There are many pundits, thinkers and bloggers wondering, if not obsessing, over the way Obama appears to have detached from the apparent reality of the American political landscape. The vast majority of voters are disgusted with the status quo and paralysis in Washington. The degree of disgust is at record levels. Pundit talk now is of a revolt of the voters against all current incumbents, regardless of party. This is not mere speculation. If the November Congressional mid-term elections were to be held today, what would be the Vegas line on 75% of incumbents being replaced? Even odds maybe. And this in an institution that has been historically heavily weighted in favor of the incumbent. How times change.
It would be good theory to propose that the public has finally clued in and are reacting to the dysfunctional federal government that now exists. Also good theory to consider that this public disgust is yet unfocused as to what has to be next step in the slow thinking process of the masses.
Who, then, is to blame? It has got be somebody.
Perhaps it is a function of the 24/7 news cycle that the public becomes so groggy from the constant hammering of the same tired media themes that it is only in the course of time that one so demonstrably idiotic gets to clear its head. The body politic is little persuaded by the nuances of ‘public option’, ‘filibuster’, ‘debt to GDP ratio’. The body politic rocks and rolls to the noise created by the likes of Foxnews, Palin, Jon Stewart etc., etc., those that have the loudest amplifier, preferably set to high bass mode.
It has taken a year of political dysfunction for the voters to realize that something wicked this way comes from Washington. It is now understood that America is in political gridlock. In a time of clear economic crisis it is further understood that this is not good and demands have now been sent out that things need to change.
Perhaps it is being played out this way:
Stage 1: Body politic is enamoured with the idea that things need to change, circa 2008
Stage 2: BP embraces message of change, hence the election of Obama
Stage 3: BP waits patiently for the change, as economy disintegrates, in a way dictating it for its Stage 2 decision
Stage 4: BP, as always irrationally impatient, grows impatient, becomes confused and blames Obama
Stage 5: BP decides to throw all the bums out (see above)
Stage 6: BP finally realizes that government paralysis is due to majority party being unable to govern due to obstruction of the minority party. Here is an excellent take on that.
Stage 7: BP demands that government do something. Government does, passing jobs, health, environment, labour and fiscal laws
Stage 8 and beyond: ?????
Returning to Obama’s seeming detachment as we reach Stage 5. Let us consider an analogy when the term ‘detachment’ is used.
In substance abuse and addictions treatment teachings, it is well established that the for those who live with anyone addicted to a substance, say alcohol, they can not begin to heal either themselves or the addict without ‘detaching’. One has to look at the concept from both the view of the addict and those that are most effected by the addict, the immediate family.
‘Detachment’ involves lovingly and respectfully doing nothing either to assist or to resist the damaging actions of the addict. If the addict comes home drunk and falls asleep drunk in their own vomit on the toilet, you leave them there. You do not clean up after them. You do not call the boss when he can not come to work the next day. Yet you do not scold, argue with, or berate them. You let it be. There will inevitably be consequences. The addiction will take its progressive toll on the addict, but not on you.
From the perspective of the loved one living with the addict, pain and fear can be converted to serenity by understanding that one has no control over the addict. Whereby one can find peace with oneself, as secure as possible in the knowledge that this detachment will be the best way to help the addict to come to the self-realization of the damage they are causing. Both the addict and the loved one can heal, free of violence anger and intransigence.
In the current world of American federal politics, Obama is the member of the immediate family and the Republican Party is the addict. The Republican Party has become addicted to ‘no’. Drinking deeply from the fountain of obstructionism, they have become temporarily drunk from the equally temporary high of this consumption. The Tea Party is like the bartender or co-dependent spouse, pouring it on. An addiction is born.
What do you expect Obama to do in reaction to this damaging, hateful addict? To become angry? To attack back? To be as disrespectful to the drunken addict as the drunken addict is to him? What would that accomplish, expect for a bit of self satisfaction, the temporary congratulations in being able to ‘hit back’? That is not the answer. Obama is doing exactly what a victim of addiction should do, something that does not come easily, either in terms of grasping the concept or of practicing it.
The fear, hate and intransigence that is a product of the Republican addiction to obstructionism can only be productively met by detachment, in the model of addictions therapy. The addict will soon hit bottom, and either admit the problem and seek help to change his ways, or perish.
For a nation, perishing is not an option.
