Oh, the morality of it! Once upon a time there was a very well-meaning individual who thought he could improve the community he lived in. He decided that creating a program for the youth would be a worthy endeavor. Not only would he be helping teach skills and build the character of the youth who would participate, but it would also benefit the community as a whole.
He knew that the program would take money to operate. Thinking to himself that this was for the good of all, he devised a plan to share the financial burden. He would go from house to house demanding that each one pay their share. To keep things fair, the bigger the house or nicer the yard, the more he would demand from them. Some people might be willing to give, but there were those who would refuse. Should that happen, he would simply threaten them and force them to pay.
However, he quickly realized that he would get caught, exposed as a robber, and suffer the consequences. He needed to find a better way. He went around and talked up his future program with anyone that would listen. Soon he had a large, supportive group gathered. In a planning meeting, the man realized that they now constituted a majority of the population. Feeling emboldened, he thought that it would now be possible to carry out his plan. Everyone supporting the cause would go out and demand the money from their neighbors. With sheer numbers they could easily intimidate, and as the majority, they held the rule. It was classic democracy. They should be able to get away with it.
It didn’t take long for him to abandon that idea, however. Even though they were a majority in the community, they would be recognized as a mob and be held responsible by outside jurisdictions. Also, he knew that there were many who supported the cause that would not go along with stealing from their neighbors, especially if it involved force.
Going back to the drawing board, he then devised a most ingenious plan to take the money he needed. He would use an abject state law and call for an official election in the community where it would be decided if the program should be created. A majority, which he was confident he had, would be able to make it happen. When the measure was approved by the voters, he could then use the force of government to require everyone to pay. The designated amount would become a tax, probably not even really noticed among all the other taxes. It was fair, he reasoned. It was legal.
It turned out there was no apparent downside to his plan. The voters, for the most part, did not recognize they were stealing from their neighbors because they were caught up debating the merits of the program. Nobody recognized him as a robber because government did his dirty work for him. In fact, not only did he avoid going to prison as a criminal, he become a pillar in the community. He acquired the money and started a wonderful youth program, admired and appreciated by so many people.
The years went on, and the program grew, becoming a new way of life for the community. However, he needed more funding to keep it going. It was a critical juncture. The program had done so much good. Youth would certainly miss out on opportunities. Jobs were even on the line; people’s livelihoods were at stake.
He decided to call for another election. He asked for less than he had in the past so he could point out that taxes would be lower. As further impetus to sway voters, he declared that the program would have to be shut down if the measure did not pass. How could the voters give up such an amazing youth program?
Unfortunately for him, there were some people in town who recognized what was happening. For them the issue was a moral one, not a debate about the merits of a program. They educated others to understand that the tax supported program was an immoral way to fund the program. They wanted a majority to vote against the measure– not because they wanted the program to go away– but because they knew that it was not right to have neighbors stealing from neighbors.
There were certainly other ways to fund and run the program, they thought, with no compulsion necessary. Volunteers could be used instead of paid positions, participants could be charged fees, donations could be received, sponsorships could be gained, fund-raising could occur, and tickets could be sold at events. The possibilities were endless. Of course changes would need to be made. It would be hard. But in the end, all could retain their integrity and honesty.
The voters ended up recognizing what was really at stake, deciding to be honest rather than steal from their neighbor, and the measure failed. They understood that the youth program could be dismantled, but they were willing to take that risk because they knew that demonstrating upright values in the community was far more important than any program.
The founder of the youth program was devastated. He announced the suspension of his program. The community would feel the loss and pain, he reasoned. He could call for an election in the near future and people would capitulate to bring back what they had once had.
Growing calls for his resignation got him to start thinking. He realized that he really cared about the youth, and shutting down the program had a direct impact on them. He had gotten so caught up in his unethical funding scheme that it had taken over his true intentions. With some serious retrospection, he eventually realized his mistakes, felt sorry for what he had done, and publicly asked for forgiveness. He then restructured the program, funded it in an appropriate way, and allowed it to continue to serve the community.
Greg Collett
Moyie Springs
“With some serious retrospection, he eventually realized his mistakes, felt sorry for what he had done, and publicly asked for forgiveness. He then restructured the program, funded it in an appropriate way, and allowed it to continue to serve the community.”
I envy your generous conception of the bureaucrats that steal my wages
Good story pointing out the fallacy of democracy, that 50%+1 can take by force what is not theirs. Organized crime is no less crime no matter what scheme.
Thanks for the story.
Publius