of risks they took which seemed exciting to rural Americans. Their enemy could be seen by others in similar situations as a corrupt government.
Too often quick decisions are made without the acceptance of the public who will then be defiant under an oppressive rule.
Quality in the production of substance and service can be overlooked under strict authority. In the United States where capital is king, a monopoly will create just such an environment.
Many will never develop an immunity to the inappropriate and false methods for a leadership they are deceived into trusting . It can cause a rash of righteous indignation for the members of the public who are taught something and later learn it was presented falsely with insincere and inappropriate motivations.
If anyone's behavior should be scrutinized it should be the leadership who does not choose to revise its oppressive demands.
The trend for the role of government is easily corrupted by unearned power. Individual humans have the capacity and even the need to be generous and compassionate.
When the separation a government encourages continues to provide for and support power structures which have already been established even when they have been corrupted, it discourages an individual competitive nature for doing what's right.
This lack of proper motivation creates stagnant and indignant followers for greedy and insensitive leaders. It creates separation between those who have resources and those who do not.
Once the need for the Internet was established and already formed capital giants found someone who could create and defend a mass-market, the Gates foundation was allowed to make many of the rules that would govern our railroad-like Internet. We are now likely to face regulations for the internet by one of two forms corruption which will be similar to earlier failed governments such as socialism or fascism. While one may win over the other, neither will lead to a more creative and independent public.
The insistence on sameness and comfort is how people's vision becomes dull.
Just as the criminal justice system is becoming less tolerant of the behavior of younger people, so are our public institutions including more people who have been excluded due to an ever expanding rationalization for exclusion.
This was written here about behaviorism according to B.F. Skinner:
Skinner claims that, if we want to produce a society where everyone is happy (read: gets lots of positive reinforcement), then we ought to concern ourselves with the unflinching and straightforward control of behavior. Skinner likens his approach to a technology of behavior -- a clear tool for the scientist to design a culture that is positively reinforcing. He claims that if only we follow this technology, laying aside foolish notions of freedom and dignity, we will then be on the road to creating a society where people will feel free and feel dignified (though they will know their behavior is controlled)..
Unfortunately, societal factors have led to quicker and more convenient labeling of behaviors and more expedient methods of extinguishing them. This contributes to dangerous behaviors rather than preventing them.
There have been many attempts over the past years to align the criminal justice system with offenders of less definitive and less violent behavior which opens the door for social discomforts to be criminalized.
Just as terrorism and the threat of terrorism can create an unimaginative government, so can the demands for unstructured governing and adding to the types of inappropriate behaviorists who comply with corporate interests and governmental power be unleashed.
How can treatment of behaviors change much if the way behaviors are seen hasn't changed much?
By its very definition, a relationship must require the responsibility of those who were involved it. When the public needs are dictated by the government, and their desires are overly encouraged by a narrow set of ever-changing rules, a dangerous and difficult cycle can occur.
Before a set of rules and regulations are created and mandated for masses of people, the corporate influences and otherwise unaccountable government which is involved needs to be critically scrutinized in order to see that their direction is productive and encourages more creativity rather than fewer freedoms.
Comments