INEPTOCRACY

From My Perspective - - -

A friend sent me a picture of a T-Shirt that suggests a new word for our vocabulary, namely, Ineptocracy (in-ep-toc-ra-cy). The suggested definition is: “A system of government where the least capable to lead are elected by the least capable of producing, and where the members of society least likely to sustain themselves or succeed, are rewarded with goods and services paid for by the confiscated wealth of a diminishing number of producers.” Many would ignore this new word definition and/or argue that it is merely a political point of view. In doing so, they fail to notice the decline in manufacturing in our country, and the diminishing wealth, as well as the constant rate of unemployment and underemployment. A once great and proud nation is disintegrating and decaying slowly in broad areas of life – industrial, technological, monetarily, spiritually and morally. Our values and lifestyle are succumbing to the creeping Ineptocracy of the day.

The History Channel features some interesting programs. Among these features is, American Restoration. The introduction to the weekly telecast contains some of the following remarks: “Remember back in the day when things were made by hand, and people took pride in their work? My name's Rick Dale, and I bring these things back to life. Every restoration has its own set of challenges. There's no owner's manual for what we do, but there's no job we can't handle.” Another interesting observation made on the telecast is: “Look at a man's workbench. You see his passions. His works in progress. The things that drive him crazy. Projects that... you get the point…every workbench tells a story. And this is ours: American Restoration.” They proceed to take items that show years of neglect and wear, spend hours working on such items, and producing a product that looks completely new (in some instances, almost better than the original). Their result is due to their standard of excellence – their unwillingness to accept mediocrity as an alternative.

It reminds me of an account in the Bible after the death of King Solomon and the Kingdom becomes divided between his two sons – Jeroboam and Rehoboam. In I Kings 12:1-16, there is some detail regarding this divided kingdom and evidence of Ineptocracy. You remember the scene in I Kings 12:1-16 – King Jeroboam comes to see Rehoboam. Jeroboam says to him: “…Your father put a heavy yoke on us, but now lighten the harsh labor and the heavy yoke he put on us, and we will serve you." Rehoboam answered, Go away for three days and then come back to me." So the people went away….” Rehoboam then proceeds to seek advice from two groups of people – (1) King Rehoboam consulted the elders who had served his father Solomon during his lifetime. How would you advise me to answer these people? he asked. They replied, If today you will be a servant to these people and serve them and give them a favorable answer, they will always be your servants. But Rehoboam rejected the advice the elders gave him and (2) consulted the young men who had grown up with him and were serving him. He asked them, What is your advice? How should we answer these people who say to me, Lighten the yoke your father put on us? The young men who had grown up with him replied, Tell these people…My little finger is thicker than my father's waist. My father laid on you a heavy yoke; I will make it even heavier. My father scourged you with whips; I will scourge you with scorpions…” He accepts the counsel of the young and inept and rejects the counsel of the elders – the wise.

Ineptocracy usually misses the moment – the opportunity – and follows the path of failure rather victory; the path of turmoil rather than peace; the path of division rather than unity. In our daily lives, we are faced with moments and opportunities where we can make a positive contribution and have a positive influence. We need to follow a right and wise course of wisdom rather than the sounds of protest which seek to drown out values that matter. I love the words of the Hymn published in 1976 – “We are God's people, the chosen of the Lord, Born of His Spirit, established by His Word; Our Cornerstone is Christ alone, and strong in Him we stand: O Let us live transparently, and walk heart to heart and hand in hand.” We can and must make a positive difference in our nation and world today. Consider these things with me.