Yes, it's abhorrent and criminal for our politicians, religious leaders, coaches or anyone for that matter to rape or inappropriately sexually touch someone else against their will.
The problem is that we are losing all common sense and perspective.
When we are focusing almost exclusively at this point on getting that next verbal sexual gotcha on a hot mic from people running for office, instead of on what they've actually done (good and bad) in their lives, then we are being lead astray by powerful elites fighting for and to keep the power they most greedily worship.
Words do have meaning, don't get me wrong, especially when we hurt someone with them or when they demonstrate true moral lapses in the person.
But when words are taken out of context, exaggerated, or dug up from decades ago just to sling dirt then we have a powerful political machine that is working to hurt and not help our political process.
What's even worse is that we are becoming the laughing stock in the world in the process of the mud fest.
An article yesterday in China mocks the chaotic U.S. political system as a highly flawed "political show."
If we and the media remain gripped in people's political pants here, then the real and potentially catastrophic issues will continue to not be on the table or our lips.
The effect is that rather than being able to effect positive change at home and in the world, we are heads down in the sand, as for example:
- Russia deploys nuclear-capable missiles on Poland's (and NATO's) doorstep
- ISIS continues it's global reign of terror and remains strong and determined
- War crimes are being committed and "red lines" crossed daily in Syria
- Iran and North Korea continue their nuclear hated-filled march on the U.S. and western allies
- Bioterrorism is an increasingly dangerous threat as agents are "relatively inexpensive, easy to produce, conceal and transport"
- Cyberwarfare is now being considered an existential threat, even as our democratic elections themselves are under attack by the latests hacks from Guccifer 2.0 and DC Leaks.
- Our national debt has increased $9 trillion (almost doubled) in the last 8 years and is threatening key pillars of our social entitlement system, including social security and medicare.
- The global economy is on the rocks as the impact from easy credit sputters and future growth is stunted.
As these and other risks increase to the U.S., our leadership remains in a narcissistic fugue with their desire for power and sham legacies, and politics have become grotesquely about killing off the opposition by actual death or by a thousand cuts of verbal mutilation.
Sex sells and has us mesmerized, but we are missing out on all the real world drama, danger, and any meaningful dialogue. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
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