As a clinical psychologist, I treat victims of violence. At times, these people are blamed for their circumstances. Victims are usually on the short end of the power continuum. I recently realized what most of us already know intuitively -- the American public has become such a case of the “blamed victim”.

  The media has gone commercial and is focused on entertainment. As a result, information that makes a difference to voters is secondary or neglected. The answers to the question: Why there isn’t larger voter turnout? The pundits reply: voter apathy, ignorance, disinterest, and laziness. In other words, the people get blamed for their inactivity and the resulting lack of say-so in government. This happens while potential voters being misinformed or not informed at all by a media focused on advertising and entertainment. If media conglomerat ... Read More »

  I work with a client that is a 58 year old man. He has reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD) that is the result of polio as a child. He worked as a truck driver, cabinet maker, soldier, and goldsmith among several other occupations as a younger man. He is now unable to work due to the RSD, diabetes, heart troubles, and severe depression.

  He lives on $1,100 a month. He takes a number of medications. While eligible for reduced housing costs, he cannot get that because local funds have been cut back. His rent and utilities come to $ ... Read More »