When you can't see the forest (fire) for the trees

[Goredho 17348]

I've touched on this before, but I want to bring it up again in light of the pandemic, the election, Jan 6th riots, the Gamestop shenanigans, etc...

Significant portions of our population have completely lost faith in the institutions that form the bedrock of a functioning first-world democratic society.  Starting around 2000 with the rise of the intardnet and the ability for anyone to reach everyone, there has been exponential acceleration in the erosion of public trust in all the following institutions:

• Government
• Elections
• Education
• Public health (pandemic, vaccines, etc...)
• Science
• Law enforcement
• Finance/Stock Market
• Mail/Post Office
• Food supply/distribution

I don't care if you are a conservative or liberal, you have lost faith in some of the above over the last two decades.  If you are on the conservative side of the spectrum, you probably don't trust government and fear the rise of socialism, you might distrust the science of climate change, think public education is a waste, etc...  If you are on the liberal side of the spectrum, you probably feel like the most recent conservative government was tyrannical, law enforcement needs sweeping reform if not defunding, that Monsanto is killing us, etc...  There is information out there to reinforce whatever you believe about the above.  Some is legit, much is not.  Call it fake news, disinformation, active measures or whatever.  The effect is the same: we are being bombarded with information that undermines our faith in the institutions that form the scaffolding for our nation.

So what happens when we reach a critical mass of people that no longer believe in those institutions?  Is there an America anymore?  Or will we have just devolved into different camps of disenfranchised citizens acting out against "the establishment" that has failed?  Are we already there?

I don't think this is an accident.  I don't think it started with or ends with Trump.  I think it is at least partially controlled by foreign powers.  And I think if we don't recognize its effects and find a way to mitigate it, America is fucking toast.

Edited February 1, 2021 by Goredho

[bernorange 8348]

1 minute ago, Goredho said:

...

So what happens when we reach a critical mass of people that no longer believe in those institutions?  ...

Historically?  Revolution.

[Bookman 4610]

The only thing in which I've lost any faith is about 35% of the American people. Apparently they're a bunch of retards.

[Bama Llama 1447]

Looking at a screen does not create enlightenment, wisdom, compassion or grace.  Since thr rise of the internet the number trouble making assholes seems to have increased exponentially.  That being said, I'm not ready to pack it in.  Writing off those we don't agree with isn't working.  But seriously, how did that precinct in Palm Beach County end up going to Pat Buchanan in 2000?  "Close enough for government work" is not an acceptable answer.  

[Guest]

Public trust in the government?

 

LMAO.  Seriously?  Like compared with the Olympic Committee or the NCAA?

Edited February 3, 2021 by slorch

[WhatTheBuck 28712]

More people should lose faith in faith, blind faith in particular.