Theft at the Public Till
own making, then they have a strong incentive not only to project them- selves into the point of view of the others but to reflect on the interests, intentions, and beliefs that shaped their own prior actions. This can be a very painful step. We usually find it convenient to see our environments as imposed upon us by external forces rather than as byproducts of actions of our own for which we must take responsibility. It is difficult to reflect on our oven transactional responsibility for the world around us, especially when the world we have helped to create turns against us. It is much easier to consider how we might cope more effectively with the other’s antagonism. Nevertheless, we have a rational interest not only in putting ourselves in other people’s shoes, but in discovering and taking responsibility for the frames that shape our own contributions to an antag- onistic environment. Yet if we consider the consequences of our antagonism: the building may lack adequate flexibility, adequate redundancy, the ability to deal with its dead load - we can resolve to focus on goals. Quoting from the Code Of Hammurabi: “If a builder build a house for a man and do not make its construction firm and the house which he has built collapse and cause the death of the owner of the house, that builder shall be put to death. If it cause the death of the son of the owner of the house, they shall put to death a son of that builder. If it cause the death of a slave of the owner of the house, he shall give to the owner of the house a slave of equal value. If it destroy property, he shall restore whatever it destroyed, and because he did not make the house which he built firm and it collapsed, he shall rebuild the house which collapsed at his own expense. If a builder build a house for a man and do not make its construction meet the requirements and a wall fall in, that builder shall strengthen the wall at his own expense.” If a policy maker fails to design and construct a policy which can deliver the service it promises, either it must be redesigned immediately to accom- plish its purposes, or perhaps the policy maker should be put to death. Now that would change governments’ priorities fast.
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