I have to say, this is a mess--

I've been dancing around the topic of national politics, mainly because the issues are huge, the ignorance is vast, and my heart hurts every time I think of what a mess it all is, and how it will affect each and every one of us in the cheap seats. While too many people want to make this mess about individuals and what they do/did, didn't do, or should do, it's really all about us, as a group. There are real issues to tackle but those in positions of actual influence, at least a lot of them, are more fixated on the blame game. It's disheartening. Yes, there is plenty of blame to go around, but that alone won't shift the situations. 

I'm not suggesting that we can or should just let illegal behaviors slide--no no no. But that is not enough. My dad always said that most people would rather fix the blame than fix the problem-- he's not wrong. Those who have created this crisis should (and I hope, will) be held accountable. Otherwise, we have nothing at all to stand on. But there's work to be done.

This toxic environment is destroying the soul of our nation. AI fake ads, robocalls, and other misuses of a very powerful and largely misunderstood/ underestimated technology is only going to make it a whole lot worse. Belligerent ignorance is the norm, now, and that is turning so many people into unbearable boors. Entrenched belief in revisionist history is rewriting and undercutting what we know to be true; welcome to 1984.

So what do we do, we who actually give a damn, who have pretty good memories, and who are educated well beyond sound bites? I'm not actually sure. Strongman politics are becoming a real global threat; the situation is looking dangerous in all of Latin America; the dominos there will begin to topple in the near future, I fear. Eastern Europe is threatened from both Russia and from within. The Middle East is a hot mess, and again, dominos are teetering. 

And what do we have? Petty demagogues, uneducated, ignorant mouthpieces who feel yelling and ignoring actual data will convince people that the sky is falling, and only they can fix it. 

They can't fix it. 

We have to. 

While I'm pretty tired of having to roll up my sleeves every single day to clean up actual and metaphorical messes, I will do it again and again, to do my damnedest to preserve or create a sustainable future not only for myself, but for those I love. The next generations deserve a better future than what is currently on the table. 

Let's get to work.

C