Forcing the World to be Better
I am listening to Ten Days that Shook the World – when the Bolsheviks took control of Russia in 1917. I am struck by how reasonable and simple their demands (and therefore their appeal) was. They insisted on control by the peasants, the workers and the military – in all cases by those on the bottom, not the top. It was a revolt against authoritarian rule – and in favor of democracy in its most fundamental forms.
The world was horrified – and still is.
They say their revulsion is based on the Bolshevik’s use of military power to gain control, and then stay in power. But they are also more than willing to use military power themselves – against both external and internal enemies. And to use a form of power always present in a society dependent on jobs – taking away jobs from those it disagrees with.
The Bolsheviks used a tactic familiar with any observer of modern politics – embrace and subvert. Which always means turning public aims into private ones (suitably disguised). The powers that be know perfectly well that the people can easily be managed.
In a corporation (or any contemporary organization) this is facilitated by blurring the line between the top and the bottom. Plenty of well-meaning people have been enticed into managerial positions because they wanted to do things better. But they were immediately shot down in flames from both directions. From those above them, who were eager to grab the goodies for themselves. And from those below them, who wanted to grab smaller goodies for themselves.
Greed, dear boy and girls, has become universal. And not surprisingly – has not been noticed. As long as everyone gets his little piece of the pie – no one worries about the pie getting smaller.
If this happens (as it is happening) everyone agrees that it cannot be helped.
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