CHANGES

With all the bad crap going on in the world to talk about and get all angry, worried and upset about, and nothing any of us can do about unless we grab a rifle and start shooting those who are causing the crap, and then get shot ourselves, the only option left is to try to distance ourselves as much as possible from it all and focus on protecting ourselves and those we love.

This is my preferred method. Distance. Make the sacrifices necessary to separate myself from the crumbling decay and rot, government manipulation and control, lies, misdirection and misinformation.

Of course, it’s easier for me than for most people. I already made my way through the rigors of life, built a retirement and kept my profile low. The various uncaring government flacks aren’t focused on me, I’m not rich or actively involved in politics, I don’t write letters demanding actions or changes. I don’t draw their attention.

It’s not because I’d be afraid to, it wasn’t many years ago that I was getting a lot of attention with a previous blog, blasting at government corruption. But what happened was that Google blocked my IP address and the readers all disappeared, no offense to you, Ernesto. They did, though, technology moved on and took the upcoming generations with them to social media sites where they learned not to complain about government if they wanted to keep their accounts.

And it was just as well because no one wanted to hear what I had to say anymore, anyway. The time had come to stop complaining and just watch all the powerless people stumble around in the dark. From as much distance as possible.

Nothing lasts forever. Civilizations least of all, yet what we call the collapse of civilization, really isn’t, it’s just changes. When Rome fell, that wasn’t all civilization, and Italy didn’t cease to exist. It was the collapse of a lot of growing technology and the end of an empire, but the same thing happened when the British Empire collapsed, and the Soviet Union collapsed, or the global ruin there was at the ends of our two world wars.

It’s just Change. A lot is lost, but a lot is gained. The world reorganizes and tries again and it’s by finally taking this long view that we can grow up enough to stand aside and let the children make their mistakes. Either they’ll gain enough experience, wisdom and maturity to make good decisions and build a better civilization or they won’t.