The Age of Aquarius and The Body Politic

The tragic shooting of Bill Cosby's son, Ennis, reminds us of the violence that plagues our civilization today. Drive-by executions, turf wars by teen-age gangs, attacks on the elderly for their Social Security checks -- these are just a few of the manifestations of the violence that has become an integral part of life in the United States today.

The violence is spreading. As rural areas grow into bustling towns and cities, violent crimes increase as well.

When I first came to northern Kentucky a couple years ago, I was amazed by some of the local customs. Many people didn't lock their doors even if they went away on vacation. Indeed, some individuals couldn't even find their keys when they sold their homes! A friend of mine routinely left her car unlocked while shopping, even when she had loose change sitting on the dashboard. Crime rates were listed as "0%" in realtors' brochures that described some of the small towns in the area.

Northern Kentucky is growing steadily. With the influx of people from different areas, crime is increasing as well. I have little doubt that this area of open doors and unlocked cars will evolve into a place of household alarm systems and automobile anti-theft devices in the not-so-distant future.

How did the United States go from a country where neighbors respected each other's property and person, to a country where violence has become the norm? Guns, which are a popular scapegoat for increases in crime, are unlikely culprits. In the rural areas of the western states, for example, firearms are part of almost every household. Crime, however, is rare. On the other hand, Washington, D.C., with some of the strictest gun control laws in the country, has one of the highest crime rates as well.

Indeed, the evidence suggests that arming the populace decreases violent crime. In October 1996, the Orlando police began a highly publicized program designed to train women in the use of firearms. The rape rate dropped over 90% the first year! Burglary fell by 25%. Ironically, none of the women ever needed to use a gun. Crime was deterred by the fear that the intended victims might not be helpless.

Allow me to propose a very different cause for the increased violence in our society, one that you've not heard about in the popular press. In our attempts to improve the lot of the poor, protect the environment, and end discrimination, we've often used might to make right. As a result, our cultural attitude has shifted away from self-responsibility.

For example, around the turn of the century, even the very poorest families were reluctant to accept charity. If someone couldn't earn their own keep and had to take a handout, their sense of responsibility was threatened. Each individual contributed to the well-being of society by working hard enough to insure that someone else didn't have to take care of them.

Today, however, welfare is a way of life for many. Welfare and other programs that were intended to help the needy are now called "entitlements." The individual is no longer expected to contribute to society by taking care of him or herself. Instead, society is considered responsible for the needs of the individual, who is "entitled" to such support.

These "entitlements" are guaranteed by the aggression of taxation. The might of government is used to make right. Tax-supported charity teaches individuals that violence is justified as long as it's for a good cause. Sadly, programs that are based in aggression actually cause more harm than good. (See my earlier columns for examples.)

Back in the early 1900s, income taxes didn't even exist. Other taxes might account for a mere one to two percent of a person's income. Today, however, the average person pays one-half of what he or she earns in federal income tax, state income tax, city income tax, property tax, Social Security, Medicare taxes, gasoline taxes, etc. The increase in taxation, a form of aggression, is a rough indicator of the increase in violence institutionalized in our government. Is it any wonder that individuals turn to violence when our government, the reflection of our societal consciousness, does so?

What do we find when we examine our own contribution to the problem, recognizing our world as a reflection of ourselves? We find that we have been willing to support taxation for causes we feel are right and just. We've actually advocated violence and aggression, thinking that we can use might to make right while wondering why others have gotten so violent!

To change the world, we must first change ourselves. If the world needs fixing, we need to fix it within ourselves. Forcing our neighbors to change -- at gunpoint, if necessary -- through government taxation only creates more problems.

Individuals who have taken responsibility for making the world a better place have shown us some exciting alternatives. Guy Polhemus, a soup kitchen volunteer, realized that New York City's homeless might be able to create wealth for themselves by collecting beer and soda cans. He started a non-profit organization, WE CAN, to redeem the cans and hired some of his earliest "customers" to help staff the fledgling business. Industrious collectors earn $25 to $30 a day by helping clean up the city's litter and reducing the garbage going into landfills. Some people have told Polhemus that scavenging cans was too degrading. Obviously, the homeless, who voluntarily participate, disagree. They choose to create what wealth they can. Polhemus was so impressed with their diligence that twelve of the homeless can collectors became WE CAN employees with full health benefits. Polhemus is starting new redemption centers to meet the growing demand. Now these employees will have a chance to work their way up into management!

Lupe Anguiano left the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare in frustration to create Let's Get Off of Welfare, which placed forty-two San Antonio women into jobs. Six months later, the program had helped five hundred women leave welfare for the work force. After one year, 88% were still employed. Anguiano is implementing her program in other cities, too. She seeks funding from the corporate sector because accepting government grants comes with so many regulations that not enough time is left to help the clients! Her initial training program cost less than $700, while comparable public sector services ranged from $3,000 to $15,000.

These stories illustrate how truly helpful we can be to others when we forsake aggression as our means. Instead of handouts that put a person at the mercy of their benefactor, Guy and Lupe found ways to help the impoverished help themselves. Empowering the powerless is one of the best ways to love our neighbors. If we abandon our violence, we give others around us the tools that will enable them to abandon violence as well. Who needs to steal when they have the opportunity to work?

The world we see is a reflection of who we are and what we do. When we practice violence, even with the best of intentions, we encourage it in others. When we find peaceful ways of dealing with problems, the world becomes more peaceful as well. If we wish to change the world, we need only change ourselves.

Mary J. Ruwart, Ph.D. (MaryRuwart@aol.com) would love to hear your comments and questions. She is the author of Healing Our World: The Other Piece of the Puzzle, which expands upon the concepts discussed in this column. Healing can be downloaded for free ( http://cyberpop.com/ebooks/mruwart/ruwartintro.html). Print orders may be purchased from the publisher for $14.95 plus $2 shipping and handling (SunStar Press, PO BOX 50342-MA, Kalamazoo, MI 49005) or by phone (1-800-356-9315). Mention The Monthly Aspectarian when you order!

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