@Centaurea

For quite a while now, I've noticed the similarities between abusive relationships and the current state of political affairs in the US. A dysfunctional system is a dysfunctional system, whether it's a marriage, a family of origin, an employment workplace, an organization, or an entire nation.

In looking at how we've gotten into this mess, I think it might be helpful to consider the impact that trauma bonding and Post- traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) have on the abused person's ability (or lack thereof) to see things clearly, make healthy decisions, and take effective action in their own best interest, including leaving the abusive situation.

Having done my family genealogy, I've become aware of how the dysfunctional patterns go back for generations, and are passed down from parent to child, ad infinitum, unless and until someone is born into the family who is willing and able to break the cycle.

It's well-known that being raised in a dysfunctional family can give rise to various conditions such as addictions, personality disorders, and narcissism, as well as to a form of PTSD called Complex PTSD.

Given that in my opinion the history of the US is full of abuse and trauma, this may explain a lot.

it is no wonder that the people we allow to rule us also abuse us. Yes, we allow them to.

We shouldn't be allowing them to rule us, much less abuse us. In the United States, pursuant to the US Constitution, these people are supposed to work for us, not rule us. As public servants, our elected and appointed representatives under a purportedly democratic system of government, they are answerable to us. We the People are their employers, not their subjects, although we tend to forget this and even seem to need an "elite" class. The elite folks no doubt consider themselves to be our rulers, as in a monarchy. (Eg. Erik Prince, Betsy Devos's brother, suggesting that an American "viceroy" should be installed in Afghanistan.)

By the way, the town is Charlottesville, not Charlotte. It's a college town, the home of the University of Virginia, which was the scene of some of yesterday's action. As a college town, its populace is fairly "liberal". Lots of Dems and Clinton voters.

@Song of the lark

It cuts thru the complexity of our lives and focuses the mind. Like the young woman with a razor blade the act of cutting a thin red ribbon across her arm yields an exsquisite freedom from the tangles of PTSD.
I saw a long discussion on TOP about Thomas Jefferson, people taking sides on the good and the bad of the man. In the end nothing was settled, and I came away with a kind of sadness about people's lives 2 hundred years ago. The Internet does this to people. Too much information can paralyze us.
The alt-right uses hatred to cut thru the PTSD of complexity. Purity tests and the blog wars surrounding them are a symptom of this idea. Simple ideas cut thru the diminishing returns on complexity we are all suffering from. Look to right action in the present moment.
Democrats are a complexity machine. People are tired of being bludgeoned with policy.
We move into a time of action.
We must focus on self transformation and on the present moment. The complexity of near past events must be left behind. No one is pure anymore, not ourselves, our leaders, our country. We are in quite a fix. Some people like me think this is endgame. That's why when you say checkmate it has such a satisfying ring to it. Say it with love not hatred.

@Steven D someone is screaming about freedom of speech what is be expressed is truly noxious.

Sometimes I feel that is America's true story. In reality its the story of humankind. People may have no other rights or privileges in society, but there's always hatred. It's easy to feel, far easier than love, acceptance, empathy.

And the sad truth about the "American Experiment" is that free speech has more often been used to divide us using hate as it's driving force, rather than spreading love and kindness. Tribe against tribe. That is what America has been for most of its existence. And so long as we fight one another along these artificial tribal lines, these artificial identities, we shall remain divided and easy prey for the economic sociopaths who dominate our society, choose our rulers for us, tell us what we can and cannot have.

Martin Luther King Jr. had it right when he said:

“Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.”

We Are stuck in our hatred. We need to find a way to the light if we are to survive.

@Not Henry Kissinger an as it normalises in society the same idiots have to find something even more extreme to get noticed, sometimes I think Isis represents humanities base state.

Sexism, racism and bigotry have to be called out at every turn, there are no exceptions.

What if, instead of a counter demonstration, we just let the silly crackers have their little pajama party?

They march; maybe get thirty seconds on the local Charlotte affiliate; and everybody goes home.

They don't get their fifteen minutes of fame on National TV; we don't have to endure a week or so of handwringing 'debates' that are never going to change anybody's minds; and nobody gets killed.

What's so wrong with that?