Musings of an Optimistic Earthling

Jeff Goin at the helm of “Bubba,” a Beechcraft Bonanza. by Ray Khan

For whatever reason I’m interested in what happens on Earth. I care.

Yes, the planet will prosper long after we’re gone (then fry in a sun-gorged heat death), but life is cool, intelligent life even more so—I’d love to see it thrive. There are opportunities to make a difference and I’m gonna try, even if my difference is a tiny ripple in a turbulent ocean. I want to be a missionary of rationality.

The country seems weirdly torn asunder with a strange disregard for reliable knowledge—the kind that gets us out of quandaries, and helps make useful policies. Why is it not valued?

We’re here for such fleeting moments of geologic time that it could be depressing. But when we work together and allow people to better themselves, all kinds of goodness follows. For example, we humans can uniquely change our environment. For the better or worse. We’ve all enjoyed the immense improvement in air pollution from rules made in the 70’s. This ability confers immense survival ability. Maybe not for all x billion of us, but for enough of us to continue.

Life has dealt me a rather amazing hand in most regards. I’ve done more than I ever thought possible, and a few things I never even dreamed of. It feels like I’m in the bonus round.

While I may be squeaky wheel sometimes, I try to have some grease first. Let’s see how we can make the world a better place. That starts with embracing reliable knowledge.