This article will delve into social governance structure and operation. The best way to ensure the positive evolution of civilization would be to ensure its continued existence.
This article will delve into social governance structure and operation. We will explore two primary elements of governance. Those being number one, Governing Bodies or Frameworks of Governance and number two, Systems or Methods of Governance. We will not explicitly define “governance”, with the expectation that its definition is either known through common language and/ or it will be defined as implied in the context of the article.
Assumption/ bias that must be stated before we continue; the Writer holds human society, culture and civilization in high regard, as well as holding freedom of the individual equally so, and as such, deems their value of the highest order. The writer does not place an arbitrary hierarchy on State, National and Global governance levels, meaning there is no subordination implied. Rather, the writer likens the competition amongst individual states and the back and forth between state and federal governance that is implied in and inherent to the United States Constitution to be part of a manifestation of the splendor of the universe. Likewise, the writer believes this same interplay can exist between all six (6) levels of Governing Bodies or Frameworks of Governance as defined in this article. However, the writer would like to emphasize that fighting amongst siblings and quarrels between co-workers are rarely productive undertakings or highest and best uses of energy expenditure relative to simply working with the intent of building value or just enjoying life.
For our purposes, the Governing Bodies or Frameworks of Governance will be delineated in the following levels and defined as such:
- Global Governance
- National Governance
- State Governance
- County Governance
- City Governance
- Neighborhoods, Social Groups and, Community, Tribal and Religious Organizations
Coincidentally, most all points on planet earth and the people that are on them are administered by a structure that is in some way similar to one or more of these six bodies or frameworks. Though they may be greater or lesser in level or greater or fewer in number at that specific location, they ultimately have similar purposes.
Continuing on, the article will define Systems or Methods of Governance as follows:
- Market Driven/ Capitalist
- Humanitarian/ Communist/ Socialist
- Authoritarian/ Fascist
We will also propose these three general categories for Methods of Thinking, Analysis and Determination:
- Comparison to Historical Practices
- Logical Analysis and the Sciences
- Emotional Feeling and Willingness of Adoption
The above will tie in via context in this article to enhance reader comprehension and article comprehensiveness.
This article will not delve into the concepts of a political left vs right or liberalism vs conservatism as they are largely confusing due to their changing definitions over time. For the purposes of this exploration we will categorize the systems or methods of governance into three, those being Capitalism, Communism and Fascism. We have chosen these as they are relatively common terms that well represent points on a spectrum or range of individual freedom. Capitalism places a value on everything, and as such, subjects people to a subsequent valuation. Communism seeks to devalue the individual in the sense that it must treat all people like chattel no different from one another; but core to its ideology is a general provision for their welfare and continued existence. We say devalue the individual with the partial exception of a class, involved and operating in a social design and managerial capacity that receive some level of additional privilege and are always part of the equation in every system as all systems require some form of administration. Finally, Fascism continues a step further in this direction and as such, people aren’t even recognized as having much value, they are simply the subjects of the state and might be thought of as hardly worth mentioning. They can easily be disposed of without much if any consequence. This is an intentional oversimplification for purposes of communication and conversation. With that said, you can see why we have left out the concepts of left vs right or liberalism vs conservatism as one can easily visit the dictionary and encyclopedia to see that the current state of governance, especially in the United States does not much align with any of their definitions. It should also be noted, the interplay of individualism and collectivism as you move along this spectrum.
We will also not concern ourselves with concepts like republic, democracy, oligarchy, dictatorship or monarchy. As these would add further confusion to the way the Governing Bodies or Frameworks are organized or administered and would not further our goal of an alignment in understanding.
It should also be noted that the framework or governing body delineated as “Neighborhoods, Social Groups and, Community, Tribal and Religious Organizations,” is a wide reaching catch-all for the lowest level of governance framework and subsequently would include many groupings including the afore named, as well as Corporations, Businesses, Schools, Families by Blood and/ or Marriage, Categories of Common Belief, Personal Identities such as those based on Sexuality and Gender, Race or Ethnicity as well Street Gangs and Secret Societies.
Further, Global Governance, National Governance, State Governance, County Governance and City Governance likewise could each be their own “catch-all’ of many individuals, organizations and groups demonstrating the Dramatic Oversimplification of this article as referenced by these terms being defined only in name and context within the article.
At this point, the introduction itself has mostly completed the purposes of the article. Also as is likely highlighted by the sheer simplicity of their definitions, none of the three Systems or Methods of Governance on their own appear ideal, as they wouldn’t seem to do justice to the majesty that is the human being and all of creation, or the universe (however you would like to define it) that both serves humanity and is administered by humanity. This paragraph summarizes the case for and necessity of institutions such as religion and the sciences like the study of philosophy as they cater to the nuances of our existence through historic ritual practices and logical analysis that help us both cope with and attempt to understand our reality. These institutions are typically administered through community organizations and businesses such as churches and schools but the concept also extends to closed societies, sororities, fraternities, neighborhood organizations, and even gangs as governing bodies or frameworks. These groups tend to be responsible for answering the most difficult questions of their members who ultimately are “the governed.”
