When I was younger, I was a self-proclaimed idealist. I saw a world of chaos and pain, irrationality and adversity. My response to this was to view everything in a manner of what it could be. My archenemy was reality. Blaming “the man” for all of my fears and inconveniences was a self-fulfilling prophecy. I knew that someone out there was taking advantage of our society and I was going to complain and whine until they went away -- because I was right and they were wrong.

When I came to college I began studying political science. It wasn’t long before the world began to appear a lot more rational. The cause and effect relationship that envelopes every twist and turn in a society became more evident. My formerly crystal clear concepts of right and wrong became blurred and naive in retrospect. But this does not irritate me so much anymore. C.G. Jung said, “The pendulum of the mind oscillates between sense and nonsense, not between right and wrong.”

I perceive that we go to school on a predominantly intellectually one-sided campus. From students to professors, everyone desires to impress upon each other their vision of utopia, their personal theory of right and wrong. Many express a hatred for their fellow man that is downright troubling, and sad. They hold their views so personal, so deeply entrenched into their ego. Why not tie your self-worth to things that you have complete control over, like your ability to create and your potential for faith? I’m not talking about wishful thinking. I am talking about being assured of results because you intend to earn them, because you have observed the factors at play.

Luckily we live in a society that runs off of creativity and drive. Not everyone in this world has that privilege. It is by no means an easy system: it has its faults and weak points – but it is robust and flexible and the best we have in this world. It is a system that is only as efficient as its driver. Right now, it has a sign on the front door that says “Drivers Wanted”. It is called Capitalism.

The most you can realistically hope to achieve in changing others is to “be the change you wish to see in the world.” Mandating that others behave a certain way, think a certain way, and follow the same morals as you is nonsense. When I was younger, I thought that the Democrats represented freedom and generated new constructive ideas. I do not believe that this is the case anymore. Now I see, to steal a line from Incubus: mental piracy. Brainwashed slaves held captive by idealistic and simplistic notions of right and wrong. But not all. Certainly not all. It is a combination of all of the well-greased parts that keep the system functioning. What we really need are people who strive to create, refine, and maintain a system that rewards effort and ingenuity; a system with a clearly defined set of rules so that you know the name of the game. This is opposed to playing favorites, so that the result is that at all time someone is unfairly discriminated against. This is opposed to frequently changing the rules to best accommodate those with the loudest voices.

We are lucky enough to live in a consumer society where we have choice: we have the luxury to choose what fits our agenda the best. What really matters is your strength in your stride. Being on the currently-winning team is nowhere near as important as how you fight and what you contribute. And let’s get real here – the only point in contributing to your society is in the reward you receive. Some want money, some want respect – and that is fine and just. Then there are others who have perceived how rewarding it can be to live for your society in its whole form. I suppose I am still an idealist, but I think the reward is the satisfaction that results from being an integral part of a prosperous community. Communalism is a powerful concept that exists in the mind, which is why it must always stay there where no one can hold a monopoly on its tenets. Where it is equally accessible to everyone and beyond the reach of overzealous dictators.

Do not be discouraged by the complexity of our world, but please accept it. Society, politics it is damn hard. Why do you think so many fail? Do not be discouraged because we have a whole lot of gloves of all shapes and sizes working on it. So instead of dividing up the transmission specialists from the electrical engineers, the fabric designers from the auto body techs – find your fit, know your liaisons, take your position and lets work together with what we have to get this baby purring again. She still has a lot of miles in her.

Justin can be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .