Safe assumptions
In the last few years it has been made painfully obvious to me that my personal predisposition and inclination are based on many rather arbitrary
assumptions. I cannot function effectively without taking a whole lot of things for granted. But because of some of the things I accepted without question, I have on occasion run face-first smack into a lot of brick walls that I assumed were doorways.

One of the areas of concern that I take for granted is that I am safe from massive secret conspiracies. The possible food conspiracy that was hinted at doesn't seem real to me, so I assume that it doesn't exist.

I have come to know, however, that my assmptions don't necessarily obtain, in all cases. Perhaps there really is a food conspiracy -- Phillip Morris and Pepsi and Coca-cola are really trying to poison me. From a pragmatists point of view, what can I do about it? Not much, I figure. So it seems a safe assumption to pretend that no such conspiracy could exist. In fact, I know that a major conspiracy has existed for decades in the formuation of addictive substances in cigarettes and cola drinks. But it is more convenient for me to ignore this evidence in the interest of a comfortable life.

What other "safe assumptions" do we make that really are not at all "safe"? We depend on countless elements to sustain our very lives. And we have no
rational reason for believing that they are dependable, other than that they have been up to now. And a track record is no assurance that we are not nearing the end of the rope.

What can we depend on, then? Virtually nothing, it seems.

Isn't that why we have faith, the evidence of things hoped for, the assurance of things not seen?