Voluntary Code of Good Governance from Principles…to Practice!
Principles of Good Governance
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Transcript of Principles of Good Governance
Principles of Good GovernanceIn the family, economy, civil society, education, and religion
Universal Peace Federation
What Is the Purpose of Government?
What Do All People Want?
In view of the fact that all knowledge and every pursuit aims at some good, what is the highest of all goods achievable by action? Verbally there is very general agreement; for both the general run of men and people of superior refinement it is happiness; they identify living well and doing well with being happy.
Aristotle
People Are Social Beings."It would be strange to represent the supremely happy man as a recluse. No one would choose to have all possible good things on the condition that he must enjoy them alone; for man is a social being and one whose nature is to live with others; accordingly the happy man must have society, for then he has everything that is naturally good."
Aristotle
How Is Happiness Attained?
When our desires are fulfilled. For example: Hunger > eating food > satisfaction Missing someone > seeing them > warm
relationships
Cautions
Some desires are unrealistic. Some desires are immature. Some desires are excessive. Some desires are wrong.
Therefore, focusing only on desires leads to unhappiness.
Religions Recognize This.
Christianity – “Wretched man that I am!” (St. Paul)
Judaism – “The heart is corrupt.” (Jeremiah) Buddhism - All suffering is caused by craving
and focusing on extinguishing cravings.
Paradox: The fulfillment of desire can lead to both happiness and suffering.
Therefore, desires need to be channeled and controlled so their fulfillment brings happiness and not suffering.
Core Desires
To eat, sleep, and have a home To experience love To achieve social position or authority To gain knowledge and skills To worship
Supportive Structures to Satisfy Desires
DESIRESUPPORTIVE SOCIAL
SYSTEM
To experience love Family
For material things Economy
For position and authority
Civil society, politics
For knowledge and skills Education
To worship Religion
Core Purposes of Government
DefenseTo protect a country from invasion which would destroy people’s way of life and prevent them from being happy
JusticeTo maintain the laws necessary to create a realm of freedom in which people can live a moral and meaningful life and thus be happy and fulfilled
The Family System
Fulfiling the desire for loving relationships
Family as the Locus of Meaning
Dwelling place of God: “The family that prays together stays together.”
Cultivating the spiritual life creates hope for the future.
Enduring relationships give meaning.
Family offers reasons to live and multiply.
Shabbat prayer
Family as the School of Love
Place for love between husband and wife
Reproduction and love between parents and children
Socialization and education into the manners, customs, and traditions of one’s community
Transmission of culture and the good way of life
Family as the Cradle of Culture
“By far the most important channel of transmission of culture remains the family; and when family life fails to play its part, we must expect our culture to deteriorate.”
T.S. Elliot: Notes towards the Definition of Culture, 1948
Family as a Key Economic Unit
Members work together to create wealth to support the family and community.
Develops a sense of responsible ownership.
Encourages creativity. Teaches a culture of
giving and sharing.
Family as the Ground of Being
Love
Life
Lineage
Crimes against the Family
Adultery: the chief cause of divorce and family break up
Unmarried mothers: every child has the right to a mother and a father
Child neglect and abuse(especially common among step-families)
Neglect of parents and grandparentsCaution: Government should not supplant the role
of the family in education, health, welfare, and finances.
Helpful Government Policies
Laws that protect family and marriage Tax system that favors marriage and children Inheritance laws that favor the build up of
generational wealth and responsibilityCautions: Social security system should not subsidize
unmarried mothers. Social services are best provided by the
voluntary sector.
The Family and Society
Familial collapse leads to social collapse.Society is more than families; it includes social structures and institutions
Distinctions between family and society: The family is based on affection and forgiveness. Society based on justice.
Cautions: Narrow affection in social relations > corruption (nepotism) Legalism in family relations > can hurt people’s hearts
The Family and Society
Society is an expansion of the family.However, affection declines as distance increases.
Cautions: what happens when resources are scarce? People are less generous, especially to those who are not part of their family. Scarcity of desirable goods leads to destructive conflict.
Therefore, a framework of commonly accepted rules is needed.
The Economic System
Fulfilling the desire for goods to be able to live a comfortable life
Respect for Ownership
Relationship between people and possessions:
Ownership of property as a social convention
Resolves disputes Ensures stability of possession
Transfer of Ownership Rights over goods can be transferred by consent.
