We're Not Knowing Better and Doing Better

I don’t know anyone who had polio and tuberculosis is a thing of the past. Diseases like smallpox are eradicated because vaccines work. Measles, a disease once eliminated, is now on the rise because some refuse the vaccine. Why are we moving backwards?

Some hypotheses: Blame science and experts. The Trump administration’s bungling of a global pandemic combined with cult members who can’t fault Dear Leader, can make the leap to blaming science and experts for the administration’s incompetence. Another possible reason is that even though medication and vaccines have side effects (vast majority are benign) some may “reason” that a vaccine is riskier than the disease.

The deeper problem, though, is cruelty, anger, and resentment. Each time we move from one age (Agriculture, Industry, Information) to another, like the emerging Age of the Heart, things get chaotic. Old “rules” don’t apply, and some people who waited their turn feel skipped over when women, immigrants, and minorities gain ground. That breeds resentment. Instead of working harder, getting training, developing new skills, or just getting up off the couch, it’s easier to resent immigrants who work long hours, women claiming long-denied opportunities, or people of color getting chances once denied.

And resentment often manifests itself in cruelty. Masked agents ambushing people at their court hearing gets cheered by those living in Mommy’s basement. Adorning throngs bask in a leader articulating hatred for the same people that they hate. Far too many enjoy the bullying, name calling and punching down. Anyone who is more successful (elites and experts) is to blame. Therefore, in order to feel better about my state of affairs I won’t trust experts; they’ve been wrong before. I will “do my own research” and latch on to conspiracies and eventually it will get to the point where I won’t trust vaccines.  

Not a happy message on Christmas Eve, but I think that’s where too many of my fellow countrymen are.