Vulcan Philosophy

SEARCH BLOG: GOVERNMENT

Gene Roddenberry created Star Trek... several television series and movies, as well as books and toys and strange-looking people who tried to make life imitate art. On his way to making a fortune, Mr. Roddenberry managed to agitate [much more than stir] the imaginations of millions of people around the world to the idea of life beyond earth, a world of technology that solved every problem, and new other-worldly philosophies. He allowed us to forget our own reality for a reality that might be.

In Mr. Roddenberry's future, money was no longer necessary. People had jobs... presumably based on their talents more than their connections... but their needs and wants were simply taken care of by some undefined agency. "Replicators" could make food or tools or whatever you asked for... you just had to manage your "rations."

For many of Mr. Roddenberry's followers, the various manifestations of the Vulcan character... beginning with "Mr. Spock," garnered the most interest.


Purely logical beings who converted from a race of violent, savage tribes by the efforts of a great philosopher. Despite their logic, the viewer or reader always sensed the underlying passion and conflict of the Vulcan character. And underlying the Vulcan logic was the Vulcan philosophy that "the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few."

Yet, ultimately, even Mr. Spock came to understand that the needs of the one can outweigh the needs of the many. So much for science fiction....

Today, in the USA, we have a parallel conflict. Our country was founded on the principle that the individual should be protected from the power of the government or a tyrannical majority. But every day that principle of protection is challenged in subtle ways that are always prefaced by "yes, but." "You have the right to ----. Yes, but...."

The original Bill of Rights:

Amendment I
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances. Yes, but it seems not so much for Christians or Christmas.

Amendment II
A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed. Yes, but not in Washington, D.C. no matter what the Supreme Court may say.

Amendment III
No soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law. Whew, no yes, but yet.

Amendment IV
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized. Yes, but there is the Patriot Act.

Amendment V
No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia, when in actual service in time of war or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation. Yes, but we enforce this selectively.

Amendment VI
In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the state and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense. Yes, but "speedy"... that's a relative term, geologically.

Amendment VII
In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise reexamined in any court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law. Yes, but now we have Judge Judy.

Amendment VIII
Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted. Yes, but who can really say what is excessive?

Amendment IX
The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people. Yes, but ve haf vays.

Amendment X
The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people. Yes, but we have Federal laws covering every contingency.

and the other 17 Amendments....

Thank goodness we are still a democracy [well, technically a republic, but let's not dwell on incidentals]. We are protected from a government or majority that would take away our basic rights in exchange for protection against great perils like, oh let's see, Global Warming... or some such subterfuge. Of course, we long ago said that because those who earned most have more rights, they should pay higher tax rates than the majority. They do have more rights, don't they?

Regardless, how many rights equal a carbon credit? I hear there is an exchange program coming.

By the way, does anyone have any idea how many Federal laws there are that infringe upon the Ninth and Tenth Amendments? Just a rhetorical question, obviously, since our Supreme Court would have thrown them out... right? Rights!

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