Was Raising Children a Personal Negative?

In the current edition of Atlantic Monthly, Paul Bloom dissects the issue of whether a person is composed of multiple selves. The article is stimulating. We recognize that each of us has a "self" that is relatively more virtuous than a "self" that is grossly selfish. Jung theorized the self as having a shadow as well as the more positive image that we show the world.

In the article, the author zoned in on the dichotomy between one's stated perception of parenthood compared with true feelings:

if you ask people about their greatest happiness in life, more than a third mention their children or grandchildren, but when they use a diary to record their happiness, it turns out that taking care of the kids is a downer—parenting ranks just a bit higher than housework, and falls below sex, socializing with friends, watching TV, praying, eating, and cooking.

It caused me to consider my own experience. While I admit that there were moments that tested me, my experience was positive, but possibly for a different reason.

While I appreciated my children as people that were "mine", I realized that parenthood was important for me to become a person. I looked upon parenthood somewhat as a remedy to my ineptitudes and deficiencies. My children were tutors for me to develop into a person I became (of course, they could question how well they served that role!). At any rate, parenthood made me a better person (probably not saying much!) and I appreciated what they did for me. For good or bad, they can take credit for what I became!

“The Way of the World” by Ron Suskind

Suskind’s earlier book, “The One-Percent Doctrine”, was compelling and well-written. It zoned in on Cheney’s rubric that if there was a one-percent chance that a scenario could be true, then it was necessary to address it aggressively.

“The Way of the World” is written in a totally different style in which a theme is weaved very cogently throughout. Suskind is concerned that the Bush Administration’s behavior has resulted in the loss of international friends and support, a loss of respect for the nation’s constitutional principles, and a distortion of our perception of others (with some specificity, the Muslims).

With different stories interspersed throughout, he demonstrates the negative impact of policies that ignore the Constitution, e.g., denial of Habeas Corpus for Guantanamo prisoners, enable aggressive interventions based on lies, e.g., Iraq, and policies that prevent us from marshaling resources to address real problems, e.g., our failure to ensure that rogue access to nuclear weapons will be avoided.

In short, he wants to restore our soft power (not his verbiage) by conducting our international foreign policy in a more ethical, forthright, cooperative way that will restore our nation’s image throughout the world.

Impressive Nobel Prize Economist!

Joseph Stiglitz has become a hero of mine. His intelligence is well-recognized not only by his being a recipient of the Nobel Prize for Economics, but for his critical writing on the negative influence of the World Bank on the poorer nations. His broad understanding of the dynamics of international trade are captured in his books, e.g., "Globalization and Its Discontents".

I have referenced him in many blogs:
June 1, 2007
June 28, 2007
November 9, 2007
September 24, 2008.

Today, I recommend a reading of his testimony to the House Committee dealing with the problems in financial services. While this testimony is lengthy and complicated, it will serve as a reference when thinking about what should be done to make our financial services work more effectively and transparently for the benefit of all.

Amazing Denial!

There have been times when I rant regarding Bush's ability to display utter contempt for reality. It amazes me how anyone can live in a world so disconnected from reality.

Sarah Palin demonstrated a comparable display of denial when she shared with reporters that she was happy that the legislative committee found no legal or ethical lapses in her dealings with the dismissal of her former brother-in-law from the State Troopers.

Fortunately, she has not persuaded her fellow citizens of Alaska. The major newspaper minced no words regarding his distortions of the report.

It will be interesting to see whether or not her political future in Alaska will now be altered because of her amazing performance during the two months of public display that ends on 4 November.

Real Irony!

There are so many negative points to be made of Bush that it is refreshing to share the delightful irony of the positive point made by Spain's Prime Minister, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero.

Roger Cohen reports that Zapatero related the general conversation with Bush regarding his decision to pull his troops out of Iraq. As he said, the conversation was "unforgettable"!

But, then, he added the positive dimension of Bush's impact on Spain!

Zapatero said that, nonetheless, he had a “certain consideration” for Bush, because “I recognize that my electoral success has been influenced by his governing style.” In other words, Bush was so unpopular in Spain that he helped Zapatero win in 2004 and 2008.

Just think, we may now attribute the success of Obama not only because of his ability but he contrasts so favorably with Bush!

