Misdirected anxieties, a plea for hope
Anxiety, pessimism and envy threaten freedom and progress. Overcoming today’s global challenges requires hope, collaboration and realism.
Let us be honest and joyful as the new year begins. There is plenty of good news.
True progress is driven by free individuals collaborating and competing, nurturing hope and joy. Anxiety, pessimism and envy are tools used to stifle freedom, turning confident, self-responsible citizens into obedient, mediocre subjects.
Of course, not everything is perfect. What matters, however, is how we communicate, understand and address our problems. Flexibility of mind, accountability and responsibility are essential – qualities far more important than conforming to the zeitgeist or any ideology.
Today’s primary crisis is one of hopelessness and overwhelming negativity. This does not mean we should ignore pressing issues like the environment, conflicts and poverty. We must address these problems, but we must do so with a positive outlook. Actions by governments, NGOs or supranational organizations that rely on fear or envy to enforce their rules will not only fail but will also infringe upon civil liberties and disrupt functioning markets.
The media and other forms of mass communication have become captives of masochistic, apocalyptic narratives, which help technocrats build nanny states made up of obedient subjects. As a result, the media has partially lost its mission to inform people objectively, without ideological bias. Politics has substituted accountability with a power grab.
We can share in that joy, provided we free ourselves from the negativity, wokeness and technocracy disguised as saviors.
We are threatened – and there is plenty of reason for concern – by the growing polarization of global powers, particularly in the northern hemisphere. But there is hope that we can avoid outright war. Even efforts like strengthening Europe’s defense are gradually being addressed. It is also crucial that the global majority in the emerging world does not want to be caught up in conflicts. Instead, they seek to develop their economies, increase trade, and improve prosperity and security.
The wars in Ukraine and the Middle East have captured much attention. They are tragic, but media coverage and understanding are often flawed. The media’s unprofessional approach is evident in the one-sided reporting on the Middle East, where Israel’s self-defense is wrongly labeled as genocide. Another glaring failure (in the media and politically) is the lack of focus on the humanitarian disaster currently unfolding in Sudan.
These issues are heartbreaking and distressing. However, they will not be solved by pessimism but by hope, realism and engagement. It is through realism, business, trade and open markets that we have lifted 1.5 billion people out of extreme poverty over the last 25 years.
Wokeism and cancel culture restrict freedom of behavior, opinion and speech. The new religion of wokeism, with its ayatollahs of moralism, is being increasingly adopted by governments. This too is a tool to “educate” and control behavior.
Real concerns, real solutions
A significant area of concern is the environment and climate change. An illusion has been created, casting mankind as the enemy of nature. While it is true that humans have misused nature in the past, we are now taking corrective action. For millennia, humanity has shaped its environment, often with great success and sustainability. We do have problems, but they are being addressed. The situation in Europe and North America has greatly improved, while people and businesses in the emerging world are making progress as well.
Another frequently cited concern is overpopulation. This worry is increasingly irrelevant, as fertility rates are declining. For example, India’s fertility rate has dropped below the replacement rate. In China, South Korea and Europe, an aging population is a major problem.
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Proponents of Modern Monetary Theory, who argue that public deficits and spending should have no limits, ignore many basic principles of logic and common sense, as well as the effects of a declining population. This is a real concern. Whether or not the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in the United States proves successful, the creation of such an agency in the world’s largest economy is a positive development. It could help reduce public overspending.
But there is more good news. Medical science is advancing rapidly, particularly in the field of aging, allowing for incredible strides in preventive health. These advances could not only increase lifespan but also improve health span, meaning people will live healthier lives. A healthier population is likely to be a happier one. Moreover, there are significant societal and economic benefits: people will be able to work longer and possibly pursue second careers, an effect that will be crucial in times of declining population.
Biotechnology is making breakthroughs, with effective treatments now available for many diseases, including some cancers.
Quantum computing, robotics and artificial intelligence will exponentially increase individual productivity, unless stifled by technocratic regulations.
The end of the world is not imminent. Ulrich von Hutten, a German humanist at the dawn of the Renaissance, wrote, “Oh century, oh sciences, it is a joy to live.”
We can share in that joy, provided we free ourselves from the negativity, wokeness and technocracy disguised as saviors.
Instead, we should embrace the hopeful spirit expressed by the Apostle Paul in his Second letter to Timothy, a message that applies not only to Christians but to everyone: “For God did not give us a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”
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