Privilege, Externalities, and More

I've been thinking a bit about the concept of a whipping boy.

I don't actually know how common the practice was, my understanding of it is this: a noble can't get paddled (or whipped) when they get their lessons wrong. This also, obviously, took place when corporal punishment was common when teaching.

Anyways, can't punish the young master, so what do you do?

Apparently, it's get some poor boy and give him an education... And also punish him for the young master's mistakes.

It sounded pretty terrible when I first heard about it, and tbh still does. It's got all the things we hate about spoiled, privileged, 'elites' who never suffer the consequences of their own actions.

However, I've been thinking that the callousness, lack of empathy, and willingness to see someone suffer are not actually... Inevitable?

And for most people, for people who do show some concern for their fellows, such a punishment can actual be worse. (still not saying it's acceptable, just thinking about the psychology here).

That's because many people are willing to deal with the consequences of their own actions, but are seriously ashamed/sorry/regretful when they're actions lead to someone else getting hurt.

Its one thing for me to do something stupid when I'm the only one injured... Like falling out of a tree.

Its another thing entirely when other people are affected.

That is, in many ways, the duty entrusted to officers in the military.

You are responsible for the lives of the people under your command, and your decisions can literally mean life or death for them.

Now, if you dwell on that too long you can second guess yourself and waffle so much that you don't do anyone any good, so a certain amount of distancing yourself makes sense. But at the end of the day, you still need to be aware of the trust placed in you...

And do your best to live up to that trust, to make the best decisions for you and your troops.

I know I've complained before about the fools in charge

Their arrogance, the lack of empathy, the way they think they're somehow better and deserving when they're at best ordinary (like the CEOs who fail and yet still get a golden parachute), and I've talked before about who suffers the consequences of their decisions.

And that gets at the heart of the issue, I think.

If you are blessed to be in a position of power and influence, where your decisions impact hundreds of millions of people, you have a sacred obligation to do your best for everyone whose lives and livelihoods are in your hands.

The complete failure of our so-called elites to live up to that trust should be a searing indictment.

600,000+ people needlessly dead in a pandemic?

People freezing to death in Texas?

The heat wave in the pacific northwest, one so drastic any reasonable person can see its related to climate change?

The inability of the people with power and influence to address that effectively?

Collectively, our so-called elites are failing to live up to their obligations.