An Intervention

When the news from Benghazi came around, my first question was: Why are there no dead terrorists in the embassy compound? It has taken me years to develop the next question, but now that it is in my head, it's much easier to think this way often. My next question was: Why are there embassies?

When you think about it, embassies provide very little in the way of productive utility; and the only functions they provide of economic value is as a possible point of security for American Nationals located in that country. See the irony? The only function is security; its people are dead, and the compound is burned to the ground. My thought is: Why wouldn't it be better to close all our embassies, and advise all of our foreign workers to contract their security to private firms? Why wouldn't that be better for everybody? Good ideas like this happen all the time. I can't be the only one thinking this way. With practice, everybody can see these opportunities to reclaim economic opportunity.

It's really the bigger picture I want to discuss. It's high time to rethink a lot of things.

Yesterday, I wrote about the insanity of doing nothing.  Today, I re-inforce that a little by asking you to read John Tamny's latest article. In the article "Obama, Romney, What's Best for the Economy", Tamny points out at the outset that the election shouldn't matter, and why it shouldn't. He goes on to explain how much it really does. He lays out, very adroitly, the economic landscape either way. It's a shame we are down to two choices when both of them have significant downside.

As a former red and/or blue voter, I realize I have been enabling this self destructive behavior. If you've ever seen (or better yet, participated in) an intervention, you realize that the dysfunctional person is often being enabled by family members, friends, and associates. I think it may be time to stop enabling the red and blue destruction, and begin voting for the return of America.

It's too late (obviously) for this election, but perhaps we can get more people to think like John Tamny, and recognize the voting path that does not end in a red or blue hell.

Below are four examples of enabling behaviors taught to families by their loved ones to help keep the addiction comfortable at the expense of the family (cut and paste from: Family First Intervention):
■Guilt - Addicts and alcoholics teach families that it is their fault and that everything bad that happens is because of some other person, place or thing. Because families feel guilty, they then enable.

■Fear - Families are taught that if they try to intervene, set rules and boundaries or make them go to rehab they will hate the family forever, they will never talk to them again, the will commit suicide or they will die if they stop.

■Hope - Your love one tries to teach you that they will stop on their own and that they have a plan. Families then believe them despite all attempts that fail. You then start to believe if they get arrested just once, get that right job or just meet that special someone this will all go away. Your loved one teaches you to wait and do nothing.

■Victim - All addicts and alcoholics become professional victims. They constantly think to themselves and teach others that if you had their terrible life you would drink or drug too. They say things like “you don’t know what it’s like to be me”, “if you were married to him/her you’d drink too”.

Now, please re-read the previous four paragraphs, substituting our politicians for the loved ones (I know, but please try anyway), and instead of drugs or alcohol, substitute power or money.

Maybe an intervention is indeed in order.