THE ENABLED SOCIETY

We all see enabling as dysfunctional. I'm not a psychiatrist by any means, but I think it is obvious to all of us that enabling is dysfunctional- and yet- what do we see in our American society? We see enabling everywhere and all the time.

When I was teaching school I would encounter enabling parents. Their child was never responsible for ANYTHING. One time I had a student who was throwing rocks on the playground and his mother defended him " they were only small rocks" WHAT?!! SMALL ROCKS?!! We didn't allow any rock throwing for obvious reasons. When you encountered situations like this you knew the parents were in for real trouble. We might have to deal with the results of this kind of parenting at school, but the parents would deal with the results of this kind of parenting and ENABLING, for the rest of their lives. The child would deal with the consequences of this ENABLING and excuse making in their lives forever, unfortunately.

But what happens when you enable a society? Behavior begins to deteriorate. Why would you work hard if someone will pay your bills? Why would you pay full cost for your own health insurance if someone is going to pay it for you? Why would you behave in school if you've got the teacher over the barrel and you can do anything you want and get away with it? Why would you be careful to buy property that is out of a flood plane when the Federal Government will bale you out if there is a flood? Why would you try to be strong if you can get paid for being weak?

The list goes on and on and on. Politicians milk this enabling for all it is worth- you really are a victim and they will see that you get PAID. Lawyers want the big bucks and advertise to take EVERY drug company or manufacturer that they can to court. They take the big bucks and the suckers get their $14.89 or $7.00 or whatever. Health care costs skyrocket to pay for everybody's windfall in this litigious society. We all pay more for products and more for taxes- but those of us that still will  and can pay these bills will always be left holding the bag.

Discipline in school and in the society in general is breaking down. The country's debt continues to mount. The politicians win the elections and look for another dysfunctional cause to champion - you are disabled if you say you are and they will get you your rights - to heck with everybody else-  the general population will pay the bill and put up with the inconvenience whatever that may be.

America can break out of this by just saying NO!!! NO, WE WON'T PAY THE TAXES. NO WE WON'T BELIEVE YOU ARE A VICTIM.NO, WE WON'T LET KIDS MISBEHAVE IN SCHOOL. YES, WE WILL MAKE PARENTS MAKE LUNCHES AND REQUIRE KIDS TO FOLLOW SIMPLE DRESS CODE RULES AND SAVE DRINKS UNTIL RECESS.

America can only get healthy again when the ENABLERS are stopped. I've seen it in school. When you have a substitute the kids size him/her up quickly- "what can we get away with here? What will be expected?" Katy bar the door if kids figure out they can run the teacher instead of the other way around. I know of situations where the kids behaved better for the substitute than for their real teacher. I knew one substitute ( guest teacher these days) that changed the furniture arrangement in the room- she was the boss for that day and the kids knew it. America can become the boss again- it is truly amazing how fast things can change when the person in charge just says NO and takes charge. Quit being weak and STOP THE ENABLERS COLD- STOP THEM RIGHT IN THEIR TRACKS- NO MORE ENABLING!!