I Hypothesize That Alcohol And Drug Addiction Are The Real

[SPKrazy]

problems with our government

(other than the obvious stupidity of the Repukes)

We have an alcoholic president (whether he is drinking or not, he acts like he's still drinking. The old saying "you sober up a drunk son of a bitch, and you still have a son of a bitch")

We have lobbyists that like to wine and dine our congress critters

We have a "good ol' boy" network in Washington in congress, and on K street, that is well lubricated in booze

We have a media that all want to be able to get along and party at their favorite watering hole

we have stupidity right and left in Washington

I just think that besides idiocy, we have addiction going on, and the addicts are on both sides of the aisle and they can't think themselves out of a glass of burbon.

Just another unproven hypothesis

Discuss!:rant:

[unblock]

1. shrub et al. are just the employees. their bosses are the real problem

the real problem is the selfish, megarich bastards who figured out a way to install someone who they could own and who would only do their bidding, and also own congress, and say to hell with america and americans, the government now answers only to its megarich kingmakers.

[laura888]

6. Exactly! n/t

[LSparkle]

2. Yes ... and no

I think part of what allowed Tip O'Neill and Ronald Reagan (among others) to find some common ground was the MORE alcohol-tolerant atmosphere that used to exist in D.C. Ever since '94 (when a whole class of reformed Fundie teetotalers invaded Congress), that cooperative spirit (!) has been missing. I say, bring back the happy hours if that helps the two camps get along!

[SPKrazy]

3. See, I Don't Believe They Are Teetotalers, Except On TV

I think in reality they are hard partying, assholes who are using America as a staging ground for their little fascist fantasy.

Tom DeLay, a teetotaler?

take a good look at him- he's a drunk, or as bad, a dry drunk

[LSparkle]

10. Yeah, he probably was a dry drunk for a while

but he's definitely back on the sauce. That's the problem -- they're all angry because they're NOT drinking anymore. Even * would probably be less dangerous if he had a swig of Jim B. once in a while.

[SPKrazy]

15. Or A Real Program Of Recovery

that wasn't dogmatic, black and white, or demanding.

Many a dry drunk has had it said by those around them, "damn I wish they'd just get drunk and get it over with"

[SammyWinstonJack]

18. Don't forget Ambien. I believe Pinhead** still drinks, among other

bad habits from his past. Who is going to tell him no? :rofl: He does what he wants and don't forget that he has stated in the past that he doesn't care what we think and he gets away with everything.

[SPKrazy]

19. Yeah, Ambien, They Could All Be Sleepwalking n/t

[SammyWinstonJack]

24. Well that would be one excuse. I vote they are all crazy even without

the benefit of drugs. :yoiks:

[The Traveler]

4. I lived in DC throughout the eighties

and based on what I experienced there came to the same conclusion.

[SPKrazy]

5. Interesting...

I remember reading something from David Brock (I think that's the right name, the one who wrote for the American Spectator and then wrote a book saying how he basically sold his soul lying for the Repukes so that he could have standing in the press corp in DC, and once he wrote the book, he was pretty well black balled from the party) that got me thinking in this direction.

Also, since addictions cost every other area of American life monetarily as well as socially, then it would seem to hold true that it must happen in DC the same.

[laura888]

9. This is bigger than individuals' addictions

Don't forget that Bush is only the face of a huge corporate power.

His personal issues have nothing to do with the current problem (other than his ability to be manipulated).

[SPKrazy]

12. I Think That You Have A Point

There was a book a while back called "When Society Becomes An Addict"

individual's addictions are part of that, but the real problem is that you have whole segments of societies acting like addicts, and whole segments acting as co-dependent enablers, walking on eggshells for fear of upsetting the apple cart (see the Democratic members of congress right now)

[The Traveler]

22. I disagree

I don't know if Bush is an active addict or not. Based on my previous experience I suspect many in power ARE ... to alcohol and other drugs. (Yep. Alcohol is a drug. One of my personal favorites, actually. :evilgrin: ) Common (though not universal) characteristics of addicts are extreme selfishness driven by neurotic insecurity. Decisions are based on impaired judgment.

The extreme selfishness motivates them to sell out to corporations. The neurotic insecurity drives them to extend, consolidate and protect their power, but there is never enough power to comfort them. And they believe they do no real harm when they act from these motives of selfishness and insecurity because their judgment is seriously impaired. Indeed, the mechanisms of denial are so sophisticated, they often even believe their corruption furthers the public interest.

My personal issues probably have little impact on the world ... but if I were a Representative, a Senator or a President, that would not be the case.