Political Realignment

Desperate to find some silver lining to the current mess our nation (and world) is in at this junction of history, it may just be enough to give Obama a huge victory in the election with strong Democratic gains in Congress. Were that to be true, it could serve as the basis for a realignment that will dominate the our national agenda for the rest of my life time.

The Big Depression surely was the major force in our national agenda until Goldwater emerged followed by many Republican presidents who started to endorse a very conservative agenda that polarized their party to the point that moderates were no longer welcome.

Our current mess which complicates the pre-existing disaster of misguided adventures into the Mideast, heavy indebtedness to pay for our excesses (including an unwillingness to tax those presumably supporting the decision to invade Iraq), as well as a total disregard for the Constitution, is now dragging the international community into the morass.

It may be enough that voters will realize that government is necessary if we are to enjoy the fruits of our democracy. Apparently, even business leaders are now searching for government to not only bail them out but to provide increase structure by regulating their efforts.

We have a few weeks left to wait until an answer will appear.

"It's hard to believe so much harm could be done to so many by so few"

So much has been written about the disastrous presidency of the present incumbent that it is difficult to add more insight. H.D.S. Greenway has been an acute observer of the international scene for many years. His review of Bush's presidency covers his right decision to invade Afghanistan, his horrendous decision to invade Iraq, his lack luster efforts to reconcile the Israel-Palestinian conflict, the current fiscal meltdown, and his righteous and reckless decision making that has made our nation a loser in the estimation of many throughout the world. And then, he winds up his review with the most insightful sentence:

When you think of Bush and his team, it's hard to believe so much harm could be done to so many by so few.

"The War Within" by Bob Woodward

Bob Woodward amazingly returns to the Bush presidency in his fourth volume, now dealing with 2006 until the middle of 2008. Like so much that is written about the Bush presidency, there is little "new" since so much has been written by so many.

It does amaze me that the White House and Bush would even allow Woodward to get pass the iron gates. His prior writings surely do not make Bush better than others who mock his leadership, discredit his inability to listen and initiate self-correcting actions when plans do not materialize as expected, and his inability to analyze complex matters.

This book continues along the same vein with one notable difference.

In the mid-2006, it became too clear to too many in the Administration that Iraq was becoming a real problem (for so many others, Iraq has "real" problems much earlier, but ....).

Various groups were charged with the mission to review what has been happening and suggest options. While it is puzzling to note how many groups were doing the same thing without any awareness that others were doing the same think under somebody's else's direction, e.g., Pentagon and State. The major review board (Iraq Commission) ultimately submitted a series of recommendations that strongly urged withdrawal as a method to increase the political reconciliation needed to ensure the ultimate security of the nation (former Senator Robb was unique in advocating an increase in forces). Most of these groups, including a group of military charged by Peter Pace, determined that more troops would be counterproductive. There were admittedly some exceptions, but one of the strongest advocates for an increase in military intervention, retired General Keene, seemed to carry the most weight with those who mattered the most, i.e., Bush.

Bush ultimately came down in favor of a minority who wanted an increase in military intervention. While often indicating that he was one who listened to his military leaders regarding what action to take, he proceeded on a course disapproved by the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Like other decisions, it was clear to him that the mission to establish a basis for freedom in Iraq required us to secure the area before considering any reduction in forces.

He remained a man without second thoughts. He remained a man convinced of the rightness of his decisions. He remained, from my vantage point, the person who will clearly go into history as the worse president in our history.

Relief!

I was relieved that Sarah Palin did not embarrass herself. I did not want her selection of Vice-Presidential nominee of the Republican Party to result in her life-long disgrace. I would not want such for anyone, unless of course a person spends eight years in the White House destroying our nation economically and internationally! I only hope that Bush will remain locked up in Crawford, cutting bush, and seeing whether another administration can begin the long road to recovery!

Not only do the polls indicate that Obama is doing very well in most states, even those considered battleground states, I have been impressed by those who note that his calmness, moderation, and intelligence are winning the day. The latest commentator is a very conservative Republican, Charles Krauthammer, who notes that his approach during the election campaign contrasts so favorably with the questionable and apparently, impulsive actions of McCain.

While I am optimistic, more than ever, that Obama will win, I know that the reality of his position will result in the fact that he will never be able to deliver those programs that I want, in the way I would want them. I can only hope that he provides the leadership to address the problems of healthcare, international cooperation, and improvement in the lot of the Middle Class (through investments in green technology and infrastructure).