and deeply seductive, storytelling tropes that you see in cinema. - David Brin

Only a knowledgeable, empowered and vocal citizenry can perform well in democracy.

The variety of inventive ideas—and ideologies—that people can come up with never ceases to amaze me, especially when they’re stoked by the ultimate drug, self-righteousness.

The potentiality is evident to me now!
Then what holds them back? Lack of faith? Divine judgment?
No. Those old excuses won’t suffice. They never did. For where is the logic in basing salvation on a creator’s capricious whim or craving for praise? Or on prayer-incantations that vary from culture to culture? That’s not consistent or scientific. It’s not how the rest of nature works.