My mother was wrong
The problem with “everything works out in the end” reassurance
When I was young and frustrated about one thing or another, my mother reassured me that “everything works out in the end.”
The saying drove me nuts. “When is the end?” I’d ask her. “Next week? Next year? In a century? Do we just wait?”
Optimistic forecasts about anything often overlook damage that can occur in the meantime.
The famed British economist John Maynard Keynes once wrote, “in the long run, we’re all dead.” His point was that most people don’t care that the economy eventually will correct itself because people live today and often can’t afford to wait.
This morning I heard a pundit on the radio declare with utter certainty that George Santos will resign.
That’s an easy call. After all, 78 percent of Santos’ constituents say he should go. Even two-thirds of those who voted for him last November say they wouldn’t have if they’d known what they do now. His favorable rating in the district is a whopping 6 percent.
But when will he resign? It makes a huge difference if an elected member of Congress who’s revealed to be an utter charlatan — who has lied to voters about almost every aspect of his background — resigns tomorrow or remains in office for another year or more. Every day that goes by with Santos still in Congress brings more disgrace upon our governing institutions, at a time when they’re already near rock bottom.
I have the same concern with other upbeat predictions.
“Inflation is slowing,” they say. That’s nice, but it avoids the big underlying question: Will inflation slow quickly enough to stop the Fed from pushing America into a recession with ever higher interest rates?
“Ukraine is winning,” they say. I’m glad. But the war is moving into its second year, and the real questions are how much of Ukraine and its people will be destroyed before Putin ends his attacks, and how close will we come to nuclear armageddon?
“Trump will be prosecuted,” they say. Good. But when? I fear Special Counsel Jack Smith and his boss, Attorney General Merrick Garland, will wait until after the 2024 presidential election, which raises the horrific possibility that we might have to go through another four-year Trump presidency.
And what about police violence and institutional racism? “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice,” the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. once assured us.
But how long before it bends? How much more violence until then? How much more racism, xenophobia, misogyny, and homophobia?
And there are the climate crisis, widening inequality, attacks on democracy, and so much more.
Look, I’m a cup-half-full kind of guy. I always hope for the best.
The problem with my mother’s “everything works out in the end” optimism isn’t just that a lot can go wrong along the way.
It also invites a naive fatalism, as if no action is necessary now because everything will be fine eventually.
But rosy scenarios are dangerous bunk if they lead to passivity.
So: Demand Trump be prosecuted. Take on the climate crisis. Support Ukraine. Don’t let the Fed push us into a recession. Fight for social justice. Get Santos way the hell out of Congress.
And in all other respects, be an activist. You are needed.
My mother was right about a lot of things. But she was wrong about this. Nothing important works out in the end unless we work hard for it now.
I guess my mom must have been a pessimist. I do not remember her ever saying "it will all work out in the end" or any such tripe. She knew full well people have to make it work out and usually need to work hard and with others to do it. You know those topics people were never supposed to talk about at the table. politics and religion, well, those were regular areas of discussion nearly every evening when we ate dinner together. My dad was Catholic and my mother protestant (a small denomination, Schwenkfelder). My mother claimed to be Republican and my dad Democrat. If we made a statement at the table, we were expected to be able to back it up, well after age 10 or so. With 5 daughters, my parents knew sexist attitudes were unacceptable even though we didn't have the word sexist at the time. We were expected to go to college even though 2 of us were visually impaired and our family had no money. Three of us did graduate from college. We did not hide our politics or religion when guests came to eat with us and most of them appreciated the open discussions and that their opinions were heard too, and sometimes challenged. My parents were not helicopter parents and trusted us after age 4 or so to follow the outside rules (don't go into the street without looking, watch out for other kids to help if possible, and come home for dinner when the bell was rung - yes, we had a dinner bell). It has been hard, but we have all made decent lives for ourselves and continue to discuss politics and religion when together when the occasion arises. We do believe the world should be better and that we all have responsibility to do our part to make that happen. Knowing how human beings can be, we know the good Earth won't happen by itself. So Garland, let's get to indicting the insurrectionists. ?Santos (or whatever your name is), resign from Congress you don't belong there. McCarthy, grow up and be a responsible adult. Tell your caucus they must raise the debt ceiling or get rid of it altogether (that would be best). McConnell, the filibuster was not meant as a plaything to make your party look strong by trying to do minority rule in a democracy. You know you would hate that if the tables were turned, so stop the childishness. Gov. DeSantis, you are not the king of Florida. Why anyone thinks you should be is beyond comprehension. Leave school districts alone. Hide your bias toward trans persons and let each person be the person they need to be. The idea is building up people not tearing them down so they don't have to get paybacks, as Putin is claiming he is doing in his fear of everything not Russian. Ant Putin, stop the stupid war. Neither your people nor Ukrainians deserve your killing people to salve your fears. Men, back off and assume women's bodily autonomy and only comment or get involved in any way if asked. Women can handle decisions about their bodies without male dictatorship. Thanks Mom for not feeding us the "everything will turn out fine in the end" nonsense.
"Justice delayed is justice denied" . It angers me that the "Lock her up " guy, who NEVER mentioned due process, is given every consideration by our legal system.