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March 02, 2008
The Good German Syndrome as normal behavior (Opinion)
Typically, although there is general agreement with the theme of Pastor Niemöller's famous lament over the progression of fascism in Nazi Germany, its specifics are obscured by controversy. As obvious as it is that Hitler’s rise to power depended on the refusal of ordinary Germans to speak out against the Nazis, there is little evidence of substantial numbers of our species avoiding the same behavior in similar circumstances. Rather; it seems deeply rooted, as evidenced by our penchant for cognitive dissonance and denial.
In fact, there now seems more controversy over just what Niemöller actually said (or didn’t say) and the purity of his own personal motivation than any disagreement over his sentiments. Unfortunately, evidence that similar behavior is still humanity’s norm can be found found in virtually every newspaper, news broadcast, and commercial advertisement. Indeed, controversy and hypocrisy may permeate human popular culture to a greater degree than ever.
A compelling example is CNN’s Lou Dobbs who, for the past few years, has been fussing at America’s “broken government,” for its failure to halt the flow of illegal immigrants and illegal drugs across the Mexican Border, charges that are so at odds with reality it’s difficult to know if he intends them seriously. A Harvard graduate who allegedly majored in Economics, Dobbs doesn’t seem to recognize that the rules applying to illegal markets are different. Composed of willing buyers and sellers, their attempted suppression by police inevitably becomes both futile and counterproductive while also ultimately corrupting the enforcement bureaucracy.
Of considerable interest to me is that although criticism of Dobbs has been mounting, it’s almost always leveled at his stance on Immigration, while his equally absurd position of drugs is almost never mentioned.
In exactly the same way, the three (or four?) Presidential candidates still left in the “race,” along with the media pundits grilling them in the public interest (and for their networks' profits) all seem to assume US drug policy works so well no changes need be suggested by the candidates. nor questions asked by the press, exactly what I had gleaned from the “drug debate” between Bush the elder, H. Ross Perot, and a boyish Bill Clinton in the Fall of 1992. I remember well, because I'd taken the trouble to tune in from Spain at 2 AM and couldn’t believe such an important issue could be disposed of so quickly.
Little did I know that wouldn’t change for the next sixteen years...
Doctor Tom
Posted by tjeffo at March 2, 2008 05:42 PM