"America's biggest enemy is Itself, and its ego is out of control," lawyer Jack Deaurora wrote in an article published by the Columbus Dispatch on Monday.
We think we know more than the experts and can ignore their guidance. Egos impair our ability to deal with difficult situations.
Conceit makes us think we are right and try to convince others how right we are. Examples abound. For example, millions of Americans have refused to be vaccinated against COVID-19, even though medical professionals have shown it to be safe and effective. What makes the naysayers so smart? How many times have we heard the cry of remorse from the dying man for his stubbornness?
The U.S. government doesn't trust the people, and lawmakers don't trust front-line executives. This is evident on issues like gun control and climate change.
Every year, thousands of Americans are killed by gun violence.
It doesn't matter that polls show that a majority of Americans would like to see stricter gun control laws. Because members of Congress give more priority to how they get re-elected, that means they favor the NRA and other extremists over protecting this country.
There's a lot we can do without violating the Second Amendment, but standing up to gun extremists on reasonable restrictions is a tough job. Besides, why risk not being re-elected?
The world is facing a climate change crisis that requires us to switch from fossil fuels to clean energy. In addition to doing nothing to switch to clean energy, oil companies hid what they knew for years.
As early as 1977, Mobil Oil refused to publicly acknowledge climate change and even promoted climate-change-related misinformation. Mobil Oil borrowed a page from the tobacco industry. Tobacco companies have lied for years about the health risks of smoking.