Trust me 042914

Walk into any dealership, law office, old-folks home even a funeral parlor and you will be met by a greeter with a warm smile (funeral parlors sport the carrying look) an out stretched hand and the words "Trust Me."  When the clammy hand grasp yours the first reaction should be to count your fingers. 

Historically such hand shakes signals "buyer beware" a phrase predating money and may have originated with cavemen trading for a dinosaur steak.  During the 19th century a handshake was considered as good as a contract.  There were flim-flam men out there but for the most part in a rural America trust ruled.  A few decades ago sociologist began to note the emerging generations were of an entirely different culture than predecessors.  At the time the researchers were unsure in what direction this culture was moving and what it meant for society.

According to more recent research two thirds of the population expressed complete distrust of everyone and every thing.  Even the remaining third expressed some distrust in everyday interactions with strangers, government and institutions.  Social trust is necessary to get things done between diverse groups, generate economic growth and might even cure Washington gridlock.

Scholars are rushing into print with conflicting pet theories on lack of trust, cause and effect.  They fail to realize that they are contributing to the issue.  In the past they have justified discrimination, colonialism, genocide and every other evil bringing into question their objectivity, ethics, integrity and truthfulness. Scholars, journalists and politicians create deception by pointing to a single biased explanation for lack of trust.

"Trust Me" deficit is really a case of multiple compounding causations.  The rich and famous publicly lie cheat and steal. The news media has become entertainment presenting the wildest speculation for better ratings.  Trusted financial manipulators bankrupt retirement plans and destroyed dreams. America is not alone, manipulators circle the globe sending world economies crashing. TV and the social media have separated people from daily civil interaction. That same media illuminates economic disparity while elevating social expectations. Trusted institutions expose their feet of clay.  The 20th century's Advertising industry's rise along with press agencies and spin-doctors muddy the water on questions of what is really true.  Politicians resort to demagogy to gain power alienating all as their messages change with audiences.  Junk mail, junk infomercials, junk charities and a proliferation of junk causes abound to scam money from the gullible and unwary. Fanatics of every religion wield faith as a sword to destroy heretics in the name of their own personal vision of paradise.   It has taken generations to reach this point; it may take centuries to recover from trust's fall from grace.

Searching for a causation of declining trust, consider education in the equation.  A more literate society with access to more information sources leads to cynical views of the contradictions and absurdity in claims of opinion marketers.  This same trend is becoming evident even in the world's backwaters with a rising tide of literate youth.