The dangerous right

Propaganda. To hear the defamers of conservativism yammer about it, propaganda is what other people – especially socialists do. Never mind that these same pseudo conservatives manage to conflate totalitarianism, socialism, and communism (oh, I forgot liberalism) into the same boogey man. But what would domestic propaganda look and sound like in America? My two three votes go to the dangerous drivel spouted by the pseudo-patriots Sean Hannity, O'Reilly and Rush Limbaugh. These multimillionaires excel at portraying themselves as amusing, clever, and engaging populists. But none ever delves deeply into issues and none allows open vetting of their arguments. These rabble rousers say that they are entertainers, but they actually exploit a loophole that makes imbalanced political broadcasts legal. Hannity (also Rush, and Bill O’Reilly) claims that their programs are "entertainment", yet all of them express strong political opinions, clearly endorses candidates and aids them in on-air fundraising, even threatening listeners that calamity will befall those who does not vote their way.
Probably the worst of the worst example of this kind of craziness run amok is Limbaugh’s wish that our president fail. Who says that about their president? Only a traitor. Isn’t that just a little bit disloyal? What would Limbaugh and his ilk have said if Frank Rich or Maureen Dowd wrote that they wanted Bush to fail. But of course, they wouldn’t – FR and MD have way too much class. Ironically Limbaugh, Hannity, O’Reilly and the other nitwits on cable TV spout rhetoric that is clearly disloyal, if not seditious, while claiming to be lovers and defenders of the USA.
Ideological division is nothing new to politics. But has ideology ever taken quite the seat of prominence it now enjoys? Have people ever been quite so prone to regard their ideological identity as more important than their national identity? The last 30 years are rare in that regard, if not unique. But before the rise of the FoxNews and CNBCs, there was some measure of reasoned discourse – a back and forth exchange of ideas. Listen to these guys – when an alternative view is expressed their strategy is to: outshout, change the subject, ridicule or otherwise dismiss the point to be disputed rather than to address it. This is dangerous and alarming. THESE are the tactics of the Soviets and the Nazis of Hitler’s Germany; or those of a dictator who is ALWAYS right. They are not the tactics of those who would engage in a democratic , respectful, free, and intelligent exchange of ideas (remember that which our Revolution was fought over?)
At the same time that we desperately need to instill more critical thinking and creative problem-solving then ever before in our population that is raised on reality shows, sports, and the propaganda of FoxNews and CNBC, these three are cowardly propagandist who refuse to step up and confront the many voices that challenge their most controversial and fundamental philosophies.

trip to Nashville

We just got back from Nashville. Had to present two seminars. What a great trip. In one sense it was a hoot -- what can you say when a singers boobs don't move? This is sexy??? In another sense I have a new appreciation for country music. Going to the Country Music Hall of Fame was really interesting -- the evolution of the sound that we hear now from its humble twangy days -- was very enlightening. The Grand Ole Opry was much more enjoyable than I thought it would be. Brian and I had a great time. Picked up 3 silly little T shirts for the grandkids that say "Grand Ole Opry." Corny -- but that's what grandparents are for.
On our last night there we returned from dinner to find a body in prone position lying in front of our hotel door. Hmmm. So we turn it over to make sure it's alive. It was. We called security, which was particularly useless, but when the paramedics came they seemed competent enough. The last we heard the management said the man was not a guest of the hotel. He had wandered into the hotel thinking it was his and passed out. Why in front of MY room. I just wanted to go to bed, not nurse someone. Another trip, another adventure.
We went to a wonderful sports bar -- yes sports bar that was reputed to have the best ribs in town. The guys in back of us were really hammered -- celebrating one's divorce. I chatted briefly to him about the barbeque selections and when we left we found that he had paid for our dinner. Imagine. Wonder what he's gonna think when he sobers up and gets his Visa bill?
Another couple -- people are very friendly in Nashville -- got to chatting us up and asked what we were doing there. So I said that we couldn't get this kind of barbeque at home and that we were from up north. His reply was: "No kidding! You guys stick out like a sore thumb in here." Ok, so we had our prep clothes on -- but they were preppy jeans! Seriously they were a very funny and sweet couple.
The only sort of down thing was that I was shocked -- SHOCKED -- at how little my audience knew about seclusion and restraints and the Joint Commission and federal regs. What the hell are they doing in practice land? What the hell are they doing in nursing schools? Out of an audience of 200+ perhaps 10 knew that people could die proximal to restraint use, 2 had heard of the Hartford Courant series, and the majority did not know that when one puts hands on a patient it is a restraint.
There is something seriously wrong here. I thought that I had made an impact on this field and now this? Oh my back to the drawing board.
More later.