The following is a repeat of my blog of December 4th, 2013. I have been
following what is one of the most important issues in Arizona's modern
history; something that will impact every Arizona taxpayer.
The adoption or rejection of a drought-contingency plan proposed by and
Arizona panel would pay farmers in Pinal County many millions of tax
dollars in order to recompense them for drilling new wells and
constructing delivery systems that would replace the Colorado River
water they are now receiving.
The full Arizona House of Representatives must decide the issue before
a deadline set for tomorrow becomes effective (January 31).
The following has nothing to do with the water issue. I felt that
both of you readers would rather read something "generic" rather than
my second-guessing about something about which I know very little.
(Yes, I know. It has never prevented me from doing so in the
past.)
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LOSING TRUST
Gfk Public Affairs and Corporate Communications is
one of the world's largest research companies, employing some 13,000
poll takers and statisticians in more than 100 markets.
Recently, they were commissioned by Associated
Press, a leading worldwide news service to determine if we Americans
had greater or less trust in our ourselves and our institutions that we
exhibited in similar polls in the last four decades.
Conclusion: We might trust in God, but not each
other. We are more suspicious of each other and have less trust in both
everyday encounters and government than ever before.
I was motivated to read more about this depressing
report by a copyrighted store in the local morning newspaper, so I
googled GfK for further insight.
For example, 14 percent of the respondents answered
"Not so much," when asked if they trusted those who prepared their
meals when they eat out.
So I wasn't surprised when people were asked if they
believe that they can trust their Federal Government to do the right
thing 81 percent answered, "Some of the time." Only two percent
chose "All of the time." (The pollsters neglected to include either
"Hardly any of the time," or "Never" as an answer to this question in
their massive survey).
Naturally, one has to ask why the trend line on the
"Trust Me" scale keeps sinking?
One factor is isolation. Being "tribal" meant being
together to hunt. It took a lot of resolute hunters to bring down a
Woolly Mammoth and keep another tribe from taking it away from them.
Being ostracized was a death sentence.
I see the converse in my neighborhood. Only a
handful of homeowners turn out for property owners' functions. Some do
not know the names of their next door neighbors.
The 24-hour news cycle and the World Wide Web bring
us unending stories of mayhem and natural disaster. One is discouraged
from venturing outside the cave.
-Phil Richardson,
Observer of the Human Condition and
Storyteller
"He
goes doddering on into his old age, making a public nuisance of
himself."—Joseph Menchen
Our
unending thanks to Jim Bromley, who programs our Archive of Prior Commentaries
Respond to: k7os@comcast.net