Beliefs and Values: Our hearts and minds must be aligned in this election

I’m an old learner and I’m hoping I can stick it out for a while longer to get my brain to fold the same way as my skin. It’s not a bad hobby if you can get into it; There is always something to learn. The trick is not to confuse knowledge with wisdom. I call it the curse of Socrates, who said, “The only true wisdom lies in knowing that you know nothing.” The humility of humanity is right here.

Lately I’ve been thinking about the nuances of ethics and morals. One of the ten humanistic commitments concerns ethical development. Broadly speaking, humanists measure humanity’s ethical development by human well-being. How are you? Are people doing well and doing well? Being well adapted to a sick society is not a measure of my personal morality. Viewing human well-being as my ideal aligns my moral compass, stimulates my conscience, and shapes my desires. It’s been a good guide so far.

Don’t tell Socrates, but I claim this knowledge: People thrive in a democracy, in a society of unity in diversity, where equality and justice are valued and achieved. Inequality drives conflict, and where there is conflict, peace is not possible. Another humanistic commitment is peace and social justice. As election season approaches, I reflect on this: The most moral thing I can do is to vote for the well-being of the most marginalized people in my community, my state, my country, my world.

Today, it is the impoverished, LGBTQ+ people, BIPOC, immigrants, women, the disabled, the elderly, children – generally people who depend on the moral actions of others and the ethical development of society. We all.

The philosopher and theologian Nikolai Berdyaev formulated the immorality of poverty as follows: “Bread for myself is a material question. Bread for my neighbor is a spiritual thing.” I know nothing about “spiritual” issues, but it is clear that poverty causes social ills and is therefore unethical. Since the poor have the fewest wealthy lobbyists on Capitol Hill, I will vote for anti-poverty plans and programs rather than tax relief for those who need it least, because tax evasion is both immoral and unpatriotic.

The moral voice for me is against the government’s subjugation of women’s bodies. State-organized motherhood cannot be distinguished from state-sponsored child trafficking. Motherhood must be personal and consenting so that women are not marginalized and women and children can thrive. Forcing women to stay married through no-fault divorce laws is also a form of state human trafficking. Paying women less is immoral because it harms women. As a human being and a woman, my moral compass here is at the intersection of women’s well-being and equality.

The more we learn about human biology, the more we know that there are LGBTQ people who pay taxes and absolutely belong in the public eye to thrive as fellow human beings. The same goes for BIPOC, immigrants, people with disabilities, etc. I can never believe in my head what I don’t feel in my heart, and my heart feels this: It hurts to be excluded.

I believe that anyone who can find their heart can know this and use it as a guide for voting. Not hurting people is always a good thing. Help people even better. The humanistic concept of morality requires a connection to human well-being, or it is simply obedience to dogmas that sometimes proves harmful.

Socrates had reservations about democracy. He feared that ignorant or misinformed voters would elect a demagogue. I won’t pretend it doesn’t happen. But people are learners and most vote as creative designers of ethical community structures.

People are the heroes in this story, and like all heroes, our mythological protagonists and spiritual beings worthy of our worship, we can all show that we protect the weak and care for those most in need among us.

Vote like a hero. If there is a God, He/She/It agrees.

Janet Marugg of Clarkston, Washington, is a nature lover, a lifelong learner, and a secular humanist.