Community Dysfunction

Have you ever wondered why our community seems so dysfunctional?  Is it just us, or are we part of a larger culture that is increasingly polarized?   Long before I became a broadcaster, I did a fair amount of counseling, usually family counseling.  Over the years I began to see some pretty consistent characteristics of a dysfunctional family.  First, there was often a lot of name calling.  Memo to the community leaders: when you call people with whom you disagree insulting words like “negative” or “naysayers,” you are a full-fledged contributor to the dysfunction.  Second, there was the “I’m right and you’re wrong mindset.”  Rarely was it that simple.  Usually the truth was something far different than either party imagined.  Finally, there was a total breakdown in trust.  No longer were ideas being debated, but motives were being called into question.  So what does all this mean?  Perhaps some of the economic development money the state awarded us should be spent on a community therapist.  Lord knows, we could all use it.