I’d really like to write an article to expand on this in a different way. Science is on the cusp of some leaps in artificial intelligence that are directly related to this, and how we view ourselves and our choices. Far too much time is spent making people feel ‘more’ empowered, when it seems we are actually becoming less so. I think the first step is to recognize that ‘choice’ is actually more random than intentional, and how we deal with each ‘big bang’ of consequences that are created after the choice takes place should be considered in our synergistic culture. In other words, we make the choices by our conditioned habits and emotional instincts, but we tell ourselves that it’s ‘our fault’ if we make a poor choice. Rather than working to condition people to have better instincts and habits (cooperation, acceptance, communication, generosity), we are letting our systems tell us that poor choices are ‘freedom’ and ‘individuality’ (both myths of authoritarianism-based exploitation), and then we feel miserable (making us less likely to change habits or share life) and guilty. The more we fall for the myth of competitive intentionality, the less we see how we are manipulated by our systems of beliefs and commerce to eschew community and cooperation. Yeah, this could be a longer story about the time loops of nurturing the future past of our children as people we want ourselves to be, not who we are conditioned to fail to be…maybe someday. ;)