Mods delete please--I got an error message and ended up doubleposting.

[Skidmore]

I recently read an article in passing somewhere this past week (sorry, don't have a link or anything right now but will try to find that item again) about how the current politicals struggle between the parties are tending to break down over father and mother issues, with the Rs asserting the traditional patriarchal role and the Ds reflecting the concerns of women. In some ways, it makes sense. The article also talked about the dyfunctional state of governance now and how the Rs have also assumed the role of an abusive spouse by using many of the techniques an abusive husband uses to cower and control his spouse. Having escaped an abusive spouse once myself, I see the situational parallels made by this argument. I guess the question this leaves me with is how can the Dem leaders learn to shake the "battered spouse syndrome" they appear to be comfortable with? In my situation, I had to escape and "uncouple" before I could move forward. Uncoupling was difficult because I had to learn to make decisions without factoring my ex-husband into the decisionmaking process. How do the Dems uncouple? What makes this question so complicated, in my mind, is that the institution of marriage had to be trashed during the process of uncoupling for me to survive. It was the only alternative How can we preserve the constitution and still have an uncoupling? What are the institutions, excluding the constitution, which can afford to be trashed to preserve the nation and the rights and freedoms it guarantees without a "War of the Roses"?

This whole post may seem naive to some of you, but the article resonated with me and I began to wonder about what steps would need to be taken for a successful uncoupling of the parties. They may be adversarial but sometimes cover for each other's dysfunctionality.

Anyway, observations, comments welcomed.