Reflections on Posts and other fragments of Social Exposure

     The Fall elections are over and the State of Florida and the USA in general seem to focused on one overriding goal: "How can I get what I want and how can I keep others from getting any of mine?" Whether it is scoring bigger paychecks or acquiring another possession that qualifies me to climb yet one more rung on the social importance ladder, the majority of people seem to not believe in two things: First, that we have any duty to care for one another, especially for the least capable and the least fortunate in our midst. Second, that there really is no accounting for the overwhelmingly selfish choices we have made whether on the playing field, in the market place, in the voting booth, or in our relationships with the majority of our "friends". No outing, no disclosure, no reconciliation of the facts with the secrets we carry in this life, and certainly no sign of any sense that we will, one day, be held accountable either in this life or in the next! 
     The failure to see the inevitable consequences of our narrow-mindedness in the voting booth is a result of not learning discernment either at home and/or in school. The failure to take at all seriously, no matter what your faith community or personal beliefs, the possibility that we each may one day be held accountable for our "stiff necked" and "hard-hearted" rejection that there may be some result of not caring for one another is the fault primarily of teachers and leaders at large and, more particularly, the leaders of faith communities and civic leadership mentors and guides. 
     The election tells us that many of us simply do not care what befalls others and we are more concerned about "winning", if you can call it that. 
     Two pieces of food for thought: First, in a capitalistic and materialistic society it is best to assume first that all statements made in advertising and other means of promotions and "public relations" are most likely lies. Intended to deceive and mislead to achieve the end result at any cost, these bits of information are intended only to close the sale, so to speak. If you want to know the truth about a policy or statement someone has made, research it on reliable media sources for an unbiased analysis.
     Second, in a culture that values “winning” over almost all else, we have lost sight of the true goal which used to be summarized, “It’s not important whether you win or loose, it’s how you play the game.” This aphorism is meant to beg the deeper question, “What kind of person are you and what kind of person do you want to be?” Dr. King spoke eloquently about the priority of the “content of your character” and was, in essence, referring to the same eternal internal struggle. Like many in history, one party may win the battle and lose the war. Always research the statistics and facts from as many sources as possible.
These two attitudes, one that we only need to get away with making things as favorable as possible for us while not getting caught, i.e. winning at any cost; and the second, focusing on what kind of person are you and whom do you want to work to become, are diametrically opposed to one another and are incompatible. Civilization is not peacefully maintained by intentionally destroying the other to achieve our materialistic goals. A commitment to standards of ethics, education, openness, respect, civil discourse, and caring for the dispossessed and incompetent are essential to participate in any wholesome democracy.
The recent elections demonstrate we are not a democracy but an oligarchy and a hobbled one at that. With our current status including many regressive laws on the books, the misguided decision of the Supreme Court that money and corporate entities are entitled to overwhelming influence in elections, and progressive measures being defeated by the few who accumulate great power through destructive and misleading public media releases, there is overwhelming evidence we are not the land of the free, but the land controlled by the few who rewrite the scripts of public attention by deflecting concern about the threats in domestic power disparity by saturating the media (the opiate of the people) with overstated threats of harm from without. Our priorities have been rearranged to favor the wealthy and dispossess the poor....and less than half of registered voters in 43 states voted. Wake up United Flakes of America, get educated! The future of our country depends on us all.