InquiryLabs
Politics, Programming and Possibilities
The Maturity of Influence
Author: Duane Johnson19 Oct
As I’ve delved in to this new world of politics and events, I’ve become aware of some of my own shortcomings. For example, in one of my conversations with Jeff Moss the other day, I realized that I don’t know that much about PNAC, Israeli spy rings or even Dr. Steven Jones’ hypothesis about the World Trade Centers coming down by thermite.
I’m also feeling a little humbler today, having read Zach’s comment about my misunderstanding Jeff’s statement. I’m not sure how much I got right or wrong (perhaps Jeff can clarify), but I’m getting better at this “trying to understand the world” game. A lot of it starts inside, by trying to understand myself.
It seems to me that as we learn new things and try to teach others about what we’ve learned, a very powerful process takes place. I’ll call it the “maturity of influence”. Basically, what I’m finding is that we all have a strong drive to be “right”. Why? Well, one reason seems to be that we perceive our social influence to be directly proportional to our ability to make accurate predictions. We want others to trust us, and we know that they’re less likely to trust our predictions if past predictions have turned out to be false. In other words, we fight to be “right” because we perceive our social value and influence to be dependent on our “rightness”.
As everyone admits, however, we don’t know everything. As a consequence, inaccurate predictions by the best of us are inevitable. When such a failure occurs, we have two choices: admit it and move on, or deny it and try to protect our image. So far, I’m in the “admit it” category, and trying to remain there. I also feel strongly, however, that I’m in the “face it” category when it comes to truth. I have a deep desire to know what’s real, true, trustworthy, accurate etc. For this reason, I question a lot of issues of faith as well. Likewise, I’ve questioned a lot of issues related to contemporary American history. So far, I’m grateful for the opportunity and excited to continue.
With regard to my recent vigilant posts regarding 9/11, human rights and government responsibility, I hope you will continue to learn what you can from me. My promise is that I will try to synthesize what I can, report accurately and truthfully at all times, and most of all, admit I’m wrong when I know I’m wrong. God bless you all.
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4 Responses for "The Maturity of Influence"
You’re overanalyzing me Duane, I trust the government to watch out for me. This is the best country in the world! I don’t have to be right all the time. I love a good argument. I can’t help it if I’m almost always right though.
I find it hard to believe that an organization as incompetent as our government could secretly pull off a stunt like the 9/11 attacks. Look the other way while enemies attack, yes, I could believe that. But it almost doesn’t matter, because since the attack the actions taken by our administration have hurt more Americans than 9/11 did, physically, financially and ethically. Habeas corpus has been torn to shreds, and posse commitatus is now a joke. We’re on a trajectory toward a police state, and not a lot of people realize it.
Jeff, if you trust the government to watch out for you, then you deserve what you’re going to get.
Jeff, you make me laugh. Heaven knows what would happen if the both of us were almost always right. Maybe the truth would melt down into an unrecognizable mass and we’d all end up stuck in its event horizon.
I agree with Josh with regard to trusting the government. And to clarify my revised stance on the question of whether or not 9/11 was an “inside job”: I’m certain that the government allowed 9/11 to happen, and I suspect elements of our government caused it to happen.
Regarding whether or not our gov’t could have pulled it off: Incompetence is relative to the desired outcome. If the desired outcomes of President Bush’s administration are the protection of American lives and of liberty, then yes, its members are totally incompentent. If, however, the desired outcomes are a premise for war, usurpation of power and a reduction of individual rights, this administration rivals the governing intelligence of history’s great fascists.
Meanwhile, I’ll see what I can do to prove my case regarding the World Trade Center towers.
You guys, GW will be out of office in a couple years. The only shot he has of becoming the dictator you accuse him of being is if he makes himself president permanantly, not going to happen.
Presidential power grab is nothing new though, Teddy Rosevelt was far more power hungry, but does anybody refer to him in such nasty terms?
Like I said before, this country is incapable of [insert hyperbole here].
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