Elections are When We Can Discuss the Common Good

The common good, good which falls more on others and less on individuals, is something discussed more at election time than at other times. Everyone pitches in with their notion of what ideas benefit society at large and other ideas that are harmful to society at large. Usually we all tend to see ideas that benefit us as individuals as the ones we think also benefit society at large.

A Christian academic recently wrote in detail how a Christians should see the common good. He quotes the great philosophers and goes into the Bible to sort out what referred to the good for Christians exclusively. He made a few fleeting references to the good of society beyond the Christian community. In the final paragraph he concludes (my paraphrasing) we are all better off worshiping God because we can then all enjoy the common good which are the blessings of God. Balderdash. 

We know early humans lived together in families, clans and tribes. Humans knew the clan would not survive unless there was some degree of cooperation among members. Stealing from and murdering each other meant each person was less well off. Obeying laws against these things had a selfish motive--survival of the clan meant survival of individuals and families within the clan. Probably they all had gods of some kind but the gods were not needed to understand the importance of the common good.

I've seen a couple of documentaries about native Americans. They knew over fishing and over hunting meant less to eat the following year. Their tribe would do well to leave wild breeding stock for the future--another concept to the common goods that has nothing to do with God or Christianity.

Adam Smith, The Wealth of Nations, gave today's Republicans their version of the common good. When individuals and businesses are left unregulated to do their work and business in their own interests a productive and resourceful society is the result. Democrats see the common good served by making sure the lowest end has enough food and shelter to be productive and take ownership in the society. There is some Social Justice gospel in the Democrats' platforms. 

Discussing what is meant by the common good is always healthy.

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