The government shutdown and debt ceiling debacle has distracted me from my usual partisan rancor and political rhetoric (such as it is). What now has me flummoxed are the news polls wherein ordinary citizens express that they are frustrated with "everyone in Congress" and that most, if not all, of its members should be 'fired'. When asked to further explain their views about the shutdown, these same citizens didn't have a clue and ended up parroting what they heard on TV.

These "views" represent what’s wrong with the political situation in Washington. Statistically, a significant percentage of those polled (perhaps even a majority) never voted. The fact that at least 50% of registered voters regularly fail to vote is disgraceful given that voting is the bare minimum of our civic responsibility. How can we hold our state and federal governments accountable if we fail to engage the political process?

This is truly a bipartisan, liberal and conservative issue. We all need to step away from MSNBC, Fox News, talk radio, etc., and start making informed decisions based upon the facts. Hyperbole and manufactured talking points won't cut it. Simply put, special interests, extremist organizations and big money will fill the vacuum left by our failure to participate in the electoral process.

And the lack of accountability and political apathy has real consequences. Gerrymandering, voter suppression laws and the rolling back of our civil rights quietly occurred with little or no opposition. Inaction is interpreted as acquiescence.

Ultimately, we cannot abdicate our civic duty, leave our future to the professional political class and expect sensible outcomes (i.e., the preservation of the middle class). But it takes work - and a reaffirmation of our identity as citizens of a great democracy.

I'm not trying to advance a liberal, progressive agenda here. I'm just saying that, in the end, we can only blame ourselves for the dysfunction of our political institutions.

Homelessness and Hate

I am always surprised by the hatred that ordinary people extend towards the poor and homeless. Time and time again, I witness intentional acts of hatred and meanness by folks who, but for a momentary lapse of compassion, I readily identify with and would probably befriend under most other circumstances.

At best, the behavior of most Americans towards the poor and homeless is apathetic. But even this fails to account for the fear, anger, aggression and outright cruelty. So, it would seem, not only are most people apathetic, but they actually desire the destruction of those less fortunate than themselves.
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What can explain this pathological social condition? In my mind, I think it’s a form of collective depression. It’s often said that depression is rage turned inward. And this is where the issue turns political: collective depression is the manifestation of political and economic oppression of the masses by elites. The destruction of the economy, brutal capitalist ideals, and evangelical intolerance act together in concert to create a form of oppression that is truly soul-crushing. Nothing is certain. We all feel threatened and insecure over our future. We fear that the bottom might collapse under us with no safety net below to catch and restore us to our lives.

It not a very great logical leap for most of us to intuit just how unfair this is. This intuition, no matter how subversive or deeply buried in our subconscious, leads to anger. Frustration follows, fueled by the corporate sponsored media, crass commercialism and biased political opinion which is passed-off as real analysis. We’re left befuddled, confused and unable to understand our circumstances. For reasons outside our control, we’re caged off from the world. We’re afraid. And we strike back at those who represent what potentially awaits for all of us.

But the real tragedy here, is the apathy which consumes us. We have lost the ability to connect with other people solely because of their economic circumstances. And we could care less. Further, we gain a measure of comfort and temporary security when we act out on the poor. In a perverse sort of way, our happiness and sense of security depends on our capacity to commit acts of cruelty against those least able to look after themselves, let alone defend themselves against our rage.