Perhaps the most paralyzing difficulty we face today is that no matter what the issue might be—whether it be political, social, cultural, moral, or judicial—we are constantly being lied to by those with a buck to make, a mistake to conceal, or an ax to grind.

Whether we are being commanded to ignore criminals being set free to commit more crimes, celebrate the femininity of absurdly obvious men in overdone make-up, feel guilty for pervasive racism when roughly 95% of black Americans who are murdered each year are murdered by other Black Americans, believe the economy is booming when we are struggling, or agree that late-term abortions are medical procedures instead of child murder, the blaring propaganda that we are supposed to kowtow to without question is becoming increasingly unpersuasive to a great many Americans—who are, consequently, daily vilified by those terrified that the sheep might be thinking for themselves. Power and money, which are catnip to the immoral and greedy, are at risk if our nation’s brain synapses start firing in unapproved ways, so it important to shame anyone who refuses to just go with the flow and keep their mouths shut.

Navigating the plausible-sounding implausibilities that fly through the air like demented trapeze artists is the signal challenge of our modern age. With so many today determined to cling to their preferred version of the truth—and with pertinent facts often deliberately hidden from our view in order to protect a particular narrative—it is little wonder that a crushing cynicism has descended like a shroud upon our troubled nation. An intolerance that now extends to having to even hear opposing views—the “words are violence” school of willful blindness—turns even relatively innocuous discussions into exercises in exasperation that quickly morph into personal attacks. Our incredible political polarization and governmental dysfunction is the inevitable outcome of our inability to have adult and frank discussions about the many, many problems now plaguing our country and people. If I have my facts and you have yours, how are we to ever agree on the best path forward?

The many media and academic efforts over the past few decades to convince us that what is legal is automatically moral has been a trap set by those who demand we validate everyone with a law designed to celebrate their victimhood and shield their conduct from question. Open discussions are now discouraged by laws that equate moral and ethical judgments with hate, and we are encouraged at every turn to ignore what we see before our eyes and feel in our hearts. Judeo-Christian teachings that have been our bulwark against savagery while protecting the weak and innocent are passé in much of America and Europe today, and we are instead instructed to see no evil—although it is in evidence all around us.

Living in hall of funhouse mirrors that conceals and distorts reality—with carnival barkers all around us screaming to drown out the other carnival barkers—is a disaster for both our mental health and moral judgment. Now that critical thinking has been ditched in favor of indoctrination in higher education and science has been sold the the highest bidder, we are much like the poor souls chained in Plato’s metaphorical cave, who lack the intellectual tools to discern the difference between what is true and false. Even worse, again like those pitiable prisoners in the cave described by Plato, a great many of us fear freedom of thought and flee from the truth, preferring ignorance—while willing to kill those who would drag us into the light.

Strategic lies and useful evasions have, of course, been a part of human existence since we first tried our best to stop killing one another over a particularly tasty bunch of berries or the warmest spot in the communal cave, and those lacking both a conscience and a drop of empathy are always going to say whatever is necessary to wriggle out of an inconvenient situation or gain unwarranted advantage. This is the harsh reality of our shared humanity, and the best liars often end up as our leaders for the simple and sad reason that the majority of us prefer comforting falsehoods over unpleasant truths. That promising what they cannot possibly deliver has always been the go-to tactic of politicians is the unsurprising result of our desperate, dumb, and dangerous credulity.

Although it is almost an insurrectionary act to do so, we all must start opening our eyes and look at the world around us.

• Do you feel that you and your family are safe and that lawbreakers are being punished for their crimes?
• Do you believe that your children are receiving a quality education at your local public schools, colleges, or universities?
• Do you find your state and local taxes are being spent in a manner that is congruent with your values and priorities?
• Do you have faith that your elected leaders and appointed officials are focused on your interests instead of pursuing their own agendas without regard for your needs and wants?
• Do you look at our intellectual and entertainment cultures and see positive life lessons and the celebration of uplifting values or sinkholes of moral relativism that harm our citizens and society?
• Do you go through your daily life angry and frustrated, lacking even the least belief that America is going to someday be celebrating our 300th anniversary as a nation that is strong, secure—and at least marginally sane?

Clickbait, AI-created deceptions, and seductive swindles abound, so finding some shred of truth to guide us toward reasonable decisions and judgments often seems impossible. It is no surprise that so many Americans simply surrender in despair and disgust—and don’t bother to vote. However, no problem has ever been solved by ignoring what is plain to see, and obeying those who encourage Americans to embrace ignorance is a ruinously stupid and passive idea that will destroy us.