Reply #197: Deepdown I believe this too.

[vickitulsa]

I recognize that there are a great many variables and that any predictions of a direction or destiny for humankind are always frought with peril because it's simply too hard to guess all the variables -- and line them up to get the "right" answer.

Back when he was alive, B.F. Skinner and I had some long talks about the fate of humanity, the power different groups had or might gain, and what it was that made the survival of any group possible.

According to his philosophy -- and that was one developed from his work in "free operant conditioning" of subjects, the group which has members who are willing to sacrifice their lives for the benefit and survival of the collective is the group that does survive.

Whenever members of a group become willing to give each other up, to eat their young or throw the old folks under a bus, that group is in trouble and will not long survive unless it changes its ways.

When I think of it this way, I don't even have to look at the prospect of a thousand or a million years before a -- well, let's call it a "pre-transcendent" stage is achieved among humans.

I don't expect it will be tomorrow, however. :(

What continues to amaze me is that the ones in power here now don't seem to recognize that their tactics are so ruthless and blatant, in an effort to save and protect themselves, that they are in fact forcing the issue sooner than it was necessary for them to do so. But then maybe I'm wrong in my estimation, and they know a lot of things I don't about just how vulnerable they truly are to a massive revolt at this point.

Whenever I get really discouraged by the horrors that continue to unfold in my beloved country, I have to take a big step back and gain some perspective. If that's not enough, I keep on backing up until I see a picture that's big enough to encompass an eventual resolution of the problem.

Man, am I ever having to back up a LOT lately!!


What "they" should never mistake is my backing up for backing down.........

:patriot: