The American public is unusually quiet in terms of political activism, and as a baby boomer, I’m looking particularly at my generation.
Several momentous policy decisions are on the table, and while some people are contacting their legislators, the mood in this unsettling economic and business environment is characterized more by fear and frustration than by political activity.
We who prided ourselves on changing the world in the sixties and seventies are markedly mute in contrast to where we were a few decades ago.
I see several reasons. First, we’re older. Marching and shouting come easier when you’re young. Still, lots of boomers go to the gym religiously, and we pride ourselves on our age not looking what that age used to look like. (“Fifty is the new thirty.” “Sixty is the new forty.”)
Second, many of the former protesters are essentially pleased with the current Administration. True, but there wasn’t much demonstration during the previous administration either. Throughout the decade our activism has not been commensurate to the importance of the issues.
Third reason: The Law of Attraction, especially the LOA on crack, such as The Secret. Yes, that very same “law” of the universe that shows us how to cure cancer, reconcile with our psycho cousin and get rich instantly, recession be damned. If you spend much time online, you are probably aware that LOA is the answer to every problem.
The Law of Attraction in all its materialistic glory states that we create our reality and that the universe is infinite in its resources. The state of the economy, sociological trends, international relations and what-not are irrelevant. The universe is infinite and “wants” us to have everything all hunky-dory.
The secret is to stop our bad-think.
And if we recognize and state problems as they are, we are bringing those problems into being, say LOA advocates.
Let’s take public policy to stimulate job creation. Today money is going around somewhere and increasing the national debt but more jobs are disappearing than appearing lately.
Political activism necessitates stating what the problem is. But we’re taught that stating a problem brings it into being.
If we were to apply LOA to job creation policy, for instance, we would march with signs that say, “I’m wealthy. I have the job of my dreams.”
That would turn the economy around in no time!
Cause you gotta affirm the positive in the present tense. Not bring more negatives into reality by affirming the negative around us.
Of course, it would also confuse the hell out of us.
The people who in other eras would be leading the way are turning off their TVs and radios, abandoning the newspaper and generally avoiding any news that’s a downer. And unfortunately, they are proud of it.
I read an amazing number of blogs and what-not advising people to turn off the news and be happy.
Some of the best and the brightest are busy with their affirmations. They hide from what’s going on; when they get close to learning something, they deliberately turn away.
The exceptions are the lobbyists who are surprisingly unaware that the solution to problems is in our thinking rather than in throwing money at politicians and advertising.
I’ve got to chuckle. Those lobbyists and the corporate interests who hire them are so clueless.
Originally posted 10-18-09