What we can Learn from Maslow!

I talk about Natural Law so often because I believe that Natural Law incorporates true science and what truly motivates us to do the things we do. Smart political leaders respect Natural Law and understand how their actions affect what happens to society. Long before Maslow eloquently described his Hierarchy of Needs, the Founders understood Human Nature and what motivates us. Unfortunately, Utah Legislators do not. 

For example, many legislators seem surprised that teachers didn’t want to go back to school to teach in person even after it was shown that children were less likely to get Covid 19 and less likely to spread it if they did. Europe went back to school almost immediately but this didn’t seem to matter to Utah Teachers as fear of returning dominated. 

Let’s use Maslow to help us understand why. For Maslow, basic needs for immediate survival such as food, water, and clothes, take priority over other needs. This is why on March 19, 2020, Covid 19 was so theoretically dangerous that my son’s lacrosse game was canceled, but teachers were willing to go to school the next day because no agreement on salary had been reached . . . teachers’ basic needs hadn’t been met. Once the UEA negotiated with Governor Herbert that teachers would get full pay even during a school shutdown . . . thus ensuring that teachers could pay for their basic needs . . . teachers signed off on Governor Herbert’s shutdown. Teachers naturally became increasingly concerned about higher needs such as personal and emotional security which included future threats from catching Covid 19 in the future . . . no matter how slim or how not deadly. 

Maslow perfectly explains why opinions often varied from age group. Retirees, such as my parents, who were financially secure, could afford to be more concerned about personal security as their home and income were guaranteed. Retirees were often more in favor of extreme lock down measures as they had the ability to remain at home and not work. This was amplified by the knowledge that seniors were much more vulnerable to the virus.

Government officials, such as Governor Herbert, who tended to be older as well . . . and also had their salaries guaranteed . . . were more in favor of shutdowns. One could make the same argument for religious organizations especially for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who because of their hierarchy are primarily elderly. Maslow explains the difference in responses between the Mormon Church and evangelical pastors who were often younger. On the other hand, small businesses, and those of us who are entrepreneurs, who couldn’t rely on government or large deposits and access to credit like Corporate America, were the most against lock downs as our very survival depended on working.  Most Utahns’ need to work never went away and why we needed to work despite the “risk” of Covid 19. This is why so many were upset when the government took away the ability to work . . . because for most of us . . . we can’t buy food, water, or housing without working. Frankly, give most of us full salary and who wouldn’t be in support of lockdowns? (Of course, there are those of us who still have parental concerns for our children’s wellbeing).

Much of the government’s message fell on deaf ears . . . and frankly was offensive to many. Many simply responded, “That’s great for the government when you are telling us to not be selfish and think of others when you are getting full pay and I am not. Despite what you think, I’m actually thinking of others when I want to work because I don’t want my children to go hungry or lose my shelter (both primary needs). People care less about society than they do their family and self needs.  Unfortunately, this also explains why for what seemed to be an immediate crisis took priority over shackling our children with societal crushing debt. 

I would hope in the future that the Governor of Utah and the Utah Legislature will remember these principles of Natural Law during the next once-in-life pandemic that I suspect will occur more regularly in the future. I especially hope that they will recognize the difference between public and private citizens. While many express concern about the increasing disparity of class in America, I’m equally concerned that as the government continually grows bigger, divisions between government workers and private sector workers will play a greater role in how we handle crises and elections.  

Buck Sexton recently said on his Radio Program that we can’t just let these issues go away because if we don’t respond now then they will be back. I agree. We can’t just forgive and forget because these issues will be back sooner than we expect.  To this day, I still have not heard justification from any of our government leaders how the 5th Amendment can simply be suspended . . . nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.  

Did not the Founders simply assume that it was obvious that if the government must reimburse us if the government takes our home or our car  . . .  that the government must also reimburse us if the government forbids us from working . . . which allows us to buy a home or a car?  Am I wrong?   

Over a 120,000 restaurants and countless other small business have gone out of business . . . each supported Maslow’s most basic needs for numerous people. I hope that in the future that leaders will recognize that the only solution that will work for America is to recognize freedom and our inherent rights enshrined in the U.S. Constitution. Please allow those that need to work to work . . . and allow those willing to support their efforts to do so as well!