On Candidates, Comfort Zones and Magical Thinking

A thread today asked why, when people are asked "which candidate best represents your views/do you agree with/think would be best for the country," so many people answer differently when the question is "which candidate do you support/will you vote for."

There were many theories on this, one very popular one was realism, pragmatism, ectism, which bodes even worse than the disconnect itself, as it means that even those who cannot claim ignorance of the current crisis, or lack of the intellectual capacity to comprehend its significance prognosis, are so completely alienated that even the possibility of changing their government, in a country that claims to have patented the technology, no longer exists.

The outright cancelling of elections and formally declaring the US to be a military dictatorship could not have produced as effective, as final and irrevocable a result.

The very people one would suppose to have the fiercest determination and the most passionate committment to saving their nation have passed the point of no return.

The power of the people to change their government has become a 404 in the nation that made its reputation on Jefferson's pilfering the Great Law of the Iroquois.

And it's also about comfort zones. For the majority of even this rarefied pagoda-flap of the political bell curve of the voting class, things have simply not gotten bad enough yet.

Most are still comfortably ensconced in the security of relatively habitable dwellings, enjoying electric light and internet access, and the discretionary energy and time to post to a message board. The status quo, though they may decry it, has not as of yet caused helicopter gunships to fire missiles into their stately monkey grass nor has anyone except that friendly guy at the convenience store been led away, (and they didn't really see that, just one day he wasn't there anymore, but the new guy is nice too, so maybe he just moved to France or something.)

They have not yet had to choose between a 24 hour security guard or a college fund for the new baby, and few of them have been arrested because their car bears a regime-critical bumper sticker.

Whatever spark may be racing along the ACME TNT Co's string, headed for their well-appointed, if cluttered, Great Room is still some distance away, and even without realizing it, many are listening not to either heart or head, but to some barely audible but impossible to ignore primordial voice that says "don't rock the boat."

Others, quite a few, have become adepts at the art of Magical Thinking. The same policies, reworded and dressed up in something a little more metrosexual and upscale will TOO be an improvement, they chant, willtoowilltoowilltoo.

The phrase "change their government," after all, cannot exist without the word "change," and change is scary, change is difficult, change is messy, it is not guaranteed to be either predictable, controllable or devoid of surprises, and is quite fond of bouncing people cheerfully and unexpectedly out of their comfort zones, unwrapping fingers from security blankets and dyeing those blankets electric purple and hanging them in the window.

Going to school, becoming sexually active, getting a job, falling in love, becoming a parent, all involved change, and all its implications, but you survived.

The first time you change your government will be no different.

In accordance with the Uniform Code of Shape-Shifting Posting Rules, Volume 23, Chapter 87.5, Section vv-t, Paragraph mcmxviii, I have neither endorsed, volunteered for, contributed to, had sex with, or received crack from any candidate or fat-free candidate-like substance, nor am I employed by, affiliated with, or scheduled to have brunch with any regime or any government or principality, legitimate or illegitimate, natural or supernatural, nor any corporate entity, political action committee, focus group or quality circle, task force or college of cardinals or manufacturer of snack foods, and my views do not necessarily represent those of this site, the Vatican, Al Qaeda, or the Coca-Cola company, and I specifically deny knowledge of any pending agreement between myself and any combination of the above entities and the Sanrio company.

I especially like, "The same policies, reworded and dressed up in something a little more metrosexual and upscale will TOO be an improvement, they chant, willtoowilltoowilltoo." But then, I am not a Democrat, so stand outside looking on, wondering which "lesser evil" I'll end up working to elect this time.

Remains the greater evil, and worth opposing on that count.

Good is generally absent from these contests: evil shrouds action as smoke shrouds fire.

...and wrestle with myself every election...and then the words "Supreme Court, lifetime appointments..." float to my forebrain...

I am just a trifle confused...as to the relationship between your first post to me and your second? (Besides, I'll give this thread a kick, since I think the original post is worth it.)

The thread you referenced was disturbing to me also. Your post encapsulates most of what I had thought while reading the replies. Including the idea that the symptom (pragmatism, magical thinking) may indeed be more deadly then the disease.

Thanks for the post.

"...That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security..."

Yo, M: it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government. M


http://www.archives.gov/national_archives_experience/declaration_transcript.html
(edited to give you the link in case you want to re-read the entire document)

It is good to know that there are others out there.Please continue to articulate so very well that which must be said.

and thanks to all the people who said nice things :)

BTW, I read your whole series about the "new poor", sorry I didn't respond on the last thread. I had been busy but was determined to read the entire series. So Thank You for sharing your amazing talent and insight.

I don't think I've had a decent night's sleep since I read it. Hope you're pleased with yourself, DTF! For all you know you could be lining the pockets of the pharma-nazis. Ambien, anyone?

:P

What writing! Ummmm, what office are you running for? ^_^ I think you can count on *my* vote... ^_^

"Most are still comfortably ensconced in the security of relatively habitable dwellings, enjoying electric light and internet access, and the discretionary energy and time to post to a message board."

Unfortunately, I think you have hit the proverbial nail-head here. I'm one of those who may very well not survive another Bushwah, and probably one of the few who is consciously aware of it. But, it just doesn't seem to be an issue with most Dems, of whatever stripes. The deaths in Iraq are horrendous. Will the quiet deaths here in this country be counted or mourned? Even noticed?

"I will not go quietly into that...."

Kanary

ps.... what series on the New Poor? Where...?

Love the Uniform Code of Shape-Shifting Posting Rules, too.

I don't have the difficulty that many do; I cling to the right to vote for what I believe in. Most of the time, anyway. I have sometimes voted against what I can't tolerate, as well.

I really believe that we change things by supporting the change we want.

to ferret out the wavering Magical Thinkers and Comforteers and outrage them into all kinds of inflammatory soul-searching and epiphanies and ideological urticaria...

Funny! Great post, very, very good. Thank you. Ideological urticaria, still smiling.

Your 'new poor' stuff was great. This is, IMO, even better.

Thanks and hope I can look forward to more. :)

And thanks to those that bumped it, and to providence that I saw it.

so very good! and accurate. thank you.

I for one do not expect to try the same approach and get a different result.

:kick:

just for kicks. :)

"There were many theories on this, one very popular one was realism, pragmatism, ectism, which bodes even worse than the disconnect itself, as it means that even those who cannot claim ignorance of the current crisis, or lack of the intellectual capacity to comprehend its significance prognosis, are so completely alienated that even the possibility of changing their government, in a country that claims to have patented the technology, no longer exists.

The outright cancelling of elections and formally declaring the US to be a military dictatorship could not have produced as effective, as final and irrevocable a result."