We are blaming, evilizing, selectively choosing “facts” - not thinking, not solving

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The great enemy of the truth is very often not the lie -- deliberate, contrived and dishonest, but the myth, persistent, persuasive, and unrealistic. Belief in myths allows the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought.

                                           John F. Kennedy

One cannot be contributing something positive at the same time in which he/she is spewing negative. One cannot continually speak of the problem and still have space to think of the solutions and to make them happen.  (Once the problem is defined sufficiently, the solution process is the only thing that should be engaged in!!!)

We are stuck in a loop of blame, taking sides as “tribes”, and making others the enemies. People dare not disagree as they will be met with wrath or anger or disapproval, for "we" are right and "they" are wrong...

However, the true enemy of man is irrationality and the lack of verified facts, for only in truth can we do our best seeking of what is good, progressive and beneficial.

The other enemy is also based on non-thinking.  We think “blame” is legitimate.  We seek to punish the ill informed rather than to train or rehabilitate them.  Somehow we think that people should do better than they actually know how, which of course is impossible - but we think they “should” know (read Authentic Knowing).  We even seek to suppress speech and oppress others who have different viewpoints...a sad state of affairs in this country.

We attempt to place guilt on people in a nation, as if they are responsible for the sins of their forefathers.  We attempt to exaggerate what is going on as "really bad" in a number of areas, whereas we have made significant progress and lowered "the bad" to a minimum (yes, we should seek more progress in each area, but not encourage evilizing others such that evildoers on the same side of the encouragers harm them).

A frequent sticker on VW vans in the hippie days read:  "If you’re not part of the solution, you are part of the problem."

Indeed!

Those of us who primarily engage in protesting, complaining, evilizing, biasing "information", taking on false information as if it were true are, in fact, cocreators in creating “sides” and obstinence and fighting and blocking.... (Read The Reasoning For "No Blame" and be sure to "get it" about the "just not knowing yet" concept.  The negative people are playing a Zero Sum Game Vs Win-Win  and need to learn that win-win is the best approach, as discussed in the linked article.)

Unless the individual is taught such that he/she relieves his/her ignorance of how to do critical, valid thinking (it's not "their fault", just something they need to learn), we will not be able to turn this country around (nor will an individual be able to turn around his/her bad habits, problems, stress and bad thinking).

It is good outcomes we are after, not “being right” (though that was needed in earlier evolutionary times [caveman type days]).  

Those who seek only good outcomes, by working with others, listening, compromising as needed to get some gains that otherwise would not be gained, who listen, and play win-win are the ones who will create progress.  (See Right/Wrong Vs. Workability - the only criteria is "does it work to produce a good (or better or best we can get) outcome?")

Each of us needs to decide if that is what we will do, but until enough of us do that (as with No Labels) the country (the USA) will stay the same.  Yes, we can blame the politicians but our opinions, our communications, and our votes are what can overrule the internal destructive political games.

I cannot associate with either party, though each has some good ideas and actually some agreement.  I cannot support "the bad" even if mixed in with the good or if the lesser of the bad.  Only if we turn to being true, objective, critical thinking "independents" who elect independents will we be able to break the blocs in each party that force the representatives to do the party’s bidding.

We are in the opposite condition now, with massive blaming, guilt accusations, shaming, stubbornness, make-wrong, evilizing, punishing instead of teaching.

It is now up to you to change your individual way of being, as there is very little you can do to effectively change others.

Will you pledge to play "win win" and to engage in good rational, fact-based thinking and problem solving?   (In politics, work, relationships AND in your life...)

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Additional items of interest (but mostly to those people who aren't the problem, because people who aren't the problem would not be likely to be reading this article):

Why you think you're right -- even if you're wrong, Ted Talk (11:37)

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