Can give things to someone.Can sell things to someone.
Markets: Where ownership is transferred by exchange Origin of money: Convenient unit of exchange Division of labor and specialization Cautions: Freedom should be accompanied by responsibility. Freedom should be exercised within the bounds of the
law.
Performance of Promises
“My word is my bond.” Society as moral Self-limitation - don’t be greedy Natural, rational expectations Trust people including strangers
Enables free trade between strangers
Economic Crimes
Theft, robbery, stealing, fraud Denial of private property - nationalization
without compensation Unreasonable and punitive taxation Reneging on agreements - not paying
salaries or invoices Breaking promises
Helpful Government Policies
Establish and maintain a simple legal framework for the free market.
Set up laws regarding contracts and guarding against theft and fraud.
Maintain an independent judiciary. Keep central banks independent. Limit taxation. Minimize bureaucracy and corruption.
2 Incompatible SyndromesCommercial moral syndrome Shun force Voluntary agreements Be honest Collaborate with strangers Compete Respect contracts Use initiative and enterprise Be open to novelty Be efficient Promote convenience Dissent for the task Invest for productivity Be industrious Be thrifty Be optimistic
Guardian moral syndrome Shun trading Exert prowess Be obedient and disciplined Be exclusive Respect hierarchy Be loyal Adhere to tradition Treasure honor Be ostentatious Enjoy leisure Deceive to achieve tasks Take vengeance Show fortitude Dispense largesse Be fatalistic
Civil Society
Fulfiling the desire for social position and power
Civil Society
Offers opportunities for people to make a difference and offer a unique contribution.
Includes many types of institutions:Politics, businesses, charities, local government, religion, schools,
hospitals, etc.
Abides by laws. Allows for freedom of speech, movement, living, career, Honors people based on merit.
Crimes against Civil Society
Achieving position illegitimately Murder, coups Nepotism Cronyism Corruption, bribery Discrimination in the public sector Totalitarianism
Helpful Government Policies
Maintain an independent judiciary. Maintain roads, electricity, water supply,
sewers. Provide for national defense. Offer a safety net.
Caution: Government should protect people’s way of life but not engage in social engineering.
Educational system
Fulfilling the desire for knowledge and understanding of the
world we inhabit
What Is Education?
Transaction between the generations that initiates children into the world which they are to inhabit
Transfer of knowledge and skills Most fundamentally, learning to live
humanly
Two Types of Education
Education at home: How to behave How to live a spiritual life How to think, but not what to think or believe Skills such as swimming, gardening, house
maintenance, money management
Education at school: History, literature, language, religion Specialized knowledge and skills More complex thinking
Educational Crimes
Failing to pass on the wisdom of the ages Dumbing down information Indoctrinating students Graduating students who lack
qualifications and skills Giving information without values,
purpose, or meaning
Helpful Government Policies
Independent and self-governing, not controlled by the state
Financed by fees, scholarships, vouchers Free to specialize and set curricula Not for indoctrination - religious or political Prepare students for exams set by
universities and other professional bodies
Religion
To satisfy the desire to worship
Realm of Religion
Acknowledgement of dependence on a superhuman being expressed through rituals and worship
Concern with questions of meaning of life, right and wrong behavior, salvation
Rituals to give meaning and sanctification to rites of passage such as marriage
Religious Crimes
IdolatryMistaking the relative for the absolute
Sectarianism Bigotry Militant fundamentalism
Helpful Government Policies
Allow religious freedom. Enable religious communities to be
involved in law making, education, and values.
Summary
Human desire Supportive social system
Crimes in this realm
Experience love Family Adultery
Material things Economy Stealing
Social position and authority
Civil society Murder
Knowledge and skills Education Falsehood, indoctrination
Worship Religion Idolatry
Principles of Good Governance
Related to Spiritual PrinciplesSociety of owners
Blessing of dominion over creation Do not steal/misuse public money
Society of market relationships Blessing of ethical relationships Do not have immoral sexual relations
Society as a moral realm Blessing of mind/body unity Do not hurt a person’s heart
Adapted by Joy Pople from a presentation by William Haines
Universal Peace Federation
www.upf.org