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four decades now is that it is always, always easier to push no vs. convincing people to say yes.
Whether the people are legislators or citizens, the idea of no is seductive.
And this character trait in the American Psyche runs contrary to the idea of American Exceptionalism.
Think about all those people who took a giant leap of faith and set out to find a new life by embarking on a journey fraught with danger but laced with hope.
Of course saying no to Slavery, segregation, disenfranchisement and all the other progressive strides we have made over the centuries fly in the face of that idea, but consider this; how long did it take before enough people were convinced to say yes, we do not want Slavery and yes, we do want as many citizens as we can to vote and yes we don't believe that the color of one's skin should preclude a person from participating in the most basic of economic freedoms.
It was easier to say no, easier to say be patient, easier to say not this session, not this election.
It took a massive effort to get people to turn from no and accept yes.
People have been condition to think that change is bad except, of course, when the newest, for instance, Apple product hits the market and people flock to the change, however incremental it may be. That kind of change is good, for advertising and product tweeking. The newest thing is awfully important for our Psyche except, of course, when it comes to the expansion of rights.
It kind of reminds me of that saying from that wonderful movie Catch 22. I will be behind you 100% until the time comes when I have to be.
I know I am rambling and it is taking a long time to get to my point which is, in a nutshell, change is bad unless it makes me look cool to my neighbors, Friends and acquaintances.
Perhaps we should package social change as not the right thing to do but the cool way to look at stuff.
That's what candidate Obama did oh so well in 2008. That was why the blow back no was so virulent and laced with in your face anger and sporadic violence.
Now that the Democrats are in a position to say no, one has to wonder how loud and hard they will push back on the regressive nature of the GOP's agenda.
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