Broken Eggs in A Basket

Broken Eggs in A Basket

John Paul Derryberry

I didn't apply to just one college. I never have filled out just one job application when searching for a new career path. I wasn't lucky enough to marry my high school sweetheart. I have lived in at least six different towns by now, and full disclosure, at some point, I'll add to that number. I guess I took it to heart and put this sage advice into practice: don't put all your eggs in one basket.

Maybe that's why it was easy for me, when we struck out having a baby the natural way, to pivot and try to use science and/or adoption to start our family. If you don't know the story, it's a good one, but the short version is that it worked out great in the end. The inherent problem with looking for just one solution and banking on one solution to our problems lies within that old advice about eggs and baskets. It means eggs are fragile, just as our lives and baskets break down, fall over, fall apart, and succumb to numerous other perils all the time.

Yet, we are fracturing our society along the lines of putting all our trust in a singular institution. There are those who believe government intervention is our best course of action, those who think we must allow the individual to decide, or others who place it on their religion. Most days, I want to yell at all three groups, you are misguided if you think your solution alone solves what we face.

Anyone claiming the government is the solution hasn't studied the history of the Vietnam War, America's response to racism, or the war on drugs. NASA put a man on the moon, and regulations around food, water, and air quality have added years to life expectancy (until recently). There are times when government intervention does make the world a better place; there are examples of when it's made it a worse place. Casting all our eggs in that basket is not ideal.

Oh, the individual, the mighty individual; without them, we wouldn't have the Civil Rights Movement, the Women's Sufferage movement, or the recent push to hold police accountable for their actions. It's impressive what a group of people can achieve by forming a union to create a 40-hour work week and enforce standards on a corporation to better humanity. Yet, the individual has failed numerous times and done unspeakable horrible acts to their neighbors. We all know why we can't trust anyone singular human to solve our problems; no matter how much they yell from a bully pulpit that they can.

Religions have done great work on behalf of their god. They have cared for the poor, donated to those lesser than, attempted to provide a place of healing for weary travelers. But, unfortunately, we also know that numerous religions have committed horrific acts in the name of their god, including Christianity. Religions have ignored groups of people, killed in the name of their faith, and swindled millions from people who needed funds. Religions have stolen from families in the name of a miracle. Yet we see numerous people of faith choosing which dogma to follow as if it's an a-la-carte menu that fits your personal wish list.

And then, there are the tremendous capitalist companies who developed numerous life-saving medications, only to drive up the cost, so many people have to ration their insulin. Yes, what Amazon and Facebook have achieved is great for society, but the cost to society may be higher. The truth is we need all different kinds of baskets because different groups or individuals find the solutions they are looking for at different times. The correct combination is all societies interacting in a give-or-take fashion so we begin to understand that we need each other to grow and prosper. Maybe we should always revisit the things we trust most, those things that guide us. Because we may find ourselves with a bunch broken eggs and egg on our face i we don’t. I guess the best way to put it, as a wise person once said, is don't put all your eggs in one basket. We would be wise to heed that advice again.