Can We Walk Away from a Fixed Game?

What do you think about this?

“Fixed” or broken, no one really wants to stay where we are. Everyone is mad about the game. But we keep playing.

I’m not talking about rigged elections . I’m talking about the collective resignation that tells us that, like it or not, we have to vote one way or another or we split the vote. The fear-based models that hold us in place. The carnival ride that calls itself a “progressive” movement. The duopoly that calls itself a democracy. The cartels that call themselves medicine and science. The propaganda disguised as “truth” or entertainment.

And ALL the collective resignation that has us believing that we have to work at this job so we can keep our insurance... we have to take this medication because it’s what’s covered by our insurance… we have to comply with these draconian rules to go to this prestigious institution so we can have job security and benefits and a home and food on the table and a car in the driveway… but only if we continue to follow the rules and drive electric cars and support the cause du jour and fly the flag du jour and take the drugs du jour and maybe eat the bioengineered food du jour… All while doing your part to stop the crisis du jour.

Those are the rules of a broken world.

The water is coming to a boil and we’re buying our kids floaties and ice cubes to avoid the uncertainty that comes with climbing out the the pot.

Can we find another way?

I observe hopeful sparks all the time when people gather and connect. The More Beautiful World Our Hearts Know is Possible emerges through the haze when we break through our calcified thoughts and find resonance. We should be carefully guarding and nourishing these sparks - our precious and pure newborn hopes - because maybe they can ignite a new future.

Why do we let the sparks die?

I hear just about everyone complaining about the two party system and the corruption they witness on both sides. Everyone seems to want out, but everyone is also risk averse. So we settle for a chance at putting the lesser evil in power and we renovate the sinking ship. No one notices for long because Netflix.

I'm watching everyone try to calculate their way out of a system they hate without walking away from it. Why? Most of those calculations are part of a fear-based model that will always show us that the odds are against us.

We stay in the Hunger Games and say to each other "may the odds be forever in your favor" knowing full well that the game destroys lives and turns people against each other.

I want to change the game. I think we all do in one way or another. Can we each take a few steps outside our own box and dream a little bigger?

Limited thinking is a familiar prison. Stepping outside of it is a risk, yes. But staying inside of it has stunted our growth and and created malignancies that we can't ignore.

To be clear, I'm not saying Bobby's the answer. I don't actually think any one person or candidate can ever be “the solution.” I'm just asking how we can approach new ideas and opportunities with less fear and more curiosity.

What say you?