The Trials of Individualism; the Triumph of Self-Reliance
There aren't that many welders in the world.
Welding is at the heart of metallurgy. Anything made of metal that needs to be joined together - like ships, furniture, gates, walls - needs a welder to finish the job. Fewer and fewer people know how to do welding properly, just as more and more people every day can handle basic carpentry, understand geometry, write coherent sentences, raise a garden, or engage in critical thinking.
Nowadays, everything is computerized, aided by ChatGPT or some other form of artificial intelligence (the operative word being "artificial"), or handled by somebody else. The kitchen sink gets clogged, call a plumber, that is, after pouring a couple quarts of Drain-o into the morass.
Common things around the house, like fixing stuck or (heaven forbid!) broken windows, tightening up loose cabinet doors, replacing roofing shingles, or repairing worn out front steps are beyond the ken of most people.
When it comes to electronics, or automotive expertise, forget about it. Americas, if not most people in the world, can't even change a tire. As far as electronics are concerned, if a computer fails or a CD player quits, their very design makes them prone to replacement rather than repair. Just buy a new one. That's how we roll.
There are some rays of hope, however. At least there are some useful videos on youtube that will show anybody how to do just about anything. Resourceful people, who aren't afraid to take matters into their own hands, turn to internet videos in droves to solve problems that are just beyond their accumulated abilities. Most of the time they come away with a successful feeling of accomplishment that they've saved their propane grill or fixed the small automotive issue before handing the keys over to a $120/hour mechanic.
Such people, those with a mindset that favors individual effort over groupthink failing, may in fact be growing in number. Given that the internet is not about to be shut down or partially derailed by AI or the deep state or any of a plethora of nefarious actors who wish to see humanity crawling on its hands and knees begging for basic sustenance, it's ironic that individualism is being aided and shaped largely by mass media.
The ability to do everything yourself is, by definition, almost impossible. There isn't a man or woman alive who could deliver a baby, grow wheat and turn it into bread, and fix a transmission. There are some things that actually do require expertise, those aforementioned among them. That's why it's important to be proficient at a few things, so that when the time comes - and it invariably comes at the worst time - that you need an expert, you are secure in the knowledge that the auto mechanic will may someday need your carpentry skills, or need buttons sewed back onto his or her shirts, or, who knows, maybe you actually are a welder.
Individualism, in its barest form, requires people to be strong-willed and capable of performing at the very least, the mundane tasks of getting through the day. Driving a car, preparing meals, keeping the house clean, washing dishes and all those other chores eventually add up to being somewhat of a well-rounded person. Having additional skills, even so little as being a math whiz, enhances self-worth. It's alright to admit that you can't fix computers if you can fix sewing machines or build shelves. People who could build a house from scratch have always been few and far between. There's no shame in not knowing everything.
As America celebrates its independence from the tyranny that was the British Empire of the 18th century - and to some extent still is today, though at a greatly reduced level - this is a reminder that America was built by individuals, working together, towards that common goal. It took brave, tireless leadership from determined men yearning for freedom to achieve the ultimate freedom for all to enjoy.
The Founding Fathers were a confident group of self-reliant individuals craving the freedom to do as they pleased. We should be so lucky to have a fraction of their nerve, their vigor, their unrelenting adherence to principles today. Just as it was in 1776, the future will be shaped by those willing to take risks and trust their own judgement. Self-reliance, the attitude upon which America was built, will return from its slumber as institutions all around us threaten our freedoms and subsequently fail.
Maybe someday, we'll all be welders.
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