I came to a bit of a realization some time ago. Every time you think of some possible new government function, or legislation, or resolution to an issue, you cynically think of every way it could be abused, right? You’re confident that greedy, self-aggrandizing politicians or businessmen will use it to further their own power and wealth. The concept that someone will act in good faith is absent. It’s infantile, it’s naive. The world is cruel.
I think this represents a fundamental breakdown of the trust in our government. The US has been coasting on good faith for almost 300 years, and the wheels are falling off. It’s a vicious cycle, where if you don’t trust that other people will do the right thing, you’re less likely to do the right thing yourself. I don’t know if this cycle can be ended, or even if it has an end.
I came to a bit of a realization some time ago. Every time you think of some possible new government function, or legislation, or resolution to an issue, you cynically think of every way it could be abused, right? You’re confident that greedy, self-aggrandizing politicians or businessmen will use it to further their own power and wealth. The concept that someone will act in good faith is absent. It’s infantile, it’s naive. The world is cruel.
I think this represents a fundamental breakdown of the trust in our government. The US has been coasting on good faith for almost 300 years, and the wheels are falling off. It’s a vicious cycle, where if you don’t trust that other people will do the right thing, you’re less likely to do the right thing yourself. I don’t know if this cycle can be ended, or even if it has an end.