Alcoholics describe their experience with alcohol in a way that very nearly mirrors my experience with political news. I have to try very hard to avoid partisan political discussion because even a small amount of exposure can send me spiraling into depression and ultimately a sense of despair. Some people can handle it. I cannot.
Growing up, I watched This Week with David Brinkley with my grandfather on Sunday mornings. I loved Sam Donaldson, Cokie Roberts and George Will. That was where my addiction started and by the time I was in college, I was a political news junkie. I listened to Rush Limbaugh for three hours a day and National Public Radio the rest of the time. On Sunday mornings I recorded the political shows so I could watch This Week, Meet the Press and The McLaughlin Group back to back.
At some point there was a shift away from politics being a positive form of entertainment. It because a source of frustration for me, especially as I began to think of myself as more of a Libertarian.
When Rush Limbaugh returned to his show after re-hab, he talked about how it’s much easier to be a happy person when you distance yourself from politics. That was it. I walked away and now, as much as possible, I try my best to stay away from it. I’d rather be happy than right.
I’ve exchanged politics for technology because technology offers real solutions rather than false promises and power grabs. On Brief 377 we covered a Silicon Valley company called LS9. They’ve genetically modified bacteria to feed on wood chips or straw and excrete crude oil. Within just a few years their technology very well may eliminate our dependence on foreign oil. The political arguments haven’t changed much in years and years. Technology can transform our lives virtually overnight.
I won’t always be able to avoid political discussions, but I’m trying as hard as I can. Live is much more fun without it.
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(chorus in unison) “Hi, Neal!”
Not knowing too much how you feel about past and current administrations, would you think your “disease” would return if you were stuck in four-to-eight years of a political environment that severely went against your desired way of living? I know that’s what “zeal”-izes the person I know that can’t stop talking politics.
I am the same way. I would listen to Rush and Glenn Beck (heck I listened to Beck when he first started his current program in Tampa Bay afternoon drive time) every day without fail.
I can’t stand trying to have conversations with people about politics b/c quite honestly it tends to be two type A personalities who are never going to change their views.
Now that I live in California, I have given up all hope of having a meaningful political conversation with anyone I agree with.
I find life is easier if you just smile and nod, then slowly walk away when one of these left wing zealots…oops I mean residents of CA start talking about blah blah blah.
I’m exactly the same way! I was a huge political junkie for years. I never had cable news or news radio turned off. But a few years ago I just couldn’t handle it anymore. I don’t know why but now it takes a lot of effort for me to even turn on the news. I don’t do it often. And I don’t know what happened. Maybe the tone has changed or something like that. But even just trying to think about it feels me with dread.
Might change one line.
“I’d rather be happy than” fight.
I’m still right
but would rather divert my energy into pursuits that bring me joy.
Once upon a time, I went to UNH and was a nice, long-haired, bearded, hippy. Then I read Atlas Shrugged, looked around, and said, “Wow, my world-view sucks.” So I moved to Colorado, became more conservative about financial issues, more liberal about social issues, and decided to be a hard-core Libertarian. I even voted for Harry Browne in 2000. Then after a couple of years, I realized being a hard-core Anything makes you a prick, so I too have backed off of politics. And even though I’ve abandoned the LP due to fundamental and practical irrelevance, I still vote libertarian when possible.
More often these days, I also pour more effort into technology, as I feel these solutions provide more positive results than politics ever could. I coach a Jr. High LEGO Robotics team for the sole purpose of inspiring more potential engineers to make the world a better place, and I work for a small company that develops a web-based purchasing system to empower the pharmacies themselves in the cut-throat pharmaceutical industry.
But enough about me. I just had to let all that gush out when faced with Neal’s post of an identical journey through life. And I haven’t even touched on the fact we’re both fathers!
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