I normally don't get too political, I like to try and stay positive, because I'll be the first to acknowledge that I don't have it all figured out.

I may not be the wisest person around, but I have been around long enough to know that there is great danger in hubris and arrogance, and great power in humility and the desire to improve.

There is a certain insecure portion of our country that loves to beat their collective chest about how we're the greatest country in the world. We certainly have our strengths, to be sure; but the greatest? Are we? Given our crumbling social fabric, our monthly mass shootings, the millions of our most vulnerable without adequate healthcare, our deteriorating infrastructure, our failing education system and our levels of income insecurity for most Americans living paycheck to paycheck, it is hard to argue this is truly the case.

We have traditionally led in science, research and innovation, however, even this is in jeopardy given the growing rejection of the basic premise of evidence-based science in this country.

It doesn't have to be this way. Why not look to other countries that have solved these problems with sensible legislation and policies that have solved daily mass murder, figured out universal healthcare, modern infrastructure, sound education and a healthy income distribution, all while maintaining a robust economy. Who managed to convince you that this was a bad idea? And more importantly, why did they do it?

It is in fashion these days to basically dismiss any expertise or legitimate news source as "fake" and chalk it all up to some mass conspiracy. Here's a conspiracy for you then: who stands to benefit from all this? When guns flood our streets so we can kill each other, and we send our hard earned money to the government to be spent on more bombs and guns, and we are encouraged to dismiss science, and reject compassion and empathy and instead cower behind our walls in fear of each other and armed to the teeth while we slowly die from poverty and disease... who benefits? Who profits? And when we stop and listen, who is it that whispers in our ears, "we're the greatest"?

I'll tell you what, it's not you and me. We need to come together and reject the nonsense and start promoting common sense. We need to move forward.

Peace.