A Limited Republic

 

 

Today’s essay applies individual dynamics that result in neurosis to the origin of our founding. Yes, I’m going to take liberties in the process and hope to provide additional insight. In the study of individual neurosis, early events in development are of extreme importance because of non-cognitive and cognitive development of words and language and its effect on memory or memory traces. Not necessarily true with our origin. Also important, is the belief that early events or conflicts affect individuals differently based on constitutional differences etc. As a result, early experiences of trauma are forgotten or repressed in a latency stage. Thus, these traumatic experiences become dormant and unquestionably express themselves at a later date in distorted, deformed and abhorrent manner. With that brief overview, I’m going to apply them to today’s state of affairs.

In the 1770s, the power structure that established our form of government pertained to white, well-to-do males. They formed a government which they called a Republic. However, this Republic was held by a few .The power, of the people, was not evenly distributed. There were voting limitations based on arbitrary and discriminatory thought at the time pertaining to women, Marines, Indians etc. The countries first two Senators from the state of Pennsylvania, were elected by its legislature. The framers also decided to provide two Senators per state regardless of population. These powerful white men established rules, procedures and traditions for their descendants. These founding “fathers” owned slaves and slave ownership helped establish powerful economic rule for the South. Slavery was based on economics and not on religious principles. The Judeo-Christian commandments are not racist. They established a curbing of sexual and aggressive instincts with prohibitions and commandments prohibiting the ill treatment of man. In fact a compromise, for the South, was to count a black as 3/5 of a person for census purposes. A political compromise at best. What a representation.

The South, with its racist lawmakers, created a powerful geographical block. In fact this group is so powerful and so righteous, it had no difficulty creating laws, rules, regulations, prohibitions and punishments for the nonhumans. Racism, slavery was economically important for these few wealthy. They had no trouble in rationalizing their cause with the power of their cognitive omnipotence. These others were not worthy and inferior. Their beliefs were above the laws of morality, fairness, and human treatment of man. Neither science nor logic was a match for the emotional state of hatred, racism and slavery. The emotions of hate, dominance and exploitation were supreme for these Christians in name only. What kind of Christian nation? It’s not about belief, it’s about policies, laws, education, social mores and not what’s read in church.

Slavery, exploitation, inhumane treatment of black skinned became the mores, culture and tradition. Indians were also exploited, and massacred. Wikipedia lists massacred events, the last occurring in Nevada in 1911.  The bad guys are? Linda and I viewed “Cheyenne Autumn” with Richard Widmark depicting the inhumane treatment of the Indians. Can you imagine , according to legend, Manhattan was purchased from the Native Americans for $24 worth of trinkets and beads, or for $1,1000 in 2012 dollars? And, we purchased the territory of Louisiana from France for $15 million. And how did it happen that France had the land title?

 Manifest Destiny and the Monroe Doctrine furthered exploitation by white power. So, historically our traditions and exploits were well established based on European dynasties and available for all to know. Our white, hate, slave masters racist and discriminatory Immigration Acts furthered the Republic’s stance. Even more recently, in the 20^th century, per the article “Doing More with Less” in August 29, 2021 edition of The New York Times described racist policies pertaining to college and university. A few examples: 1. Some college presidents lobbied to close black colleges to absorb their funding 2. A few states paid to send black students seeking graduate education to neighboring states 3. Missouri sent 32 across state lines in 1935 4. Kentucky appropriated $5,000 to send black graduate students out of state and cut funding to one of its own black colleges to make up for the difference. 5. Norman, Oklahoma was a sundown town. Black people faced legal action physical abuse or both when discovered after dark. Not until January, 2020 did the city of Norman condemn and apologize for its status as a sundown town which lasted into the 1960s.

The   Civil War loss resulted in a massive narcissistic injury to the white elite. However, the symbolic confederate flag and statues still remain important for those inadequate white racists. A little over 20 years ago, I visited one shop that sold Civil War and Nazi memorabilia. White hate was displayed in full view at that shop. Incidentally, these 11 states seceded: South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas, Tennessee, and North Carolina. Of these seceding, only Virginia has a respectable Covid-19 vaccine rate. The southern racists continue to express self-hate.