** edited to add ** P.S. The point is all us chillen' of God have issues which affect our behaviors and judgment. In a democracy, people of power have an ethical responsibility to struggle against their issues, their predjudices, and their fears. Unfortunately, few elected officials really seem to do so. Addicts are less likely than most ...

[Nostradammit]

7. Some are addicted to power, I think

GW sitting in his chair pumping his fist in anticipation of "Shock & Awe" just looks all the world like a junkie getting his fix. Cheney gets to shoot a man and then listen to that man's apology for getting shot. THAT's power. Rumsfeld gets to fire generals and push the little tanks across the map and then lie to everybody daily. That has to feel good to a power tripper.

[SPKrazy]

8. Oh Yes, I'm Sure Power, alcohol, drugs, sex, are all addictions

that are rampant in Washington

[EFerrari]

11. Maybe collaterally. But the addicts, active or in recovery, I know

have a healthy sense of empathy. That's what they're mostly trying to numb out.

These B* criminals have no empathy. They are sociopaths. And, sociopaths can have collateral addictions.

It's probably there, imho, just probably not the main course.

[SPKrazy]

13. Sociopaths Take Advantage Of Those Around Them

They see a city of addicts of various types and use them to their advantage

[EFerrari]

14. Bingo. They are predators. n/t

[stillcool]

16. Antisocial Personality Disorder is chronic

beginning in adolescence and continuing throughout adulthood. There are ten general symptoms:
not learning from experience, no sense of responsibility, inability to form meaningful relationships, inability to control impulses, lack of moral sense, chronically antisocial behavior, no change in behavior after punishment, emotional immaturity, lack of guilt, self-centeredness
People with this disorder may exhibit criminal behavior. They may
not work. If they do work, they are frequently absent or may quit
suddenly. They do not consider other people's wishes, welfare or
rights. They can be manipulative and may lie to gain personal
pleasure or profit. They may default on loans, fail to provide child
support, or fail to care for their dependents adequately. High risk
sexual behavior and substance abuse are common. Impulsiveness,
failure to plan ahead, aggressiveness, irritability, irresponsibility,
and a reckless disregard for their own safety and the safety of
others are traits of the antisocial personality.

The effects of medical treatment are inconclusive.
Unfortunately, most people with Antisocial Personality Disorder
reject treatment. Therefore, recovery rates are low.

http://www.9types.com/wwwboard/messages/18332.html

[Cleita]

17. You're right. I have said it before that we are being governed

by a bunch of irresponsible drunks.

[Warren DeMontague]

20. I think some are drunk on dogma, power, religion, & the intoxicating fumes

of their own bullshit.

[SPKrazy]

26. All Good Points! n/t

[pitohui]

21. don't know how unproven it is

cheney and bush both have dui's and have not gone through any program, cheney does not even claim to have stopped drinking and quite recently shot a good friend in the face by accident after "one beer" at lunch (we all know what "one beer" at lunch is for an alcoholic)

bush is as classic an example of wernicke-korsakoff syndrome as i have ever seen

[SPKrazy]

25. He doesn't have the gait problems of Wernicke-Korsakoff

but he may well be on his way with the mental damage process and the gait problems may show up later.

[undergroundpanther]

23. Addiction

Over reason.

Addiction..Bush and his neocon buddies are addicted to various substances probably true most likely..but also they are addicted to religion,domination,sex(kinky or non relationship based)acquisition(money gathering) gambling,power tripping and they are most addicted their own fantasies.Addiction as bad as these creeps in washington have it,is just the emotional life of sociopaths.

[Lilith Velkor]

27. I don't agree

Money and power addiction is the real problem. Everything else is just the trappings that come with it.

Some of the most fucked-up people I've ever met have never touched anything. How do you explain them?

[SPKrazy]

28. I Think That Perhaps The Title Of The Original Post Might Have Been

better to include all addictions, money, power, sex, drugs, alcohol, gambling, etc.

I think we live in a society based in addiction, and our politicians are no different except that they are making the decisions.

Fucked up people are usually obsessive, and characterologically damaged (narcissistic wounds) people who take and take, and never give.

[Lilith Velkor]

29. Addiction is always about power

Whether one is labeled an addict is a function of where the observer draws the line between use and abuse, interest and obsession, profit and loss, even whether or not one believes in a god.

As I see it the endemic problem in government is power addiction, by it's very definition. For example, it's legal to kill people under certain circumstances, imprison them, torture them--guess how?

[SPKrazy]

30. Yes, Power and Control!

Whatever the addiction is, it is about feeling power and control.