Shame and Guilt

Quite a few years back there was an attempt to classify cultures on the basis of shame or guilt. That is, some cultures, it was said, were pretty much regulated by shame while others used guilt as a mechanism of control. Shame cultures, of which Japan was offered as the best example, operated on the principle of outside sanctions - that is, you could transgress as much as you wanted but unless others were aware of it, it didn't matter much. Guilt cultures, mostly western, operated on the principle of guilt - that is, you were regulated by internal mechanisms such that if you transgressed you would feel bad whether anyone else knew about it or not. I think there was an implicit racism involved here, but for the moment it doesn't matter. And, in fact, this dichotomy never proved to be very useful and was, as most such attempts, a gross oversimplification of human behavior.

What makes me think of it now is that we seem to have an Administration (and, indeed, pretty much an entire Republican Party) that apparently experiences neither shame or guilt. Think of it. If a Japanese leader had performed as incompetently as Bush/Cheney/Rumsfeld, and had damaged his country as badly as they have, he would undoubtedly have apologized and committed suicide by now. Similarly, if Bush/Cheney had any sense of guilt they would at the very least have apologized for their horrendous mistakes and resigned. How can anyone with poll ratings so low, and crashing further by the day, presume to go on trying to lead the country? And why in the world do we permit them to go on? This is sheer madness. Where do they even get the chutzpa to think they can retain control of the House and Senate? Obviously because they know the "fix" is in and they will steal still another election. Will anyone believe it if they do? And what, if anything, will be done about it? Will the Democrats just "cave" again (bet on it). These are not merely "trying times," but, rather, the nightmare years. Is there any light at the end of the tunnel? Certainly not in Iraq or Afghanistan where things just get worse and worse.

Not only have Bush/Cheney destroyed our wonderful country, they have even destroyed our language. Words no longer have meanings. What does "war" mean when it is said to be against terrorism? It is nothing more than gibberish like "the war on drugs," or "the war on poverty." Similarly, what in the hell does "victory" mean in the context of Iraq. Is there any way victory could be achieved. Of course not. "Winning" has also become meaningless. And now even "amnesty" has become a casualty. What about phrases like "turning the corner?" "Progress is being made?"
"Staying the course?" What course? Oh, yeah, we are pursuing a "noble cause" which no one can define.

Unfortunately, what motivates our current Administration (and those who still support it) is nothing but GREED and the lust for POWER (the mechanism that allows them to satisfy their unfettered greed). Does anyone believe these lying criminals care anything whatsoever about American citizens? Democracy? The environment? The people of Iraq or Afghanistan? The national debt? Universal health care? Law? The constitution? If so, you had better wake up NOW!