Naivete?

Some people call me a dreamer. Others may think of me as an idealist. Me? I think of myself as a pragmatist aiming to accomplish good things we all mostly want but too often abandon as too difficult to achieve. Giving up on our ideals, I fear, limits our achievements.

It is precisely those achievements we need to support and work toward. Some of those achievements are world peace; equal opportunity for all including women, people of color and national identity; free trade to challenge all national economies to develop their own strengths and capabilities to compete and invent new products, services and technologies. Free and open economies employ more people and spread the wealth to more people throughout the globe. That places more of us on an equal plane to achieve a higher standard of living. And maybe happiness, too?

I work with a lot of volunteers and entrepreneurs - people who see a need and work hard to fill it. In doing so they create new businesses, new jobs and a higher standard of living for a lot of people. I also work with a significant number of nonprofit organizations. They are motivated to soften social problems or solve them so more human beings can live better lives than they have. All of these volunteers, entrepreneurs and nonprofits are achieving remarkable outcomes. They are. Everyday. In countless communities, nations and regions of the globe.

In short, we are all better off because these people have the passion to do the right things that benefit others. Doing so completes their lives and makes sense to them. It truly does. Ask any one of them why they do what they do, and they will answer, ‘because it matters, and I care.’

Governments, on the other hand, have trouble doing this, especially those with ideological issues. Russia is one of those. China, too. Those two nations identify America as the enemy and build international positions to counter America’s impact on other nations. Those positions often are destructive of human resources in other lands. Russia and China seem to be manipulating for power and wealth. Power for what? Wealth for what?

What are their goals? What matters to them? Do they really see America as an enemy that intends to destroy them? I don’t think fellow Americans and our government intend harm to either Russia or China. I would rather our three nations work together to solve global problems for the good of all, themselves included. Improved distribution of wealth to all nations is one issue needing attention. Global warming is another issue demanding hard solutions. A focus on advancing education and access to excellent health care are two more significant issues.

Each of these issues can be solved. That work can only be successful with everyone doing their part, working hard, inventing solutions that work, and supporting the costs to do so. We all will benefit from this collaborative effort. And its success will amply refute international ideological disagreements. I don’t care if Russia and China feel their citizens are better off under communism. As an American, I don’t want communism in my nation. I want to be left alone to live by my own resources to fulfill my own interests that do not negate the rights and well-being of others.

If I’m right, just think of how much defense spending will be reduced. Look at the resources that would be available to solve the other, truly large issues affecting all of mankind.

Naivete or sensible thinking? I prefer the latter. Those who remain afraid of shadows most likely prefer naivete. How do we convince them otherwise? 

February 23, 2024

 
  

 

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