In Grad School I learned the importance of asking good questions. I learned that doing research. And I learned that doing psychotherapy.
So here's our task: What questions should we be asking ourselves this campaign season? And how do we find them?
I'd say we have to start with a good metaphor for where we've been over the past 4 years. And that metaphor came to me a few days back, when I was examining the fallacious reasoning of the republican ticket: Our current economic crisis is like being on a forced march. Or like having to climb a mountain when we didn't pick the task. When we simply have to slog on as a nation during a period of economic austerity. So we're on this "forced march" - this uphill climb. Together. That's the key. To my mind. (Another useful metaphor.)
Asking the right question, I'd say, assumes something about how we're all in this together. Versus the republican question, which, not surprisingly assumes each individual is like an independent atom - with its own orbit. As if the atom individual (See Ayn Rand. Or don't.) could independently assay the past 4 years, pronounce judgement (do you judge it for yourself alone? or do you presume to make a judgement for us all?), and then cast a vote accordingly. As if that was ALL that mattered.... (N.B. Ryan-Romney are asking the wrong question.)
Ok, so back to finding the right question. I'd say the question is something like this: Since we're all in this together, and since we are facing difficult odds as a nation (due to over-runs of 2 wars and tax breaks for the wealthy under Bush and a stalled economy due to financial wizards making huge mistakes and saddling us all with gigantic loans to bail them out... Grrrr!!!)... here comes the question:
To me, it comes down to the issue of trust:
For me, the choice is clear. In two ways:
Need a humor break? Or a blessing? Two for one here.
So here's our task: What questions should we be asking ourselves this campaign season? And how do we find them?
I'd say we have to start with a good metaphor for where we've been over the past 4 years. And that metaphor came to me a few days back, when I was examining the fallacious reasoning of the republican ticket: Our current economic crisis is like being on a forced march. Or like having to climb a mountain when we didn't pick the task. When we simply have to slog on as a nation during a period of economic austerity. So we're on this "forced march" - this uphill climb. Together. That's the key. To my mind. (Another useful metaphor.)
Asking the right question, I'd say, assumes something about how we're all in this together. Versus the republican question, which, not surprisingly assumes each individual is like an independent atom - with its own orbit. As if the atom individual (See Ayn Rand. Or don't.) could independently assay the past 4 years, pronounce judgement (do you judge it for yourself alone? or do you presume to make a judgement for us all?), and then cast a vote accordingly. As if that was ALL that mattered.... (N.B. Ryan-Romney are asking the wrong question.)
Ok, so back to finding the right question. I'd say the question is something like this: Since we're all in this together, and since we are facing difficult odds as a nation (due to over-runs of 2 wars and tax breaks for the wealthy under Bush and a stalled economy due to financial wizards making huge mistakes and saddling us all with gigantic loans to bail them out... Grrrr!!!)... here comes the question:
How far have we come? And who do we TRUST as a leader - for the next 4 years of our slog? Do we stick with our current leader or find another?
To me, it comes down to the issue of trust:
Who are the most trustworthy companions and leaders - if we're all in this together? Who understands companionship? Who best understands what it means that we're all in this together?
Who can we trust to lead us in our togetherness? Who understands togetherness? Who will tell us the truth about that?
For me, the choice is clear. In two ways:
Affirmative: Barak Obama.
Negative: Willard Weasel, AKA Mitt Romney.................................................................................
- one of those very financial wizards, hiding money offshore, avoiding taxes onshore.
Need a humor break? Or a blessing? Two for one here.
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