The real remedy for citizen apathy

American citizen apathy persists only because its source is never faced. In reality, several generations of efforts at making a docile, mind-controlled American population have backfired, to create a modern majority of self-centered, ill-educated people who tolerate being ruled — if their prejudices and selfishness are appealed to. Such people would be outright barbarians in earlier ages.

This situation was clearly predicted by John Stuart Mill in his 18th-century book “Representative Government.” That this work is part of America’s political heritage is demonstrated by Encyclopedia Britannica including it in its “Great Books of the Western World” series on the American State Papers (which include such documents as the Constitution and the Federalist Papers).

From its first chapter: “But there are also cases in which, though not adverse to a form of government — possibly even desiring it — a people may be unwilling or unable to fulfilll its conditions. They may be incapable of fulfilling such of them as are necessary to keep the government in nominal existence. Thus a people may prefer a free government, but if, from indolence or carelessness or cowardice or want of public spirit, they are unequal to the exertions necessary for preserving it; if they will not fight for it when it is directly attacked; if they can be deluded by the artifices used to cheat them out of it; if by momentary discouragement, or temporary panic, or a fit of enthusiasm for an individual, they can be induced to lay their liberties at the feet even of a great man, or trust him with powers which enable him to subvert their institutions; in all these cases they are more or less unfit for liberty: and though it may be for their good to have had it even for a short time, they are unlikely long to enjoy it. Again, a people may be unwilling or unable to fulfill the duties which a particular form of government requires of them. A rude people, though in some degree alive to the benefits of civilized society, may be unable to practice the forbearance which it demands: their passions may be too violent, or their personal pride too exacting, to forgo private conflict, and leave to the laws the avenging of their real or supposed wrongs. In such a case, a civilized government, to be really advantageous to them, will require to be in a considerable degree despotic: to be one over which they do not themselves exercise control, and which imposes a great amount of forcible restraint upon their actions.”

Isn’t it eerie to have a dead man tell you about the basis for political strife in modern America? Compare his honesty to current political leaders spouting soothing propaganda and solemnly announcing that by trusting “the right leadership,” all will be well.

So what do you do with a population majority that belligerently protects its perks and entitlements; mocks justice by tolerating individuals suing at the chance of “legally” getting rich with somebody else’s money; arrogantly enjoys civic apathy because it justifies civic immorality, and carelessly supports using the bribery/blackmail of foreign aid or military force — instead of disciplined communication and trade — in government-conducted foreign relations? In short, what do you do with a selfish bunch of modern barbarians who are “more or less unfit for liberty” by their own will?

The despotic solution is to force people to listen to and mind their government for their own good. Jail the adults and drug the kids (with psychotropic medication) who don’t properly “listen” or haven’t learned the right prejudices. Threaten lethal retaliation against those who resist this form of population control but can’t be bribed or blackmailed. Naturally, this is no longer government of, by and for the people.

The better solution is the process of encouraging liberty-loving people. This means tireless efforts at civic education, so the checks and balances from the separation of governing powers can actually work. This means holding people’s attention on using representative government methodology and rule of law long enough so they see that it works better than the public anarchy of impatient force or bribery.

This means working at widespread international cooperation even while resisting attack and harm from the current handful of irrational human monsters that provoke all human conflict every generation.

And this means leading the American people to realize that their freedoms and rights are tools to use, not mere possessions abused by human whim.

Stuart Thompson is a Wasilla resident.