Truth! As if it were politic.
Finally, Article 8
The next time you're pissed about a politician, if you naturally, tribally dislike them; even as you lie nestled in a fondness for imagination and emotions... Therein, whole heartedly imagine yourself in bed with that person spooning. Which reminds me, "narcissist."
Have you noticed that people who refer to the rest of us as "snowflakes," tend to have their feelings embroidered on their shirt sleeves? Addicted people have a number of curious behaviors, like driving and barbecuing, which reaches into a dark side. Narcissists, addiction on steroids, are brilliant at insulating themselves from the truth, such as, accusing everyone else of the very thing they are hiding. Evidence that some people missed their calling: Politics as an icy vacuum, sucking all life out of hearts and minds.
All that, substantially true, yet I need to clarify and hazard to suggest. Regarding True Snowflakes, and perhaps even the whole snow drift they create. Noting: those prominent Flakes, not a one has seemed to me to be mentally ill, far from it, salt of the earth. At the same time, their association with narcissism is vastly more than coincidental, as it is thoroughly behavioral, a method to their madness. That is, true-narcissism drives behaviors that we can all appreciate and then easily emulate, while fulfilling our 'normal' assignment. Such as, disqualifying any penetration of one's personal insecurities surrounding thoughts, feelings, and identity, by obfuscating the truth. Take for example, if you happen upon a person unwilling to come out of their clothes closet. And, then finding that they deftly obscure this fact by saying, "everyone has a closet, and, except for myself, most people live in it!" Or, more simply, pointing a finger at you, "closet flake!"
Then again, surprising as it may seem, I had a close friend at one time. Who had the reputation of salt of the earth, transparent to a fault, and especially nice! It took me years to realize that my friend was pathologically addicted to positive emotions, driving a unique narcissistic aptitude. That being, reading people so that she could guilefully emulate what that person wanted to hear. Seemingly fulfilling that person's essential concerns, and becoming a bright spot in their lives. To produce that outcome, she could not reveal the truth of her opinion, even to herself. While also seeing herself as honest to a fault, plus establishing that reputation. Despite the opposite being true, the truth being irrelevant. As she single-mindedly required the positive emotions we all display, having received what we prefer to hear. Leading to self-righteous entitlement, as we all owed her a debt of gratitude.
Finding fault with each other is easy, isolating with our chosen tribe of people. And as I've illustrated, seemingly embracing everyone can be equally isolating. The element of truth in all that is, well, exactly! One study of addiction has directly tied brutal honesty to recovery from an addiction. You'll need to fight for the truth, most especially learning to hold yourself accountable (and just between you and me, that involves sober introspection, while somehow avoiding depression; easy to see why everyone avoids it).
All that leading to my final point on the subject of our challenges in realize ourselves, a self governing people. Our human capability to engage the disciplines of listening and relationship is central to any possibility of self government and a sustained liberal democracy, much more so, a thoroughly realized pursuit of happiness. Our accepting the isolating effects of listening as a weapon and leveraged relationships, easily looking down our noses at those other people, magnifies all the challenges and shortcomings that we experience, being merely human. Any effort to fix an issue enters the turnstile of our encrypted complexities, stridently simple minded attachment to feelings, but, more often than not, the malaise of detachment. And, taken as a whole, this stew produces a society that is exceedingly vulnerable to manipulation.
A study after WWII showed that American society is more likely to fall into the Hitler-trap than Germany. That is, it does matter who gets into office. But most importantly, push for the truth regardless of the source, by strategically elevating all forms of systemic accountability. Utilizing strategic systems, as in the simplest and naturally occurring solutions, e.g., vibrant journalism, education, and small focused government. All the while, embracing the challenge of paradox: personal accountability; local, face to face, relationships; national sensibilities; while listening to the geopolitical music. Really, just dancing!
Still full of surprises, I have an analogy. The earth is increasingly covered with a layer of poisonous plastics. And we, relegated to the surface, desperately seek some sort of life in that plastic. Unfortunately, it has been discovered that all life is ingesting that plastic. But worse, in our supremacy, we have determined to become that plastic. And, despite it merely being a superficial plastic relationship, it is poisoning every aspect of our lives. Especially our ability to engage in much of any relationship, much less to fulfill intimate relationship.