Tribalism and America
Segment # 059
After spending almost fifty years researching tribal groups around the world, I appreciate the necessity for such communal efforts. From the first hunter gathers to ethnic bands that still exist in remote areas of our world these humans unite for survival. They created hierarchy, ceremony, religion, societal responsibilities, tradition all for the purpose of ensuring survival. Innately man understands that being successful in living requires cooperation and understanding that there must exist a common goal. Quite frankly without tribalism this world would have ended and we would not be contemplating our own future. But this is irrelevant because regardless of our current limitations, we have survived. It is fascinating now to consider how the evolution of tribalism reveals very little change and has shifted only in scale. History affords us a pretty clear guide of what systems work, what systems fail, and the signs of impending decay. It is quite apparent that regardless of the scale when groups fail to support a true common ground, ultimately systems will fail. It should be understood that the common good is defined as a mind set for all the participants to agree generally on the common good. If within the tribe dissension creates conflicting agendas, that will ultimately end in the weakening of the group. Whether we like or accept it history has created a tribe called America that has certainly experienced great shifts in unity. Our current challenges might well be the most formidable encountered to date. Whether the group be large or small there will be those members that fail to understand the strength of unity. There will also be those that very consciously seek to undermine unity. Education providing a perspective of historical events is the means by which we can make decisions for the common good. The lack of unity and subsequent failure in abilities to protect the group means loss of security, personal freedoms, an acceptable standard of living, and the promise of a healthy future.
In this tribe called America the figure heads of divisive thought are irrelevant. Biden, Trump, Pelosi, McConnell, Harris, Schumer, Pence, and all the talking heads on the opposing networks will all be gone when the fate of the tribe is decided. It is a waste of time and counter productive to be drawn into a battle over who is more corrupt or self-serving. Relevance can only be found in critical thinking, asking questions, verifying facts and then concluding what is best for the tribe called America. Sounds easy but clearly it is not. You may find that you have been deceived for years by your cherished sources of information. You may find that your peers don’t agree with you. You may find your employers or your government may not agree with your conclusions. You may be censored. You may find your family might not agree with you or that your job is threatened. You may be attacked on social media. You may be called a racist, a fascist, or even an anti vaxer. If all this could happen, why in the world would you ask questions, verify facts and oppose the main stream thought. The answer is you probably wouldn’t. Even though you are not an insurgent, a terrorist, or suffering from a mental illness, you are a threat.
Sounds crazy but there are folks taking the chance that their lives will be changed forever and they are still choosing to speak out. We owe them the respect to at least listen and then verify their facts. You don’t need at this point to speak out, just do the research on your computer and make up your own mind. Let me give you an example. We know the CDC and FDA had responsibilities of transparency when emergency use authorizations were given for the vaccines. Simple question. Why then did someone have to sue both the CDC and FDA for this data that contradicted much of the information provided by these government agencies? Simple why? What could possibly be the motif? We know a lot more now than we did two years ago and questions need to be asked.
Or we are told that we need to convert to 100% renewable energy in the next 13 years. At the moment the US depends on renewable energy for 12% of our needs. Biden in addition to what he has done to obstruct the drilling and the transport of oil, has just promised to shut down drilling on all federal lands. Biden has been drawing down our national reserve to have some impact on the downside to prices at the pump. Even though we have the ability to provide for our own needs, we have been forced to go hat in hand to the Saudis and Venezuela . The Saudis refused and have promised to cut production 2 million barrels a day further driving up the price of oil.. The increase in the price of oil is funding Russia’s war and forcing the US to seek oil that with far lower green energy standards than what we can produce here. The Chinese and the Indians are building new coal plants every week with no EPA standards on the toxins they are dumping into the atmosphere. Creating an ecological disaster the US may have sabotaged the Nord Stream pipeline linking Russia to Europe. How can this be about green energy and climate change when the destruction we have done and will do to the climate with foreign production and no restrictions on other polluters will far exceed anything that would have occurred with policies prior to 2020.? Realistically would Russia sabotage Nord Stream pipeline eliminating the revenue source and the only leverage they have with Europe going into the winter months? Why? And why does it make us Putin supporters by asking the questions? Maybe it really isn’t about green energy. Who stands to benefit financially? Does the mainstream media reporting on this make any sense?
People want to get along, do their jobs, raise their families, enjoy their friends, and to experience a standard of living most of the world can only envy. I guess many of us in that sense are voyeurs floating along hoping the tribe and its leaders are taking us in the right direction. Someone somewhere did say hope was not a plan. Might be worth taking some extra time to find out who is telling the truth.
