Ignorance, apathy, and fear with respect to our politics and government (and each other)
There seems to be something “wrong” with us when it comes to understanding the world in which we live and in understanding, or having empathy, of/for those around us. The signs are everywhere. Why are we more inclined to say mean things to each other, now more so than say 30 years ago? Why do so many of us believe, or pretend to believe, all that is uttered by the current US president, someone who we all (or mostly all) know to be a narcissistic and pathological liar? Someone I know, who is currently an ardent supporter of the president, told me during the 2016 election year, “You can’t believe anything he says.” This person is not unique among us. Why do people who voice ignorant statements, or “positions,” gain traction in online forums? Then these statements “creep” into our casual conversations. And, are believed! Why do we believe that the ultra-wealthy have an interest in the well-being of most people, and that they hold the answers to our problems? Why do many of us believe that it is ok for the government (i.e. ICE) to break into and search someone else’s home without an appropriate search warrant? Does it not occur to us that our home may be next! Why do we believe that people anywhere in the world are so different from us as to warrant us bombing them into starvation? Why do we hate and criticize our government (and taxes); yet we line up for our own handouts and interests? Is it intellectual laziness and apathy? I observe this not only in the people in my community, but also in news outlets and especially online. Don’t misunderstand me. I don’t believe that this applies to everyone I know; but this gives the impression of a societal condition.
There was a recent New York Times article about, “America is Atomizing” (see references below), which emphasizes that we’ve become a nation of “us versus them and them and them.” This is not a recent concept but can be traced back to at least a1995 essay by Robert Putnam about the trends of America’s declining social capital (see references). Putnam noted how Americans had become increasingly disengaged from community involvement. Again in 2015, the topic was highlighted in an article posted by Pacific Standard (see references). This article also raised the favorable prospect of “the social side of the internet” as potentially reflecting greater civic engagement. Is this still the case? I don’t know. But I do believe that engagement with our neighbors and our community (from locally to internationally) does profoundly and favorably improve our understanding of, and empathy for, each other. So, if you aren’t already engaged, get out there and talk and meet with the people around you!
References
Wikipedia reference to a 1995 essay and 2000 book by Robert Putnam with the title, “Bowling Alone.”
Americans are staying as far away from each other as possible, posted by Pacific Standard on June 11, 2015
America is atomizing, posted by the New York Times on August 10, 2026