The American: A Master of all Vocations

I am becoming increasingly concerned that the information age has given people a false sense of self-importance. This strikes the independent-minded American culture the hardest. We are always the experts in every situation. It is more than being sure of what we know. We are now sure of things that we do not know. There is a difference between confidence and hubris.

Think about your vocation. Make a mental list of all of the things that you are privy to that others have no clue about. Think about the things that you deal with or have to consider that others are not aware of since they do not walk in your shoes.

Now multiply that by all of the vocations that exist in our modern world and be humbled at how little you probably know about anything. It is baffling to consider, but then add in all of the misinformation and lies that you may have accepted without even knowing.

...but we are all expert economists. We are all superb national leaders. We are all master tacticians and wonderful diplomats. We are peerless medical professionals and city managers. We know how to run a police force and how to best manage a thousand mile national border. We are experts on events that we have not experienced, masters of cultures that we have not studied or visited, and armchair quarterbacks on vocations that we carry only a thimble's experience and ability.

We are so brilliant that we are confused as to why others do not just adopt our point of view. The world would just be better if the people who called the shots would just agree with us.

We should hold others accountable for their decisions and actions. I think that accountability is very important. It is important because people can become corrupt and foolish at times.

But as we evaluate others, we must consider that those people who are making seemingly bizarre decisions are probably working off of all that vocationally-specific information that we are not privy to.