A Pessimist’s Place
Is to think worst-case
To reveal what the worst could be.
Once that is known
Then Reality’s shown
As a pleasant surprise, you see!
Allow me to introduce myself. I am, or rather was, Pessimist, late of another blog which shall remain nameless. A few of you readers who found me randomly may recognize me, and thus know of my work discussing political, economic, and social issues.
You are going to be in for a few surprises if you do know of my past work. For one thing, a couple of my long-term readers have each independently advised me that a change in my nom-de-blog is in order. After careful consideration of their reasoning, I have decided to take their advice - along with their choice: Realist.
There is a certain logic to this, for there has to be an evaluation of one’s positions when major changes occur. One has to incorporate what one has learned in order to grow beyond where one had been. It’s the realistic thing to do. The change of blog name is intended to reflect this.
So what have I learned from my previous blog incorporation? Many things. Sadly, one of them was that there are few people who really think deeply before they act. In fact, not thinking is a part of the game they play, charging in to do battle verbally, only to discover that they aren’t as well armed as they should have been prior to engaging.
Lest someone mistake this for a rejection of my former comrades, that isn’t entirely true. While such a description is now de riguer as the definition of those on the left, it can also be applied to those from the right. There are several glaring examples of this evidenced by current events - the huge deficits we face as a nation, the rise of China as the US self-destructs, global warming. Both sides do a lot of talking while the problems grow worse. Few act to do much of anything - and even fewer succeed, good or bad.
Back in 1991, in the book Generations by Strauss and Howe, the authors write:
“When history loses urgency, people tend to live at the expense of the future despite their better judgement.”
I hope to help inspire better judgement to again rule our thoughts, but I am but one person. I cannot change the world by myself. That isn’t realistic. What is?
There are a growing number of people who are disconcerted with the way things are, and who can see that what is coming is going to be worse if things don’t change. I hope to add to that growing number, for when a sufficient number of people reach a conclusion, it can be made into a reality.
Gandhi didn’t push the British Raj out of India all by himself. He merely inspired the Indian people to do that.
I don’t hope to be a Gandhi. I hope to inspire lots of Gandhis, much like the ‘V’ character in V For Vengeance - trite, illogical and lame as that movie was - who in the end inspired the people enough to see what he saw and to take the necessary action to bring about a desired change in the way their nation was governed.
My purpose, unlike the movie, isn’t to destroy the physical seat of governance to accomplish this change, but to break the hold a small cabal placed on the majority in order to capitalize on their thoughtless inactivity. I hope to get a few people thinking about the consequences of allowing that to continue. I hope to inspire these few to inspire others, and maybe enough people will begin to see that there are threats to America designed to make it something much less than it was, and that action is needed. If such a desired change comes about in America, that is the best I can hope for, and then I will have served my purpose.
For the most of you who didn’t know me when, I hope that I interest you enough to return after I have gotten organized and finish unpacking in my new home, and get back to work. I expect to have my first post up within a few days.
See you then!
R