We experience events, not the global situation, but the world seems simpler if we can trace each event to a cause. However, within a complex system, an event cannot be ascribed to a unique “cause.” Birds flock and fish school and the stock market tumbles due to the many interactions among the participating individuals. Continue reading
Blog Posts and Writings Tagged: belief
Blog 140. Liberal ideology versus political reality
Today, the adjectives “conservative” and “liberal” imply an identity group. However, at one time, the term “conservative” implied following authority, applying principles presumed to be tried-and-true. The term “liberal” implied questioning and testing. Continue reading
Blog 137. American Angst Part 5 of 7: Our Social Rules
Other than continual foreign wars and the changing climate, is there a reason why Americans feel individually distressed and socially anxious? Yes. We’re threatened by each other. We each feel we’ve got to beat the competition, join a group, and distrust everyone else. Continue reading
Blog 136. American Angst Part 4 of 7: Sliding into Fascism
America is split many ways: the divide between rich and poor,(1) educated versus uneducated, the elite versus the common person. We’re beset by a self-perpetuating crime and poverty in the bottom economic class because those individuals justifiably feel hopeless. It’s the middle classes that should be hopeful, Continue reading
Blog 135. American Angst Part 3 of 7: Engineered Inequality
America has greater inequality than any other advanced country.[1]
Among the advanced countries of the world, America has the greatest wealth, but also the greatest inequality in wealth. The U.S. ranks 27th out of 27 high-income countries in median wealth per adult. The top 1% took home 22% of all income in 2015. Continue reading
Blog 134. American Angst Part 2 of 7: Alienation of the Individual
Individuals feel angry, frustrated, isolated, abandoned by their society, offended by immigrants, and threatened by political ideologues who want to take over. The stores are big-box: you don’t buy your shoes or your shampoo with assistance from a friendly sales person. Your only safe conversation seems to be with Siri on your cell phone. Continue reading
Blog 133. American Angst Part 1 of 7: State of the Nation
America exhibits a widespread anxiety, uneasiness, dread, fear, insecurity, foreboding—or even rebellion—against some poorly defined process. Whatever it is, Americans fear it is taking over. Continue reading
Blog 128. The death-denying celebration
By one account,* Halloween originated in the Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced sowan, rhymes with cow-an), which marked the end of the harvest season. Costumes provided protection from imagined spirits that came back to life. Continue reading