Listening to ourselves

Let's call it intellectual incest.

Our nation suffers from an acute case of intellectual incest from top to bottom. By no means is this anything new, but the malady is at the core of the issue toward resolving the pressing problems facing our nation.

Here's how it works. And just so you know, we're all guilty.

When the president surrounds himself with power brokers to discuss some topic of national importance, the tendency is to gather those of like minds. With everyone in agreement, there is no voice of dissent and thus: intellectual incest.

The problem, of course, knows no political distinction. The conservative side of the political base is just as guilty. Like minds think alike, and as discussions unfold, nothing new is brought to the table.

But intellectual incest has some distinct downsides. Take the news out this week that our commander in chief has had but one single discussion with our combat commander in Afghanistan in the past 70 days.

Our top commander wants more troops in Afghanistan, but those who surround the president want no part of escalating warfare. President Obama gathers his band of puppets who parrot his words without listening to opposing voices such as the boots on the ground in the theater of war.

In an attempt at fairness -- as best I can muster -- those opposed to any revision of the health care problem are guilty as well. They surround themselves with those staunchly opposed to any change, and, as a result, the end of the discussion is no different than the beginning.

Perhaps intellectual incest is simply the way of politics. Perhaps we want the reinforcement of like thinkers who somehow soothe our minds that indeed we are right. The result is predetermined. If no one is present to point out shortcomings in a particular approach, rest assured no progress will result.

Why is it that all too many politicians forge forward with an issue despite overwhelming evidence that the majority of Americans oppose that very approach? Intellectual incest.

Stalemates are the firstborn of intellectual incest. Consensus is abandoned. Compromise is forgotten.

If you listen only to Fox News, you are guilty of intellectual incest. And by the same token, if you accept the words of the president with blind faith, you too are guilty.

The rancor in Washington these days has reached a semidangerous level. I see absolutely not one single thread of evidence that would indicate any change in the foreseeable future.

I can only assume we're comfortable with intellectual incest. Go to the coffee shop, hear your same opinions shared by others, reinforce your preconceived position and merrily go about your life.

All sides need to recognize that consensus is not just one solution, but rather the only solution on the complex issues of the day. The president may not want to hear those voices of opposition but whatever legacy he hopes to have depends on his abandoning an incestuous approach to all things Obama.