S. Maturin wrote:
Well, I was hoping that, perhaps, you had actually gotten an education in some credible institution where you could have/should have learned that even smallish villages need some organization and the issues presented to larger groups or settlements by other groups and settlements requires organization.
'Credible institution'? You mean like a government school or something? Is that where you got your education, a government institution where only the ideas and knowledge approved by the government is allowed to be disseminated? When I blame 'government' for many ills in the world, I don't say that people should not organize for their own security and welfare, what I say is that on a larger scale, these organizations we call national governments are more trouble that they're worth. How do you suppose governments are instituted? Did you sign up to be a part of this government controlled society or were you born into it? I didn't sign anything and I don't know anyone who did.
S. Maturin wrote:
Just examine the basic requirements of self-preservation. All wars are caused by human beings coveting the possessions of other human beings. That has such truth to it that it is contained in all myths and ancient accounts since before written language. Surely you know that. It's a trait often mentioned in readings as 'the human condition'.
I haven't read the book by Hannah Arendt, though a Wikipedia synopsis never mentions the causes or bases for wars or conflicts. She distinguishes three sorts of activity (labor, work, and action) and discusses how they have been affected by changes in Western history. Nothing about 'war'.
"All wars are caused by human beings coveting the possessions of other human beings." Not so. Not even close. When was the last time you invaded someone else's home, killed the occupants and helped yourself to their possessions? Never? Me neither. When was the last time you even killed another human being? Never? Me neither. The majority of wars throughout history have been fought over religion. Politics comes a close second. Of all the deaths caused by governments and their wars, Communism wins hands down.
Ever notice how those in government who start wars and pick fights with other governments are never the ones who have to go and do the fighting? What if one government declared war with another government and nobody showed up? What if they were forced to do their own fighting and killing? No, my friend, wars are not started by those who do the fighting, they are caused by those who sit back and count the profits, which are immense. I stand by my original statement, if there were no governments, there would be no wars.
S. Maturin wrote:
So, surely you know that if there is a solid, successful group there will be at least one other group which will try to access the goods/possessions of the members of the successful group. So, there must be organized self-protection for self-preservation.
Indeed, and so there should be. I imagine the more successful the group, the better able to defend themselves and their possessions they will be. There is nothing wrong in being part of a group or organization whereby safety and security is a shared concern. Question: Would this group go looking for other groups to attack and make war on or would they mind their own business unless provoked? A successful group is a smart group. Smart people try and avoid confrontation whenever possible. It's bad for business, unless you're a mercenary...
S. Maturin wrote:
When speaking of larger groups such as states, nations-- stuff like that, Larry, we can see that in order to organize there must be an organizing body.. that is generally known as *government*.
Indeed. And therein lies the problem. No longer do you have people working to organize their own groups to ensure each others' individual safety and security, now you have a group of strangers making these decisions for you. Now you have 'leaders' who have their own goals and ambitions, often with resulting wars and conflicts they are planning for but not telling you about beforehand. No, the best 'organizing body' is you and those around you. You know what's best for you, not some bureaucrat sitting in an office hundreds (or even thousands) of miles away.
S. Maturin wrote:
If I went too fast for you in addressing but one of the reasons for organization- government- just let me know, ok?
No, you didn't go too fast, you've just been seriously misled in the origin and purpose of government. It is the existence of government that precipitates wars and conflicts. Without government, there would be no legislative body to demonize people from other regions, and no reason to fight them. We would all live in a more peaceful and subsequently more successful world. Think about that next time some TV talking head accuses the 'Russians' of hacking the election or the 'Muslims' for 9/11. When they blame a large group for the actions of a few, well, let the 'warmongering' begin...