Gambling with the Odds of Fate

My grandfather used to gamble. And every now and then there would be a cheater at the table. People wouldn't find out right away, but at some point during the night it would become obvious, because they would win a little too much. And once confronted, the cheater would have two choices: either admit to what they had done and return their stolen loot, or double down on their deception. The first choice would give them some chance at de-escalating the situation, and making it out with their hide intact. The second option would invariably lead to a fight, whether that be with fists, knives, or any other weapons that people had brought with them. The cheater rarely made it out unscathed at that point, if at all.

I look at politics today, and see a similar game being played the world over. For the last several generations, those in power have preached equal opportunity, freedom, and universal rights. They were winning, and everyone else stood in awe of them. But they had a little too much good fortune, and people the world over began to ask questions. Now, we all have the answers: they are the cheaters at the table of brotherhood. They have used their privilege, money, power, and influence, to personally enrich themselves at everyone else's expense. And they, like my grandfather's acquaintances, have only two options at this point: admit to their deception and make amends, or prepare for a long, bloody and costly fight.

Personally, I'm not much of a fan of the games people play with one another. I can only tell everyone as an independent observer what I have beheld throughout my life, and that the world stands at a profound and dangerous precipice.

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