🛑 The Illusion of Expertise 🛑

In a world where we are constantly bombarded by information, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to discern truth from opinion. The emergence of the 24/7 news cycle, heralded by networks like CNN in the 1980s, has fundamentally changed how we consume media. What started as a means to stay informed has morphed into a system designed to keep us perpetually engaged and, more troublingly, perpetually afraid. Big Pharma doesn’t want us dead; they want us dependent. The same can be said about the news industry, where fear sells, and we buy into it every single day.

The line at the back of Walgreens is always long. We’re lined up for shots, vaccines, and medications that are often pushed onto us, making us believe they are essential for our survival. But why? Why are we so quick to trust these “experts” without questioning their motives or the consequences of our blind trust? 🤔

The Media’s Role in Fostering Fear

With the consolidation of media ownership, we’ve seen a drastic reduction in the diversity of viewpoints. What used to be 51 different entities controlling the news media in this country has dwindled down to just six. This means that the same people are telling the same stories across a multitude of platforms—from cable TV to newspapers to the radio. And what are they telling us? To be afraid. To be very afraid. 😱

We’re constantly bombarded with fear-mongering, whether it’s about the latest virus, the economy, or political instability. The problem is that we no longer have a solid foundation to cling to, something that gives us hope and promise for the future. Instead, we’re left to navigate a sea of fear, with no clear direction on how to move forward.

The Decline of Critical Thinking

One of the most alarming trends we’re witnessing today is the decline of critical thinking. We’ve become so dependent on so-called experts that we’ve lost our ability to think for ourselves. The Progressive Era, which began before FDR, played a significant role in this shift. During this time, we started to place more trust in experts and less in our own ability to make decisions. This trend has only accelerated in recent years.

We’ve given away our sovereignty, our agency, to people who may not be smarter than us, but who we’ve decided are. And it’s not just in matters of health or politics. We’ve ceded control in almost every aspect of our lives. We look to experts to tell us how to live, how to think, and even how to feel. 😔

The Pandemic’s Role in Personal Agency

The pandemic was a wake-up call for many of us. While it was a time of immense suffering and uncertainty, it also forced us to take a step back and reevaluate who we’re listening to and why. Many people began to reclaim their personal agency, realizing that they couldn’t rely on experts to guide them through every decision. This shift in responsibility is a positive development, but it’s not enough. We need to go further.

The Way Forward

If we want to reclaim our ability to think critically, we need to start by asking ourselves one simple question: Where am I wrong? This is the first step in the process of critical thinking. It forces us to challenge our assumptions, to question our beliefs, and to seek out alternative viewpoints. It’s not easy, but it’s necessary if we want to break free from the cycle of fear and dependency that has been imposed upon us.

Reading, too, is a vital part of this process. Studies show that college graduates who don’t read within nine months of graduating tend to revert back to an eighth-grade comprehension level. This is a terrifying statistic, but it underscores the importance of continuous learning and self-improvement.

In the end, we need to stop looking to others to tell us what to think and start thinking for ourselves. It’s the only way we can regain control over our lives and our future. 🧠✨