Are Cynic and Optimist Mutually Exclusive?
People often complain that I’m cynical and pessimistic. I’m always looking for the catch, the ulterior motive, the dark side. Every new plan, from health care to tax reform, I am immediately poking holes in. Many of my friends are liberal, nonprofit types who are very attached to these plans. And they get pretty frustrated with me.
And maybe I am cynical. Certainly, I question people’s motives. But I prefer to see it as being honest. I see what happens with each of those grand plans and new policies. I see how putting our future in other people’s hands leaves us feeling lost and powerless. I see every person who gets power abusing it. I see the “solutions” to problems causing more problems than they solve.
Willful blindness isn’t going to make those problems go away. It isn’t optimistic to put all your faith in a charismatic leader and cross your fingers. It isn’t optimistic to ignore the hypocrisy, backroom deals, corporate giveaways, ethical compromises, obstructionism, and usual screwing of the public.
On the contrary, the pessimists are those people who think that is the best we can do. I think we can do better.
