What a Fool Believes
Last edited Sat Jun 18, 2022, 10:37 AM - Edit history (1)
"A learned fool is more of a fool than an ignorant fool. " —Molière (Jean-Baptiste Poquelin)
A gentleman contacted me today on the internet, someone I haven't talked to since the late 1960s. I do keep in contact with his sister, and knew that he had maintained what I consider a hippie lifestyle. He is a talented musician, very intelligent, and a life-long Democrat.
He said that since the start of the January 6 Committee hearings, he finds it harder to talk with ignorant fools. He said that he has stopped talking to some of the people that he encounters where he lives. Since he lives in Florida, I said I can understand that, but that I think educated fools -- a species found in all fifty states -- are even more frustrating to bump into.
I am not, of course, pretending that I came upon John Eastman in person. The mere watching of the third presentation by the J6 hearing, which focused some attention on Eastman, was both good and bad enough. It is a reminder that the gravitational force of a sociopathic "leader" not only draws in creeps, it brings forth their true essence. One might suspect that Eastman is on a collision course with legal consequences.
It will be interesting to learn Eastman's role in connecting with the Proud Boys and other groups associated with planning the violent coup. Currently, some forum members are speculating who was the connecting figure. Being prone to using models, let me suggest we view the White House as a hydra, with tentacles that include several that reached into the militias. Besides Eastman, there is Steve Bannon. Also, since the hydra has regenerative powers, we must inlude Roger Stone, one of the infamous Brooks Brothers Riot planners and participants.
(Note: In the 1960s, "The Hydra" was the underground newspaper in the school I attended. When the three brothers who created it -- who considered themselves to be Weather Underground -- went to state prison, I reprised the newspaper.)
It strikes me as interesting that several republicans are being honored for doing the right thing. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad that some did, and others like Liz Cheney still are. I do respect that. But it strikes me as a bit odd that "doing the right thing" is now unique in the republican party, rather than what should be expected. Perhaps one day we will reach a point where doing the right thing is expected in government.
One more thing: there have been reports of some tensions between the J6 Committee and the Department of Justice. This is neither something to discount or to think will create a crisis. First, it is extremely common, when two government agencies are in semi-coordination with a specific group -- no matter at what level of agencies -- for their to be some tensions. This happens at the local, state, and federal levels. But it generally works out, and reportedly will be resolved in July.
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How do the Fools Survive?
(Which I like better than "What a Fool Believes"
rogue elements in the military and leadership from some of the mercenary offshoots.
Al Gore was correct re The Assault on Reason.
Ignorance and stupidity rule the lives of way too many across our planet.
I could have lived happily without learning how much "true essence" existed to be brought forth in people I once was able to respect, even admire, as more strongly defined by their good qualities.
Good post. Hydra do have regenerative powers, and always will. 
I keep noticing that most of the duds embracing extremist behaviors have also already had years to reproduce.
That said, over those two million years, how frequently did families and villages became dysfunctional under bad leadership or some sociopathy and end up failing? Disappearing.
So far I still see our generations as incredibly successful, at an apex in every way, far beyond anything that came before. Including achieving astonishing, previously literally unimaginable wellbeing for billions. We've also, of course, been creating enormous new problems that never existed before.
Yeah, I'm an optimist. Based on the past, I still think most of our billions and their institutions will find ways to survive this growing perfect storm we've brought ourselves to, continuing to learn and do better as survival requires.
