Cooperation & Giving is Healthy, Sane & Normal

Greed and hoarding is a sign of mental illness and poor mental health. We have to return our society to a healthy and sane state by normalizing cooperation and giving. To sing in perfect harmony.

Above is a video of an interview with Dr. Erich Fromm on mental health, which took place in 1960. This video, combined with the article noted below, by Dr. Dan Goyal, inspired this essay that follows.

Ep 3. The Antidote with Dan Goyal

Most people are civilized and tend to gravitate toward giving and sharing This is hardwired into the brains of homo sapiens, since cooperation and sharing increases the chances of group survival. But there exists a tiny minority, outliers really, who think giving is weakness and find satisfaction in taking and hoarding. It is true that since the advent of modern industrial times such persons have always existed.

Nevertheless, it has become more accepted to hoard, as of late, chiefly because of an economic system that deems it acceptable. Here is what Erich Fromm writes in The Art of Loving (1956):

Modern capitalism needs men who co-operate smoothly, and in large numbers; who want to consume more and more; and whose tastes are standardized and can be easily influenced and anticipated. It needs men who feel free and independent, not subject to any authority or principle or conscience—yet willing to be commanded, to do what is expected of them, to fit into the social machine without friction; who can be guided without force, led without leaders, prompted without aim—except the one to make good, to be on the move, to function, to go ahead. What is the outcome? Modern man is alienated from himself, from his fellow men, and from nature.

No surprise, except most of us, as a species, might not realize how alienated we are from Nature. We are. This was true then, in 1956, when Fromm’s book was published. It has only become more pronounced in the last 40 years or so, and has accelerated in the last 20 years or so, when there is now little opposition, from mainstream society, to consumerism, to hoarding and to greed. This is aided in large part by a media that has normalized such unhealthy actions based on unhealthy thinking. It has normalized taking and hoarding, it has normalized selfishness and greed, both of which are sure signs of mental illness. Of poor mental health. Since this has been the case for at least two generations, society as a whole has become less healthy and more ill. The societal illnesses are reported daily in the media

Yet, be that as it may, we can no longer expect the major media outlets to question the status quo, to advocate for reform, to be our voice for change. They are corporate-controlled and they speak and represent the interests of the billionaire class, tiny but highly influential. They no longer have an interest in the voice of the people. Their stories and editorials show this reality.

Even so, and despite this, we can do something good as a collective. We are the majority. We have strong voices as individuals working together. It is time for society—this is us—to push back against this thinking, against the greedy mind. Thankfully, there are many sane and healthy voices and minds here on Substack. Such minds and voices will help restore health and sanity to our society. To say giving and sharing is healthy and normal. Hoarding and greed is not.

We can heal and better society to serve the interests of us, which is a sane and healthy society. We can no longer allow society to deteriorate to the whims, caprices and mental illnesses of billionaires. We have to stand up to them. We are the silent majority of people who see cooperation, caring and giving as the best state of a healthy society. We are the people who can make the necessary changes to bring about the common good. We can do this by thinking and acting in healthy ways. And continuing to write, to share and to encourage each other.

I will end with a song that was popular in the 1970s. The New Seekers with “I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing.” You say that this is idealism. Well, so be it. It is and I am all for it. We need some idealism (and hope) after four decades of cynicism (and deep despair). Enjoy the music and find your song of harmony. Nature will always strike the right chord.

I'd like to build a world a home
And furnish it with love
Grow apple trees and honey bees
And snow white turtle doves
(That's a song I hear)

Merci et à bientôt
Canadian & Lifelong Liberal
Born at 315 ppm
Now at 425 ppm

The Canadian Beaver (Castor canadensis) is a national symbol of Canada.

The Canadian Flag bears the well-recognized 11-pointed red maple leaf.