11,000 years ago, human life made a dramatic switch: from hunting to farming. These are two completely different lifestyles, appealing to different types of humans. Since then, society has developed slowly due to an uneasy truce between the two types.
Statistically Speaking
There have been thousands of generations since this pivotal event. Environment shapes genetics; maybe the two groups have become genetically different. Of course, we keep interbreeding, so it’s hard to say. In modern life, we still have the same split, and sometimes it shows up with a vengeance. Right now in the United States, the two political parties are so at odds that neither side can believe that the opposition can be so stupid. The fact is, the two sides are working for incompatible objectives, and that makes it very difficult to reconcile them.
The Farmers
These are people who look at the long term. They plant a field of grain so they can harvest it in a few months and eat for the rest of the year. They tame an animal so that they can eat its offspring for years to come. They work hard to clear and cultivate land and to construct buildings that they expect to use for decades. They know that because of their communal strength they can make their world a safe place.
The Hunters
They live in a completely different world. Their focus is on the short term. They hunt today so they can eat tonight. Their security lasts only as long as the meat from the last kill, and then they’re back to square one. They live in a constant state of anxiety, because the world is a dangerous place, and there’s nothing they can do about it but fight back. It’s the gig economy on steroids.
Which Lifestyle is Better?
History gives us the answer to that one. The farming life developed in the Middle East, in the Fertile Crescent and Egypt. Civilizations rose and flourished until they attracted the attention of nomadic warriors from the steppes — Hyksos, Huns, Goths and the like — who overran the less warlike farmers.
In every case, the invaders took over and began to live the life of Riley on the work of the subjected farmers…only to disappear, seduced into the security, satisfaction and freedom from fear of the farming life, absorbed into the farming population…
…where they maintained the cultural and genetic propensities of their ancestors, just disguised as ‘fair competition’ ‘market economy’ or ‘capitalism.’
The Modern Conflict
Nowadays, the farmers try to write laws to control the capitalists and keep everybody safe and happy, because that’s their objective in life. Meanwhile, the hunters obey the laws or not on a case-by case basis, depending on what will work best in the present situation, because today is all that counts.
The Legal System
The farmers make a law and assume people will obey it because of the uncertainty and fear the punishment provides. But the hunters expect to live in an atmosphere of uncertainty and fear. So, they don’t particularly care what they said yesterday or last week. They say what sounds best now. They break the law often, because most of the time they won’t get caught. A guilty verdict just means you appeal. Put off any unpleasantness, because maybe when the debt comes due, you’ll be somewhere else, or rich enough to afford it, or dead. Who knows?
POTUS
I don’t like to give the Little Dictator any more publicity, but he is the perfect example of this phenomenon. For the past decade and more we have watched him break the rules, break the laws, and run roughshod over democracy. And every time the Democrats get a win, he manages to duck out from under the consequences.
How could half of Americans elect a convicted felon to the Presidency? Because they admire people like that. They see the world as a frightening place. They assume their politicians will be crooks. Better to have our crook than the other side’s.
The Bottom Line
The American Left keeps hoping that the next court case or PR disaster will be the silver bullet, but so far, he has managed to duck every one of them. It will be fascinating to see how the Epstein Files turn out. Every time the man gets into trouble he finds something more interesting to keep the media focused elsewhere. As far as I can see, the only thing that tops his latest foray into diplomatic peacemaking is starting another war (Shudder). It’s obviously on his mind; he accused Obama of doing the same thing.
In the jungle of modern commerce, the one who dies with the biggest toys wins. Most of us would be happy to let Trump have his final big triumph, so we can get back to our carefully planned farming lifestyle.