Are you panicking over where the presidential race stands?
Submitted by Chad on Tue, 09/09/2008 - 10:09
Even after the convention bounces, Barack Obama and John McCain are virtually tied in the polls. The focus has been on Sarah Palin and Sarah Palin, but not on the issues or even the presidential candidates. And there are 8 weeks until the election.
Is it time to panic? Are you panicking now? As the great philosopher Lou Reed once said, "Valium would have helped that bash."
Well, I can't prescribe Valium for every reader or even provide acetaminophen with codeine (available w/o a prescription in Canada) to ease the pain. So what do you do for the next 8 weeks?
Obama has remained calm and cool since he announced his presidential run in February 2007. When Obama trailed in the polls late in 2007, he didn't panic. When Sen. Hillary Clinton regained momentum in New Hampshire, no panic. When Clinton surged at the end, again no signs of panic. And now, with momentum on the side of McCain/Palin, there is no panic.
I have had anxiety issues. I have had prescriptions for Valium and similar cousins of the product, so I definitely have some familiarity with this world. While medication is a useful tool, you also have to be more pro-active in trying to resolve your anxiety. So let's try and diffuse some of that anxiety.
-- If you are anxious now, try being a Republican in 1988 when Michael Dukakis had an 18-point lead. True, Dukakis made a number of mistakes, but McCain is certainly capable of that as well. Winning now doesn't mean winning later.
-- Limit your TV viewing in general. You could just watch Keith Olbermann and Rachel Maddow 5 days a week, and feel content. But a sampling of the right-wing media and the clueless corporate media is necessary to get a true feel of the world. But be very careful: too much TV punditry, whether you agree or disagree, can distort your view and, yes, add extra anxiety to your life.
-- Notice that even the MSM is spending some time actually being critical of the Republican nominees for president and vice president. We can all agree that they don't spend enough time and resources, but there is more in 2008 than 2004 or 2000. It's an encouraging sign.
-- The debates are still to come. McCain and Palin have been frighteningly absent in their specifics for anything. While they have sailed scot-free on this so far, debates bring this inadequacy out.
-- Read up on Canada or Mexico or [insert country name here]. Discover the joys of what it would be like to live in a different country.
-- Finally, do something. Make a contribution, not just financial. Use your time, resources, money, and whatever to make you feel like you are making a difference. And if you can't do that, exercise or clean your damn apartment these things help to reduce anxiety.
