[vinnym86]

Originally Posted by Dr. David R. Beisel, Professor of Psychohistory

Some Propositions to Ponder
6 and 7 October 2008
Dr. Beisel

The Great Financial Crisis of 2008 must be seen in the largest possible context. As part of the war between radical Islamic fundamentalists and the west, it’s clear those who wish the West harm couldn’t be happier. They’ve attacked us through the psychological weakness built into American culture. We’ve helped them by administering some deep, self-inflicted wounds.

A goal of the 9/11 attackers was to weaken and destroy America’s financial strength and dominance. That’s why the World Trade Center was specifically targeted, not only because it was a symbol of US financial might, but also because it was a workplace for thousands of global financial experts whose years of experience, should they be eliminated in one blow, could not easily be replaced, if at all.

Like those Reactive societies in the past who acted only after they were severely hurt, we’ve allowed things to reach rock bottom. The horse is out of the barn and any response is enormously difficult, or completely ineffectual. This is clearly irrational behavior, especially after we’ve ignored ample warnings. Why do we act in this way?

We’re an Overindulgent Society that believes in such fantasies as: 1) there are no limits; 2) there are no consequences; 3) mistakes won’t hurt you because there’s always another chance. Add to this the arrogant belief that we can do anything, can solve any problem (“After all, we’re Americans”). Where do these notions come from?

We know that societies can destroy themselves, especially after long-term heavy stressors create the likelihood of more irrational behavior. That likelihood is enhanced because humans employ a series of immature intra-psychic defenses to escape the uncomfortable emotions aroused by realistic appraisals of what’s happening, or likely to happen to us.

Global warming, energy dependence, the irresponsible encouragement of capitalism to endlessly consume are driven by advertising’s persistent mantra that material things will make you happy. It means when we’re frightened or depressed we do what we’re conditioned to do, go shopping—spend, spend, spend, buy, buy, buy—regardless of the consequences. We’re addicted to non-adaptive escapes—food, sports, entertainment, drugs, automobiles, The Ostrich Effect, sex, credit card debt, owning homes whose mortgages we can’t pay, and have found plenty of people willing to indulge us in these things.

Some of us spend our whole lives sleepwalking through history. We need to wake up. Your country needs you. Help it.

This is how we were greeted in class, with this paper, and were told to discuss our opinion on whats going on in the world.

Side note, this class is the most interesting class i've ever taken--A psychological analysis of history. Not just for the subject material, but this professor. Here's his background: David R. Beisel, PhD, teaches honors history and psychohistory at Rockland Community College, State University of New York, where he has taught psychohistory to over 6,000 students since 1976. He has been president of the International Psychohistorical Association, editor of The Journal of Psychohistory, and is on the Editorial Board of Clio's Psyche. He is the recipient of both the national NISOD Award for Teaching Excellence and the State of New York Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching. He has published many articles on American and European history. His book, The Suicidal Embrace: Hitler, the Allies, and the Origins of the Second World War, was published 2003.