Commander in Chief

This week Donald Trump and Hilary Clinton traded blows in the televised debate aimed at winning over undecided voters as they seek to become America’s next Commander in Chief. How has it come to this – that America, the champion of world democracy, should be reduced to a belligerent slagging match between caricature candidates fronting like puppets for their corporate masters. If the world’s situation was not so perilous it might even be funny. But within a few short months the American people will choose one of these two to serve them and invest them with the power to start a nuclear holocaust. How democratic is America and why would any nation want to emulate their interpretation of democracy? According to Noam Chomsky, a Harvard academic and political commentator, America systematically undermines any country where there is a danger of true democracy breaking out. He believes that the CIA has been fuelling dissent around the globe for decades and backing those who can be bought to do their bidding. If subversion fails they can send in the marines as a last resort. In Western culture we are encouraged to pursue a lifestyle that undermines our health. The explosion of chronic diseases that are overwhelming our health services results in cries for additional funding to support our ‘front line heroes’ in the fight against cancer, diabetes, heart disease etc. Even when the funds can be found they only serve to maintain the status quo rather than solving the problems at their source. Anyone suggesting that we could protect our health by changing our ways should not run for public office; it’s not a vote winning strategy. If however the idea caught on to the extent that it looked like a genuine democratic initiative then doubtless the CIA would foment some discord to ensure that American business interests would benefit. Each of us is our own Commander in Chief in control of our health. We have the power to start a holocaust in our wellbeing with every mouthful we eat and every misguided thought we think. We can abdicate our responsibilities to others to decide what we eat, what quick-fix medicine we take, what TV station to tell us what to think or what political puppet to vote for. Alternatively, we could embark on a democratic experiment in health where we enquire, through a meditative practice, how each part of our body is feeling, what’s going on for us right now, what we can do to optimally support each cell of our being. We could investigate claims made by pharmaceutical product suppliers, we could buy organic produce and grass-fed beef, we could ‘go green’ and live sustainably. We could even grow our own food free of pesticides and fertilisers and even start our own ‘Farmacies’. We could talk to our neighbours and build community. We could live in harmony with our fellow man and care for our natural environment. We might even canvass the views of our neighbours as to how to optimise the health of our society. But enough already; it smells like meaningful democracy. We don’t want to invite the marines to kick in our front door.