Issues Separation Anxiety Disorder – a Republican affliction
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I heard a comedian explaining that there are two kinds of people in the world: those who laugh and those who make people laugh. Hard to argue with that.
And it turns out that there are always two kinds of people in the world. For cabbies it’s people who drive and people who need a ride. For children it’s kids who are fun to play with and kids who aren’t.
My view, too, is that there are two kinds of people in the world: people who divide people into two groups and those who don’t. And that is the most important difference we’re being shown by the presidential candidates.
The Republicans – every one of them – are dividing us into two kinds of people:
- – We good Americans and immigrants who are taking our jobs.
- – The makers and the takers.
- – The straights and the gays.
- – Those who know that military solutions are best and the weak-knee wimps.
- – We good Americans and the terrible government.
- – The gun-toters and those who would take their guns from them.
- – The Christians and all those who are wrong.
- – Good Americans and the “lame stream media.”
- – The cops and the Black Lives Matter people who incite the murdering of cops.
In all these cases Republicans tell us that the cause of the problems of the first group is all those in the second group. No need here for personal responsibility or even good sense. As Church Lady would say, “How convenient.”
At the last Republican debate, divisions like these and attacks on those in the “other” group are all we heard. Okay, that’s not entirely true. We also heard about taxation plans based on math with rounding errors in the negative trillions of dollars, but which would put trickle-down economics on steroids, thus accelerating the transfer of all money in this country to 158 families.
In contrast, at the Democratic debates we heard about bringing us together:
- – Healthcare for all Americans as a right.
- – Economy-stimulating infrastructure rebuilding that will create millions of good paying jobs.
- – Ending income inequality so that everyone benefits from a growing economy.
- – Ending our corrupt election finance system and driving special interests out of control of government.
- – Common sense gun safety laws so that we begin to end our self-inflicted, ongoing massacre of innocents.
- – A shift from fossil fuels to renewable sources of energy so that we don’t all die on an uninhabitable planet.
This list could be much longer, but you get the idea. It’s about all of us, not a dividing of us.
Again, and with a few extra words this time, there are two kinds of people in the world: those who try to manipulate us with fear and hate in order to divide us from one another; and those who don’t.
The key is this: Fearful, angry people are motivated, so they vote. They may vote in self-destructive ways, but they show up on election day and vote. People who aren’t fearful and angry aren’t as motivated, so they don’t bother to vote. That distinction is exactly what led to a Tea Party wacko getting elected governor of Kentucky last week.
The Republicans are affected with Issues Separation Anxiety Disorder (dividing us over mostly bogus issues) which they spread to unaware Americans via media contact. The acronym is ISAD, and I assure you that I am sad over this debasement of America.
There are two kinds of people in this world: Those who vote and get what they think they want; and those who don’t vote and are willing victims of the manipulators who divide us.
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Ed. note: There is much in America that needs fixing and we are on a path to continually fail to make things better. It is my goal to make a difference – perhaps to be a catalyst for things to get better. That is the reason for these posts. To accomplish the goal requires reaching many thousands of people and a robust dialogue.
ACTION STEP: Please offer your comments below and pass this along to three people, encouraging them to subscribe. Thanks! JA
Copyright 2024 by Jack Altschuler
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5 Responses to Issues Separation Anxiety Disorder
dominick November 11, 2015
There are two kinds of voters in America. One kind maintains a belief that politicians calling themselves Republicans or Democrats are for or against their personal interests. Even smart and educated voters maintain these beliefs, despite the fact that there is no clear evidence to support them. When they vote in elections, their decisions are based on the promises and vague statements of their politicians, who otherwise pay no attention to them once they are in office. That is, until very close to their next election.
These voters have been so thoroughly indoctrinated by political propaganda that they are in a delusion bubble. Their ability to use critical thinking is severely limited to what they already know and accept. They continue to plead with politicians to do the right thing with calls, emails, petitions and protest rallies and are blind to other strategies to reform government. Thus, they repeat a cycle of behavior that is heartily approved by their propagandizing political leaders: listen to promises, vote, complain as much as you want, repeat.
The other kind of voter has somehow retained their critical thinking skills, despite years of repeated exposure to political propaganda. Some vote for the lesser of two evils, while many recognize the futility of voting and just don’t participate. However, they are not yet aware of another way to actually influence the decisions of their elected officials.
I have created a web site for this kind of voter.
Which kind of voter are you?
http://www.TrueDemocracyNow.org
Frank Levy November 9, 2015
I don’t have a comment, only a question – what is it about the 158 richest families in America that the Republicans feel they must build their entire economic policy around what they think these people want? I get that they help them win elections every 4 years, but in reality these families provide nothing of substance to individual Republicans, their friends, or their families.
Jim Altschuler November 8, 2015
You’re right. There are 2 kinds of people in the world:
Those who believe George W. Bush was right about there being hidden WMD’s and those who know he was wrong. (One could easily come up with many of these vis-à-vis W.)
The Republicans have been peddling their “them vs. us” B. S. for a very long time. Isn’t it long past time for the American people to realize there really are 2 kinds of people: Those who are sick and tired of being lied to, cheated, and left holding the bag for the remaining miniscule fraction of the population who lie, cheat and blame, and those who aren’t.
Which group are you in?
Allan November 8, 2015
So, in sum, are there two kinds of people: Those who know and speak the Truth…. and Republicans? I have great difficulty, knowing as I do what is True and Just and Wise and Kind and Compassionate and Sane, that there are those whom I believe to be intelligent, informed and well-intentioned…… who still don’t get the Truth that I see (and know). So what the hell am I missing?
And David, Thank you. What you say explains a lot about posture, attitude and (automatic) strategic approach. But doesn’t that apply irrespective of the stance taken on Issues….. aren’t there “Us and Them” people on all sides?
David Lindgren November 8, 2015
Jack, just a thought. Issues Separation Anxiety Disorder. Separation Anxiety is a term to describe a toddler who becomes anxious when their parent becomes too far away. Gradually, they get enough confidence to move further away and develop some differentiation of self. “I don’t have to be defined by a parent.” But if a child never had the security of a safe home life, then they are always searching for Issues to explain their discomfort. And they almost always come from a position of being divided so they divide more and more. They don’t understand closeness and trust. Someone is always the enemy. Their wound is always open.