Work is a vital biological function. People’s ability to work is essential for the well being of the individual as well as of society. The capacity to enjoy working helps people to live harmoniously with others. In varying degrees, people’s armor interferes with their ability to work productively and to live in an orderly way. Energy not discharged in work is often displaced onto the social realm as political unrest. Because of severe armor, some people are unable to work at all. Instead, they engage in social activities that allow them to take control of others by telling them what they should have a right to and be given. Social armor in the form of government bureaucracy and unions adds to the crippling effect of individual armor on people’s work function. People in charge of these institutions not only are able to limit individual freedom but they also encourage irresponsibility, helplessness and dependency on others.
Do-good politicians are ready and waiting to assume the role of caretaker. With taxpayers money taken from the productive segment they give generous handouts and other benefits to the unproductive segment, those who are arbitrarily identified by them and the media as “the needy”. A pathological attachment develops between the unproductive segment and the politicians. This leads to a sense of entitlement and resentment on the part of the takers who begin to feel that they actually have a right to what is being given them without charge.
When an economic downturn happens and the politicians are unable to provide what has been promised to the unproductive masses, a highly volatile social situation develops. Many of those who participated in the Occupy Wall Street movement belong to this group. Meanwhile, the politicians and government bureaucrats who were responsible for bringing about this economic debacle escape without penalty with no one quite able to understand what has happened.
Charles Konia, M.D. 