Justice and Entitlements
Justice is the virtue whereby we give others what we owe them. To live justly we must understand two principles: Subsidiarity and Solidarity; and the three errors that must be avoided:
Collectivism – otherwise known as Socialism, Communism or a Well-fare state
Individualism, selfishness and laziae fare capitalism
Irresponsibility
Subsidiarity
Subsidiarity is the principle by which we take personal responsibility and make a specific contribution to the common good. Subsidiarity safeguards the good of the individual. God created each person in His image with intelligence and a free-will.
We are to use our freedom and initiative to take responsibility, be creative, be innovative and have a mutual concern for others that leads us to care for them and to care for the common good.
As a society, business, parish or family we should foster conditions in which individuals or small groups can express their distinct character and make their distinct contribution
Subsidiarity is the principle of creative originality. It enables individuals and small groups to use their freedom, take initiative, be creative and responsible
Solidarity
Solidarity is the principle that demands we take care of one another. In this way it safeguards the good of friendship and community. Solidarity recognizes we are all in this together and we are responsible for one another; we are our brother’s keepers.
Solidarity makes sure we don’t all just become radical individualists with no responsibility or care for others or for the community.
We need one another and help one another by sharing our material and spiritual gifts through generosity, mercy and forgiveness. Solidarity is social charity
CCC 1936
On coming into the world man is not equipped with everything he needs for developing his bodily and spiritual life. He needs others. Differences appear tied to age, physical abilities, intellectual or moral aptitudes, the benefits derived from social commerce and the distribution of wealth. The talents are not distributed equally. They weren’t meant to be!
God designed each person with gifts and needs. We have gifts to give to others and needs that demand we also receive. This giving and receiving creates friendship and joy. This means that people living life on the farm during the depression had the greatest time of their life
CCC 1937 These differences belong to God’s plan, who wills that each receive what he needs from others, and that those endowed with particular talents share the benefits with those who need them. These differences encourage and often oblige persons to practice generosity, kindness and sharing of goods…
Jesus said to St Catherine of Sienna: “I have given many gifts and graces, both natural and spiritual, with such diversity that I have not given everything to one single person, so that you may be constrained to practice charity toward one another…I have willed that one should need another and that all should be my ministers in distributing the graces and gifts they have received from me.”
Solidarity protects us against individualism
Solidarity protects us against selfish individualism – where we see ourselves as unconnected and not obligated towards one another. If every individual is only looking out for themselves the society, be it a family, a business or a nation, becomes a nightmare. I am obliged to not only look after my own interests but also the interests of others and the whole, the common good.
CCC A theory that makes profit the exclusive norm and ultimate end of economic activity is morally unacceptable…Every practice that reduces persons to nothing more than a means of profit enslaves man, leads to idolizing money, and contributes to the spread of atheism. "You cannot serve God and mammon."
The Church refused to accept, in the practice of "capitalism," individualism and the absolute primacy of the law of the marketplace over human labor. 2424-2425
Laissez-Faire or unrestricted or unregulated capitalism in a fallen world with fallen humans becomes greed run amuck and the exploitation of workers and the poor
The Gov’t is there to provide limits to freedom and to step in when the limit of right and wrong is crossed and the individual or common good is harmed. But the Gov’t should not take over and do what Individuals or families or small businesses could do, thus destroying their freedom, initiative, creativity and responsibility.
What else subsidiarity protects us against
Subsidiarity protects us against Collectivism, Communism, Socialism and a Well-fare state. Though we are responsible for one another we must not take over; we must not take away a person’s freedom, initiative, creativity and responsibility because they need to employ these to mature and reach their full potential as a person.
As human beings, there are certain things that only individuals can do – that the collective cannot do.
The difference between a classic text and a text book . A classic, like The Conte of Monte Cristo, puts you in touch with a great mind. A text book puts you in touch with a committee of mediocre minds. There are certain things that individuals can do well that groups can’t do well like being innovative and making breakthroughs. No committee ever invented anything. Invention is the result of individuals or pairs (Wright Brothers).
Individuals or pairs are more likely to make breakthroughs (Deep Work). If you remove the individual’s distinctive character and contribution you lose innovation. It is the role of those in authority to communicate to individuals what their role, responsibility and expectations are and equip them, but not to the point of micromanaging.
Micromanagement kills freedom, initiative, creative and responsibility - this part of what gives real joy to life. Xavier wanted to build a tree house, but I interpreted Xavier saying he wanted a tree house. I can’t build anything so I called a friend who is like McGyver – can make anything. He came and built the most amazing tree house for Xavier - the Taj Mahal of Tree Houses. But Xavier hated it and refused to go up into it.
The next day – Xavier got the scraps of wood, saw, hammer and nails and built a piece of junk on his own in the other tree. What did I miss - Xavier wanted to build a tree house. Xavier wanted to use his freedom, initiative and creativity to build something, and in the process grow and mature as an individual. I left both as a constant reminder to protect the good of the individual.
CCC 1883 Excessive intervention by the state can threaten personal freedom and initiative…"a community of a higher order should not interfere in the internal life of a community of a lower order, depriving the latter of its functions, but rather should support it in case of need and help to co- ordinate its activity with the activities of the rest of society, always with a view to the common good."
The principle of subsidiarity is opposed to all forms of collectivism communism or socialism. It sets limits for state intervention. 1885, 2425
If a person or can fulfill their responsibilities and role without you intervening, then don’t intervene, let them do it on their own so they can mature and reach their potential. That is what a collectivism, communism, socialism and a well-fare state does.
The third error
The third error we must avoid is an entitlement attitude: I don’t have to take responsibility for myself or for others.