Spite

The current political climate in the U.S. is based on spite. The base childishness of our predominantly male politicians is stunning. House Speaker Boehner is particularly spiteful in contrast to House Majority Whip Cantor's whining entitlement. President Obama's sighing frustration is justified, but somewhat ineffective in the face of these acid-spitting bullies.

Spite leads nowhere. It is the currency of a dysfunctional marriage, wherein two old people nag and bicker their ways to their graves without making any significant contribution to the lives around them. This dynamic in a government charged with saving the planet from climate degradation and overpopulation is sickening. 

True debate and compromise do not encourage or entertain spite. The current misconception that Newt Gingrich is a wonderful debater glaringly illustrates the public's ignorance of what true debate entails. True debate entails exposing factual data and eloquently explaining positions based on that data. It does not entail turning facts into barbs to personally deflate the opponent for the sake of public amusement. That is called entertainment, or showboating.

I have quickly distanced myself from relationships where spiteful behavior seems to be developing. There is no external balm that will cure a person of the spite habit, I believe. The quality of interpersonal relationships in my life is a large part of the flavor of my life. If I poison that flavor with the vile taste of spite, I sabotage my own practice. Liberation entails freeing myself from unhealthy situations and relationships. In the case of politics, it entails voting for those who display a healthy daily practice by their own behavior. Spite in an adult is an obvious symptom of immaturity and mental dysfunction.