Again, there are no absolutes. Yet, please observe everyone, that despite all this “freedom” on the (extensive) whole (statistically speaking) everything behaves as precisely as expected. And from “day ONE” we have come a very long way. (Actually reintroducing the concept infinity or eternity demands us to appreciate that such a thing necessarily goes both ways, so it seems unlikely to me that there was in fact any “day one”). The universe is overall pretty dependable. In “statistical” time scales it remains reliable. (I do like that saying “the only thing statistics can prove is that most people have more than the average number of legs”. Think about it. But it also proves a great number of other things, to the extent that “atomic clocks” the most accurate of time-pieces, depend on the prediction of the half-life of certain radioactive elements. Not that most of us need such accuracy).
So when we feel the need to make judgements about whether or not in the long term such and such is a good idea, then consider “Does this delegate down?” and if so it is likely to be. Or “Does this disempower generally by encouraging the accumulation of power within a limited entity?” in which case it is unlikely to be. That might be the case for example in government, if the government takes it upon itself to do more than be the “head” / co-ordinator of the “body” of people, for the benefit of the whole body (rather than the benefit of the head, all power corrupts et cetera). In addition one has to also keep in mind at all times “It all depends”, as there are no absolutes. As long as we are aware, and acknowledge which way we are “facing”, with or against the processes of creation, we may decide at times to stay “empowered”. For me, who had three children within 29 months, I was extremely “masterful” about bedtime, which “law” was ameliorated to some extent by telling them stories. Without sleep (which required them to be asleep, all at the same time, so that so could I also sleep) I simply couldn’t have coped with what each day brought: often including jaw-ache from answering so many questions.
I mentioned the macro and micro scales of delegation, both of which are not about entities we might call “living” (galaxies and atoms). But within the human body we not only are born with reflexes that delegate down responsibility for various functions and activities, we (and virtually all other animals) also have conditioned reflexes that are quickly learned / assimilated. So, when learning to play the piano or touch type, start off from day one using the most helpful fingering / techniques, or when schooling a horse, (teaching a horse to develop the right conditioned reflexes) as it is extremely hard to unlearn. Likewise when learning to drive, look in the mirror et cetera as a matter of habit. And quite likely (I am no authority) for a “successful” sex life, give yourself the best chance of making the best of it by starting with the right person at the right time in the right place, or your whole “career” might be somewhat disappointing, (and you might find yourself dependent on products from Anne Summers, or like my “I was in the merchant navy from 16 to 26” friend, you may only “make it successfully” with prostitutes you don’t know, because all your first encounters were like that and your reflexes have accommodated to requiring that additional excitement). Not that “the right person” is necessarily the one that anyone else feels is appropriate, to some extent one has to trust in instinctive “chemistry”. Instincts run very deep, even in the most civilised of us. For a child who has been abused, and there are many of them, or for a woman (and I suppose man) once something traumatic or unacceptable has occurred the natural responses can be damaged / rubbed out. Obviously I put in bits like that to hopefully retain your interest, as I know this is all heavy going (I have been told) for others. I want people to realise seeing the way things work matters at all scales of human activity, not just in either billions of years time, or for guidance in the current economic situation. And the way that things work is not a mystery, not a series of isolated “rules”. It all joins up / makes one big pattern, whether we are considering galaxies, atoms, society or Joe Bloggs. Once one can see the patterns one can make predictions, in general terms at least, always allowing that within creation there is plenty of contingency space for anomalies.
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