liljohnnyiran
I have actually read a lot more news than previous years. Downtime inbetween code compiles lets me browse reuters, google news, bbc, and a pile of financial and foreign sources. However, despite all this, I feel less informed to give an opinion than ever. I have learned how gray all of it is, and how much you need to be there. What can I say about Iran, who had a rebellion, almost a revolution, but now what? I read a teenager was jailed and tortured for wearing a green wristband. Also Ahmadinejad appointed some female ministers, and more people oppose him. I don’t really get what it all means other than I’m glad I don’t live there and I hope the youth growing up will not act like the current ruling class when they gain power.

Or what can I say about Obamacare? I know a ton of republicans are being straight up morons in their arguments against it. But beyond that, I don’t seem to have a strong opinion on it. This would be another “revolution” of sorts, although not as severe as Iran. Will change actually come from anything they decide? Is it unrealistic to expect a system to be flipped on its end overnight? There are massive groups of “conservatives” which by definition are resistant to change. So obviously, change isn’t going to happen very easily. And if they ever form the majority in usa again, who is to say they don’t just change it back? I really don’t know what’s going to happen, from the little I know, American medical system is messed up, but how should that be fixed? And at what cost? I think you have to… trust… the politicians who put together bills or proposals for medicare plans and then… trust… other politicans who endorse it. There is no way I’m going to read one of those plans, and there is no way I am going to understand the system and terms in the plan even if I read it.

Then there is the topic of stock market, economic stability, inflation deflation, housing crash, toxic loans. And the crazy part of all that, is while I can watch the present, and get general consensus about the past, people interpret all that to form different thoughts on the future. Also I really have a hard time believing consensus of all the factors that made it happen or how successful solutions have been. Does giving american auto industry insane amounts of money help or not? I don’t know. Were all the great years in the 90s and 00s just too good to be true ? Or did something go wrong somewhere. Is it just a normal a boom and bust cycle? Who is to blame, who is to praise? I do think it is clear that those bad credit companies giving AAA ratings to bad loans are obviously to blame. Housing markets were obviously way too greedy and profitable where they shouldn’t have been. People were buying outside of their means and that type of stuff is well known. However, once you go past that topic, what is the role of the Presidency or governments in the last 15 years? What made it better or worse? I don’t really know. Foreign markets are going berserk too, what is up with that? Does China’s corruption affect the whole world? Probably. But it is pretty hard to get the straight truth on something like that.

Anyway, to all the people who think they know what is what: Iran is fixed, or a lost cause, American economy is booming, or ruined, Obamacare is perfect, or evil communism, I really doubt you know what you’re talking about. Same goes for all these journalists and editorialists on television making wild claims, calling presidents racists… sigh. I know strong opinions are more interesting, but just have some humility in your lack of knowledge or insight.

My man John Mayer, who i follow on twitter, has the icon I put at the top regarding Iran and I think he has the right idea. Note that tons of famous people colored their photo green in support of the rebels over there. (although currently, almost all have switched to something else)