There are many things we know that are detrimental to our society, but for a variety of reasons (mostly political) we refuse to correct them.
For example, we know that its dangerous to text while driving, but many do it anyway. We know that many military contractors have been found guilty of defrauding the government, yet we continue to reward them with multi-billion dollar contracts. We know that abstinence-only programs do not help prevent teen pregnancies, but we cut funding for sex education and easy access to contraceptives. We also know that early education programs greatly improve a childs future, yet many are trying to defund them.
Similarly, the worlds scientists have warned us of the dangers of climate change caused by man. Still, we refuse to address the problems even when experiencing extreme weather. And we know that mass killings are made possible by unrestricted access to military-style, semi-automatic weapons.
All of these issues could be fixed. It only takes a will to do so. Yet we continue to listen to those who profit from these problems.
We accept the oil industrys arguments that lessening our dependence on renewable energies will be costly and result in lost jobs. We accept the absurd notion of clean coal being marketed by the coal industry. And we accept the fear-based arguments of gun manufacturers and the National Rifle Association that Guns dont kill people. People kill people. That may be true, but semi-automatic weapons with large-capacity magazines make it much easier.
Whens the last time you read about a mass killing committed by a lunatic carrying a single-shot rifle or a 6-shot revolver?
Of course, the NRA argues that there will be less violence when everyone is armed. But if you take your head out of your nether regions, youll discover the obvious flaws in that argument. Do you have to carry a weapon with you at all times? In church? In school? In the swimming pool?
So come on, America, stop limiting your view to your inner colons. Pull your heads out of your butts and start examining the world around you.