MAN MADE MESS — The Weekly Opine

Next up... (Photo credit The Weekly Opine)

Fellas, step aside

In the early-1990s, when I moonlighted as an opinion columnist for the Joliet (Illinois) Times Weekly, I wrote a piece stating that women should be in the highest positions of power in politics, government and business. Thirty years ago, it was painfully obvious that we men too often wasted our opportunity to positively impact humanity’s future by creating a more peaceful, livable planet. Instead, male leaders caused insidious destruction and stood poised to do so in the future (and men have done so). As a result, our very existence is in peril.

Obviously, not all men are bad. Jimmy Carter, mercilessly derided as being an inept bumpkin while serving as U.S. president, now has a legacy of humanitarianism that outshines just about any man who ever lived. Nelson Mandela is another of history’s great men. A selfless, tireless seeker of truth and equality, Mandela changed the course of history, in South Africa and beyond. There are many more men, of all races, religions, and non-religions, who counteract the instincts of some powerful men (e.g., Elon Musk) who tend to make a mess of things.

Still, there is irrefutable evidence that men in charge have squandered the chance(s) to do good with the power and authority they’ve accumulated through elections, shrewd business dealings, privilege, inheritance and/or (unfortunately) foul play.

Yes, there are some women who model the calamitous behavior displayed by too many men. Majorie Taylor Greene and Lauren Boebert are two current examples. Both could use a time-out to steady themselves and get a grip on reality. Even so, look around and most of the world’s troubles can be traced to the actions of men.

(L) Hakeem Jeffries is cool. (R) Kevin McCarthy is uncool. (Photos credit CNBC, NBC)

Like an elderly person no longer capable of safely operating a car, it is time for many men to hand over the leadership keys to women. Of course, thoughtful, fair-minded men like House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) can stay. But deceitful, corrupt men such as Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) must go.

Man’s long arc of societal ruin

A Swedish sociologist, Per Gharton, believed that 10,000 years of male domination brought humanity to the brink of ruin. Gharton, who died last month, unveiled his theory near the end of the 20th Century.

A long-time member of Sweden’s Parliament, Gharton identified the seven deadly sins of a male-dominated society: capitalism, colonialism, communism, militarism, urbanism, perverted uses of biology, and perverted uses of technology.

In a somewhat macabre prediction of what was to come, Gharton referenced the “lone wolf” bachelor spirit. That spirit is now evident – and growing – around the globe.

Gharton explained that restless, buccaneering, angry young men drive communities to clash with their neighbors while stealing and producing terrible weapons (sounds all too familiar). Gharton’s analysis concluded that abuse of the environment and overwrought trade, technological progress and migration would lead to overpopulation and a fight for survival. Welcome to the 21st Century.

In the women-should-be-in-power column I wrote three decades ago, and repeated in a speech to my Toastmasters club, my position was as clear as the state of Michigan on a U.S. map. Michigan, currently led by a woman governor (Gretchen Whitmer), a woman secretary of state (Jocelyn Benson) and a woman attorney general (Dana Nessel) is a model for the present and future: it’s time for women to control politics, government, and business.

Michigan has it figured out. Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and Attorney General Dana Nessel. (Photos credit The Michigan Daily, Michigan Advance, Michigan Advance)

Men, collectively, have blown the enormous responsibility ceded to us primarily because we are physically stronger and allegedly smarter than women. (The men-are-smarter mirage won’t persist much longer. Today, 70% of female high school grads enroll in college, whereas only 55% of male high school grads enroll in college, the biggest gap in three decades.)

Viewing male bozos like Trump, and his almost exclusively male, fanatic MAGA inner circle, one realizes the sociologist Pers Gharton was on to something. And the havoc-wreaking male is not relegated to the U.S.

In Europe, everyone with their wits about them understands Vladimir Putin must be defeated in Ukraine. A Russian victory in Ukraine would spell big trouble, minimally for Ukraine, and could lead to a broader war across Western Europe and beyond. If this happens the men in charge on all sides will likely reach for their most potent weapons.

In the Middle East, Benjamin Netanyahu is among the dangerous male actors. Netanyahu has tacked Israel toward authoritarianism replete with allegations of bribery and fraud. L.A. Times reporting cites critics who say Bibi has formed the most radical, incompetent government in Israel’s history. These critics claim Netanyahu inadvertently invited violence when his coalition expanded illegal settlements on Palestinian territory. To be absolutely clear, what Hamas did last weekend was horrific, barbaric and must be condemned as inexcusable and intolerable. One result of Hamas’ attack is that Lebanon and Israel are now skirmishing in what could lead to a full-scale conflagration.

More women should be in positions of power, such as no nonsense, fair-minded Fulton County, Georgia, District Attorney Fani Willis and no nonsense, fair-minded New York State Attorney General Letitia James. (Photos credit X, The City NYC)

Historically in Africa, brutal male dictators populate the continent like golf balls at a driving range – they’re seemingly everywhere. African dictators notoriously murder, plunder and run roughshod over the citizens whose lives they are supposed to improve. Africa’s scary ‘tradition’ of dictators getting rich from the highest bidder, while snuffing out opposition, prevents the African continent from achieving the prosperity, or basic infrastructure, found on other continents.

The men in charge in North Korea and China show no signs of dialing down saber-rattling as they teeter between bombastic rhetoric, test launching long-range missiles, and unlawfully staking claim to international waters. All of which leaves a thin margin of error relative to avoiding war in the Pacific.

One solution is to turn away from men, whose reflexive response is too often divide and conquer. What the world needs right now is compassion and restraint built on a foundation of facts and truth. Excepting North Korea and China, I believe women leaders would opt for diplomatic, humanity-saving solutions. In my opinion, women are predisposed to lifting up, rather than tearing apart.

Women probably would not hastily send 20-year-olds into fruitless wars where many lives are sacrificed. In all but a few scenarios (i.e., North Korea and China) women would more likely lead driven by conscience and peace without succumbing to men’s reflex for war and greed.

Although time is growing short for our male-dominated society to fix things, it’s not too late. Prove me wrong, boys.