Our Defining Nature
We conceive of alternative futures and reach toward desired goals.
Sentient humans faced extraordinary challenges as they transitioned from pure instinct ruled mammals to being able to envision the future and make choices for self and community that transcend immediate desire. This is our defining nature.
It has been a struggle and we are only beginning to appreciate the remarkable achievements that have been made. It is not, however, anywhere near over.
Instinctive emotions, group identity and territorial drive, oppose our ambitious dreams of universal social justice.
Don’t for a moment, I would argue, believe that we have reached the best that we can achieve. We are new at this struggle, as technology is fundamentally altering all aspects of our environment. Massive structure of wealth and power, in themselves neutral to the struggle but controlled by minds and hearts that are frighteningly human, stand in opposition to many ideas and dreams for the future.
The best we can do, it seems to me, is work toward reforming many of our key institutions, perhaps starting at the local level by asking questions, say, about zoning laws, and at the same time provide an education for coming generations that will empower them for the larger opportunities that lie ahead.
Zoning laws are local? After decades of outside money from federal sources used to inorganically destroy our cities and hollow out the wealth of our country (look at any map of any city), there is now an entrenched element digging in against things being better while screaming something about how I got mine. It's not really the questions I'm questioning now, it's the answers, and maybe a bit of perceived self serving on the part nimbys, "leaders", and maybe a few DOT engineers.