As a clinician, I find the levels of lying, of hatred, of bigotry, of extremism, and especially the [View all]

[PCIntern]

rationalization of all of these horrific behaviors and more by the entrenched right-wing establishment to be most disturbing on many levels. My concern extends not simply to the havoc which they wreak of the political system, but also of the ripple effect which has extended into every corner of the country and the dialogs which we have with our relatives, our students, our customers, our patients, our vendors, our shopkeepers, our domestic help, our municipal and Federal workers, our friends, and our enemies. There is no point in reiterating the nature of these discussions, we all know too well how we measure our language usage and our descriptive terminology, but suffice it to say that we are in a death spiral from which we need to be rescued.

I for one have no idea who or what group could possibly perform this action: even the catastrophe which took place on our soil in 2001 only temporarily unified us, until the usual ridiculousness ensued which caused even more polarization than we had before the incident, not to mention the initiation of two wars which were basically non sequiturs and caused the deaths, dismemberment, and horrific turmoil of the lives of millions upon millions of people. Other than the invasion of aliens, I cannot imagine a scenario which would not be played to the detriment of the common man and woman, further leading to our dimunition as a Nation and as a force for higher-order Justice and Morality.

It is both tragic and ironic that living in a time of unparalleled comprehension and understanding of the sciences: of biology, of astronomy, of physics, of engineering of all types, of chemistry, and all the other disciplines, that the Republican Party has chosen to emigrate to the most benighted positions imaginable. The devaluation of logic, of the scientific method, of understanding of others' viewpoints, of others bases for existence is immense. I don't believe, at age 59, that I will live to see the curve reverse: I can only hope my offspring shall.

To return to my original point, I firmly believe that these attitudes have permanently damaged the fiber and being of individuals, families, and community. I also believe that the self-centeredness, the lack of empathy, the strange functionality of people is increasing exponentially and endure these 'attributes' from my patient population daily. I do not hate or resent them for it: I have been involved for much too long to do that. I am simply sad for them and for us.