Some lies that are universally believed are so deeply and securely embedded in the human psyche that they are clearly instinctive in nature. We are told by evolutionary psychologists that the brain has us do the things that optimize the chances that our genes will be passed to the next generation. When the larger thinking brains of a few humanoids come up with more efficient ways of looking at things, the animal brain which is governed by instinct, has us do the things that have promoted our survival for millions of years. Those things can be outdated.
A person has instinctive beliefs as well as intellectual beliefs. When aggregations of people interact, the animal brain takes over and pushes any brilliance aside. The animal brain is the better of the two brains at getting its way. The the thinking of the larger intellectual brain is corrupted to the degree its owner views the world through a prism of fantasy.
Clearly, in the eons that have passed before the modern era, focusing on the goodness and prowess of the herd leadership promoted survival. Leadership of the herd or tribe was the place to go to solve a problem an individual person could not. Leadership had to be highly adept in order to gain that special position of group leader. Looking to herd or tribe leadership made good sense. It may still within small enough groups.
From the natural awe and respect shown to herd leadership, the notion that government is benevolent is derived. There actually is no such thing as a benevolent government. The human race is instinctively still tethered to an animal brained instinctive belief system that was useful when perhaps one thousand members operated as a group. Since the larger thinking brain is subject to believing fantasy as a means of escaping harsh reality, government today is almost universally treated as a kind and benevolent institution. Of course it is anything but.
This basic misunderstanding makes it very difficult to continue improving living standards and the quality of life in general. Those elected to various offices are not actually working tirelessly to improve the lot of the constituents who put them in office. People keep expecting goodness out of government but they keep getting fleeced instead. A big part of the reason is the permanent lie that government is benevolent. That notion is rooted in instinct. The lie is further strengthened because believing government is benevolent as a fantasy is highly comforting.
The truth is a hard sell. Fantasy Free Economics gains readers one at a time. Major search engines simply do not list blogs which disagree with their political agenda. As long as folks share the link to this blog and others speaking out against the grain, the truth will at least trickle into the public consciousness.
Fantasy Free Economics recommends the following blogs.
Of Two Minds Liberty Blitzkrieg Mises Institute Straight Line Logic Paul Craig Roberts
