My basic position is that ALL institutions are lying to me all the time.
If they tell me something, then that thing is not true.
If they tell me something, they are trying to manipulate me.
They are trying to manipulate me because they are trying to screw me.
I believe nothing that they tell me.
I do not live by their rules.
I try to be as cynical as possible about everything these days. So far, I think it’s a solid approach to the world I live in.
It is truly sad that your basic positions you listed are being followed by more and more people because the institutions we used to trust are no more.