The beauty of the United States Constitution is the way in which it both protects our National structure, and allows us to integrate with the rest of the world through a structure of Global Governance. All of that and it still simultaneously serves our people at the individual level. It is amazing the insight the framers had, considering how well the system they created has adapted to the current world at large. Likewise, it is equally amazing that we have made it 235+ years with our Constitution intact seeing as how it has been continuously under siege since its inception. Further, it has continued to serve individuals and organizations alike even throughout its continuous partial or attempted subversion. Finally, the simple fact that it is deeply hated by its opponents, demonstrates that it is still relevant and valuable today.
As we enter the year 2025, it behooves us to be clear minded enough to accept that Global Governance is a simple fact of life. We should also not discount the value of any of these delineated governance frameworks as they have been built with considerable time, thought and effort and as such are part of the creation of humanity (and even divinity if you choose to interpret it that way) and have great value in preventing absolute chaos. Simultaneously, from the point of a nation state such as the United States of America, a handing-off of managerial authority over your population to a Global governing body due to some perception of arbitrary subordination could hardly be seen as justifying the history of your own creation. Using this pragmatic approach, we can then each engage with the Governance structure in an attempt to shape it according to our individual and collective will and desire.
When we reach this point we can also recognize that there are many individuals and groups that are seeking to influence the world through each of their available Governing Bodies or Frameworks and why Individual Diligence and Vigilance is required to participate in the Governance process.
It is our standpoint that those who seek to shape the world through codified law, seek to shape the world through force and for the purpose of this article, that process is most closely aligned with Authoritarianism. Therefore, Codified Law itself is inherently Authoritarian as it seeks to create rules that limit and dictate behavior enforced via violence. This is something that a strictly Capitalist system would not do as it would expect the market itself to regulate all human behavior. This paragraph ties together the previous paragraph regarding a spectrum or range of systems or methods of governance. You can see now that “Communism” is used as nothing more than a term to denote a midpoint on this range.
It should be clear by now that all three of these Systems or Methods of Governance have been and continue to be simultaneously present to some varying degree in every civilization from the present moment back to the beginning of time. We believe that history clearly demonstrates civilizations and societies leaning toward a market driven method of governance seem to endure the greatest longevity and prosperity. Though it should be noted that there are no civilizations we are aware of as of yet that have lasted indefinitely. But perhaps Religions and Secret Societies, which are a form of Social Group may have carried on the longest, they don’t in fact constitute a complete system of or framework for governance but rather a component of a system as described earlier in the article. We also believe that Society will typically provide adequately for Humanitarian needs over time in a natural and organic manner and though it is not guaranteed, where tolerable this method is strongly preferable to authoritarian enforcement of any form of perceived Humanitarianism. Though as stated, no society has endured the great expanse of time; the writer would like to hope that we could be witnessing just such a society evolving right in front of our eyes.
We should expect society to change over time, as change is a fact of life. We should also expect that those who work to participate in society will advance their status to varying degrees over time. However, when you combine the concepts in these two statements, you may end up with varying rates of social change or of personal advancement in one’s life. There may come times in society where change is slow or where social advancement is more or less a factor in one’s life. These statements seek to explain the larger social dynamics of civilization and as such, do not account for individual timelines. Meaning that although a person may not for a time advance themselves socially, they may still find ways to advance their own well being and likewise though an individual may advance themselves socially or have been given a relatively high social status, it does not guarantee health and happiness or advancement of their own well being.
This article has attempted to make sense of what is typically thought of as a series of very complex topics from political science to religion to community to governance. This is our worldview and can be taken as our organizational opinion at Bridge Into the Future. Our effort in constructing this article is to communicate our worldview, establish our stance of philosophical opinion and perhaps add value to the reader by creating alignment and clarity in a diverse and possibly confusing world. The best way to ensure the positive evolution of civilization would be to ensure its continued existence.
We will complete the thoughts encapsulated in this article by saying that it is the writer’s opinion that the United States of America might possibly be the single greatest example of a civilization since Plato’s description of “Atlantis;” or it might simply be the linchpin to at least one half of a functional system of Global Governance. Not only a melting pot of its people but a centerpoint and/ or blending of both, our world’s aspects of chaos and its capability of organization. Either way, we see it as something to be revered, preserved and enjoyed. Thank you for your investment of time in reading, we hope to see you benefit by pleasure and/ or prosperity because of it.
