Carl Sagan Predicted Our Turmoil
Bryan Kelly, July 2021
In these times of the late 1900s and early 2000s, we are faced with great difficulties. This republic we call these United States is in turmoil. It is in grave danger of being lost. There are multiple causes for said turmoil. But it was, in a general, yet specific sense, predicted.
One such prediction is found in the book:
The Demon-Haunted World, Science as a Candle in the Dark
Carl Sagan, 1996
The readers not familiar with Carl Sagan are strongly encouraged to read about him, to read his writings, and to watch the several movies and presentations he participated in. He was not only a respected scientists, but a very friendly and engaging one.
Here is a rather long sentence from the first page of Chapter 2, parsed for easy reading:
I have a foreboding of an America in my children’s or grandchildren’s time –
when the United States is a service and information economy;
when nearly all the key manufacturing industries have slipped away to other countries;
when awesome technological powers are in the hands of a very few,
and no one representing the public interest can even grasp the issues;
when the people have lost the ability to set their own agendas or knowledgeably question those in authority;
when, clutching our crystals and nervously consulting our horoscopes,
our critical faculties in decline,
unable to distinguish between what feels good and what’s true,
we slide, almost without noticing,
back into superstition and darkness.
Sagan lived from 1934 to 1996. Now is the time for his grandchildren, but, these years are still the times of his children. His time frame was accurate.
The United States is now indeed a service and information economy. The very fabric of our society is dependent upon information processing technology, computers.
Processing, meaning material goods, has slipped away. There are far fewer manufacturing facilities, iron, aluminum, and the like. The majority of manufacturing for the integrated circuits we depend upon for almost everything are now manufactured outside of the United States.
The technological companies are becoming fewer and each has much greater influence than ever before. Relative to the general population, most of the power, control of the economy, is indeed in the hands of the few.
Every aspect of our lives and facilitated by technology. By science. Yes, those we elect have less and less technological knowledge. President Ronald Regan and his wife sought the services of astrologists. The president made decisions based, at least in part, upon the superstition called astrology! Donald Trump was almost certainly the least technologically savvy elected official ever.
We are losing out ability to make reasoned judgement for ourselves. For just a few examples, witness the onslaught of outright falsehood spread by Facebook, Fox News, and the unknown source Q-Anon. Some Q-Anon followers are currently elected members of Congress! There are altogether too many of us who believe these flat-out lies and pass them on without so much as the most cursory thoughts and verifications.
And now, yes, we tend to slide back into superstition and darkness.
Yes, there is hope. It resides within each and every one of us. One at a time.
When you hear and read of these falsehoods and outlandish claims, ask some questions.
Where did you hear that?
Did you do any checking to verify it? Hopefully something better than just hearing is from multiple sources.
Why do you believe that is true?
Do you have a more substantial reason to believe than: because someone told me so?
Those who promote these outrageous stories will resist the questions. Some will take offense at being questions. Still, we, each and every one of us, but question these proclamations. Even when those promoting the rumors object, others will hear and there will be a greater probability they will ask the needed questions.
Then they will join us in light our candles in the darkness.