Change? Sure, as Long as You Aren’t Talking to Me:
Good Morning
There is no doubt that the massive crowds who rally around our illustrious candidates’ circus-like-road-show of campaign speeches, are real. Those legions of worker bees who toil tirelessly for the various campaigns, those who donate millions, and those who go to the polls and vote…are all real. The elections a
Therefore, I suppose the nagging question is how the heck do you keep all of these people from voting for more of the same? That is a difficult and perhaps unanswerable question.
However, one clue for this seemingly unexplainable phenomenon is that the human condition fears change nearly as much as death. The unknown is a fearsome adversary for most. Psychologists explain that a majority of those who remain in an abusive situation do so because they have a greater fear of an unknown future than the daily abuse!
If you have ever worked for a company that has been bought out by a larger company, even one that promises far more security and benefits, then your have experienced the fears of change. The work force is nearly paralyzed during the transition.
Terrible dictators remain in power for years while they carry out unspeakable atrocities and yes they do so by means of fear, but the fear of sweeping change to another form of government is also a powerful factor.
I have spent countless hours trying to convince the multitudes that ever expanding growth in a finite world is impossible. Our resources are dwindling away and our standard of living is dwindling away along with those precious resources. But when I begin to speak of the actual change that is necessary (much like Ron Paul) the eyes of the listeners begin to dart around the room as they shift uncomfortably in their seats and then suddenly determine that they are late for an appointment.
We hate change and therefore we dislike those who suggest it. My last article regarding peak oil was met (on another site that I write for) with comments of complete and total denial of that premise. From claiming that there is oil in
How foolish is the notion that harvesting a finite resource will eventually lead to depletion? If you have a gallon of water and pour an 8 oz. glass every day, will it last forever? No, it will last for exactly 16 days. Those who believe diffe
Dealing with substantial cultural change and the possibility of an unknown future, creates such fear in most humans that a total disregard of common sense, logic, and proven science is necessary to protect against the painful thoughts of such change.
Therefore, the political candidate who is clever enough to promise change for the betterment of the voters, without specifically identifying any behavioral changes necessary for the individual citizen, becomes a people’s favorite. The thought is, “I get change without personally having to change, and I like that.”
All of the above being said, and if accepted as truth, will result in long slow train wreck. Change will not come to the rescue as a savior, but will instead arrive far too late, dressed as stark reality in the form of the severe consequences resulting from inaction due to fear and denial.
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People need some sense of stability. Even those most open to new ideas and fresh approaches cannot operate or function effectively in the midst of wholesale changes to every part of their life. That is too disorienting. It produces more stress than most people can handle and still remain effective. It also destroys any sense of meaning in what you do, since if things are going to be radically different tomorrow, any meaning they possess today will disappear along with everything else. Refusal to become informed on troubling topics only intensifies this stress as the topics become more prevalent in their lives. -bb
I agree with Billyb post with the possible exception of what his definition of “informed” might be. From past posts I believe his views are pretty much in line with mine however.
Obtaining a tid bit of information (gossip) from a friend or neighbor and using it as gospel without verfying the data through reliable sources is not being “informed”.
Obtaining and using information you just heard on the TV without also verifying it using reliable sources is not being “informed”.
Researching data to verify facts is more involved than just going to your favorite web site, tv channel or friend. for a quick sound bite.
Gathering all available information from as many web sites and associated sources as possible and then possibly extending that search to the local library will glean fact from the fluff in most instances. Many times the end result is not at all what you had first anticipated.
The problem with verifying data in lieu of just repeating BS picked up off the cuff, is that the verification process requires some effort. That alone will stop most people from pursuing the truth.
Gila and Billy b,
I of course agree with you, if people were in fact informed, we would have given up on the idea that we can grow ourselves out of this mess long ago.
I also believe that making full time students out of most Americans is not the point, but rather to research (even a little) the major issues such as peak oil, Medicare, the National Debt, Social Security, and such subjects that will affect the rest our lives.
I get countless e-mails sent to me that don’t have a word of truth and have been forwarded 50 times. Taking just a moment and going to snopes.com to verify the truth of the e-mail will normally do the trick.
When I get such e-mails I always ask the sender to recant the the false information…as yet no one ever has.
I can’t believe you think our elections are fair..
Free, yes, no charge… Fair, not even close..
First, it takes millions of dollars to run anything close to a competitive campaign.. Money is the overpowering influence in our system.. Nothing fair about that..
There is nothing fair about a two party system..
Only if we were given a choice of “none of the above” would a two party system be close to fair.. Third party candidates in this country have about the same chance as a snowball in hell.. Read a little about the prblems of even getting on the ballot in most states..
If you only consider the debates, who gets invited to the debates, or rejected has more to determine who gets elected than anything common people can do.. I consider the mass media a cartel who has approval of candidates in this country.. The best candidate for this country will certainly not be the favorite candidate for mainstream media.. The media is approaching a monopoly in this country..
This is just a taste, but you get the idea.. The problem is politics, and the reason is that our system of selecting leaders is corrupt.. Nothing fair about it..
Two good examples of our unfair election process might be Ron Paul, and Ralph Nader.. Right now, I’d prefer almost anybody to the three top contenders.. Including you..
Tnx for the rant.. Just my opinion, of course.. Wma..
I really dont fear “change” that much if I know when it is coming. The hard part is the waiting for the change.
I too am not afraid of change either and many times it is the uncertainty of it that makes it so intriguing.
As far as fair elections are concerned; I do not doubt that they are about as fair as they can be in light of the fact that so many people (majority) in America prefer lies (mis-speaks) over the truth.
Our refusal to become informed on major issues and then to participate in our system has delivered us exactly what we ordered. It is not the corrupt political system that is doing us in. They are all whores (parden the expression) for the almighty dollar and will bend to our will at any given time. The Big problem is that we don’t have the will any more (of any kind). Ron Paul, Nader and the rest are not at the bottom of the pile due to injustice. They are there because we placed them there due to our ignorance, arrogance and apathy. We as a nation want them there. No excuses. -bb
Ron Paul was perhaps the best example that the majority of Americans have no interest in the truth, substantive change, or our Constitution for that matter.
He had the money, he had the exposure, he did all of the campaigning…and he was soundly rejected due to suggesting real change.
While my explanation above may not reveal all of the reasons that we tend to choose more of the same, I believe that there is more than a little truth in that fear is a large factor.