I write all of this to arrive at the crux of the battle: the hatred of knowledge. The way that genuine knowledge humbles those of weak character; those who spout about truth rather than addressing reality. They are woven into the fabric of America and maybe humanity. They eschew reality for comfort.
So it's up to all of us to not simply ignore those who prefer to know nothing while espousing their truths, but to also deride them and end all tolerance of their xenocidal poison. This is not to target those who investigate matters of the spirit, but those who devalue real knowledge. The frontier.
Knowledge is always the frontier. There's always more to learn and understand and inspire and progress. But to keep humanity able to push at that frontier requires acceptance. Especially an acceptance that while you may maintain rules in your house, those are unlikely of value outside of it.
And an acceptance that people who devote all their effort to understanding something and work alongside others who do the same and who invite oversight and evaluation will know more than you do about so many topics and that there is societal value in deferring to those experts.
They are taking so much off your plate! You don't have to evaluate and investigate pollution, medicine, product safety, food safety, social advancement opportunities like UBI or universal healthcare. In so many cases the work is already done! If you have a proven outlet, you can get the facts!
And then you can keep your focus on your job, your family, your community, your art, your hobbies, or whatever would be a better way to spend your life. Experts are a shortcut to the best possible future, but there are giant groups of conservatives that will impede all progress out of fear.
Specifically irrational fears drive conservatives. Rational fears don't enter into their agenda as evidenced by their agenda! So it remains in our collective interests to push aside their devotion to ignorance. It is in our interests to disrespect it! To loathe it!
Together we can not only empower knowledge as a core value, but advance the aim of our species maturing out of the banality of evils and hatreds of others for how they are born, or where they are born, or why they are born. The majority of people want to abandon ignorance rather than cling to it.
Collectively, we can progress. Take care and be smart and honest and just. Good luck out there. Thank you.