Why morons should never be allowed near power
My brother often posts crap on Facebook like he's just discovered that politics exists. I generally ignore the rants unless I'm in a darkly playful mood. Opinions, after all, don't need to adhere to any facts - which is why I typically ignore most of the noise.
What strikes me is that most of his posts are in the vein of anti-vax, global conspiracies, and sovereign citizen shit. Conspiracies were cool when I was in my early 20s and making a zine, but I soon realised that people desire simple answers to complex questions - thus leading them to drink at the watering hole of conspiracy theorists. Humans also base most decisions on emotions like fear, anger, and hope. This is evident at the ballot box where votes usually go to the loudest, the most opinionated, or the most charismatic candidates.
The problem is that this permits the worst kinds of people into positions of power. Systems that reward the richest, the most opinionated, the most ruthless, and the most ambitious with power and influence are doomed to fail. A person who prioritises money and ambition typically lacks the core qualities that are truly required in vital leadership positions: empathy for others, care for the environment, care for sustainability, and humility.
Thus, we see people like Donald Trump - a supremely vile grifter. An imbecilic shill and snake-oil salesman. A coddled man who has grown wealthy through ethically bankrupt lies and the exploitation of others. Smart people don't need to tell the world they're smart at every opportunity. Those who boast of genius suffer a black hole of insecurity that must be filled with the admiring words of others or they become enraged - lashing out and proclaiming themselves kings. Such idiots claim to have the truest answers to the most difficult societal questions. People like this instinctively understand that loud opinions and the appearance of strength are all that's needed to garner support for their flawed causes.
The real and difficult work is to keep people of this nature from ever holding positions of influence and power. But as long as we believe in systems that promote the most wealthy, the most ambitious, and the most deceitful, we'll continue to fail.
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All words and photos by me, a human. Not by ai.