A Nation of Nuts

Instead of wondering about the state of the union, Courtland Milloy, in a recent column in the Washington Post, (January 26, 2011) questions the nation's state of mind. He concludes that "we are one nutty nation." Of course some of us have suspected that for some time but Milloy gives us hard evidence that removes all doubt. In spite of the nations boasted education system and the claim that we are enlightened, practical people, recent trends would draw another conclusion.


He points out that the economic system is, as he says, "wacky" in that high unemplyment is good for the stock market, layoffs bring big bonuses for CEOs and tax cuts for the wealthy promise to produce jobs. What right-thinking people would construct that sort of system?

Then there are the ones who squeek through the recession managing to hang on to their houses now complaining that they are the victims of "frugality fatigue." That is assuaged with the purchase of 51-inch TVs. But if that fails to restore their souls there is the possibiltiyt of finding solace in getting high on bath salts. The only down side to that remedy is that it randomly prompts people to do such things as taking knives to slit their skin. But with a little creativity one can find other chemicals that provide equally unpredictable effects.

Milloy ticks off additional ways we have found to relieve our fears as well as self-destruct. Pills by the ton, booze by the gallon, heroin from liberated Afghanistan, cocain friendly South America, weed by the bale from Mexico. And wonder of wonders, "Starbucks is coming out with bucket-size cups of caffeine" to get us out of bed.

One might think the nation would now be coping with all its woes with joy and confidence. Instead the National Institute of Mental Health provides a list of common illnesses that afflict growing numbers. Among them are "generalized anxiety disorder," "anti'social personality disorder" and "poor behavioral controls." You can add to that "panic disorder" and you begin to understand why there are 300 million firearms in the hands of fearful citizens.

I would echo the closing lament of Milloy in this plaintive question: "How strong can the state of the union really be if our minds are so unsound?"