The Shift

Discussion about 2012 and humanitys future are in no short supply. The Mayan calendar plays a
large role in the buzz; its been interpreted to end this year and speculation suggests it foretells the
end of civilization. Much information has been offered about upcoming events and their effects;
reactions have been as diverse as would be expected. If and until something occurs, its predictable
that general reaction is to dismiss it.

Consider that broad, worldwide access to information is brand new. Against the backdrop of
generally accepted human history, civilizations experience with information disseminated widely is
unprecedented; its so new to our thinking, were learning what if anything to do about it as we
go. Not only are speed & detail much greater, the information about 2012 and beyond is dramatic.
Should we simply toss it all away as fear mongering for its own sake?

Lets look at the entire subject from two extremes; total rejection of it, much the way an Atheist
dismisses the concept of a supreme beings and also from the opposite point-of-view, one of faith and
certainty that such events will come to pass as predicted, completely and totally. Examination of
absolutist positions are considered extreme, as they are so unlikely to occur; the opportunity cost of
giving them due consideration, not to mention actual preparation, is not worth the effort. Should a
resident of a tsunami prone coastal zone prepare for three sets of waves over as many months, taking
all precautions to escape, survive and eventually return to rebuild after 90 days have passed? What
time and expense will this preparation cost? What prudent person would do this? Should the
immediately adjacent neighbor simply ignore any risk of a tsunami?

A large volcano whose peak rises to 5,400m / 17,800ft above sea level just 64km / 40mi from one of
Earths largest metropolitan areas, has been producing ash, steam and throwing red hot, glowing rock
500m /1,600 ft into the air for more than one week, as of this writing. Have many residents have
prepared for three subsequent, devastating eruptions over that number of months? Conversely, have
any believed even one event impossible?

Analysis of highly unlikely possibilities is a tool widely used in economic study. It frames an issue in
such a way that real world behavior can be predicted with good accuracy if not precision, as low as
their probability is.

Extreme Position A:
Our planet will traverse several years of upheaval. Volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, earthquakes,
massive weather events and storms will all take place. Coastlines will be changed, cities abandoned.
The ability to produce and consume energy, of several types, will be curtailed almost to the point of
elimination. Economies will shrink and collapse; international commerce will nearly vanish. All
aspects of humanity will be altered; fertility will drop sharply, food supply and production changed,
massive manufacturing eliminated. Intercontinental travel will nearly vanish; overland travel by
motor vehicles of today will fall away significantly. Society and economic structures will be re-
shifted such that little resemblance will remain. Unemployment will reach 1of 2 otherwise able
bodied people in some places; most societies will see at least 1 in 3 lose a salaried job. Political
alliances and even sovereign states will crumble and others could arise. Awareness of our place in the
Heavens, of our development so far and of our co-existence with our cousins, so far blocked from our
awareness, shall return.

Extreme Position B:

Financial prosperity will return to all that desire it. Regional disputes will fade into the background;
consensus and agreement will prevail. Social strife and the many ills considered to have both caused
it and resulted from misunderstanding will abate. Distrust of different religions, races and societies
will go away. Acceptance of lifestyles traditionally shunned by the majority, which represent a small
statistical minority will be accepted and embraced. Racial distrust will be discarded; Earths climate,
damaged by mankind, will return to predictable patterns unaffected by industry. Harmony will reign
between mankind and the animal and plant kingdoms. The physical Earth itself will be treated with
utmost respect and nothing will be done to pollute it. Financial stress will fade. Good health will be
nearly universal in all people and competent medical treatment will be available to all who seek it;
cost will not be a barrier to basic human services such as lodging and accommodation, healthy
nourishment, clean air and water. Crime and violence will recede; no group will ever seek to impose
upon anyone. All bodies of thought will be accepted and given equal weight; all ideas will be worthy
of consideration and everyone will be free to accept or reject them.

A is an easy position to reject; one simply has to ask why and how any of these things could occur.
Rejection would follow in short order, certainly. Nevertheless, over the past few years much has
happened that fits the pattern of A yet we are generally assured that such trends will not develop.
Earthquakes, tsunamis, economic troubles, war, terrorism and weather disasters of the past half
decade are just aberrations. Events like this have always been. Life will go on.

B lists many qualities of an Earth society that have been held up as ideal and worth our efforts. The
same questions for the consistency that any credible analysis requires have to be asked. Why and
how? What will resolve massive government debt? From where will the money come to pay lenders
and maintain value of a nations currency? Why will dislike often erupting into hostility between
nations, regions & religions reduce? Why will peoples of different colors and races develop tolerance,
acceptance and integration of one another? What industrial effects can be altered without detrimental
effect on industry? Who will define harmony with animal and plant life and why will it be followed?
How will ill health, bad consumption habits known to erode good physical function, be set aside?
What will make a good medical teatment available to all who want it? How will a pleasant place to
live be provided for all and who will decide what is pleasant?

A seems like the product of a negative magician, no doubt, however the B position, as wonderful
as it might sound, also seems to require magic to achieve. Good food for one person is considered
abuse by the other. My idea of a pleasant place to live is easily your punishment. Harmony for some
implies a complete cessation of meat in the diet; thats suffering for others. The most vociferous
opponents of pollution probably also like electricity.

As we see developments include these fringe positions, how will we react? Please reject A if your
impression of the previous sentence leads you that way, however remember it. Please reject B if
your interpretation of its achievement means humanity must discard personal freedoms to achieve
such things.

There is no ability to force belief in anything; there never has been. Humans have only managed to
reach self-deception or outright force where disagreement arises; all other options are voluntary.

Consider an alternative; lets take these two bookends, these two opposites bliss & harmony and the
upheaval of civilization and force them together. Stick the cat inside the dog cage; light the match in
the gunpowder factory.

Could the combination of these extremes come about? Could the manifestation of A lead to B? It
would imply great distress yet great reward; painful push and pleasant progress. Bitter loss and
fruitful gain, as we choose to react, respond and readjust. Rejection is always an option.

Has humanity the ability to suspend upheaval in light of the implications? Reject the notion and as it
never comes to pass, take satisfaction in your clairvoyance. Reject the notion and recoil in shock as it
happens, foregoing the opportunity to witness, participate and understand. Consider THEN the
sequence of events and possible outcomes as we recall that no ability exists in the universe to force a
belief in anything. We can always choose to see preferences against the backdrop of events, to despair
or delight in such events and make our way as we see fit.

What will fit when nothing seems to? Seek the answer inside. Things are speeding up; now shift!