I spend a lot of time lately contemplating “natural laws”. The evolution of mankind occurred by and under the influence of things that are and that he cannot control over time. The leaning tower of Pisa is not defying the law of gravity, but succumbing to it gradually despite the efforts of Italian engineers and we know who will win in the long run. The pyramids have lasted far longer than other man-made structures because the use gravity instead of oppose it.
It is possible to organize society in many ways, most of which have resulted in chaos because they only work by the use of outside force. Statist systems rely on force to command individuals but even those that benefit the most eventually come to the conclusion that they are dissatisfied with the coercion and corruption that thrives as an unintended consequence. Systems based on individual rights and freedom comply with natural laws and outlast those organizing philosophies based on the collective.
The flaw in systems based on freedom was clearly identified at its birth by one of the founding fathers of the most successful government in the history of mankind. Benjamin Franklin, in a letter to a pair of priests in Passy who he knew during his time there, he said “Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom.” The degree of success achieved by the American people has been in direct proportion to their virtue and this is a natural law as well. This virtue is not religious but the actions of individuals acting in their own long-term interest while accepting that all others must have the right to do likewise.
I see us failing not because of any intellectual shift to the right or left but due to inattention to the law of virtue. Lying to achieve public office, cronyism, looting, seeking unearned rewards, coercion of others for personal gain and shirking personal responsibilities are not virtuous behaviors and a vast majority of America has become addicted to these traits.
We were never perfect. Franklin saw that but felt that the rewards of striving to maintain a life of freedom would inspire an effort to be a people of virtue. I see the current “voter revolt” to be an unconscious rejection of the mess that has been made but without the presence of a virtuous leader they are saying we don’t really know what we want but we know that we don’t want the political class that brought us to this result. Be it Sanders or Trump, neither is more of the same. This may seem like a dangerous reaction but is probably better than more of the same. All we need is a Galt.