Recently, it was reported that a group from Appalachia demonstrated in front of

the White House in support of restricting coal mining companies from continuing
the procedure of mountain-top removal. Members of that group assert a number
of deleterious environmental results coming from this procedure. According to
their claims, poisonous wastes are deposited into the water supply, rendering the
entire area uninhabitable.

There is every reason to believe that these claims are accurate. A large number
of individuals have been, or likely soon will be affected, Still the likelihood that
these conditions will soon change is not likely to be a function of either of these
matters.

The two opposing groups are the coal mining companies and the residents of the
affected area. The power differential between the two is enormous. In a comment
I made about the situation, I likened it to the "Beverly Hillbillies meeting Black
Water." The residents have nothing to offer the companies to change, nor do
they have anything with which to threaten them.

The residents then chose to do something that can most charitably be called,
counterproductive. Somehow, they conjured the fantasy that if they were to
demonstrate in front of the White House, someone (never specified who) would
become aware of their cause and intercede on their behalf. Such, of course, was
not to be the case. Since the demonstrators had nothing to offer to the Obama
Administration (in this case, votes), they received no attention.

Instead a number of their group was arrested for causing a disturbance.

Eventually the group packed up and went back to the "hollows from whence they
had come. For several days preceding the demonstrations and for a few days
following, an OEN writer provided coverage of the event, and posted a video or
two on YouTube. But, in the hurricane of 24 hour coverage, the event was little
noted, nor long remembered.

Compromise goes on every day. It can range from the adjustments we make
within the family to maintain loving relationships, to the momentous decisions
reached by leaders of countries. Both parties must desire something the
other party can offer or withhold. If this condition does not obtain, then nothing
changes.

Some have called members of one of the parties, "The Wealthy," others have
named them, "The Ruling Class," while still others call them, "Politicians." One of
the descriptors which applies no matter which of these names we use, it is that
of, "Psychopath." As in the case of any generalization, this term cannot in all
cases be applied to every member of the class, but it is safe to say that it is
applicable to most.
In a classic 1956 film, Invasion of he Body Snatchers, normal people were
transformed into creatures without feelings, yet, in all other ways,
indistinguishable from normal human beings. This transformation occurred after
being attacked by alien creatures from outer space. These transformed humans
could only be recognized by a swelling on the back of the neck. This swelling
resulted in naming these captured, dehumanized individuals, the label, "Pod
People."

We too, have our own very real Pod People with whom we must contend. We call
them sociopaths, psychopaths, or anti-social personalities. It has been
estimated that from 1 to 4% of the U.S. Population is composed of psychopaths
(almost entirely males, although several female candidates participating in the
2010 election raise serious question in regard to this assertion). While there are
many behavioral variants, the psychopath is recognized by his complete and total
indifference to the effect of his actions on other people.

"... and characteristic of the psychopath are shallow

emotions, the utter absence of empathy, guilt, or remorse,
glibness/superficial charm, manipulativeness,
inconsistency, deceitfulness/lying and a grandiose sense
of self-worth."

Almost all of us have had experience with the psychopath. Most recently, it has
been the belligerent, the intractable, and inevitably stupid manager or supervisor.
For some, (approximately a third for girls, and 20% for boys) it was the
molestation suffered at the hands of the trusted adult; the teacher, the
clergyman, or the coach.

In the end, we all have suffered at the hands of psychopaths: that giant ruling
class which is comprised of our elected officials, some in the Supreme Court,
others in the Military, (including the PMCs) the CEOs of giant corporations, and
the bankers who fill the caverns of Wall Street. In the real world they are Sarah
Palin, John McCain, Rush Limbaugh, Clarence Thomas, and David Petraeus.
When we turn away, seeking respite in fiction, there is Gordon Gekko happily
waiting to greet us.

When you think about these experiences, it is evident that there is and there
never was any negotiation possible with these psychopaths. They wanted what
they wanted and they took it.

So the question then becomes how does one bring about change when dealing
with the psychopath class? I can tell you how it is not achieved. It does not come
about through negotiation. It does not happen by street demonstrations, nor the
expression of anger or moral outrage. Nor does it come about by accusations of
conspiracies haunted by ghostly, unnamed conspirators.
Then, what is left? It seems to me that the only ultimate solution is to become
part of them! With all the technology available to reach out and communicate, it
should be possible for the young, energetic and educated of our young adult
population to use the tools which they access every day, to run costless
campaigns making it possible for them to circumvent the established party
control and find a way to replace one psychopath at a time.

I look at the number of friends that people claim for themselves In Facebook and
Twitter. The famous "Six Degrees of Separation," have certainly collapsed to an
unknown smaller number. Remembering the communication links which were
made between the student population of Iran, and the rest of the world, it should
be possible to use those same mechanisms for individuals to find a way to
become elected as members of the House of Representatives, taking the first
steps to returning us to the dream of being a Representative Republic.

Go forth and multiply!