Rumours of War

There's rumours of war

Men dying and women crying

If you breathe air, you'll die

Perhaps you wonder the reason why?

Are you ready?

 

Sound familiar? Recently, when Russia retaliated for the attack on the Crimea bridge, people died and were maimed. Is this good or not good? You will know the answer. Perhaps you add; ‘but the Russians are terrorists’, or you can argue, ‘what about the harm done to the Russian speaking population in the Donbass by the Ukrainians?’ Was that good or not so good?

My column for this month is about collateral damage caused when a so-called tipping point has been reached beyond the point of no return. The only way left to go is downhill at an accelerating speed. Based on an objective observation the Western world is collapsing in its own footprint. The school of Athens had four main goals: "Seek Knowledge of Causes", "Divine Inspiration", "Knowledge of Things Divine",  "To Each What Is Due". We will explore the first one.

Let’s seek the cause for the war in Ukraine. Because of the constant fake and false news, the propaganda machine by the mainstream media, it is very difficult to decide what is true or untrue by the general public. So, the first question philosophers of this school would ask: ‘Cui Bono?’ Who benefits? When you analyse and answer this question it becomes more easy to do so.

A second question asked would be: ‘Is it good or bad that collateral damage is ignored by politicians?’ I use the rhetorical questioning method on purpose so your conscience automatically will answer. Perhaps your energy company is the one ‘Cui Bono’ by taking advantage of the current disturbance in the gas and electricity supply markets? Ordinary people and businesses are billed more than they can afford which results in poverty and business closures. Is that good or bad business for the long term? When an energy supplier destroys their own client base because of charging too much, the inevitable result will be self-destruction because when there can’t be any more buyers, there can’t be any more sales.

A philosopher from the School of Athens would ask: is it honourable or ethical to destabilise the social contract and cohesion? I believe your conscience will answer that question too. Jean Jacques Rousseau wrote about the social contract: “It follows that when any government usurps the power of the people, the social contract is broken; and not only are the citizens no longer compelled to obey, but they also have an obligation to rebel.”

Social Cohesion enables us to live together in a just and equal society. The wise thing to do is not taking away the basic comforts of life for the 99 per cent. What we now observe is that through an amalgamation of media, big business and authoritarian politics, even the last cents of ordinary man are being taken from him. Is eliminating the vulnerable social contract good or not so good for business?