Idealism is Not the Preserve of the Rich

When I philosophize about life and ideals and so on (which is, very often), my friend likes to bring me down to earth by pointing out that it is all very well to talk of morals, ideals, and principles while one is living a cushy life (actually, I would like to contest the 'cushy life' point as well...maybe another day). In a nutshell, according to my friend, morality and ideals are the privilege of the materially sated.

 

I disagree.

 

My friend is forgetting that the greatest ideologues of the world come from Mao's China and Marx's Europe. The most fervent of these comrades were poor, but in fact there were also those who were born rich and who spurned their inheritance in favor of a higher vision (E.g. - Tolstoy). Therefore, to say that wealth begets a fierce idealism is not true.

 

In fact, the meeting of almost all of one's material needs tends to make one forget about ideals. Too much comfort and wealth leads to sluggishness and smugness. Today, I'm not sure if over-consumption and materialism even consider ideals and principles in the face of 'materially sound' arguments for even more wealth accumulation.

 

There is a Hindi film song from the 1970s that goes, "Thoda hai thode ki zaroorat hai" - that roughly translates as "we have a little, and a little is all we need". I think this is a good philosophy to adopt - to live within one's means. I suppose I am a very old-fashioned person.

Therefore, when I hear Hindi film songs from the 1970s and 80s, I can't help feeling sentimental over the sweet earnestness with which Indians built their lives during this period, in between the Emergency and its belt-tightening during the 1970s and the later aggressively growing open market of the 2000s. During this time, I think almost all Indians - across economic classes - lived with a certain spareness. The unbridled splurging was kept for the most special event in one's life - the great big Indian wedding lol!  

 

But coming back to my friend's statement...to say that only the rich can afford to moralize is very dangerous and downright irresponsible because it places values (which can't be bought) into the hands of a few, and denies the lesser wealthy masses the right to choose those very ideals. In a sense, this is akin to saying that it is alright to do just about anything to get ahead in the game towards getting rich because until one acquires wealth, values don't really mean a thing. How sad is that?

 

I believe there is a need for a change in perspective. I believe that it would help a poor man to adopt ideals and principles because these would help him on the road to self development and a fulfilled life, whether or not it be a wealthy one. Getting into the rat race doesn't necessarily mean one is going to hit the jackpot, does it? So, what happens then? 

 

On the flip side, history has proven that Marxism is not a long-term solution. Ideology by itself may be perfect, but since it is exercised by human beings there is every chance of admitting imperfection due to human failings. Ironically, the very ideology that was meant to develop a person's strengths is more often (than not) corrupted by the same.

 

For instance, there are innumerable examples of party officials enjoying flamboyant lifestyles or exhibiting inhumanity during trials, in complete opposition to their doctrines. There are also well known examples of how a communist or socialist state develops in leaps and bounds once free market reforms have been adopted, never to look back (China and India's recent 10% and 6% growth, respectively).

 

At the end of the day, one wonders about ideals. All kinds of states and economies - whether in the short or long term - employ them to define vision and direction at all levels. In addition, history has also proven that the human spirit values freedom of thought, expression and creativity (hence the collapse of communism).

 

Apparently, through all this drive towards advancement at the individual, local, and global level, there is something - more than material gain - that brings happiness to us all. And it doesn't have a price.