Uncertain times

Uncertainties and anxieties at the societal level are contagious. Even people who are not politically inclined are also not immune to them. The world, USA in particular, has been going through such a phase in the past two weeks. Regardless of one's political affiliation, I don't think there will be disagreement in anyone's mind that many changes are happening, for better or worse. The feelings and reactions to any political changes depend on one's political affiliation. Since current changes are spearheaded by a democratically elected president, most people who voted for them might feel excited. Those who opposed him might be rightfully feeling anxious.  How about a non-partisan person. 

I am not registered with any political party. I vote for people whose values align with me. These values include being non-violent, supporting personal and religious freedom, minimal government interference in people's lives, and a system that supports the ambitions of hard-working people without compromising the lives of those who are socially disadvantaged. Where would these values take me if I registered to vote in a party line? I think these values will align with both major political parties; therefore, I consider myself politically independent. 

I like changes, especially those that challenge the establishments. There are lots of changes happening at a fast pace. I don't know how many are intended to really stick and how many are just intended as a sound bite to appease the voter base. At any rate, I feel generally anxious about the grassroots-level impact of these uncertainties. For example, I was about to recruit two folks to join my team using the funds promised to me. Last week, I was told that the funds committed would not be released unless the federal research agencies start operating normally and there is some clarity on funding for science and research. That was shocking news for me. 

For the last two weeks, I have been trying to avoid all the political drama by not listening to political news and focusing on my work and research. One of my grants is currently being reviewed by a federal agency, the fate of which suddenly felt uncertain. I heard the news of people with high scores getting rejected. Most of the scientists I know are hard-working people who are usually single-minded in solving a scientific problem(s). Of course, there are always more mouths to feed than the available budget for research. However, this is my first time feeling more anxious than usual.

I am an optimist. I believe that America is a meritocratic society that rewards hard-working, good-hearted people who want to positively impact society through science and prepare the next generation to carry that passion forward. Destroying the morale of such people does not make much sense if the goal is to make the country great. So, I remain optimistic that theese changes will make the system better, not dysfunctional. I hope these changes will move our society and civilization forward, not set us back decades. Hope and optimism are still alive; I hope the dust will settle soon and everything will turn out to be OK.