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!