Digby had a fine post yesterday, noting that individual Repug members of Congress often vote against the standard Repug line, as Indiana's Dan Burton did on the new drug bill, when the matters under consideration move from the theoretical world of politics into the real world of flesh-n-blood humanity. Digby says that empathy (a sense that seems stunted in conservatives) is wired into humans to make us better able to survive. It's a sense we're supposed to develop as we age, but not everyone gets it in the same degree.
One of the things I remember from my educational psychology class is that we all go through a stage of adolescent egocentrism, when we feel as though we are the center of the universe and everybody is watching us. For example: If we're walking down a busy street in a major city and we stumble, we're convinced everyone saw it. As we move into adulthood, we're supposed to leave this stage behind. Our culture makes this transition tough, though. The basic message of most advertising we see is that we have the right to satisfy our every desire and/or that we can shape the world to suit ourselves. It's adolescent egocentrism in reverse--instead of radiating out from ourselves the sense that we're the center of the universe's attention, the idea that we're entitled to be the center of attention is constantly rained down on us. And from there, it's a short leap to embrace a political philosophy that puts ourselves at the center and subordinates the concerns and desires of others as less important than our own. Like, say, modern conservatism.
I don't have a good conclusion for this--I'm just thinking out loud and killing time until the football starts this afternoon. To that end, here are the picks for the second weekend of the NFL playoffs. I modestly note that I picked all four winners last weekend, although I was two late kicks from being two-and-two. No wagering with these picks--unless you're an idiot, then have at 'em.
Indianapolis at Baltimore (today, 3:30pm Central, CBS): Perhaps I am lacking empathy to say so, but if I have to see or read one more story featuring sad-eyed Baltimore geezers whining about how their hearts were broken when the Colts moved to Indy in 1984, I am going over the wall. If Colts fans want something to cry about, all they'll have to do is watch the Ravens' defense today. Ravens 23, Colts 13.
Philadelphia at New Orleans (tonight, 7pm, Fox): Toughest game of the weekend to pick. Based on the fact that the Eagles had all they could do to beat an inferior Giants team last weekend, I'll take the Saints, but I won't be surprised if I'm wrong. Saints 35, Eagles 27.
Seattle at Chicago (tomorrow, noon, Fox): The weather's turned here in the Midwest this weekend, and it's likely to be cold and snowy during the game tomorrow. Not that it's going to change my pick--it'll just make the game more fun to watch. I hate to pick the Bears against ex-Packers coach Mike Holmgren and former Green Bay backup QB Matt Hasselbeck, but Seattle's shown little this season and is one properly executed field-goal attempt from watching on TV like the rest of us. Bears 17, Holmgrens 10.
New England at San Diego (tomorrow, 3:30pm, CBS): The reigning NFL MVP (Ladainian Tomlinson) and Defensive Player of the Year (Shawne Merriman) on their home field versus Tom Brady and Bill Belichick. Key stat: Belichick is 11-and-1 in playoff games, Chargers coach Marty Schottenheimer is 5-and-12. Plus, the Chargers have a first-year starting QB in Philip Rivers. Patriots 31, Chargers 28.
Remember to be a good liberal and show some empathy for the losers after the games are over. Especially if these picks make me one of them.
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So Long Saddam, So Long Oh-Six
A Ford, Not a Lincoln, or Those Other Guys, Either
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Don't Move, Claus--You're Under Arrest
An Unlikely Victory
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