"Liking" this post seems somehow wrong... My "like" is agreement with you, as I shake my head sadly. I don't "like" that any of what you said is true, but it all is. I think it's all too easy to turn my head and look away from the things that make me uncomfortable - the unhoused people I see on my way to/from work, the people with their signs at the intersections, the guys offering to clean drivers' windshields as they wait at red lights. Your writing reminds me that reality is out there, whether I choose to see it or not. In the meantime, I'll be voting for change and doing what I can to help others - as Fred Rogers said, "When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, 'Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.'"
I'll take the like, under whatever premises, LOL! Truly, though, I think part of the necessary process of change--for all of us--is to confirm shared perceptions of the problems we are facing. Which you've just done: you see it too; I'm not making shit up. There are likely gradations in the ways in which we see the world, and that's good, too--but tech & politics have us so siloed, which is exactly where "they" want us, because if we're not talking about the problems--if we're just blocking out, or ignoring-on-purpose, or pretending otherwise--then there's very little hope we'll manage to change course. The obscenity of the wealth disparities at the moment, really disturb me fundamentally--that Trump--so plainly stupid, venal, and criminal--and his ugly family continue to fleece us all, so blatantly, is a distraction from all the evil deeds being run behind the scenes (see John Roberts, Sam Alito, Elon Musk, Peter Thiel, et al.) but we gotta step up our pressure where we can manage it, through our votes but also through our voices to what passes for "elected" officials; even when we know they've been bought. We still need to pressure them to do our bidding. Whatever that means, sigh.
"Liking" this post seems somehow wrong... My "like" is agreement with you, as I shake my head sadly. I don't "like" that any of what you said is true, but it all is. I think it's all too easy to turn my head and look away from the things that make me uncomfortable - the unhoused people I see on my way to/from work, the people with their signs at the intersections, the guys offering to clean drivers' windshields as they wait at red lights. Your writing reminds me that reality is out there, whether I choose to see it or not. In the meantime, I'll be voting for change and doing what I can to help others - as Fred Rogers said, "When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, 'Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.'"
I'll take the like, under whatever premises, LOL! Truly, though, I think part of the necessary process of change--for all of us--is to confirm shared perceptions of the problems we are facing. Which you've just done: you see it too; I'm not making shit up. There are likely gradations in the ways in which we see the world, and that's good, too--but tech & politics have us so siloed, which is exactly where "they" want us, because if we're not talking about the problems--if we're just blocking out, or ignoring-on-purpose, or pretending otherwise--then there's very little hope we'll manage to change course. The obscenity of the wealth disparities at the moment, really disturb me fundamentally--that Trump--so plainly stupid, venal, and criminal--and his ugly family continue to fleece us all, so blatantly, is a distraction from all the evil deeds being run behind the scenes (see John Roberts, Sam Alito, Elon Musk, Peter Thiel, et al.) but we gotta step up our pressure where we can manage it, through our votes but also through our voices to what passes for "elected" officials; even when we know they've been bought. We still need to pressure them to do our bidding. Whatever that means, sigh.
You are such a great writer Jeff. And a wonderful storyteller/chronicler of life in the current years as seen through your eyes.
Thanks for bringing us along with you!
Hilarious and poignant and infuriating, all at the same time . . . well done!