Might the many be at least as culpable as the few for somehow letting a truly miniscule few have their way?
In my eyes: no. Everyone should be allowed to be born innocent and implicit trust in others is not a flaw but something to be praised.
That being said: cynicism and mistrust seem to be better factors in subjugating one's will over others, so if that there is a measure of "success", then cynicism wins out in that regard
> Everyone should be allowed to be > born innocent and implicit trust in > others is not a flaw but something > to be praised.
I agree in an idealist context.
But, take the "should" part.
Why? What within you drives conviction things "should" be other than they are? Have you ever encountered such environment? I mean, even in idealist contexts also known as movies, environments initially represented that way are soon enough revealed to be "the same old shit". Right?
And now onto the "be allowed" part.
By whom? Who has both the inner - to the point of consistently practicing - righteousness, and sufficient power to battle/overcome the forces of social evil?
Given the context of "the love of money is the root of all evil", and how it seems that those who love it the most wind up with the most... and that money is, amongst other things, a representation of power... taken all together, those in power are *necessarily* the scum of the earth with respect to social good, i.e. with respect to what "should" be.
What reverses/topples that?
(Apart from blogging, of course.... :-) )