Money

There is a gradual merging of money and politics beyond campaigning. Republican candidates are calling the office of President of the United States "The Economist in Chief". This means they see the President being in control of supreme military and economic power. That is not a democratic presidency. That is a totalitarian dictatorship. 

And what of our Congress? They are an ineffectual mob of special interests. As part of the corporately corrupted  political class, they see themselves as entitled to lifetime jobs, not as being elected officials who serve at constituents' pleasure. Money rules. Those who rule the money rule. 

These are dire developments for a world where environmental catastrophe is fast encroaching. In the words of George R.R. Martin, author of Game of Thrones, "Winter is coming." The threat to human and planetary life is magnified by the corruption and selfishness of human leaders. The Universe will not put its laws on hold while lobbyists try to bribe their way out of environmental collapse. Our current course is like that of the Costa Concordia before it hit the reef.

A practical humanist must find the courage to persist in living humanist values while understanding that some things are simply uncontrollable. After all, the planet itself will one day be vaporized by its sun's demise. Does this mean we should not try to express the finest instincts and ideals of humankind? No. Unlike those who construct religions to hypnotize themselves into being ethical, the humanist sees the potential for the best in human thought and experience within the individual organic human brain. That brain can be distracted by money, power, hedonist pleasure. But, that brain can also learn to intentionally live a moderate and generous life of service, nonviolence and compassion. That is the choice of the practical humanist.