So now that you’ve read the previous essay about trust, the next question is “What can we do about it?”
Our own MyrmidoNOT hit upon the solution with this quote: “I would expand on that with two words: ‘Shop local.'”
In low trust societies, that is the approach that is common. “I do business with my family and someone who my family vouches for. Everyone else is to be cheated because they’d do the same to me.” But we have a high trust society and we can improve on that.
First off, we have information available on almost anything with a few mouse clicks. You can shop for goods and services in a way that was unthinkable about 40 years ago. Find the group of vendors and craftsman that have earned your trust. Get word out about them when anyone outside your small group asks for information. And in returne, don’t be too much of a jerk when it comes to negative reviews. Just be concise and stay on topic. This gives the person a chance to try again or at least to make amends and rebuild trust.
As for the institutions I mentioned before, I think this approach should be considered.
Politicians. This group as a whole is pretty much a necessary evil. Libertarian protestations aside, we do need someone sitting in the desk in DC. But they have to be taught that they exist at our sufferance and not the other way around. The protest in January was a big shock to them because for all their power, they were helpless and they knew it. I’m not advocating making lamppost decorations at this time but they have to learn that they need to earn our trust if they want to stay in that job. And when they act in a way that is trustworthy, you tell them. Yes, even Congresscritters on the other side of the political spectrum. For instance, I made sure that my two Senators received a thank you note after they helped me out with a problem I was having with the VA.
Reporters. In all honesty, this is a group of people whose job can be done by a high school graduate with a grasp of sentence structure. Never allow them to set the terms of an interview if you have to deal with them. Record everything and save the recording and the transcript online and offline. Remember when Trump released the unedited interview on 60 Minutes? Showing proof of their malfeasance every time they work is the only way to get them to change.
Celebrities. Continue to ignore these dancing monkeys when they are not on screen. Find alternate sources out there. There are tons of film companies outside of Hollywood that are putting out different stories.
Teachers. This is a group that needs closer scrutiny than any of the others. They need to be held accountable for their actions. I’m quite fine with classrooms being constantly filmed and the recordings made public. We need to push for school choice and force public schools to stop trying to ruin the lives of children in the name of “equity.”
This kind of change is not going to happen at once. It is going to be slow to build and could take a few decades. A lot of our capability and desire to trust has been eroded by the so-called “elites” acting like our betters and not being called to account enough. Personally, I don’t think we’re at the level of having our own little enclaves where outsiders are shot on sight but we need to be able to look at the ones who have some authority and make them work for us again.
