We have two homophones, words that sound the same but differ in spelling. Bass, as in bass fiddle or bass singer, signifies the lowest range of sound, vocal or instrumental. In this sense, “bass” comports with “base” in its moral dimension. Ignoring its chemical, geometric, architectural and logical meanings, when “base” is used in reference to people it means “low-life,” “unreliable,” “undesirable,” perhaps “criminal.” So, the correct political sense of a party’s “base” is low down, ill-informed, badly motivated and beneath contempt. Currently, this is especially true of the Republican base.
Yes, members of a party’s base constituency can seem like decently educated, mannerly and respectable folks who keep neat homes and stay out of jail. Something important, however, is lacking in their thoughts and feelings. They lack crucial insight into society, politics, humanity and themselves. They lack self-critique and contextualization. They lack something of empathetic understanding of the world at large and other people.
Lois Frankel just emailed the following statements: “You know the quote ‘Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results?’ Well, the Tea Party needs to see a doctor.”
A shrink, to conduct massive group therapy, is just what is needed. Sadly, it’s not going to happen. The whole country is going to have to take their spanking with them. Their radical fixations are too firmly set in their heads to be released by anything less than a whack from a two-by-four or a full stop to the checking account. Just wait till they look into a mirror and see themselves not getting SSI payments in full, on time. It can happen if they screw up the government badly enough, which seems possible.
Of course, it’s too late to be writing this. I began my war on the tea party idiocy over two years ago. Talking or writing into a five-gallon can will never suffice. The fluid it contains has no way to respond but by heating up. The tea party folks keep on boiling at too high a temperature to notice anything going on outside of their five-gallon. It cannot avoid ultimate puncture or explosive rupture from within, unless the Democrats get together enough force of numbers to simply crush it in the next two elections.
What a scatter of repercussion and recrimination that would bring!
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