Society on the Edge

Franklin "Frank" McAllister

Alright, y’all, let’s get this thing rolling. So, 2020 to 2025—whew, what a wild ride. I mean, I remember when the pandemic hit, my old oil crew, we went from boots in the mud to, well, sittin’ in front of laptops on Zoom. Never thought I’d see the day. I had to teach a couple of the fellas how to unmute themselves—took longer than you’d think. But it wasn’t just us, right? The whole country was thrown for a loop. You had the George Floyd protests, folks out in the streets demanding justice, and then all these companies suddenly talking about DEI—diversity, equity, inclusion. But, I gotta ask, did any of that really stick? Or did it just fizzle out once the headlines moved on?

Evangeline "Evie" Dugas

Frank, you’re so right. Like, I remember in 2020, everything just felt—what’s the word—raw? The pandemic, the protests, all of it. And then, you had TikTok just blowin’ up, with Gen Z organizing online, making noise about everything from climate to voting rights. But, you know, by 2022, it was like, “DEI fatigue” set in. Companies started backtracking, and honestly, a lot of folks in my community felt like, “Wait, did anything really change?” And don’t get me started on Roe v. Wade—when that got overturned, it was like the air got sucked outta the room for a lotta women. I still get nervous talkin’ about the details, but, y’all, it was a big deal.

Chijioke Eze

Evie, you are not alone. Where I come from, we say, “When the wind blows, you see the chicken’s bottom.” All these changes—pandemic, protests, Supreme Court rulings—they showed us what was already broken. I saw young people, especially Gen Z, using TikTok and all these apps to organize, to speak up. But, as the years passed, some of that fire cooled. DEI became a buzzword, then a burden. And, you know, the Pew numbers—72% saying racial focus didn’t help Black Americans? That’s a heavy thing. Makes you wonder, did we move forward, or just sideways?

Carlos Estevez

Yeah, and I mean, from the tech side, it was wild. Like, Zoom went from a thing only nerds used to, like, my abuela’s church group using it every Sunday. But, you know, the digital activism—especially with Gen Z—was real. They made stuff happen, but then, by 2024, you saw this rollback. DEI programs getting cut, anti-LGBTQ laws popping up everywhere, and honestly, a lot of people just got tired. I think trust in institutions took a real hit. People started looking for answers in smaller circles, online communities, not the big names anymore. It’s like, the more connected we got, the more divided we felt. Does that make sense?

Franklin "Frank" McAllister

Yeah, Carlos, it does. And, y’all, I gotta say, when my crew switched to Zoom, it was awkward as a calf on ice. But we adapted, and I reckon that’s what America’s been doin’—just tryin’ to keep up with all these changes, even if it means fallin’ on our butts a few times. But I wonder, which of these trends are here to stay? And which ones are just, you know, flashes in the pan?

Evangeline "Evie" Dugas

I think digital activism’s here for good, but the big, sweeping promises? Not so much. Folks are tired, but they’re also smarter about where they put their energy. It’s like, trust is the new currency, and people are choosy about who they give it to.

Carlos Estevez

Alright, so let’s fast-forward a bit—2025 hits, and boom, OBBB gets signed. That’s the “Oh Baby, Big Bill”—okay, not really, but you get the idea. It’s this massive legislative package: tax cuts stick around, clean energy incentives get rolled back, and suddenly, there’s all these new deductions for seniors, tips, auto loans. But, like, the real kicker? Federal agencies have to use “ideologically neutral” AI. That’s a mouthful, but it basically means, no more DEI in the code. And, in Miami, when those solar incentives ended, people freaked out. My neighbor, he was halfway through putting panels on his roof, and then—bam—no more credits. He was not happy, let me tell you.

Chijioke Eze

Carlos, that is the story everywhere. When the rules change from the top, the ripples hit the bottom. In Nigeria, we say, “When the head of the fish smells, the whole fish is bad.” These policy swings—taxes, energy, AI—they shape how families plan, how businesses invest. The SALT deduction cap dropping, overtime pay deductions expiring, all these things—they force people to make hard choices. And, you know, federal hiring freezes? That means fewer jobs, especially in rural places. People feel left behind.

Franklin "Frank" McAllister

Chijioke, you nailed it. Out in West Texas, when those wind and solar credits started drying up, folks had to pivot—fast. Some tried to jump on battery storage, others just threw up their hands. And the federal agencies, with all this “truth-seeking” AI—well, I’m still not sure what that means, but it sure sounds like a fancy way to say, “We’re watching what you say.” Y’all still with me, or did I lose ya in the weeds?

Evangeline "Evie" Dugas

No, Frank, I’m with you! And, like, the energy stuff hit us hard down here, too. When solar and wind got less love, folks started looking at things like geothermal and hydropower. But, honestly, it’s confusing. One year, you’re told to go green, the next, it’s all about “domestic sourcing” and “battery storage.” And, Carlos, your point about Miami—when those incentives dried up, it wasn’t just about money. It was about trust. People felt like the rug got pulled out from under them.

Evangeline "Evie" Dugas

So, looking ahead, it’s like we’re living in this “society of individuals.” Everybody’s got their own little bubble—AI companions, micro-communities, even synthetic intimacy. I mean, I heard about folks having digital best friends now. And, y’all, creator burnout is real. People are hustling online, but it’s exhausting. Freedom’s become, like, a brand. It’s wild.

Chijioke Eze

Evie, you remind me of my army days. We had to learn to spot fake news—misinformation, disinformation, all of it. I used to tell my squad, “If the story is too sweet, check the sugar.” Now, digital discernment is a premium skill. If you can’t tell what’s real, you get lost. And with all these new divisions—climate migration, slowing clean energy, rising costs—people are looking for something to hold onto. Sometimes, that’s just each other, even if it’s online.

Carlos Estevez

Yeah, and I see it every day. My little brother’s got, like, five online friend groups, and he trusts them more than his teachers. But, you know, it’s not all bad. People are more empowered to find their own communities, their own voices. But, man, the divisions are real. It’s like, you gotta be a digital detective just to get through the day. And, honestly, I worry about burnout—especially for creators. It’s a lot to keep up with, and the tech just keeps moving faster.

Franklin "Frank" McAllister

I hear y’all. Out here, folks still value a handshake and a neighbor’s word, but even that’s changing. My grandkids, they’re more comfortable talkin’ to an AI than to me some days. But, I reckon, if we can teach folks to spot a bad oil well, we can teach ‘em to spot a bad headline. It’s all about learnin’ the right skills, right?

Evangeline "Evie" Dugas

Absolutely, Frank. I think the next decade’s gonna be all about who can adapt, who can build trust, and who can tell the real from the fake. It’s a lot, but, hey, we’ve made it this far, right?