“You must contrive for your future rulers another and a better life than that of a ruler, and then you may have a well-ordered State; for only in the State which offers this, will they rule who are truly rich, not in silver and gold, but in virtue and wisdom, which are the true blessings of life.”

~ Plato, The Republic

The time has come to set aside discussions about republicans, democrats and libertarians. The cycles of tired rhetoric needs reevaluated for the simple reason that life on our planet is threatened at every level. If not this generation or the next, the rate of disrespect for the most precious gift of all, life, is on accelerating slippery decline.

Life is not a commodity to be exploited, sold and objectified.

Life and existence remain the singular unique and rarest treasure within all the universe. As scientists examine the cosmos, life and consciousness exists on Earth in abundance. It has yet to be discovered anywhere else with such diversity and prominence. Life may be considered the rarest element of them all, unobtanium and we have it in spades.

Life demands dignity, respect and to be valued beyond mere gold and currency.

Instead of dignity, life is degraded on this planet. Species exist near extinction, the environment is constantly being poisoned, air polluted, resources squandered, and humans killed and maimed.

An accomplice is a person who helps another commit a crime. In the criminal system of justice they often suffer the same penalties as an individual who perpetuates the crime. In our modern world, we are all accomplices. The biggest crime being enacted is the continual murder, maiming and destruction of human life.

War is atrocity.

The news is quaint with discussion about the number of soldiers and civilians who die. It rarely ever faces the harsher realities of how life is impacted through maiming, disease, and the loss of loved ones. Statistics are cold, blood needs to remain warm. There is no excuse for putting any form of profiteering before human life.

Taxes support the war machine and all who participate are accomplices to murder.

It is our collective choice to choose politicians who support the dignity and value human life before profit.

The dark ages never ended. Humans still live with an ignorant belief that violence begets peace. It is time for us all to wake up to the simple truth that the course of action we are on as a species is unsustainable.

The energy spent on war are better directed into finding solutions for limited resources. There is plenty of energy to power our homes, more than enough food to feed every living being on this planet. There are plenty of sharp minds to generate solutions for any problem life has to offer.

Shelter, food, balanced health, and fulfilling experiences are attainable by us all, across the globe.

If we can stop killing one another in the name of profit, market growth, power and control.

If we can spend $1.8 trillion a year on war machines that destroy our planet, human life, and hope; how much further those funds could go by feeding, housing, nurturing and educating the populations of our world ?

It is time to wake up and stop supporting politics of death.

Time for us to collectively embrace politics that support life.

“I destroy my enemies when I make them my friends.” ~ Abraham Lincoln

Nobody ever made a friend by killing their mother, father, sister, brother or destroying their homes. Friendliness does not spy on populations, control what they can and cannot do, does not manipulate thought or hide behind platitudes. The policies in place are the anti-thesis to friendliness and peace.

There must be a radical shift in heart, mind and soul of our population; a shift that honors life and the dignity of existence.

If this is so obvious for me, a person of the masses, how does it not recognized by the individuals who are in office?

Leaders who dialogue with integrity and communicate peace and honor life can heal our planet.

Life before profit.

Some more quotes to ponder:

“No matter what political reasons are given for war, the underlying reason is always economic.”

~ A. J. P. Taylor

“The welfare of the people in particular has always been the alibi of tyrants.”

~ Albert Camus

“Government big enough to supply everything you need is big enough to take everything you have … The course of history shows that as a government grows, liberty decreases.”

~ Thomas Jefferson

“The more laws and order are made prominent, the more thieves and robbers there will be.”

~ Lao Tsu

“I am a citizen, not of Athens, or Greece, but of the world.”

~ Socrates

“So long as the people do not care to exercise their freedom, those who wish to tyrannize will do so; for tyrants are active and ardent, and will devote themselves in the name of any number of gods, religious and otherwise, to put shackles upon sleeping men.”

~ Voltaire

“One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors.” ~ Plato

“There will be no end to the troubles of states, or of humanity itself, till philosophers become kings in this world, or till those we now call kings and rulers really and truly become philosophers, and political power and philosophy thus come into the same hands.”

~ Plato

“The price good men pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men.”

~ Plato

“The job of thinking people not to be on the side of the executioners.”

~ Albert Camus

“It is my conviction that killing under the cloak of war is nothing but an act of murder.”

~ Albert Einstein

“Nothing will end war unless the people themselves refuse to go to war.”

~ Albert Einstein

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Editor: Bryonie Wise

Photo: Putu Anggara/Pixoto