Observations From the Spectrum

All words have been constructed by man to have a common language. My wonderment is around the word addiction and what it defines. Is is possible that many of our larger societal constructs are actually addictions created by those with power forcing those without down dead end roads?

Have you ever driven down a road that you thought was going somewhere only to find out that it narrows and deadends? I have both literally and metaphorically traveled this road more times that I would care to admit. The older I get the better I have become at recognizing the signs more quickly. Now, they sometimes flash.

I think most people that have dealt with addiction understand this road and how precarious it is to navigate. And once they have figured out that the road goes nowhere, it takes most of them much time and effort to reverse, discover another path and begin to move forward again. I think those that die addicts probably find themselves down a path that is almost impossible to reverse and change direction.

What I would like to think about or scratch at is what we are defining as addiction. There are clear addictions like alcohol, tobacco, drugs of all types, porn,, sugar, eating, not eating, work, shopping and all sorts of other life actions. Now my questions becomes are we missing big addictions that force all of society because of societal norms to be stuck driving down a narrowing deadend road.

Anyone who has read my other thoughts and muses knows that I believe in society through the lens of the common good and religion through the lens of faith. I am also very clear on how I feel about borders and organized mysticism otherwise known as nations and religions. I think both direct us down the pathways of addiction on the personal and the communal level. They exist to push us in directions that most people don’t have the stamina, wherewithal or strength to overcome. They are just addicts pushed up in a crowded deadend with nowhere to go.

I have been thinking about this lately through the lens of politics, the state of education, and religion. Moreso, I am thinking about our collective addiction to leaders that do not support the people they are hired to look after, an education system that is being dumbed down so that more people are addicts with a limited future and religion which seems to be designed on the bed of we are right and therefore others are wrong. To all of these things, I call bullshit.

If politicians and leaders are not taking care of their constituents and workers, then it is not only the right but the obligation of the constituents and workers to rise up against those who are treating them wrongly in the short and long term. Yet, because they have been doing their grift so well for so long, either their lack of education allows them not to understand, predict and see what actions they should take or they are so faithful in a manmade construct, controlled by the same leaders, that they blindly follow believing that the directions they are given are correct no matter matter which fork in the road is taken.

I don’t necessarily like the idea of revolution but I see its place. When those with power have too much it is time to take it back or reset the system. If ever there was a moment to do that, it would be now but there are too many uneducated workers who don’t have the ability to know better or creatively think well enough to offer equitable and fair solutions. 

Addiction sucks yet many who are addicts are blind to it across the board.Sadly, the only way for an addict to want change is to hit bottom. I hope that the bottom is softer and closer than the future that looks pretty grim for most.