Self-interest

This may surprise anyone  familiar with my socialist tendencies, but I like self-interest.
Enlightened self-interest, that is.
I wrote the other day that somewhere in the vicinity of 31 million Americans identify as being in recovery from addictions. If you look at the popular vote in the last presidential election, you'll see that the winning candidate received about 4 million more votes  than the loser. And as usual,  the total vote was  only a little more than a third of the total of eligible voters.
But that's beside the point, which is this.
There is an enormous amount of political power available right now, if recovering people are willing to grasp it.
Think of the possibilities. 
Every serious presidential candidate having to take a position on issues that involve recovering people.
Issues like availability of treatment, sentencing inequality, police brutality targeting addicts, discrimination and social prejudice. The list goes on and on.
In 2008 recovery meant rebuilding the country during a time of economic disaster.
In 2015, Recovery could be the banner under which recovering individuals join together in a spirit of enlightened self-interest.
It's time.

The Truth Hurts

Two news stories thriving online have to do with politicians in disgrace. Certainly nothing new about that. Both have to do with mayors, one in Toronto, one local, in Marcus Hook.

Both involving booze and sexually inappropriate behavior. 

Stories like this are as old as time and always appeal to that side of us that loves to see a spectacular wreck. 

Think about this, though. 

What's it like to be the father or the daughter or te spouse of one of these guys. What's it like to live with this kind of crazy, self-destructive behavior day after day. 

Because many of us do. The families of addicts and alcoholics learn to live with a lot. 

And have the scars to show for it.