What Can Be Salvaged?

.

Why does it so often seem as if there were liars as far as the eye can see and the ear can hear? May it be because objective, substantive existence is a participatory delusion, inferior to subjective, conscious existence? That which appears and presents as being quantifiably objective is held in gossamer place by happenstance of shared, unfolding patterns of delusions. At bottom, it seems unlikely that there is any quantifiable substance to it. So-called externally objective reality fluxes and changes with happenstance of perspective, context, and purpose. It is sponsored and produced derivative of happenstance of our shared participation. Moreover, no perspective shares precisely the same immediate or sequential purposes as any other. Thus, it is impossible that any two perspectives should reach complete accord regarding either what is or what should be. Moreover, the more passionately a perspective identifies with an unfolding purpose, the more he/she/it will incline to view competitors as false and needing to be defeated, often, by all means necessary --- including bait-setting, trap-laying deceit and connivance. Thus, to participate seems to require "lying."

.

Is there an overarching standard that can offer a way to more consistent meaningfulness? Perhaps. But that way will not be found in purely objective empiricism based on some notion of a most ultimate thing in itself "god particle." One may assume a non-quantifiable, qualitative standard: Human beings should cooperate to establish and preserve cultures and nations within which individuals will be raised in families and eventually accorded general freedom of expression and enterprise. Assuming and sharing such a standard, a society may assimilate for preserving it. In that way, agreements may generally be reached for describing the political reality and how best to steer it.

.

Of course, the signs and appearances of objective reality will be steered, regardless.   Signs of reality can be steered by overpowering forces, unforeseen randomizing chaos, or elite and impersonal and lying despots. However, to be steered meaningfully, by conscious and participating human beings, there needs to be inculcated some shared respect for an assimilating vision. That vision could entail general desire for freedom of expression and enterprise. Or it could entail the lording of the elite over the inferior. Or the sudden surrender of mind to chemical or religious apocalypse. Regardless, each participant will make choices and will rationalize such choices in respect of some abstract vision, ideology, faith, or, if need be, energy-sapping confusion. The trick for the American middle class is to find the spiritual, conscious drive to restore faith in itself and to demand it's place of superiority in the American experience. The alternative is the decline of the republic, the destruction of the middle class, the temporary rise of a despotic aristocracy, but all soon falling into another long and dreary age of darkness.

.

Know-it-alls are pushing us pell mell to another dark ages. How can it be otherwise? Assimilating vision is lost. Loyalties are bought. Cult followings are easily duped and established simply by buying media and politicians. Force and influence can be insinuated at every crevice. Yea, even the keystrokes on your computer are counted. Families are undermined. National borders are erased. Charitable funds are first filtered through despots. Votes are corrupted. Pols thrive by promising unsustainable bribes to thought-challenged voters. The most evil, corrupt, narcissistic, and sociopathic are more favored for natural selection now than ever. This babel tower of lies and temporal greed can do naught but fall. The only question is: What can be salvaged?