Exercise is Good For You              February 19, 2013

            Politicians often fail to agree.  The 112^th congress is an historic benchmark of such failure.  The 113^th is trending apace.  Two things are surprising—that so many were reelected, and that the language of disagreement, in congress, and abroad in our land, is so crudely disrespectful. 

It seems many Americans are taking communication cues from the sewer of political campaign advertising.  Those ads call a candidate’s opponent a lying two-faced charlatan.  They do it every ten minutes, for months.  How hard is it to imagine that that message and attitude adheres, especially with voters who are inclined to oppose the person anyway.  Comments like, “liar” and “thief” and “idiot” and sometimes even, “anti-Christ” and “Hitler” thus appear in public conversation ever after.  And that’s just the mild end of the scale.  The really nasty stuff, the product of mental illness, is sickening.  Upon reflection, you can see that lack of civility demeans the poor soul who displays it, exponentially more than the object of the criticism.  It belies an attempt to manipulate, or a conditioned response and the absence of reason.  If you hear such criticisms and get emotionally angry at the targeted individual, beware—the manipulation has worked!

As for the politicians who are disrespectful in the face of differing opinions, they are insecure, and/or currying anger, and/or believe their own campaign advertising. 

Around here, we think the exercise of public politeness is worthwhile, even when it calls for significant effort.           

It Ain’t Easy Being Purple  February 15, 2013

            Congress is crippled.  It cannot or will not deliver the governance this country needs and deserves.  Polarized seems inadequate to describe the ongoing congressional malfeasance born of gotcha politics on both sides of the aisle.  The old rule that you get the government you deserve is proven by this magnificent exception—this shameful display of the terrible two’s—this sorry soup of incompetence that none of us deserves.    

            Take heart, there is a path to adulthood.  It’s called conflict resolution.  There are many proven healing tactics that can be applied.  Individuals and committees can start by earnestly seeking compromise in structured ways that have been used for decades in the business world.  No, they are not perfect.  And yes, the birthers and the tree huggers are going to have to shut up and deal.  Fringe-group obstructionism, evident in nearly everything congress does, has to fall out of vogue.  There may be cause for optimism in the recent activity of newly elected members who have expressed their determination to turn things around.  Some of the rhetoric is familiar; some is encouraging.

            The key is that congress has to want to resolve differences.  Around here, we think that’s where all of us come in.  Repeatedly reminding our elected AWOL gang members that we want disputes resolved or we’ll support and vote for their opponents in the next election, could actually be a healing tactic.  That means work for us.  It ain’t easy being purple.

Reality Check            February 1, 2013

            OK people.  Let’s can the bullshit.  An armed society is a polite society?  Bullshit!  An armed society is a frightened society.  Think about the last twenty minutes you spent in traffic.  Do you really think we live in a polite society, or that guns can make that happen? The truth is that polite people make a polite society.  Cultivate civility.

            We have a right to keep and bear arms.  The Constitution does not limit that right.  That does not mean that you should believe everything some idiot is saying about “they’re going to take away our guns!”  That’s just bullshit!  It’s designed to whip you into a storm of emotional anger so you’ll go out and buy whatever is legal, and throw a tantrum if anyone tries to do ANYTHING regarding guns, magazines, and ammo.  Check your emotions.  You don’t want to be the measuring pole in someone else’s pissing contest.

            The way to resist the fed gov is to pass unconstitutional state laws?  C’mon people, that’s emotional bullshit.  The correct way to resist has already been demonstrated by all those state attorneys general who wanted to undermine affordable health care—file suit in court and show that a federal act is unconstitutional.

            So now if you polite folks will excuse me, I’m going to exit the media bullshit factory and call my congressman and senators to let them know what I would like them to do…unless you need to use the phone first.