I don’t know if this world is getting smarter or dumber. There is a lot of evidence supporting either claim. The idiots certainly do make for a better story though. While the sane, intelligent folk going about their daily lives are only too happy to stay under the radar.

I relate in a lot of ways to the “reluctant pessimistic” phrase you coined. I try hard to see the brighter side of things, but too often seem to be confronted with reality. For instance, I thought I had found someone who was as excited as I am about reconnecting people to the amazing amount of literary activity happening within their communities. After a couple meetings we had a solid plan for seeing what has begun as Reading Local through to bigger and better things. Two weeks later, this presumed partner is MIA, and I’m back to banging my head against the wall trying to live out my dreams in the few hours a day I can scrape together in between my one year olds naps. The optimist in me though, says that the brighter side of things is yet to come if only I continue to plug away. Because it is what I feel will be my “contribution to the greater good.”

Best of luck in your continued struggle to clear the assholes out, let me know how it goes.