Group Think in DC

As I read headlines today, and thought about how the Obama administration is responding to something, it occurred to me that they are suffering from group think.

This isn't a throw-away comment, it is more of a diagnosis of a psychological illness on a social level. It wouldn't be so bad if this illness was affecting some crossroad town in somewhere USA. Sure, that place might be destroying some people's lives, but the damage of the socio-psychological illness would be isolated.

However, in the case of the group-think in Washington, DC, the illness is at the center of power where decisions are made, or aren't made, that affect the world. OK, so I'm saying the obvious and it's even got a label: Beltway Mentality. There are even blog posts about "fighting beltway mentality." I remember the ladder-climbers in DC, even in the progressive organizations supposedly devoted to good causes. But it's more than just ladder-climbing... it's ... group think. Which is part of the reason I left the DC scene.

So, today when I experienced that natural reaction of, "Wow. Our leaders have group think," in the sense of a clinical observation is.... was just a wee bit sobering and frightening.

Just saying the obvious. I suppose we should fight DC group think.

Sources:

Guns: We Might Need them

The US Supreme Court decision striking down the District of Columbia law prohibiting possession of hand guns is likely to have far reaching implications. On a simple level, it means more guns in the hands of "the people." In view of the dictatorial direction of the US Government, driven by Bush's principles of unitary presidency, we might all need the guns to protect our constitution from internal threats. My attitude toward the elite Court's decision is "let us have guns.... if you're that stupid."

And, reading in the July/August 2008 issue of Mother Jones (pre-Court decision) we see that it has become easier to get an assault rifle, and .50-caliber sniper rifles in the US (a single .50-cliber round can cut a person in half). For only $89 you can be the proud owner of an oldie but goodie Soviet army SKS. No problem shooting through they type of body armor typically used by police officers. Now we're really talking protection of the constitution. Message? Don't be a stooge trooper for the elite minority that seeks to undermine the US constitution... 'cuz thar's guns in the hands of them thar people.

This commentary would have little meaning if I was your regular gun-toting Republican or Libertarian. But I'm originally from the Democratic Party fold, and more recently the Green Party fold. Society-watchers might want to take note. Things they are a change'n and it ain't 'cuz of Obama.