You can't change what you don't understand. Ideology is a significant aspect of all our lives and one of the biggest mistakes is to assign motives and explanations for the actions of others in terms of our ideological constructs, rather than seeking to understand the ideology that informs and guides the actions of others. Two posts, here and here, underscore this point, particularly as it applies to contemporary globalization and the future.
Ours is a society where justification is sought for all actions, rather than accountability. In large part, this is a reflection of the desire to impose stasis controls on society: if nothing is anyone's individual responsibility, if everything can be justified and explained as circumstantial, then the state is justified as stepping in to impose measures to "correct" the situation. Obesity? Regulate food. Cancer? Ban smoking. Environment? Regulate the market.
The problem with this line of thinking,is what do you do when faced with terrorism? With sociopaths? Justifying their actions, appeasing them and blaming society for their woes, does not alleviate the problems they cause: they just signify the very weakness and decadence the terrorists despise.
As Orwell stated: We sleep safe in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm.
