"So what.
Ed"

Ed, you won't understand any of this, and I enjoy following the thought. I'll go through three levels.

In the grand scheme of things whether I trust or not makes absolutely no difference.

On a smaller scale, if enough of us don't trust it can prevent things like needless, wasteful loss of life, treasure and credibility. For instance, the Gulf of Tonkin. In those days I trusted. I was very young and interested, even had a talk show on a local radio station. I followed the Party, Patriotic line. Part of my disillusionment has come from realizing how much we were lied to in those days.

On a personal level, it keeps me from being a mindless slave of one side or another. I didn't trust Clinton except to try to appeal to the masses, I don't trust Bush except to appeal to the greedy.

Now, not trusting doesn't mean one has to hate, it just means that I believe others may have an agenda which is in their best interests and that may well be to the detriment of what I hold dear.

Don't try to understand, it's deep. Just accept I'm BSing you again and your life will continue as it has. If I were a hostile SOB that would be the most comfortable thought I would have.

Regards,

Arf