28. The First Pillar of Society

The first pillar of a functional society includes all social institutions and organizations; excluded are those that are political or governmental in some form, and those that are involved with controlling or managing the economy(ies) and those involved in financial business, which includes some aspects of profit-making organizations. 

“Functional” in these Posts means that the institutions and organizations of each separate pillar of society (social, political, economic/financial) functions in a manner that helps support that society.  Often we have seen where one pillar is dysfunctional while the other two pillars are functional.  Historically, the social pillar has been fraught with difficulties involving social rights (racial, ethnic, cultural, religious prejudice for examples) or sexual abuse within a social institution (religious, for example). 

We know the dysfunctions of the social pillar far better than we know what promotes increased functionality.  In the institutions of marriage and family, we know there are causes for divorce but we as a society have not done much to promote effective intimate partnerships.  It is as if the total responsibility for the good functioning of an intimate partnership is placed upon the couple.  If well functioning intimate partnerships are a healthy benefit to the well being of a community and society, then where are the proactive influences provided by society to support healthy, functional marriages and intimate relationships? 

I use marriage and intimate partnerships as simply a friendly example to demonstrate that positive, proactive societal influences must become available to any and all individuals who contemplate entering into an intimate relationship and those who are in one already. 

Social Sustainability begins in the family, but it is as though democratic societies have simply abandoned intimate relationships and functional family dynamics as a waste of time.  No one teaches the “Do’s and Don’t’s” of intimate relationships.  Perhaps it is because there has been no universal and timeless standard to teach.  The standard that is universal to all people is the three core values that have sustained our species.  They provide a pragmatic guide to teach what works and what does not work to support relationships, whether personal or social.  Posts # 10 and 11 are particularly relevant, with 12 and 13 are related and informative.  They are available via this Link.