Economically, politically, and socially our racist and discriminatory traditions are clear and well established. Might is white. Segregation policies changed little for the black skinned individuals until the 1960s. Kennedys, King Jr, Malcolm X., Johnson and others began implementing change. Voting, economics, and affirmative action was initiated to give black skinned individuals a potentially better chance. College football coaches began to recruit black athletes and not because of a sense of morality. Black athletes were recruited because they provided skill and gave these coaches a better chance to win.  Ernie Davis, for example was the first black American Heisman trophy recipient. When his Syracuse team played the University of Texas, segregation prevailed. During the game, Davis was treated dirty by the white Texas Longhorn players and fans. Hate racism and discrimination was exemplified on the gridiron. However, his play pierced white supremacy like an Achilles injury .Davis’s play foreshadowed college football dominance by black athletes. Happily, Don Canham a University of Michigan track coach and A.D. totally embraced black athletes.

Back in the day, there were a few black skinned musical artists, actors, actresses or entertainers. During that time period, blacks were there to entertain. They were not a threat. Even white folks had black painted faces. No disrespect. It was performance. Black’s threaten those insecure white folks and cannot be rivaled   anymore No longer can that fact be rationalized because they are dominating football, basketball and become commonplace on TV and the movies. Politically, the election of Barack Obama was a test of reality. No longer, could educationally and emotionally inadequate white folks be seen as supreme. Things were changing in this country and were no longer latent .Grievances, racism, and hate became more readily activated and surfaced. With consensus, modeling an overt display of discrimination surfaced. Once again, moral and ethical values and behavior have become decimated by insecurity and hate. So when a Republican Party nominates a racist for president, overt racism becomes the norm and the slogan “make America great” pertains to our country’s racist and exploitative beginning. Democracy then was not for all and today democracy today is also not for all. The white power structure and not the people should determine elected officials. John C .Calhoun would be happy for giving power to the states over the federal government.

Back to our model for an understanding of why an adult with no history of breaking the law would act out, and  be prosecuted for a non-ethical or criminal act? 1. Take the case of this one female currently awaiting sentencing for her January 6 involvement in the capitol riot. She, never arrested prior, became part of the mob that attacked the capitol. She was on tape stating “let’s find Nancy and put a hole in her brain” or something similar. She had her picture taken with her make America great hat. She sent that picture to her children and then told them to erase the picture. 2. There were a number of attorneys including Rudy that submitted false claims to the court regarding the stolen election lie. Rudy stated that he was told, something to the effect, that the Dominion Voting Machines were compromised. When asked what, when and how he heard this information, he claimed he didn’t remember, added that he didn’t verify the information to see if it was accurate, and didn’t seek to disprove that conspiracy claim. Other attorneys are facing criminal actions as well as the voiding of their license to practice law because of their frivolous election lie lawsuits.

Employing our model, we would expect to find repressed sexual or aggressive emotional trauma dating back to the first five years of their development. The repressed trauma would be unconscious and not available to memory. Then, the period of latency follows. Some significant event or events like supporting the election lie for Trump would trigger those past emotional conflictual traumas. The aggressive trauma would come to the surface and be expressed in a distorted, altered, unrecognizable and altered form. In other words, neurotic symptoms of an aggressive and/ or sexual nature can surface at any time. Thus, self-defeating behavior turned inward can be traced to unconscious childhood psychosexual development. One does not, one day, as an adult decide to engage in criminal behavior. Look into the past for clues to explain and understand.

In essence, we were never a full-fledged democracy and began our government with racist principles. Nowhere are God’s teachings witnessed, only with words. The power of the people has to be curtailed because they will elect the undesirables who will take the power. Take what? This is a white country that has established laws and traditions to keep the status quo. Because its written history, the traditions are known to all. Overt racism is no longer latent and repressed but exhibits itself with rallies, Congressional Republican voting; restrictions around voting laws etc. Overt racism is a neurotic symptom and threatens the wellbeing of the majority.

PS

I understand democracy as something that gives the weak the same chance as the strong stated Mohandas Gandhi.

Democracy is not the law of the majority but protection of the minority stated Albert Camus.

Reference

Freud, Sigmund. The Ego and the Id, W.W.Norton.