dre in the morning

While reality can be manipulated, the outcome is bound to diverge from the manipulator’s intentions. The divergence needs to be kept to a minimum and that can be done only through a better understanding of reality. It is this line of argument that led me to introduce a commitment to the pursuit of truth as an explicit requirement for open society.

This abstract argument can be reinforced by a concrete example. Look at the Bush presidency. It was remarkably successful in manipulating reality. By declaring war on terror it managed to line up the nation behind the President and pave the way to the invasion of Iraq. The invasion was meant to establish the supremacy of the United States in the world, but it achieved the exact opposite. America lost power and influence precipitously and George W. Bush is widely considered the worst president the United States ever had.
– George Soros Lectures

While I’m nowhere near as rich or smart as George Soros, the takeaway I get from his lecture is that the political system of the United States has taught politicians one thing: Lie and you will ascend. However, objective reality will eventually diverge from this falsified reality, bringing the pendulum full swing. But how soon? As Soros states, everyone dies, but will the dishonest die before reality catches up? Probably not. And so it is a losing game for the individual, if not for humanity.

It’s taken over 200 years, but the individuals in Washington have finally discovered a way to beat the system that our forefathers designed in an attempt to keep the power of government where it belongs: in the hands of the people. Some might argue that they’ve been doing it since Day One.

And therein lies the heartbreak and anger that seethes at the core of my being, provides fuel for my outrage and makes me a less-than-happy camper: both our political and economic system has led to an environment where falsehood for the sake of greed rewards the individual. Truth and morality are punished and deemed a fools game. I fear this fact has turned me into what could only be described as a religious zealot. You know, a tin-foil hat loony.

I have not always lived a life of truth. When I was younger, I did many things that I regret, was less than scrupulous in my dealings with others, betrayed confidences, etc. etc. But even during the most dishonest period in my life, watching public figures and politicians get away with astounding falsehoods and obvious crimes was enough to make me want to pull my eyeteeth out. A big part of that was envy: it seemed they were able to get away with their indiscretions wherein I was always caught out. But isn’t that always the way a child perceives the world? I was little more than a child. As I grew older, I embraced the philosophy of truth for truth’s sake, whatever the cost. It seems to me the ultimate in maturity and responsibility.

As a desperate man seeking redemption, I decided the only way to be truly successful is to be truly honest. Has it worked? Depends on your definition of success. Power and wealth are the usual signs of success. I have neither. Many wealthy and powerful people I know are inherently dishonest. Are they happy? Sometimes. Am I happy? Sometimes. At least I’m honest.

In the media (and at the pulpit) the sermon is always the same: humanity is only inches away from the end times, huge catastrophes are a clock-tick away, and society is falling apart. We’ve become inured to such prophecy. The Greeks and Romans had their share of doomsayers. Of course, those civilizations were doomed. My initial title for this piece was “Oh Shit, We’re all Fucked.” That was my first reaction to reading Soros’ lecture. ‘Cuz like the man said, no one here gets out alive.

It’s all a curve, a swing of the pendulum, a truth (if you will) of the Second Law of Thermodynamics. Entropy. All systems fail. Every system (economic, political, sociological, individual, etc.) begins with a birth, a period of maturity, a plateau, and then a downhill slide as the inner workings begin to weaken and deteriorate. We see it in companies after they grow too large to control themselves. The visionaries who created them (entrepreneurs) are soon replaced by those whom have no investment in the company but their own, shortsighted desires (executives). They will gladly destroy that which makes the company successful to benefit themselves. The same is true of government. Terms are too short, and the highest offices are too well protected for justice to be served. And so it pays to lie. For a little while, at least.

While Soros’ rhetoric sometimes reads like the worst textbook prose, the nuggets of essential truth therein make me feel all warm and fuzzy. I think you owe it to yourself to take the time to read the lecture linked to above. Do a little truth seeking. And read his biography on wikipedia. Soros is like Magneto from the X-Men… only instead of control over metal, this guy’s super-power is control over money. And like Magneto, he’s not really evil, he just wants to even the playing field for the betterment of humanity.

Soros is a philanthropist of the first order, as well as a philosopher. And his record of contributions makes me feel a little bit better about the human race. Just knowing that a man of his intelligence thinks the pursuit of truth will be our only saving grace is a like a balm for my outrage.

Whether we win this hand, or not.