By Florida Veterans for Common Sense member, John Darovec
Reality versus Beliefs
Reality is what you can see, hear, smell, taste, or touch. Beliefs are not available to perception by those special senses. They are imagined.
Societies whose governance is based on reality succeed, while societies whose governance is based on beliefs fail. That’s my understanding of the evidence presented in Jared Diamond’s thoroughly researched and thoroughly documented book Collapse; How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed. Easter Islanders, the Anasazi, the Norse in Greenland, and many other societies failed to deal with real problems of dwindling natural resources while living as they believed they should. Their societies collapsed.
Path to Failure
Given the availability of this historical information, governing by belief either fits the definition of stupidity or is an example of ignorance. Ron DeSantis, our anti-woke i.e., pro-ignorance Governor, is governing according to his beliefs and is thereby leading our Florida society down the path to failure. Certainly, DeSantis’ disrespect for the opinions of others is appalling in a republic where he should be representing, not bullying, his constituents. It is his governing by beliefs while ignoring reality, however, that puts our survival in jeopardy. Our reality includes threats from systemic inequality, climate change and many kinds of pollution that are not being addressed adequately. In fact, Florida government is not addressing those real and existential threats at all.
It is certainly much easier to advocate for beliefs than it is to understand real problems and try to develop real solutions. Are people who govern based on beliefs too lazy to do the job that must be done? Do you really want to hire lazy people who threaten your existence? The coming elections are not only a matter of “saving our democracy,” as others have warned, they are a matter of saving our existence. Register and vote!
Hey folks, I recently stumbled upon this thought-provoking blog post by John Darovec, a member of Florida Veterans for Common Sense. His piece, titled ‘Reality vs. Beliefs,’ really struck a chord with me, and I wanted to share my thoughts with you.
John’s words reminded me of the importance of grounding our decisions in reality, not just in our personal beliefs or wishful thinking. He drew from Jared Diamond’s book, “Collapse; How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed,” to illustrate how societies that ignore reality often end up failing. It’s a hard pill to swallow, but it’s a lesson we can’t afford to ignore.
John also brought the issue home, discussing the current situation in Florida under Governor Ron DeSantis. He argued that DeSantis’ approach, which seems to prioritize personal beliefs over empirical evidence, is leading our beloved Sunshine State down a precarious path. We’re facing real threats here – systemic inequality, climate change, pollution – and these aren’t issues we can just sweep under the rug.
John’s post really got me thinking. I don’t want to live in a world where we turn a blind eye to the problems right in front of us. I don’t want us to end up like those societies that collapsed because they couldn’t face reality. I want us to tackle our problems head-on, to work hard to find real solutions.
That’s why the upcoming elections are so crucial. They’re not just about who’s in power. They’re about our survival. They’re about choosing leaders who are willing to face reality and work towards real solutions.
So, let’s take a page from John’s book. Let’s register to vote. Let’s make our voices heard. Let’s choose leaders who are willing to face reality and work towards real solutions. Because that’s the kind of world I want to live in. How about you?