Those who initially think you can do no wrong are the most likely to eventually think you can do nothing right. These are the two-sides of the coin of any elected leadership position.
In the vacuum created by people who refuse to mature into responsible adulthood, children in adult bodies set out to find someone to make them like others, represent them, fight their battles and provide for them wherever they are unwilling to provide for themselves. This, more than anything, is why we have big governments. This is also why, despite it’s obvious advantages over other systems of government, representative democracy is so popular.
It’s a strange psychology, really, but we as a race have been plagued by it for most of the written record of man. One of the clearest descriptions of this fatal flaw in reasoning is found in The First Book of Samuel, way back in the Old Testament.
[1] And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel.
[2] Now the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abiah: they were judges in Beer-sheba.
[3] And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.
[4] Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah,
[5] And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.
[6] But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD.
[7] And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.
[8] According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, wherewith they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so do they also unto thee.
[9] Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit yet protest solemnly unto them, and shew them the manner of the king that shall reign over them.
[10] And Samuel told all the words of the LORD unto the people that asked of him a king.
[11] And he said, This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you: He will take your sons, and appoint them for himself, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and some shall run before his chariots.
[12] And he will appoint him captains over thousands, and captains over fifties; and will set them to ear his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and instruments of his chariots.
[13] And he will take your daughters to be confectionaries, and to be cooks, and to be bakers.
[14] And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, even the best of them, and give them to his servants.
[15] And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants.
[16] And he will take your menservants, and your maidservants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put them to his work.
[17] He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants.
[18] And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you; and the LORD will not hear you in that day.
[19] Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us;
[20] That we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles.
[21] And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he rehearsed them in the ears of the LORD.
[22] And the LORD said to Samuel, Hearken unto their voice, and make them a king. And Samuel said unto the men of Israel, Go ye every man unto his city.
Even if you are not religiously inclined, Samuel’s personal experience with this ugly meme in the people for whom he was responsible at the time is extremely instructive. To be sure, this not a religious problem or a problem of insufficient faith; it is a self-induced psychosis.
We’ve all likely had the experience, on one side of the coin or the other, of this pointless and discouraging self-destructive tendency. Lovers, fans, apostles and devotees are prone to become haters if the allegiance is based in getting and not giving. As my wife’s grand uncle once said about such ersatz relationships, “the screwing you get ain’t worth the screwing you get.”
Until we come to the point where we truly grow up, where we move from a state of collective self-centeredness to a state of refined and transcendent selflessness, we will forever be stuck in the terribly frustrating loop described by this passage. It is one of humanity’s greatest challenges, but rest assured, it is not an impossible situation; it is a Gordian knot just waiting to be met with the sword of truth.
Gregory Hake 
The conversation between the LORD, Samuel, and the people could also be seen from the perspective…. that it all took place within one. We must each individually, establish the connection that were so beautifully depicted between Samuel and the Lord, and stop thinking someone somewhere is going to come down out of heaven and do it for us!
Thanks Gregg, may the undoing of what’s been done begin!
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Yes it is time for history not to have to repeat itself. I take note of your key words for people to move from a state of self centeredness to a state of transcendent selflessness
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My grandmother would sum it up like this. “If they’ll kiss your behind today, they’ll kick it tomorrow.” Loved the post, it makes sense.
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Any relationship that was entered into to get something will always falter. This applies to marriage, friends, governments and religion. I think we are designed to function radiantly and if that is reversed we become stymied, which then caues frustration, and usually produces a witch hunt for who is to blame or will come to the rescue. It’s a predictable merry-go-round. I believe things can change. I think the original dynamics that can operate the Universe are still available to Earth. Great post!!
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This is more than a foible in our psychosis. It has been an absolute refusal to take individual responsiblity for a mature inclination. Understanding your purpose, dedicating your life to its fruition can sound like a sentence to the almost sophomoric lives that are lived. We were each created to be noble participants. It really does start with caring to take responsiblity first for what we have right in front of us. My thoughts create, my attitude creates. Great point today, worthy of looking to understand the implications, thanks.
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What is the best way to govern an immature, self-centered populace? Right there is the Gordion knot. No matter what is tried, there is frustration and dissatisfaction, inevitably so. Ultimately the chaos becomes too extreme and, in desperation, people opt for some form of heavy autocracy. History tells the story again and again.
Still, the central question has to do with each individual, with me. What governance do I accept and provide? What is the extent of integrity individually? Throughout the ages it has come down to individuals, not governments, to provide the pivot points and the leverage to move things in creative directions. Never has that principle been more important than it is today.
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Unfortunately, we often do get what we demand, however we also get what comes with that and usually its sour grapes. There is a vital lesson here that demand ruins the natural gifts that are given through life destroying friendships, relationships and the potential of our purpose.
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Most of the time, if you really want something you can get it. Whether you should have it or not is a different story, but if you push and push and push you can usually get it. That is just the nature of how humans are. They are built for greatness, yet even without the guideposts that maturity and selflessness provide, the machinery to achieve a modicum of greatness is still there.
The governments we have are a poor imitation of what is possible, and I am speaking about every type of government that has ever been seen in recorded history. The reason we must settle for these sub-par situations is because there is not a critical mass of people with the maturity to self-govern. It is a problem of the individual, magnified by many individuals into a problem of the system.
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It is a strange psychology indeed. I’ve observed where a certain kind of initial flattering fanaticism exists that it typically doesn’t have enough weight to sustain itself. Say you arrive finally at what you think is the answer to your woes and it looks so good to you and you are all gung-ho about it, well if that enthusiasm is all directed outwards and not balanced with a strong inner resolve, it is going to extinguish itself soon enough like a wimpy firecracker. Being in the health field, as a provider I’ve learned to take note of such scenarios and have learned to not take the flattery as is, though genuine and heartfelt, but direct the focus back to the person and their commitment to self-responsibility. I am only able to be truly of help to them if this gets established as soon as possible.
Thanks for bringing this vital topic to light, and it really is amazing that you can find the warnings and lessons in our history.
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Good morning Gregg! I enjoyed this post. Thanks for bringing this Bible passage to light. I think you have some valid assessments worth looking at.
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Interesting points here – thanks for sharing them.
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