Should Political Morality Exist?
New Earth, Part 5
Here’s a story to set the stage for today’s post on The Tolton Path:
(Read all of the New Earth series)
With his arms crossed standing before the crowd, Maxwell Rhodes observed the crowd. He smiled out of the side of his mouth and snickered. “I’m not going to just talk about New Freedom,” he said. The room went dark. Tao tried to move out of his chair, but couldn’t. He looked around and everyone else remained seated. “Relax. Close your eyes.”
Tao didn’t trust many people. He only had distrust for Maxwell Rhodes whose company’s technology was everywhere and in everything on Earth. Even Tao’s island was overcome by the Max mantra–“making everything better.” The islanders became entirely dependent on Life Bots once they arrived. They did everything a person could do, only better.
The crowd shut their eyes. Tao refused to shut his eyes even as they grew heavier and heavier. They were nearly shut–only slits of his eyes remained–until, finally, they closed.
“Welcome to New Earth,” Max said.
In a few seconds and in spectacular detail, the entire delegation found itself on New Earth.
“Incredible!” Reed said to Tao. “Max built a digital New Earth!” The floors were of one neverending piece of seamless metal. Tao could see his own eyes in his reflection as he looked down. “Only possible from good ol’ fashion capitalism.”
“Need I remind you,” Tao said, “that your capitalism has trapped us in a chair inside a space station right now?”
Reed shrugged. “Well, that’s just Max being Max. He’s a showman. Comes with the territory.”
Tao struggled to move his real body but couldn’t break free. “I don’t like it,” Tao said.
“Just calm down,” Reed said. “It’s part of the show.”
Liberty appears behind Reed. She says, “Just Max being Max.” She takes her finger in her right hand and pushes into her left hand. “Incredible. It feels real.”
They began walking in the structure that seemed to go on for miles. Light from the nearest star beamed in yellow rays through the windows on the giant walls. The ceiling curved hundreds of feet above them.
Max’s voice came into all their minds. “You are in the capital city of New Earth: Rhodes.” Tao shook his head. Of course he would name it after himself. “It is a self sustainable structure built to contain all of the old Earth elements. People, foods, products, equipment–even the air we bring. The Corporation promises not to contaminate New Earth. It must stay pure until we know what is safe to introduce into the ecosystem.
“This transformative technology that you are experiencing allows travel throughout New Earth in an environmentally safe and sustainable way.”
Liberty said, “The Freedom delegation applauds your efforts, Mr. Rhodes.” She steps forward towards Max. “Ultimately, freedom requires careful use of resources.” She looks at the rest of the women in her delegation who nod. Tao noticed the striking similarity of each of them.
Maxwell Rhodes walked away. “Good. I was hoping you would understand.”
A member of the delegation shouted, “Understand what?”
“Isn’t it obvious?” Max looked at the blank stares. “Why, the need for your bodies to stay in the Welcoming Station until you’re properly cleaned.”
Reed and Tao looked at one another. Reed shouted, “For how long?”
“Until the next release of New Earth.” Max shrugged. “Two, three–five years or so.”
The delegation was in an uproar. Max ignored all of them and pointed forward, continuing to lead them through the virtual capital city.
Tao paused and focused. Next release? What is he talking about? While back on the Welcoming Station, Tao’s real body struggled in his seat but couldn’t break free.
–End story (for now)–
(Read all of the New Earth series)
A (Real) Reality Check
I’m concerned about the growing amount of Christians who seem to want politicians to legislate their morality. But should how you vote be based on morality or reality? That is the question posed by conservative radio talk show host, Sonnie Johnson. (Be warned: she isn’t a typical black female conservative. The Republican party wants nothing to do with her (I think that’s a good thing). And she made my head hurt for ten years until she finally made sense to me five years ago.)
Morality is what guides your individual actions in the real world. It’s saying hello to a stranger. It’s opening the door for someone who has their hands full. It’s saying sorry. It’s slowing down when a car has their blinker on to go in your lane. It is a well meaning wish for a person that upsets you.
Morality is not law. It does not govern. It does not punish. It does not divide nor does it bring together. Morality is part of the person who must choose to live it in their decisions. It is not forced upon them nor should it be.
The morality of your behavior is under your control. The morality of another person’s behavior is under their control.
The reality is the environment we live in. It is the real, tangible results of what is most closest to us. It is the crime rate in our city. It is the poverty rate. It is the school test scores. It is the homeless rate. It is the overdose rate. It is having good or bad policing. It is having a good or bad local judicial system. It is the ability to have a baby and raise it in a supportive environment.
Reality is what happens around us.
Morality guides (or should guide) our individual actions in that reality.
Indeed, the Judeo Christian morality guided the founding fathers when writing the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. But government does not and should not set morality. Through the bible, churches help do that and then its members are to follow that in their daily lives. (Of course we fail, but we try again.)
But keep in mind that just because the national election gets 99% of the news coverage, it is the local government that has the most impact on our reality. As Sonnie Johnson says every day and as Jason Adkins says we should do to better our lives, we must engage in the political process with our morals in tact at the local level through dialogue, running for local seats and voting to change our reality.
Let’s keep government out of morality. Because if you think the government meddles too much in our lives, just wait until politicians start passing “moral” laws.
Peace.