ABSTRACT
Evolutionary biology suggests that a species survives because its cluster of core attributes, variously incarnated, has the ability to protect and replicate itself, often including the ability to convert potential enemies in its environment to its own advantage. Cultures function in similar ways. Whether a memeplex is mutualistic or parasitic, it has to insinuate itself into the functions of a human community. The Darwinian aspect of memeplexes sometimes leads them to align themselves with peculiarities of our biological evolution, advantageously for them, destructively for us. Powerful agricultural interests use large campaign contributions to induce legislators to make the government pay the costs of cleaning up their pollutants; this transaction has been starkly evident in the damage the phosphorous runoff from the sugar industry has done to the Everglades. Citizenship seems to be a category that can retain a balance of individual rights and community support, and sustains the hope of an e pluribus unum nation.
