Capitalizing On Anger

Over the past week or so I've been thinking a lot about the anger that we've all been seeing in politics. It seems to me that we've entered a dangerous time. People are hurting, systems are broken, government's failure is less about reform at this point and more about structural change. There are many people who remain angry with the cultural shifts that occurred as a result of the politics of the 60's and who would like to blame that shift for where we are today. I happen to think that's an incorrect analyses but it is what it is as they say. People are without work and many have lost their homes. Most of us feel some level of deep seated insecurity. It doesn't really matter if you're just starting out with college debt or if you're planning or in the midst of retirement. There's an uneasiness and yes, there's an anger.

Last week I watched Governor Andrew Cuomo from my home state of New York deliver his annual budget. That's when I first saw and realized how anger was such a driving force. He hit all of the anger hot buttons - teachers, the educational system in general, inefficient government, loss of jobs, government mandates, higher taxes and oh yes, executive compensation in non profits (pigs at the trough as it were - at least from his perspective). His presentation frustrated me and I wasn't really sure why, but I could see and feel the anger level rising as he presented the various ills that residents of New York State have been complaining about for years. And I saw an anger in him that I suggest isn't very healthy.

Later in the week I watched the Republican debate in South Carolina and guess what - I saw it again, real anger and lots of hot buttons pushed especially by Newt Gingrich. Mixed with this anger was anger at people and constituencies. There was also some real meanness mixed in. Over the weekend I watched Chris Christie, the Governor of New Jersey, on a couple of different occasions and realized here was another fellow representing or at least spouting about all of those anger issues. The same bag that Cuomo and Gingrich were reaching into, pulling out items that they all know are driving us crazy.

For a while I was confused. How could it be that all of these politicians were saying such similar things? Aren't they miles apart on issues and proposed solutions? Then it hit me and I felt so stupid. These three, and there are plenty more, politicians, on different sides of many issues, are playing to our anger and insecurity. They've figured out how to capitalize on anger. They want us to cheer them on as they go on and on about everything that's wrong with the system, the economy and even us.

I think that we should all be very careful with this political show and rhetoric, particularly with Cuomo and Christie who are already in power and governing. I really do worry about our most vulnerable people when I listen to the hot button anger from these two especially. Times are tough but they're really tough and will get tougher for the sick, the frail, the poor, the elderly and people with disabilities. These are easy audiences to leave out. They are an inconvenience of sorts when you're reinventing government and feeding into the anger of the electorate.

Now there's one other thing that no one seems to want to talk about relative to all three of these people - Gingrich, Cuomo and Christie and by the way, you may like these guys and their toughness. Tough times call for tough guys afterall. But here's the thing and it's what not too many people talk about. They're all, what appear to be, bullies. They really are. Listen to the rhetoric. Listen to how they portray the opposition. Listen to how they put down someone asking a simple question or someone who doesn't agree. Cuomo takes on school superintendents, school board members, non profit executives and many others and presents them as down right evil. Gingrich and Christie do the same. They beat up people who they know don't have the same forum. And guess what is so crazy? We have laws against bullying and at least two of these people are supposed to be part of enforcing them! It's not good for any of us and we know it. But the red meat aspect keeps drawing us back to the table. Sometimes, we find ourselves cheering them on and we become as bad as they are.

Remember, violence is not just physical. Words play and important part in how we do violence to each other or to groups of people. Let's all take some responsibility in trying to tone down this angry rhetoric from politicians and the electorate.