The Vital Threesome – Subsidiarity, Solidarity and Chaos

I first absorbed the term “Solidarity” as Polish Lech Walesa’s union that orchestrated the fall of communism in Poland and ultimately the USSR and its empire. Beloved son Pope John Paul II and President Ronald Reagan provided the peaceful spiritual and political support. Today solidarity is usually applied to an “Us vs. Them” mentality where the whole American dream is under frontal assault. That form of solidarity is perverse as it leads to dependence on totalitarian elements – government or union and historically the deaths of millions.

Another term coming into more usage is “Subsidiarity.” Simply stated, subsidiarity is the opposite of entitlement. It is based on personal responsibility and the progressively shorter term roles of higher entities from family, community, state, national and (God help us!) world governments. Subsidiarity overstated leads to a “me first and only” attitude. Subsidiarity must combine with Solidarity for society to prosper.

We tend to forget that the weather and nature operate under Chaos Theory. In human discourse, Chaos Theory views personal drives, organizations - businesses as complex, dynamic, non-linear, co-creative and far-from-equilibrium systems the future performance of which cannot be decided alone by past and present events and actions. In a properly ordered society, Chaos simply means “opportunity presented.”  Were it not for this natural chaos, how would anything ever be invented?

Chaos is not disorder unless it goads the ignorant into rioting in the streets, usually fouling, burning and pillaging the visions and labor of others. The beautiful freely formed fractals of natural Chaos makes a free society work by creating infinite beauty, opportunities for new relationships, ventures and true diversity based on our individual endowments from God. The proper order of this threesome is Subsidiarity, Solidarity and Chaos Theory.

If we considered these in the health care debate, we'd understand where the Corporal Works of Mercy belong - and it ain't at the federal level.

For a far deeper exploration of Subsidiarity and Solidarity combined, read Pope Benedict XVI’s encyclical letter “Caritas in Veritate” – Charity in Truth.

http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/encyclicals/document...