THE GOLDEN RULE

THE GOLDEN RULE

Most people believe in the Golden Rule (i.e., don't do to others what you don't want to be done to yourself). 

But if so, how can Stalin, Mao, Pol Pot and Hitler be explained?

I think the reason is that people make too many exceptions from the Golden rule. One of the most common exceptions is the way people treat children (it's considered perfectly OK to beat a child, to make her stand in the corner, to call her "stupid", to force her to eat everything on her plate, to let her cry alone and ignore her cries).

Be sensitive enough.

The other exceptions is what's allowed to the governments. People tend to find justifications when the government is doing things which they would condemn individuals for doing.

Once there are no recognizable exceptions to the Golden Rule, once people are not be fooled into believing "I kill, beat, rob or imprison people for the Common Good, or for the good of the Country, or for the good of the People", rulers like Stalin, Mao, Pol Pot and Hitler will have very hard time to subjugate the people.

I believe in Golden Rule, no exceptions. What's hateful to you, don't do it to others. That's the beginning, the end and the middle of it. The rest is the commentary.