The State

   

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THE STATE

I. WAR

1. Violence is the law of nature. Peace is the yardstick measuring the advance of civilization. (783.4) 70:1.1

2. Primitive man enjoyed fighting. (784.2) 70:1.6

3. Wars were caused by hunger, women, slaves, revenge, vanity, monotony, and religion. (784.3) 70:1.7

4. Some wars had social value. (785.6) 70:2.1

5. Ancient wars destroyed inferior peoples; modern wars destroy the best stocks. (785.14) 70:2.9

6. Sometimes early man would stake all on a duel—like David and Goliath. (785.2) 70:1.19

II. EARLY HUMAN ASSOCIATIONS

1. Personal inequalities caused groupings in primitive society. (792.2) 70:7.17

2. Secret societies were the first political parties. (792.4) 70:7.19

3. Ten groups occur in primitive society:

1. Natural.
2. Personal.
3. Chance.
4. Economic.
5. Geographic.
6. Social.
7. Vocational.
8. Religious.
9. Racial.
10. Age. (792.6) 70:8.2

III. HUMAN RIGHTS

1. Kings were chosen for special abilities—heroes. (789.9) 70:6.2

2. The great myth was absoluteness of the state. (800.1) 71:0.2

3. Nature confers no rights on man—not even the right to live. (793.11) 70:9.1

4. Security is the gift of society to man. (793.11) 70:9.1

5. Equality is the child of civilization—it is not found in nature. (794.12) 70:9.17

IV. EVOLUTION OF JUSTICE

1. Government evolved by trial and error. (783.3) 70:0.3

2. Natural justice is a man-made theory—fiction. (794.13) 70:10.1

3. Law is a record of human experience—public opinion crystallized and legalized. (797.4) 70:11.6

4. Public opinion delays society, but preserves civilization. (801.18) 71:2.7

5. Democracy is ideal, but it is beset by certain dangers:

1. Glorification of mediocrity.
2. Choice of base and ignorant rulers.
3. Failure to recognize social evolution.
4. Dangers of universal suffrage.
5. Slavery to public opinion. (801.13) 71:2.1

V. IDEALS OF STATEHOOD

1. The safeguards of statehood are :

1. Prevention of usurpation of power by the state.
2. Control of ignorant agitators.
3. Maintenance of scientific progress.
4. Prevention of dominance of mediocrity.
5. Control of vicious minorities.
6. Control of clever dictators.
7. Prevention of panics.
8. Avoidance of exploitation by the unscrupulous.
9. Avoidance of slavery by taxation.
10. Maintenance of social and economic fairness.
11. Prevention of union of church and state.
12. Preservation of personal liberty. (798.5) 70:12.6

2. Only love can prevent the strong from oppressing the weak. (804.17) 71:4.17

3. Statehood evolves slowly through a dozen levels.

1. Threefold government—executive, legislative, and judicial.
2. Freedom of social, political, and religious activities.
3. Abolition of slavery and bondage.
4. Control of taxation.
5. Universal education.
6. Adjustment of local and national governments.
7. Fostering of science and conquest of disease.
8. Sex equality.
9. Liberation of machines and their mastery.
10. Conquest of dialects.
11. Ending of war.
12. Universal pursuit of wisdom. (806.15) 71:8.2

4. The great problem of statehood is to prevent the state from becoming parasitical or tyrannical. (805.2) 71:5.2

VI. PROGRESSIVE CIVILIZATION

1. Civilization embraces:

1. Preservation of liberties.
2. Protection of the home.
3. Economic security.
4. Prevention of disease.
5. Compulsory education.
6. Compulsory employment.
7. Profitable leisure.
8. Care of unfortunates.
9. Race improvement.
10. Promotion of science and art.
11. Promotion of philosophy.
12. Cosmic insight. (804.1) 71:4.1

2. Society has not progressed very far when it permits idleness and tolerates poverty. (803.8) 71:3.8

3. Profit motivation should prevail until a better motivation is provided. (805.6) 71:6.2

4. Industry demands law and private property. (783.1) 70:0.1

5. Communism failed because it fostered idleness and because it ran counter to family, religion, liberty, and security. (780.8) 69:9.5

6. Make changes only when they are for the better. (782.5) 69:9.18

7. Slavery was indispensable in the development of civilization. It compelled lazy people to work and thus provided wealth and leisure for the advancement of superior peoples. (779.5) 69:8.6

VII. SUPERHUMAN GOVERNMENT

1. The Most Highs rule in the kingdoms of men. (1253.5) 114:4.2

2. The reserve corps of destiny may assist. (1257.1) 114:7.1

3. The angels of planetary supervision are:

1. Epochal angels.
2. Progress angels.
3. Religious guardians.
4. Nation life.
5. The races.
6. Angels of the future.
7. Enlightenment.
8. Health.
9. Home.
10. Industry.
11. Diversion.
12. Superhuman ministry. (1255.3) 114:6.4