Basically good.

If the world is such a rough and tough place to live these days then how come we trust each other so much?

Its true. Its actually amazing just how much we trust people we would probably cross the street to avoid in person.

In Chicago, by way of example, drivers are certifiable. They are seriously disturbed people, and if they happen to be driving a cab they can actually raise that bar to a whole new level.

But you walk right in front of them.

Forget about the fact that a human being you do not know is piloting a hunk of metal and plastic that could flatten you like a pancake.

Aren't we always complaining about auto manufacturers? Why is it that we'll walk across an intersection then, guarded only by the stoic red light that we all know physically prevents vehicles from passing through - even if the brakes fail. Even if the driver loses control.

No, its because we all have an intrinsic level of trust, perhaps its built in.

We may not trust that the bill is correct at the local restaurant, but we trust that people we won't even see with our own eyes won't poison us, and have taken good care of the food they serve.

One might argue that we are simply raised as the sheep are raised, glibly going about our lives numb and unknowing to the dangers that lie all around us.

I think its something else, something really really good about humans.

I think this phenomena might do more to prove our basic goodness then many other philosophies.

Don't get me wrong. There are a lot of things and people I simply do not trust. There is, after all, a fine line between trust and stupidity.

But isn't it interesting how many things we do that place inordinate amounts of trust into things we do not know or understand?

Because thats the way it is.