Steven P. BarrettWILL WE EVER BE CONTENT? A NATION'S "MOOD DISORDER"
August 30th 2008 18:55
By Steven Barrett
Do nations have "mood disorders" like individuals? That's a question brought up by author and Boston Globe guest columnist today in "America's Mood Disorder." Before anybody picks up his or her cell to call Dr. Phil McGraw, perhaps they should look at some of Meyer's observations, read the rest of the column and come to their own conclusions.
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A few weeks ago I ripped into retired Senator Phil Gramm (R-GA) for saying the US is a nation of "whiners" and that our economic worries indicate more of a mental than a real recession. Well, to some degree Gramm is right, because we haven't technically entered a recession, and economic downturns are often caused by whipped up fears, many of which were unfounded to begin with.
Whether it's a so-called "mental depression" or "national mood disorder," as strange as they sound, neither shouldn't be dismissed out of hand (particularly the former for obvious moral and medical reasons.)
It's more understandable when we're speaking about society and economy wide trends. Businesses, especially small businesses, can die just on two emotional states of mind: confidence and fear. When there's confidence, wallets will be fatter and open quicker. And unless you're in a niche business, you've got real problems when a downturn, even one prompted by a misleading report on the tube, causes otherwise potential customers to pull back on their spending habits, or head over to the big box retailers and buy something made overseas by slave or near slave workers who don't give a damn what happens to us. They figure, to some understandable degree, that they have enough problems.
I can't believe I'm even writing this, but it's a sad statement of the way things are these days not just here, but elsewhere. Recent stories about companies leaving China (no less!) for cheaper labor markets offer no solace even to a crafter like myself because I know others will be cheated for their labor.
Let's face it: this nation needs something to lift its spirits as a whole. Evangelical preachers will say "Stop, all they need is the Bible," and people of other faiths will (rightfully) object saying "Hey, we have ideas, too." And so it goes. If we don't find our social cures in religious beliefs and activities (which are wonderful ways to bring us solace individually and help society in general) we'll find other means be they technological, educational, travelling, athletics, gambling even! Let's not forget that old standby, the idiot box.
Something's missing, and Meyers did a yeoman's job of helping us at least edge ourselvesl towards finding it. Judge for yourself!
Do nations have "mood disorders" like individuals? That's a question brought up by author and Boston Globe guest columnist today in "America's Mood Disorder." Before anybody picks up his or her cell to call Dr. Phil McGraw, perhaps they should look at some of Meyer's observations, read the rest of the column and come to their own conclusions.
Really Long Link
A few weeks ago I ripped into retired Senator Phil Gramm (R-GA) for saying the US is a nation of "whiners" and that our economic worries indicate more of a mental than a real recession. Well, to some degree Gramm is right, because we haven't technically entered a recession, and economic downturns are often caused by whipped up fears, many of which were unfounded to begin with.
Whether it's a so-called "mental depression" or "national mood disorder," as strange as they sound, neither shouldn't be dismissed out of hand (particularly the former for obvious moral and medical reasons.)
It's more understandable when we're speaking about society and economy wide trends. Businesses, especially small businesses, can die just on two emotional states of mind: confidence and fear. When there's confidence, wallets will be fatter and open quicker. And unless you're in a niche business, you've got real problems when a downturn, even one prompted by a misleading report on the tube, causes otherwise potential customers to pull back on their spending habits, or head over to the big box retailers and buy something made overseas by slave or near slave workers who don't give a damn what happens to us. They figure, to some understandable degree, that they have enough problems.
I can't believe I'm even writing this, but it's a sad statement of the way things are these days not just here, but elsewhere. Recent stories about companies leaving China (no less!) for cheaper labor markets offer no solace even to a crafter like myself because I know others will be cheated for their labor.
Let's face it: this nation needs something to lift its spirits as a whole. Evangelical preachers will say "Stop, all they need is the Bible," and people of other faiths will (rightfully) object saying "Hey, we have ideas, too." And so it goes. If we don't find our social cures in religious beliefs and activities (which are wonderful ways to bring us solace individually and help society in general) we'll find other means be they technological, educational, travelling, athletics, gambling even! Let's not forget that old standby, the idiot box.
Something's missing, and Meyers did a yeoman's job of helping us at least edge ourselvesl towards finding it. Judge for yourself!
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Comment by S.L.
The Political Brief
After the election is over it will be a quite different story. If Obama/Biden wins, we'll have plenty to be depressed about! However, if McCain/Palin wins we can relax and go on with business as usual. (At least until the libs start their griping again...)
Comment by Anonymous
That way they could pull out the ol' "plausible denial" line if somebody working in the radio business who hold a union card calls them on it.
Cynicism's hard to let go. Why the other day I heard Obama's advisors were all excited about this new plan of theirs to get kids to hold bake sales for Obama on their yards every Friday afternoon until Election Day.
But what would a bake sale be without milk to help wash down those cookies and other goodies, especially those containing some nuts? So Joe Biden came up with a solution. "Hey, why don't they give out some free bull's milk"?
Might as well get it free while you can. If these guys get elected, we'll all be paying for it through the nose for at least the next four milking sessions.
Hell, they'll tax the methane that comes with it.
Comment by Anonymous
Fun's already beginning.
Comment by S.L.
The Political Brief