Pardon my cynicism

 Lately, I've been asking myself: "Who benefits most when US voters are upset, agitated, in each others' faces and at each others' throats?" The answers I've come up with are:

• Democrats hope to benefit when folks are incensed to defeat Republicans
• Republicans hope to benefit when folks are incensed to defeat Democrats
• The rich 1%'ers benefit when the 99% are fragmented and competing with each other
• The Putins of the world hope to benefit when US citizens want nothing to do with "the other side."

In light of the preceding answers, I'm reminded of the old folk / fairy tale about belling the cat; also of Ben Franklin's observation: "We must, indeed, all hang together or, most assuredly, we shall all hang separately."; and, last but not least, Ronald Reagan's citation of the old Russian proverb: "Trust, but verify."

Recently, there have been several mentions of people who are so disgusted and confused by the conflicting information in mainstream and on social media that they've decided to no longer believe anyone. I wish each of those people could and would read the inestimable Maria Popova's postings on cynicism's downsides. For the moment, I'll settle for the observation by Sam Rayburn, former Speaker of the House, "Any jackass can kick down a barn, but it takes a good carpenter to build one." Since I'd rather be known as a carpenter than a jackass, I fear I must forego my cynicism and return to just a healthy level of skepticism. Plus, as the wonderful Maya Angelou informs us, not believing anyone means we're all

Alone

Maya Angelou - 1928-2014

Lying, thinking
Last night
How to find my soul a home
Where water is not thirsty
And bread loaf is not stone
I came up with one thing
And I don't believe I'm wrong
That nobody,
But nobody
Can make it out here alone.

Alone, all alone
Nobody, but nobody
Can make it out here alone.

There are some millionaires
With money they can't use
Their wives run round like banshees
Their children sing the blues
They've got expensive doctors
To cure their hearts of stone.
But nobody
No, nobody
Can make it out here alone.

Alone, all alone
Nobody, but nobody
Can make it out here alone.

Now if you listen closely
I'll tell you what I know
Storm clouds are gathering
The wind is gonna blow
The race of man is suffering
And I can hear the moan,
'Cause nobody,
But nobody
Can make it out here alone.

Alone, all alone
Nobody, but nobody
Can make it out here alone.

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