In the 1980 US presidential campaign, Ronald Regan asked the question, “Are you better off now than you were four years ago?” The simplistic yet compelling question suggests that our economic well-being is more important than the many other election (or life, or social) issues. It implies that our self-interest and very happiness depends on steady economic growth in general, and our own upward economic situation in particular.
In my opinion, this is a fundamental misalignment. Too many aspects of human societies are skewed toward profits and/or dominance (gaining power, winning in a competitive manner, zero-sum thinking). Too many of us think money and power will lead to happiness. As long as this is true, we will always be at risk of inequality and conflict. There will always be a risk that new technologies (AI, genetic engineering, robotics, etc.) will be developed and used for profits first, without sufficient regard to safety or impact on society. There will always be a risk of global conflict and mass destruction.
Instead, I wish to offer two slightly different questions:
- Do you understand and respect more people now than you did four years ago?
- Are you more capable of bringing out the best in others now than you were able to four years ago?
Understanding and respecting others, in my opinion, is more important than the economy. If we improve the economy without changing the way we feel about and act towards others, it will simply perpetuate, or even exacerbate existing inequalities and problems. If we do not constantly develop newfound understanding and respect for others, we likely won’t be able to meet new challenges forced upon us by rapid changes in society.
Our attitudes and skills toward understanding and respecting others is just the first step. That’s why there is a second question. Ultimately, are our attitudes, and more importantly, actions, able to bring out the best in others? Let me give a quick example.
Meghan watches her mother finish a telephone call.
“Mommy, why are you crying?” she asks gently.
“I’m okay,” mommy sighs, “I’m okay.”
Meghan leaves the room and comes back moments later.
“When I’m sad, I hold on to Mr. Brown,” she says, handing over a teddy bear to her mother.
What I wish to show is that even children are able to offer their best (eg. treasured toy) to others, are able in some way to bring out the best in others. But wait! Don’t we call it excellent customer service when people do unscripted, “not part of their job” things to delight us? Don’t we want leaders who are willing to put our needs first to inspire us to be our best?
I would argue that developing newfound understanding, respect, and ability to bring out the best in others, leads to better relationships. In companies, it leads to better leadership, improved efficiency within teams and across departments, and more sales. In politics, it leads to cooperation, compromise, and less conflict. It is good for individuals, companies, and countries.
What if politicians repeated my questions more often? What if news and social media prioritized my questions over advertising revenue? What if more hiring and promotion decisions were based partly on answers to my questions? What if EA encouraged more frequent and reflective examinations of these questions? What if we made deliberate and smarter efforts to live and work with others?
No one wants to see war, suffering, or extinction. We want to see humanity survive and thrive. But such ideas are too abstract and removed from our daily concerns. If we don’t find a sustainable way to align personal self-interests, the bottom line, and politics together in a sensible, actionable, beneficial manner, then we’ll never be able to fully leverage our personal, economic, and social resources to move forward.
PS. See my other post:
https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/posts/7srarHqktkHTBDYLq/bringing-out-the-best-in-humanity
