Friends,
People can be trusted to make decisions that further their self-interest --provided the construct is simple, the rules are familiar and the consequences are immediate. Add complexity, "change" the rules or delay gratification/pain and common sense becomes a rare commodity. Name a global problem today and there is likely one or more of these three factors at play (and probably all three). Whether we're electing bad leaders, destroying habitat, adding greenhouse gases, exposing ourselves to disease or buying into conspiracy theories, it's because the system is complex, we don't understand all the rules, and the outcomes are long-term. Like the proverbial frog in the gradually heating pot, by the time we realize we're in trouble, it may be too late. Unfortunately, the "adults" who help us shine a light through troubling times are also, well, people! One hopes they're people whose deep expertise can help them (and us) navigate these murky waters. Too often, they're out of their depth and feeling their way with incomplete information. It's better than walking blind. Still, a better way would be for all of us to become more educated so we can apply common sense and make informed decisions. Crazy talk, I know, but one can dream, right? Fortunately, the decision ahead of me today is whether my donut should be glazed or strawberry topped. I don't think I can muck this one up.
Happy Friday!
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