Dear Editor,
On the eve of Guyana’s 50th celebrations I would like to point out the ancient wisdom of Confucius who noted in a nutshell that society collapses when government costs more than taxpayers can afford. Confucius noted there were 4 rules for ordering society: (New World Encyclopedia)
- rulers to be chosen on merit, not parentage, rulers who are devoted to their people, and rulers who reach for perfection. Such a ruler would spread his own virtues to the people instead of imposing proper behaviour with laws and rules. Rulers should lead by example, not by coercion or by enforcing their edicts with threats.
- Thus, “Just desire the good yourself and the common people will be good.” (Analects 12:19).
- “Guide them by virtue … and they will reform themselves.”
- Coercion never works: “If a man is correct in his own person [others] … will obey without orders being given.” If he is not correct, “there will be no obedience even though orders are given”.
Bill Taylor, author of The Confucian Cycle had this to say which can be applicable to us:
When the Chinese followed his rules, the nation prospered. When government employees got too greedy, society fell apart into anarchy, civil war, or foreign invasion. This ‘Confucian cycle’ of prosperity, government greed, collapse, anarchy, and restoration has been documented many times in Chinese history. American policies are taking us down into the Confucian abyss, which will reset the bureaucracy, and cause people who can’t support themselves to die, and start over, but the bill can be awesome.
Yours faithfully,
(Name and address provided)
