Climate Change Double Bind

The Republicans are expert verbal communicators. If Democratic politicians propose economic, environmental or energy policies related to climate change then the Republicans say the policies will have disastrous impacts on our economic competitiveness. If Democratic politicians believe our government can not impact climate change and that China and India will not harm their economies then the consequences of climate change will have a disastrous impact on our economy.

Republicans verbally create double bind arguments to make the Democratic politicians appear to be wrong no matter what they say or do. The way to deal with this behavior is to first become aware of when they are constructing a double bind argument and make the construct visible to them and the general public. State that the Republicans are saying that no matter what government does, government is wrong. That no matter what the Democratic politicians do, they are wrong.

Do not argue with them. Do not debate with them over details. Do not negotiate with them. Do not get mad at them. Do get angry. Do not threaten them.

Second, to make positive statements like Senator John Kerry did in his confirmation hearings when he said: “You want to do business and do it well in America, we gotta get into the energy race. … I’ll be a passionate advocate, but not based on ideology, based on fact, based on science. This $6 trillion market is worth millions of American jobs and we better go get it.” (www.politico.com)

Third, promote transformation of the dilemma to go beyond right and wrong to include other options, possibilities and opportunities. The assumptions behind the Republican dialogue are two fold. First, they assume they have the authority to decide what is right and wrong for the country. Second, they assume that loyalty to America is how to decide what is right and wrong, and any deal on climate change or global energy policy is being disloyal to America.

You have to take the verbal stick away from the Republicans. They are verbally hitting Democrats who are always wrong no matter what they say or do.  The way to deal with them is the three step process described above. Tell the public about the dilemma, make positive statements and transform the dilemma into actions with options, possibilities and opportunities.

Climate Change as Double Bind

A double bind is when you are wrong no matter what you do. As a learned behavior, the double bind is a common problem in families and politics.

If America shuts down the fossil fuel industry then the US economy is threatened with collapse.
If America does not shut down the fossil fuel industry then the consequences of Climate Change will cause the US economy to collapse.

Regulate Guns

On January 16, 2013, President Obama released 23 executive orders to reduce gun violence. The president has, under existing law, the authority to block the import of weapons that aren't "generally recognized as particularly suitable for, or readily adaptable to sporting purposes." He has not taken this action yet.

What seems clear is that their inherent dangerousness precludes the idea that guns cannot be subject to governmental control.

Guns are unacceptably risky to others. Gun owners should be held to a standard of strict liability for harm caused by the use of their guns. Gun owners should be required to purchase liability insurance to cover potential losses.

Depression, Anxiety and Adrenaline

1. Lorazepam taken daily will help condition your mind to not trigger adrenaline that is causing the physical and mental symptoms. 

2. Selective Serotonin Re-uptake Inhibitor (SSRI) like sertraline or escitalopram will increase serotonin so that your mind does not trigger the adrenaline.

3. Mindfulness is a non-drug method of using meditation to get your mind to not trigger the adrenaline.

Practicing meditation and using mindfulness can help lower blood pressure and bring the heart rate back to 60 beats per second. 

This is not a sprint, this is a marathon that will last the rest of our lives.

One of the key messages is "in the present moment" and this means every moment.

Meditation is active mental conditioning to live in the present moment and stop the mind from triggering adrenaline.

Practice the mental activities of mindfulness anywhere, anytime.

Driving in your car, count your breaths then start  expanding your focus to include your sense of touch, your sense of visual awareness of what is to the left and right of you ahead.

Practice counting breaths while walking to focus the mind.

The goal is to stop the adrenaline.

Borrow Money for Debt Ceiling Limit

My Tweets Today
January 11, 2013

“@Richard_Turnock: President #Obama has insisted he will no longer negotiate spending concessions in exchange for a higher #debtceiling Do NOT negotiate.”

“@Richard_Turnock: #Obama borrow exactly enough money to cover the difference between funds in the #Treasury and expenditures required by law #congress #Debt”

“@Richard_Turnock: #Congress leaves #Obama  no constitutional options, he must choose the least unconstitutional one - borrowing money beyond the #debtceiling”

Borrow money beyond the debt ceiling limit to continue to pay for expenditures already authorized by congress.

Serotonin in the Brain

Having enough serotonin is critical to life.

Serotonin interacts with every other neurotransmitter in the brain.  However only one millionth of all the neurotransmitters are serotonin.  Low serotonin is a medical condition not a diminished mental capacity.

"...serotonergic neurons project in rich profusion to every part of the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord), where they influence the activity of virtually every neuron. This widespread influence implies that the serotonergic neurons play a fundamental role in the integration of behavior. Our sense of well-being and our capacity to organize our lives and to relate to others depend profoundly on the functional integrity of the serotonergic system."

My Brain Notes on Serotonin

Leadership

Examples of Poor Leadership

• Constant turnover of administrators.
• A culture obsessed with compliance over quality.
• Lack of institutional knowledge about best practices.
• An organizational chart that looks like a bad cartoon.
• People in various buildings working at odds with each other, with no coordination or vision.
• Employees who lack credentials and professional development.
• Little accountability for poor results.
• Little or no alignment up and down the organization or across departments of goals, objectives and strategic direction.

http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/susan_nielsen/index.ssf/2010/12/learning_english_in_pps_maybe.html