The Democratic National Committee recently ran an ad blasting John McCain for saying the country is “better off” than in 2000. Yet, arguably, except as regards the Iraq war, Mr. McCain’s statement is true. In turn, Mr. McCain is blasting Barack Obama for suggesting that international tensions are not as bad as they’ve been made to seem. Yet, arguably, Mr. Obama is right.
Democratic attacks on Mr. McCain and Republican attacks on Mr. Obama both seek to punish impermissibly positive thoughts. At a time when there exists a sense of crisis over the economy, fuel prices and many other issues, this reinforces the odd, two realities of life in the United States today: The way we are, and the way we think we are. The way we are could use some work, but overall, is pretty good. The way we think we are is terrible, horrible, awful. Possibly worse.
We feel bad because “THEY” say we have to feel bad, and so we feel bad if we don’t feel bad, no matter how good we feel at the time.
“Gosh, I don’t feel bad, I’ve got a job, a car, money in the bank, a house, I live in a neighborhood where everyone is in a similar situation …. but they tell me we are in a recession, so I guess I should feel bad, but I don’t so something must be wrong with ME!”
It’s nice to see an article like this — some needed balance.