Who decides who are the smart people? Have you ever really thought about that? I mean sure when it comes to an occupation, a skill or knowledge of history that can be measured. I’m talking about intelligence however. I’m talking about the discernment of reality. You know just because you don’t like reality, you wish it weren’t so and you are working to change that reality, doesn’t change that reality. That is, unless of course you do manage to change reality. Has that ever been accomplished ? I’d say no, it hasn’t. Human nature hasn’t changed one bit over the centuries, over millennia in fact.

Empires have been formed, nations created, communes established and many other geo-political organizations formed that have controlled the actions of people, for a time anyway. All of those have collapsed over time. A republic, like our own form of governance historically lasts about 250 years before that collapse. It’s just the reality of it. Why? Because human nature eventually overrules everything else, like common sense and practicality. The truth is we humans have been on the same hamster reel since the beginning. Our religious beliefs and practices are the only escape from that.

What is human nature. It is the will to survive, to reproduce, to form communities and provide security to those in your group. Governments are formed in order to facilitate those activities. With that comes the codification of behaviors acceptable to that community. Initially the group will be small and the majority will agree with all that. As time goes on, the community grows and then the issue of diversity emerges. Not everyone agrees. Rebellion and collapse occurs.

The question is, are the smart people the ones that decide when that time has arrived? Is it the smart people that foster rebellion? Or. could it be that it is just the regular folk that get fed up with the smart people. The smart people are running the government, running the show aren’t they? Isn’t that the perception supported by history? Those folks have the money, the power, the influence and the education! But, they begin to use all of that to their own advantage. Human nature kicks in and a fight begins. Yeah, that’s also a big part of human nature, I can just beat you up! That’s true, even if I have to raise an army to do so. Many tyrants, kings, dictators and other rulers have done just that. Eventually however the masses rebel and overthrow that government.

Do those being ruled eventually grow smarter than the rulers? In our republic the masses elect our representatives. Surely the idea is to vote for those that you feel are the smartest ones right? You are choosing the person to represent you, after all, you’re no dummy. The reality is you are choosing whomever you believe will do the most for you. It’s human nature and there is nothing you can do about it. Oh, you can justify that choice in a hundred different ways but the reality remains, you are voting for the person you believe will work for you.

Is the purpose of government to minimize reality? Should government provide all the needs for its’ citizens and strive to eliminate reality? That’s what socialists and communists would have you believe is the ideal society. Well, there are restrictions in those societies as well but they are well defined between the ruling class and everyone else. All you really need to do is remain obedient to the government. Government will take care of you. All you need face is one reality, the government knows best.

What motivates people to rebellion? It is always perceived injustice. What is perceived injustice? That’s when you feel like you aren’t being treated right, given the respect you deserve. Rebellion begins when you find others to agree with you or find those that see an opportunity for advancing their own cause. That’s how mobs begin, it’s all human nature.

Having written all of this I’m not certain what I’m trying to say. I’m just wondering why so many join the mob. Is it that urge to belong, to be a part of the crowd, the safety in numbers that a mob affords? I often find myself as the one opposing the crowd. I’m just not much of a joiner, a follower of fad or fashion, even when it comes to politics. I’m not envious of those that have achieved fame and fortune, good for them. I see many of these “protests” today more as social events than expressing any real concern for social justice or equality. See I’m an activist and that makes me a concerned and caring individual, my virtue flag is flying high! And all I can respond with is, get real.

A picture is worth a thousand words. This one is worthy of War and Peace!