It’s depressing to think that you’re right. 40 years ago it looked like this, and now it looks like this too. We have civil engineers and research all around the world that shows how to build better, more human infrastructure and transportation, but America decides that this is what it needs to be. 🙃

I just want to point out that I wasn’t the person calling them morons.

To be fair, I think a lot of this is people being self-centered (which I get is an insult too), but perhaps I’m being pedantic at this point. Lol

On that point though, people that voted for Trump I feel are self-centered because they think it will help them personally, ignoring all the other lies and/or bigotry he’s said. The people that didn’t vote though are just as self-centered for not taking the time or being too apathetic to get their vote in, knowing that he would harm people if he got elected.

While education and public services that promote education are being funded less, the average American has access to the internet via a computer or smartphone.

Yes, you still need to be educated on knowing how to do proper research, but a simple search of, “how do I research” gives some good results.

At this point, people just want to think they’re right and never check other viewpoints or even look at themselves and why they believe their own beliefs. In my opinion it’s a culturally inherent thing about “rugged individualism” instead of anything about a failing education system.

Finally, being empathetic towards other races and cultures takes 0 education. And if you want to know if you’re on the right or wrong side of something, it takes barely any effort to search and learn about it.

I watched it about a month ago. I thought the story wasn’t anything super new, though having no dialogue made it a bit more interesting. The visuals were really good, and I liked the world-building. Without spoiling too much for other readers, the ending was a bit weird for me, and I’m not sure if there was really a message the creators were trying to tell in the last 10-ish minutes.

Yeah, but that’s basically the point. Posts like this are nice to have because they inspire a different way of thinking of what could be. I would love for democratically-elected leaders that are well-educated and actually serve those they represent and vote/make policies that are backed by facts and research. The system we have now realistically works well to an extent, though there are large problems. And as much as most people don’t want to admit, it’s going to take large, slow efforts at the bottom in order for the changes at the top to happen.

Also, back to the point about elected officials not representing the people, I actually think they do for the most part. The bad part is that the people that vote those politicians in are people that reject facts and research themselves and/or blame others for their problems. But again, the large, slow effort is needed at the bottom to talk to neighbors and family members that they are wrong and try and help them see things not from a hateful world view.

All that to basically say that I understand reality, but I can still wish for a better system and better people haha

I think just using “science” as a catch-all term makes it harder to comprehend what a society would look like. Instead, I try and think of it by using research-backed policies.

• This research shows that providing free childcare results in better educated students, happier families, and less crime later in life.

• This research shows that having walkable cities reduces pollution, better supports small businesses, and makes our population healthier.

• This research shows that getting yearly vaccinations, washing hands, and wearing masks when sick greatly reduces the spread of germs.

• Banning abortion makes women more at-risk for dying during childbirth and ends up having families make risky decisions since a fetus isn’t actually a person yet.

Then after all the research and actual peer-reviews (not just for-profit journals having a say), policies would be made to support what makes for a better society.

I’m trying to determine if this is satire or not. I’ll respond anyways if it is just to share a point of view for anybody else reading though.

EDIT: I just saw the username and saw you commented above. The below still stands for everything the average big truck American embodies though.

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Besides the fact you have an oversized, $30,000+ vehicle for just grocery shopping (as you say “so you get some use out of it”), the ideal walkable/bikable city will save you time plus has the added benefit of making you healthier too. The exercise you get and reduced air pollution will have a noticeable affect on health and lifespan.

As for time saving, you say you spend ~40 minutes traveling to the big box store, but a walkable city would have more stores closer to you so you could just take a short 10 minute walk or 4 minute bike ride to them.

The umbrella and bag situation is an easy fix though, just spend like $100 on raincoat, backpack, etc.; you didn’t mind spending $30,000 on a truck. I know some people need a vehicle for longer travel, but that’s the point people are trying to make. Having every American require a multi-thousand dollar more of transportation when $500 for a bike and equipment is just insane.

I could 100% see the terriers in Age of Empires.

I feel like the lack of karma system will 100% help in this aspect. No reason to comment/post dumb things since you don’t really get anything with your post/comment is at the top.