America appears to have lost faith in its spirit of voluntarism at the local community level. Interestingly, however, Orrin Woodward explains Wikipedia success as a direct result of voluntarism. Voluntarism, in a word, isn't dead, just dormant. Read Orrin's hilarious article and you decide whether government or voluntarism is right for America.
America was a land propelled by voluntarism in the early republic. Many social programs were formed by volunteers who saw a need and filled it. Voluntarism is the ability of citizens to handle their own needs through voluntary social means. In contrast, Government social programs require compulsion to get people to do and 'enjoy' the benefits of the latest Government program. As more Government is involved in our social life, the less voluntarism we see.
Why have American lost faith in the ability of Voluntarism to handle their needs, especially in the face of the explosive success of Wiki and other crowd favorites. Wiki is nearly an all volunteer online encyclopedia that has more searchable subjects than the largest purchasable encyclopedia at no cost to the consumer. How is that possible? It's possible because entrepreneur's like Jimmy Wales dreamed, worked and executed without government's support.
It's also possible because people love to volunteer their skills and abilities to help others. Recognition is a strong driver of behavior and proven abilities are rewarded by the crowd. Sturgeon's Law stated that 90% of anything is crud, but that still leaves 10% of the volunteers will do great work and freely lead the community to accomplish the tasks. 10% of millions of volunteers time lead to great products at nearly no cost.
The same Voluntarism could be used in our communities and reduce the oppressive load of government intervention in our lives.
For the sake of example, imagine if the Government instead of Jimmy Wales had started Wiki. Can we even fathom the cost and coerciveness involved in taking Wiki from concept to working online encyclopedia? The first thing that would happen is politicians would fight to have the project located in their state and millions would be spent before a project bureaucrat was assigned to lead the program.
Secondly, thousands of people would file for jobs to work the various areas of their expertise, subsequently raising the cost of the program into the tens of millions. Work would begin, but then politicians would argue over definitions and do a full investigation of the alleged propaganda or hate crimes against some of our historical figures and events. Congress would demand and oversight committee to ensure each subject article is covered in an acceptable style to the powers that be. Work would be delayed as some of the subjects are kicked around Congress and backroom deals are made to grease the skids.
The public grows weary as the promised 3 year deadline comes and few articles approved and online. A grassroots movement starts with a new group of politicians promising to go to Washington and clean up this Wiki mess. Politicians promise to reduce the bloated mass of rotting bureaucracy if only they were in power. The masses are promised free Wiki and more if they will show up and vote for change. The new politicians are elected in a landslide and they start the process over again.
The new politicians will fight over which state will house the new and improved Wiki project. Backroom deals will settle the dispute and the offices are not moved after months of negotiations between political powers. After more months of debates in Congress, a vote passes to water all articles down to not offend anyone and maintain unity of our nation. Plus there were concerns that some citizens would not understand the deeper concepts and since we are all equal, that would not do.
Six years and hundreds of millions of dollars and lost freedoms later, the Government announces the success of another Government program. How did they do it you ask? Instead of finishing with the Government employees writing the articles, the government reviews the Census data educational records and compels (drafts) volunteers to finish all needed articles. After making a few examples or recalcitrant's who would not cooperate with the IRS - Information Requesters Society - all articles were finished in another year under threat of fines, prison time, and higher taxes.
Politicians from both parties speak eloquently of the bi-partisan cooperation necessary to make Government work for all Americans. Wiki days are initiated at public schools to share how Big Government provides Rights to all Americans. TV stations run special reports and Congress states they can do even more if Americans are willing to give up just a little more of their freedoms and hard earned dollars. Through all the celebration and hoopla, a man like Jimmy Wales thinks to himself, "You know, if I was assigned to do that Wiki thing, I think I would have done things differently."
But Voluntarism is a concept dead on arrival wherever Government is involved. Entrepreneurs like Jimmy are not wanted in Big Government land; they just don't like to conform to all the rules.
Do we really need Government involved in all our social programs? Have they ever proven to get the job done without compulsion and threats? Have they ever hit a budget target? How many Government programs are ever terminated for lack of effectiveness? The good news is that our Government did not really do the Wiki project, but the bad news is that the Government is the odds on favorite to do our Health Care.
Go ahead Americans, it is time to sit back and ponder how we have been so lucky to enjoy the benefits of Big Government largesse in our lives. You shall reap what you sow and we are reaping the whirlwind.
God Bless, Orrin Woodward
