Thursday, April 28, 2016

When You Think About It: Dissatisfaction vs. Dysfunction

F LoBuono

  dis
satisfaction






































          
[dis-sat-is-fak-shuh n, dis-sat-] 



      noun
         1.
the state or attitude of not being satisfied; discontent; displeasure.

dysfunction


[dis-fuhngk-shuh-nl] 



noun
1.
not performing normally, as an organ or structure of the body;malfunctioning.
2.
malfunctioning part or element:
It is hard to get bills through a dysfunctional congress.
3.
behaving or acting outside social norms:
All the siblings in their extremely dysfunctional family lost contact as adults.


When analyzing the surprising rise of Donald Trump and to a lesser extent, Bernie Sanders, it is important that we distinguish between these two similar sounding but, ultimately, disparate words.

Mr. Trump has managed to surprise the GOP field virtually from the beginning by playing to the dissatisfaction of voters with the status quo in Washington. Democratic candidate, Bernie Sanders, is receiving similar (but less spectacular) traction for the same reason. This is a good thing. Business as usually by our leaders has led to questions regarding not only their skill as politicians but their motivation, as well. To paraphrase the fictional newsman, Howard Beale, in the award winning film, “Network”, People are mad as hell and they’re not going to take it anymore! And, when anger is focused, it is a powerful force.

Now, here is where it gets dicey. We cannot allow our dissatisfaction with “the system” bring us to the point of dysfunction in how we intend to change it. It can be argued that the only way to fix a broken system is to completely dismantle it. However, there are others who call for restraint – we shouldn’t throw out the baby with the bathwater. The very way we effect that change will make all the difference in the end.

One of the definitions of dysfunction is behaving or acting beyond social norms.  This seems to be the very embodiment of the Trump campaign. He has played with peoples’ fears to the point of extreme behavior. His fiery rhetoric focuses anger on any group he singles out as potential “enemies of the state” – HIS state.  He encourages people to tear down without offering any solutions as to how we may actually build up. Instead of building a consensus, he’d rather build a wall. Instead of including, he is all about excluding. His campaign rallies are raucous affairs where the message is STRICTLY controlled and dissent is squashed. Violence against groups or individuals who disagree with “The Donald” if not actively encouraged, is tacitly so. This is the true meaning of the word dysfunction

Senator Sanders has also found success in tapping into that same vein. However, in my mind, Sanders offers change in way that lacks the dysfunction of Trump and his followers.  In a sense, he encourages change in a kinder, gentler way.  Both agree change is necessary. How they would go about accomplishing that is radically different. Of course, Hillary Clinton offers her own brand of harnessing dissatisfaction and turning it into votes (another conversation for another entry).

One of the things I find distressing is the fact that Trump continues to gain momentum by accentuating both dissatisfaction AND dysfunction while Sanders’ platform seems to waning.  Trump preaches Fear and Loathing and his devotees sing “Hallelujah”! The meaner and angrier he gets, the more they seem to love him for it. Instead of being embarrassed by it, it is almost as if they wear their dysfunction (i.e. anti-social behavior) like a badge of courage. And, the uglier it gets, the more they seem to like it.

hings needn’t be so mean-spirited to effect real change. I think we can ALL agree that a new way of doing things in Washington is essential. It all comes down to WHAT we want to change and HOW we want to change it.


The choice is ours – don’t allow your DISSATISFACTION become DYSFUNCTION.

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