Site Title

I grew up in a small town much like many other small American towns. I am wealthy by most standards but most people in my situation would claim to be middle class. I live a good life full of friendship, love, and happiness. I had a great college experience and have spent several years establishing myself in my career. I find myself longing for the times when I could sit around and talk to other highly intelligent people and have a give and take of ideas. It seems as I approach my thirties that the type of intelligent dialogue is no longer tolerated or embraced by anyone around me.

Throughout much of my life I found my catharsis in reading and being informed. However instead of being able to consume the news or content I am constantly met with opinion wrapped in the form of news. It seems as if the editorial has become the main way to convey information. As a former conservative I am sickened by the current political environment in the United States and by the struggle to stay informed. I believe in small government, local control, and science. Unfortunately I have found there is nowhere for me in the government, in my polarized friend group, and in the media.

There are times in my life when I look around and just want to scream because I am surrounded by hypocrites. It is beginning to impair my ability to successful function in my job and everyday life so I decided that I just need to begin writing out my thoughts. Its my way to deal with my loneliness and depression. I shouldn’t be lonely but I am even though I am always surrounded by people. I have tried to talk about the frustrations I have at this moment but instead of actual dialogue my friends and family give me a rout set of responses. While each of them has their own reasons they generally fall into these groups.

1. The Willfully Ignorant- These people are smart and intelligent. They should be acting as leaders within our communities but they have learned to stay in their lane. They spend most of their time involved in their own little problems and say things like “no politics” or “what are you going to do” whenever anything relevant comes up. They refuse to consume the news and instead worry only about their own problems. I aspire to adopt their indifference and acceptance of things they cannot control. Many of my former friends have adopted this mindset as their lives have become more complex and consumed with family and career. It depresses me when people I respect choose to not inform themselves on the things that matter or a state, country, and worldwide level.
2. The Discreet Idiots- These people fashion themselves as informed social butterflies. They read things like the skim and like to fashion their own elaborate hot takes on how they feel about anything. However they never actually do anything and when you try to discuss matters with them they hammer the same talking points. Its as if they have been trained to stay on message. They don’t really have their own opinions they just look for a hot take without understanding the implication behind it.
3. The Zealots- These people believe that they are absolutely correct about everything and the people who don’t believe what they believe are morally corrupt. If they are conservative they believe the government is taking from them and giving to people who don’t deserve it. If they are liberal they believe everyone is persecuted all the time and that the government should have the ability to put all people on a level playing field. They are either very religious or anti-religion and are obnoxious about how what they believe must be the truth. There is no point talking to them.
4.  The Truly Dumb- These people are not aware of how to control their own actions. They lack the ability to think before they speak and whatever stream of consciousness that enters their brain get spewed out. Think flat earth, anti vaxxers, climate change deniers, and other forms of mouth breathers. After conversations with them you aren’t upset just sad.
5. The Disillusioned- People who used to be informed but had some traumatic event they are stuck on and cannot get past. For my father this was losing his dream job. Instead of using their ability to reason they tap into their anger and make poor decisions based off some feeling of having had and lost some infinite thing. I often find myself acting like this.

The entitlement of the current American Public scares me. I see the basic tenants of the American government under siege. I see the press failing to adapt to new technologies and falling apart mainly from the inside out. I see people who are informed fighting and being shot down and capitulating to the great indifference.  There are a few people in my life that fall into the final group that I long to spend time with but who are not part of my everyday existence.

The Informed- My friends and family who live their lives making decisions based on reason and principles. Those who take time to develop interests but also are able to apply their beliefs to the situations they find themselves and others in. Those people that recognize moral outrage as the enemy of reason and attempt to be solution oriented. People who when asked about something they don’t understand are willing to admit it but also want to know what you believe and why. These are the people I want to spend time with but I cannot find them.