Election Projection

November 8, 2016 — cray cray, defense mechanism, election, nature, politics, projection

Pogo predicts

I am not making a prediction on the outcome of the election.  Projection in this instance refers to the defense mechanism of projecting our own faults onto others. This is one of the common ways we control our environment and defend our self image.  They include denial, intellectualization, repression, regression, displacement, compensation, and projection, also sometimes called transference.  I took a quiz the other day that has disturbed me. Here it is.  It may disturb you too.  I scored a few points in regression and intellectualization and my highest score was in projection.  I understand that his quiz is not a shrink and there is nothing conclusive about how I defend my position.  I instantly became angry at the idea that I project blame on others because that is what I dislike about others….well, there it is….. some crazy downward cycle of blame operating in my very own psyche. I am contributing to our mutual distrust and blame my own self. This is known as the shadow…the hidden secrets we hide even from ourselves. Kooky stuff.  This political season has damaged us all with the nasty rhetoric and new levels of dirty tricks.

It is very easy in this political environment to slip into a simplistic view about how “the other” is ruining everything. As a nation we will go even more haywire than we are now if we can’t see this blame game as the destructive habit it is.  Language about reaching across the aisle will fall on deaf ears if we don’t take a close look into our own hearts and minds.  We have met the enemy and he is us. We all have some work to do.  Mother Nature is watching.

Pogo predicts