About PdX
My name is Ike and I’m a recovering political news addict. My orientation is Libertarian in nature. This is my blog; I think there are a lot of people like me out there, not thrilled about the paths that our national and global political climates are following lately. Not that they were ever great, but recent trends are disturbing. For example I, for one, have a hard time with corruption in public officials- and it IS rampant in our government! Those guys are out of control!
The name “Political Detox” itself implies a certain toxicity, or poisonous quality, with regard to those presently involved in the political machinery of today’s society. Therefore, it is quite correct! How one goes about this mysterious detoxification process, however, depends on each individual. The first step is to identify or classify; then, we can calmly discuss our addictive behaviors among ourselves.
Who else has experienced a need to keep up daily, with this endless stream of bickering between liberals and conservatives? How predictable are they? And then the libertarians chime in, and nobody will let Ron Paul talk! Who has lost sleep due to worrying about the future in the hands of all the wrong players?
This PdX Twelve Step Program is designed to ease the burdens and stress of political addiction and constant information overload that so many experience in today’s complex society. Rather than become angry and frustrated about the political landscape, let’s discuss political issues like the reasonable adults that we would like to emulate.
Like in the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous, which the PdX Steps are indeed fashioned after, we can choose to discuss and address our addiction rather than to feed it. A reasonable amount of news is necessary- they do repeat it, you know.
Refer to the “12 Steps” page; perhaps step six says it best; [We] “Were entirely ready to ignore outside political opinion, journalism and news for long periods of time.” That is not to say that we don’t pay attention or vote any more, it merely recognizes the need for most of us to have a life rather than to dwell on the same repetitive stories and pointless points of view incessantly.
It is reasonable to want to be free of the stress laid upon us by news media who have a stake in our fear and frustration via ratings and advertising dollars. Here is a place to openly discuss our views, whether we agree or not. Former political “junkies” know that there is a sharp, destructive divide in society today; so, liberal democrat, libertarian, republican or independent, if you agree that our differences belong on a certain level that we should all respect and maintain, maybe PdX is for you.
If you feel the need to watch certain politically-oriented TV personalities every single day, without fail, you might need political detoxification. If you can’t stand missing your favorite political radio talk shows, you might be one of us! If you tend to get angry whenever certain politicians show their faces on TV, like me, let’s turn it down a notch and feel better.
I am not really equipped, capable or prepared to take on any political debate in public. It’s like arguing with little kids, or a wall. Plus I don’t think clearly or quick enough in a fight- the gloves just come off and I tend to lose control. Not every time, but I guess it depends on blood sugar, how much sleep I had or maybe even genetic disposition; thus, I’m stuck depending on congress persons to represent me in our government. The problem is, none of them really do it. Once they get elected, all integrity goes out the window. Maybe not in every case, but most politicians seem to be this way. And too many of them are lawyers.
Political Detox is an exercise. I chose to keep it mostly secular, unlike the AA credo, but I agree with the founding fathers - who believed that our rights come from the creator, not government. The fact that so many believe otherwise empowers the all-annoying sector of necessary bureaucrats, which can be quite depressing while sucking vast quantities of resources from the organism that is us.