Society cannot function if it is every man for himself.

[kpete]

Closing paragraphs of John Barry’s The Great Influenza:

"As Victor Vaughan — a careful man, a measured man, a man who did not overstate to make a point — warned, civilization could have disappeared within a few more weeks,” he wrote. “So the final lesson of 1918, a simple one yet one most difficult to execute, is that those who occupy positions of authority must lessen the panic that can alienate all within a society.

“Society cannot function if it is every man for himself. By definition, civilization cannot survive that.”

Those in authority must retain the public’s trust. The way to do that is to distort nothing, to put the best face on nothing, to try to manipulate no one. Lincoln said that first, and best.

A leader must make whatever horror exists concrete. Only then will people be able to break it apart"

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[raging moderate]

1. Competition is the law of the jungle. Cooperation is the law of civilization.

I forget who said that first. I have read it several places. It is true, no matter who first realized it.

[Chainfire]

2. I have a running battle with right wingers

over the similar issue that each individual or group of "like minded" individuals do not have the standing to interpret the Constitution of the United States. This is generally in the interpretation of the Second Amendment. You just can not get through their thick skulls of "Patriots" that The Supreme Court has the final say in what is and what isn't Constitutional.

[Lars39]

3. They may believe in constitutional sheriffs

These idgits s believe the sheriffs are the highest power in each county.

[gratuitous]

4. Which is why, under every man for himself

Some men spend a lot of energy convincing people (the scientific term is "marks&quot to sacrifice themselves for their benefit.