When I was a kid and had to make a wish—because I was about to blow the candles on a birthday cake, or spread the seeds of a dandelion—I often asked for an end to all wars.

It says much more about those around me, those closest to me, those who raised me, than it can ever say about any innate goodness I may have possessed.

Kids are vulnerable and deserve protection. But that’s a defensive position. Kids also have the potential to do much better.

Much better kids

The oligarch asks his software to identify the most pressing threat to human survival. The machine replies that it is misinformation and disinformation. The oligarch doesn’t like the answer, so he tweaks the algorithm. The software now claims infertility poses the biggest threat.

The oligarch is supposed to be a genius. And we refer to the software as artificial intelligence.

The oligarch in the machine

Political parties settled snuggly into the establishment will often struggle to appeal to the masses in a changing world.

Like any defender of any system, they devote most of their energy and resources to protect the system itself, rather than attempting to change it. They may pour millions into a study that produces a compelling report on the ways of the youth and how best to connect with them. They don’t care that their prospective voters would like them to change things: they’re too busy trying to learn to convince them that things are not that bad.

Learning to lose elections

As I have long feared, it appears the far right has won the public debate. Five or ten years ago, this seemed impossible. However, by a combination of liberal neglect and self-righteousness, the so-called populists have imposed their rule of stupidity.

Instead of discussing whether we have achieved gender equality, or how far we are from it and what else we could do to advance a cause that benefits us all, the question we entertain is, “Have we gone too far?” Similarly, and even more blatantly and far more widespread, is the immigration question; the question here is, “Immigration is fine, but what about illegal immigration?”

The arguments are philosophically so poor that we might as well discuss whether we’d be okay with torture as a viable interrogation technique at police stations as long as it were legal.

It is an era that demands a lot of breathing in and breathing out for us not to despair and join the growing number of cynics who won’t make anything better.

The rule of stupidity

Change is obnoxious because it doesn’t ask permission. It just happens, rudely, offensively, unfairly.

Nothing will ever stay the same, regardless of how one feels, regardless of how powerful one might be. Change comes and conquers, and makes no prisoners.

We can isolate ourselves, find a secluded shelter against change. Or we can ride it, trying to shape it, or at least stay safe on it. It will happen despite any efforts to prevent it or slow it down, unleashing brutality and opportunity in equal measure.

Denying it or whining about it will achieve nothing.

Obnoxious change

Most stories, especially those on TV, demand resolution. Indeed, it can be terrible storytelling not to provide one. A chord progression that doesn’t return to the root fails to build a song—its very essence as a chord progression is questionable. Tension and release are paramount for any recconteur.

Yet, some storytelling dares to go further: the heroes won’t save the world, and the world won’t kill the heroes. They will achieve individual resolutions, but there is no happy or tragic ending because the point of this story is to show how we deal with the impossibility of changing the world at a macro level.

It’s important to remember that there is always a micro resolution we can probably reach. It may not change the world or the course of our lives, but with one decision here and one action there, we will have a chance to become a memorable melody over a solid chord progression.

Martian Thoughts

Much better kids

The oligarch in the machine

Learning to lose elections

The rule of stupidity

Obnoxious change

A solid chord progression