DO NOT STEAL! SEEK A NON-ABUSIVE BALANCE BETWEEN RESPONSIBILITY AND SOLIDARITY

One way to harm others is to unfairly burden them and take advantage of them. By this, I mean forcing them to partially or entirely solve the lives of people who can actually fend for themselves but are unwilling to assume their personal responsibility.

Thus, on one hand, we find unmotivated cicadas who take life easy, some of them applying the law of least effort. And, on the other hand, diligent ants, some of whom apply the law of maximum effort. In between, there is a cast of intermediate creatures.

Hardworking ants already tend to live tired (sometimes exhausted) and stressed (sometimes to the point of burnout). They enjoy less time for themselves and their families and bear an excessive load on their shoulders, so to further burden them by demanding they also assume the responsibility of the cicadas, under the argument that they must be supportive, is unfair.

Read LET’S NOT STEAL!, let’s generate

LET’S NOT STEAL!: Let’s rebel against covert servitude

LET’S NOT STEAL!: Let’s reject institutionalized theft

LET’S NOT STEAL!: Let’s say no to narratives that justify theft

This is a great injustice (no matter how much some manipulate and twist it by calling it social justice), which can be resolved by seeking a balance between individual responsibility and solidarity.

Every individual who can fend for themselves is responsible for their life and the people in their care. Therefore, it is up to them to strive to fulfill their personal desires, through their own sweat and not at the expense of others’ sacrifice. And they can achieve a lot if they set their mind to it, because often, where there’s a will, there’s a way. Psychologists call it self-efficacy and have shown that those who believe they can achieve more.

Let’s not expect others or the State to solve our lives for us; instead, let’s do what is in our power to do it ourselves and contribute to a better world. The sense of individual responsibility includes being resourceful, having initiative, proactivity, a culture of work (different from overwork), effort (different from over-exertion), and entrepreneurship.

When someone cannot fend for themselves due to age or a physical or psychological impediment, that is when the mechanism of solidarity should be activated. Everyone should bear their own burden as much as they can. If it’s not possible because they are broken or too weak, then yes, they should ask others for help.

It is up to all of us to pull our weight and contribute, unless we are unable to. It is fair that public services and the welfare state are maintained by all who are in a position to contribute.  Instead of taking advantage of others, let’s assume our responsibilities and also provide some kind of help to those who cannot help themselves.

DO NOT STEAL! Obtain wealth honestly

LET’S NOT STEAL!: All of us who can should contribute our fair share to the State

LET’S NOT STEAL!, not even in normalized cases

To the groups we belong to, let’s give our fair contribution and not try to receive more from them than what is rightfully ours.

In fact, countries with a strong sense of responsibility, such as those in Northern Europe, Anglo-Saxon countries, or some Asian countries like Japan, Korea, or Singapore, tend to have the highest per capita incomes. And they are also the ones to which millions of people from other countries, with a lesser culture of responsibility and therefore less functional, wish to emigrate.

And among the former, those who achieve a balance between responsibility and solidarity are usually the ones who rank highest in happiness indices, with the Nordic countries leading the way.

Read “Happiness-Oriented Economy”

Read “Politics oriented toward happiness”

And finally, let’s remember Kennedy’s famous quote:

“Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country.”

Thank you for sharing if you believe these ideas can contribute to a more just, functional, and happy world,