Love, Fear and Social Security

March 2005

The current dialogue about Social Security reflects much more about distinct metaphysical and spiritual beliefs than financial or budgetary analysis. Those who favor the status quo for this grandfather of social experiments reflect love-based thinking, while those who want to privatize it engage in fear-based rationalizations.

First, take a moment to understand the underlying principles from my book, Peace and Forgiveness. Humans are essentially a divine energy at their core, which they (we) share with all other living and even inanimate things in the universe. We are all the same in this energy – you may call it god, the ether, the creator, whatever; it is essentially peace. It is perpetual, without fear. It is also love.

Humans are limited in the ability to understand it; we’re relatively like puppy dogs or fruit flies to the everythingness of this ultimate creative energy. So, we have fears; the fear of not having love, of dying, and of the future. All anger, hate, war, attack, greed, and everything not based on love is based on fear. Example, Sadam Hussein was a threat; we were afraid of what he might do. So, we attacked his country. Another one, greed is when you’re afraid you don’t have enough. And so on.

Social Security was established to provide independence for those who grow older and might not be able to support themselves. We as society say, we are all in this together, we are all one. We don’t need all our money, we set some aside for the elderly so they don’t have to end up in poor houses like they used to, and hopefully we get some support when we get there. In other words, we’re all in the same boat and help each other out. That’s love based behavior.

The current proposals to privatize Social Security stress that people should have control of their own money and not have to give it to the government. In other words, individual ownership is more important than contributing to the health of the whole. Why? Because many are afraid and distrustful of the government on principle. That’s fear based behavior.

Loved based thinking says, “We are all one on this planet. We can’t take it with us. We share. We should bond together, across party lines and even national boundaries.” This is not socialism, and there is nothing inherently wrong with that anyway. (Isn’t that most fundamental unit of society, the family, socialist? You know, from each according to his skills to each according to his needs?) The other side says, “It’s my money and I don’t want you to have it.” This is based on the theory that we are separate and distinct from one another. Not in the same boat.

Conservative are afraid of change. Distrustful of others who might infringe on their rights. Skeptical of the goodness of humanity in general. Religious conservatism is the same. Extremely fearful of changes or threats to the ancient myths.

Liberals are generally less afraid of admitting we’re all together; recognizing that we’re just fellow travelers on this lonely spaceship earth. More willing to pay taxes to support the society, for example. Less afraid of losing financial or social status. Of course, liberals have their own fears; often, they’re fearful of conservatives trampling on the rights of others in society.

I don’t necessarily like that fact that I might pay into Social Security for literally decades, and the benefits might not be what had been bargained for. But, you know what, I’ll be OK. I’m not going to starve to death. I’d rather promote love in my society, than fear having a few less dollars. The major parties can decide which approach to take. I’m for love based principles every time.