Legitmacy and Maslow's Hierarchy

[Dayuhan]

I'd say any time people in one country speculate on the bases of political legitimacy in another country they tread upon thin ice... and that action based on such speculation is likely to result in a plunge into cold water.

One of the odder quirks or recent American thinking on such matters is the idea that "hearts and minds" can be "won" by "providing services". People don't generally fight their government because they aren't getting services, especially in places where expectations of government are historically low. People fight their government because they fear it, they're angry at it, or both. Providing service isn't likely to dissipate fear or anger unless some effort is made to figure out why people are afraid and/or angry, and correct those conditions.

[Bob's World]

This an area where Dayuhan and I share a similar perspective. It is not the services one receives or does not receive; nor is it whether one is rich or poor: It is how one feels about such things, and who one blames.

When the US jumps into the middle of another country to either overthrow, demand changes, or sustain some despot we put ourselves squarely on the proverbial "blame line" for any segment of the affected populace that is coming up short in that transaction.

[Stan]

As well intended as the soldiers on the ground are, and how carefully the call for support is thought out and planned, the govt has some other plans (that's what we thought).

In the early 70s in South America our team assessed the need for electrical power and more ammo. On an abandoned air strip the 130 came in low and dumped two pallets of 6 volt batteries and a sierra load of 7.62 blank cartridges. We had asked for two 60kw generators and 10,000 rounds of 5.56.

Later in 94 with over 4,000 refugees dying a day from heat exhaustion and cholera, we sent out the call for water and antibiotics. The 7th SOS complied and yet another 130 buzzed low over the banana fields dumping a pallet of dry biscuits, flour and a pallet of warm baby clothes.

It was 40 degrees C. with 1,000% humidity

Later, much later, a C5 from California flew in fire trucks. At least we could now pump water (from a dead lake).

Seems it doesn't really matter that most of us "there" know what to do without even considering what Uncle Maslow would have thought

[TheCurmudgeon]

Someday I am going to have to do look at why military people remember the miserable and chose to share it so often. I know of no other group that enjoys talking about all the things that go wrong as much as the military do (maybe the police).

BTW, I have visions of Solders trying to place two pallets of six volt batteries end to end to get the power they needed.

[Stan]

Someday I am going to have to do look at why military people remember the miserable and chose to share it so often. I know of no other group that enjoys talking about all the things that go wrong as much as the military do (maybe the police).

Given your Avatar I'd assume you're a soldier or cop I'd have to say that NGOs and Rescue bitch far more and love "it" when it sucks ! Maslow would have us embracing mistakes in the hopes of being rewarded with some happiness myth - he obviously never served in the Army

BTW, I have visions of Solders trying to place two pallets of six volt batteries end to end to get the power they needed.

Since we needed at least 110kw (parralleled 60s) of AC the batteries were no good and ended up on the black market. The ammo would have at least sounded threatening, but we didn't have a weapon for belt-fed ammunition

[TheCurmudgeon]

I'd have to say that NGOs and Rescue bitch far more and love "it" when it sucks !

Must be the "service of others" mentality. We brag about how much we sacrificed for the betterment of others. Kind of a martyr thing.

The ammo would have at least sounded threatening, but we didn't have a weapon for belt-fed ammunition

... bonfires and blanks go well together. Bonfires are not just for making HUGE cultural mistakes you know...

[TheCurmudgeon]

I have come to the conclusion that there are at least two potential sources of social unrest. The first is a mismatch of legitimacy. The second is a feeling of injustice. The mismatch of legitimacy is tied to Maslow's hierarchy but the feeling of injustice does not depend on the level of need being satisfied. It is a static motivation, like religion. It is not hierarchical that I can determine.