Ignorance!
It's startling to see how ignorant our nation's people, old and young, have become in just 60 years.
History, culture, finance, economics, health, general knowledge, simple science, renewable v sustainable energy, climate change, common sense, forethought, politics, courtesy and human dignity, understanding, open-mindedness, wisdom, analytical evaluation, thoroughness, thoughtfulness, intellectual inquiry have all suffered badly or declined to the point of absurdity.
Here are a few summaries of many recent examples:
First, in the recent national mid-term elections, voters elected an alarming number of avowed socialists. Apparently, not realizing that their programs and policies will raise the prices of everything that touches their daily needs and wants, i.e. food, housing, transport, clothing, medicine and care, all services, entertainment, travel, and everything else. Plus, halt innovation, constrict supply and resupply, and curtail the variety and volume of goods and services available.
Increases of unnecessary national regulations, and repressive taxation made necessary by aggressive interference and massive over spending of a larger more dictatorial National Government should be permanently avoided.
Our Federal Government repeatedly spends way more than its likely revenue.
This must cease immediately, it's idiotic. Thousands, maybe tens of thousands of programs and policies, do not require any National Government involvement, nor have any of them been successful by any measure.
I challenge anyone to name one thing, not specifically enumerated in our Constitution, and produce evidence that it has been accomplished better, faster or cheaper by the US Government. None are efficient, most are not even effective, all are fiscally irresponsible, many are completely irrational.
Next, climate change. Its true Earth is a planet of dramatic climate changes. A few hundred million years ago, Earth was an ice ball. Since its inception our sun has grown hotter and hotter on its way to eventual super nova in a few billion years. In 10 to 12 million years Earth will pass out of the liquid water zone, no liquid water on the surface of the planet. Before that occurs, humans will have moved on in large numbers. Increasing volcanic activity will make it more and more inhospitable long before then. In a few million years solar and volcanic activity will demonstrate that humans are powerless to effect either in any noticeable way.
The senseless gnashing of teeth and the wasting of billions of dollars will yield no noticeable effects upon the rate of climate change. In the mean time we should focus on trying not to disrupt normal atmospheric physics and chemistry. Before you limit carbon by sequester, remember this planets life forms are nearly all carbon based, just saying.
Humans and all their activities just aren't that significant.
Next, Renewable and sustainable energy. I guess most people are confused, at least partially, by the time frame. Relative to astrophysical processes, human life span and written human history are infinitesimally small bits of time. Even data from a few scientifically discernible events and historical conditions are minimal and sketchy when older than a few million years.
My point is, over astronomical periods of time all energy ever used or currently known of by humans, is renewable. New natural gas, oil and coal are currently being recreated under swamps, in the tundra, under the the seas, in river deltas, and everywhere huge deposits of organic materials are decaying under pressure. Huge quantities of methane (natural gas) escape to our atmosphere day and night world wide from the land, seas, lakes, tundra, and volcanic eruptions without any human activity.
These familiar organic energy sources should be ready very soon, less than a couple hundred thousand years.
If capture and collection technologies continue improving at historical rates, abundant reasonably priced energies, including discoveries of new sources and types, will be readily available for tens of thousands of Earth years.
Incidentally, sustainability can also be assured by the chemical manufacture of any fuels we may need, and in vast quantities unimaginable by today's standards. Including chemical, radiation, and magnetic energies currently in use; known, but not in use; and not yet discovered. We can also make water, which will become more and more scarce, very expensive, and much sooner than energy.
Two hundred years ago we had not figured out how to use electricity.
One hundred years ago no one could imagine using radioactivity safely.
Fifty years ago no one had heard of black holes, neutrinos, or quasar waves.
A few years ago several new light and energy spectra were detected apparently being emitted by our sun. Today, we still know very little of their potential usefulness.
Next, protests, demonstrations and community activism. Some simple suggestions are in order:
Once you attract the attention of the appropriate media; have an articulate spokesperson ready to describe the problem you believe needs correction. And, make sure the terms you are using have definitions, if not, provide one. Social Justice, I still can't find a rational definition anywhere. There are lots of circular logic sociology babble, but none are intellectually usable.
Then, present a solution you're willing to discuss in public civilly with opponents, if any exist.
Then, be an active participant in bringing about useful changes.
State the problem, suggest a solution, work to make it happen.
I think the problem might be called Social Injustice, however that might be defined. The solution might be called Social Justice, carefully and logically defined. As long as the solution isn't kill police officers, or demonize them just because of their uniforms and jobs, or make them stop questioning and arresting suspected criminals; or take all the money from anyone who has saved some, and give it to anyone who says they don't have any.
Otherwise, all the work of attracting attention has been wasted; except for those who just wanted to be seen on TV and in Social Media acting like they want to help, just to get some shallow notoriety.
Finally, personal finances, home economics, common sense, and forethought. Incidentally, we used to teach these subjects in schools.
When did it become acceptable to spend money (cash) you don't have, or you're uncertain you ever will have by a specific future time (credit cards)? Apparently, there is misinformation widely believed that nothing will happen to you if you don't pay what you owe. Wrong, pain and misery will always accompany your poor choice to spend money you can't or won't pay back when due. The misery from a single episode can last a few decades up to a lifetime.
Budgeting, accounting, frugal/not wasteful spending are all essential and critical. Choose wisely, be conservative, spend less than you make. It's called savings. Why?, things happen, unexpected things go wrong. Work toward emergency savings equal to six months of living expenses, some of which can be used for the unexpected, like vehicle repairs, short term illness, lay-offs or lost jobs.
Save separately for predictable yearly expenses. Christmas, birthdays, anniversaries come every year, be ready for their costs. Vehicle licenses, insurance and maintenance; home and appliance maintenance, health care, pet care; and filters plug up and things wear out. Think ahead, many future expenses are certain, maybe not entirely predictable, but sure to occur. "Be prepared" incidentally, it's the Boy Scout motto.
Forethought, you don't have to think ahead trying to anticipate events good or bad, but you should. The difference between choosing poorly and choosing wisely, is a lot of pain and misery; maybe for the rest of your life.
Choose wisely!
