Flummoxed…
Two events over the last several days make me question humankind, both of which must remain unidentified to protect long time friendships. Both revealed that some of us live in competing alternative worlds despite common socio-economic backgrounds. Both appear to be derived from the ongoing debacle brought on by the election of Trump in 2016.
I’ve always believed that getting a good education was the foundation for personal happiness and the well-being of society in general. This idea was pretty much conventional wisdom and I bought into it without question. It seemed reasonable that if one had a strong high school education and/or decent college experience that things would be better for all of us.
Formal education together with our life experiences form us in our personal lives and as citizens of our communities. Our families, our socio-economic identity, religious affiliations, geographical locations and peer groups all combine to create the rich stew that makes up our lives.
Given this view, I struggle to understand how so many of us arrive at different conclusions about politics, current events and the meaning of life in general. How can some of us condone lying, cheating, immorality, corruption, dishonesty and thievery in our politics. What makes us abandon our heritage and rationalize the behavior of the MAGA politicians? What makes us turn our back on what our family and schooling taught us? Apparently, a lot of us flunked Truth and Honesty 101.
Please don’t tell me that it is the promise of lower taxes, smaller government, closed borders, isolationism, White supremacy, Christian nationalism and denial of environmental crises.
And, above all, please don’t tell me it is because of personal greed and ambition or the need to get reelected.