Capabilities versus intents

Another way to look at things is one the military teaches. Basically it says that judging other’s intents is both difficult, and often a waste of time. The alternative of just looking at other’s capabilities is more doable and reliable. A prudent person probably should stick to the latter idea, as that will guide their future actions in a better way. Obviously no one can predict the future, but there are ways to plan for the future and all it will bring. In other words, there are ways to plan ahead, and think ahead. And some ways are better than other ways.

These ideas can apply to human conflict as in war, but also politics at all levels, families at all levels, and even ideas like climate change. Just what do people intend is difficult to guess, and often wrong. Just what they can influence and change is more manageable. Either course of action is often painful. One can lose or win, including people, militaries, nations, and institutions.

Now winning, and therefore there is losing, is no longer a popular idea in the USA. This idea has been superseded by “feeling good”. But that idea often falls by the wayside in places and families where being cold and hungry becomes a factor. In other words, good intents like feeling good wane by real world things like being cold and hungry in the winter in the northern hemisphere. I mean this is a squishy way of applying the idea of intents versus capabilities to regular human life when trying to make things better, as in win for our families, and even our nation.

Now so many fellow citizens are becoming concerned that their American way of life may come to an end in the near future. Both the comfort we have brought about for ourselves, and the trust in the status quo, is now up for grabs. Who can we trust, with the best word being “trust”.

I suggest we use the ideas of capabilities versus intents to go forward. Other’s use religion, and that works for them, too. And the normal human response is to go local vice national. We humans have more in common locally (and tribal) than nationally. In all cases, “what’s gonna happen to me” seems to bubble to the top. And the suggested way to think about all this is “capabilities versus intentions”.

Everyone, in the end, will figure it out in their own way. And their family’s future, especially their children’s future, will usually trump all. This idea is universal by the way. Americans are unique in many ways, but we are also humans in the end.

So I look at capabilities first. I see those political leaders trying to impose their vision of our American future on us. Their intent, as to why, I have my ideas, but in the end I really don’t know. But their capability to mess up my way of life now gets my attention. They can really mess up things, as in hurt me and my family and my children. Now that is an attention gainer.

There are alternatives to the present capabilities of our elected leaders. It is called the vote.

And unless we are human stupid, we have to change things in politics to enhance our families, our children, and our nation.

And I suggest we use the ideas of capabilities versus intents to influence how we think.

And then vote.