Are We There Yet?

And when we get there, will we know we are there? “There” being the tipping point. It’s been six years since Malcolm Gladwell’s “The Tipping Point” was published in 2000. And now, each of us either hears or says “the tipping point” at least once every day. Gladwell’s book was about the concept that small changes do not affect any system until critical mass is reached. At the moment of critical mass—the boiling point--one small change tips the entire system and a big effect takes place. Already, there have been more than a half-dozen horrendous events during the Bush reign that have been called the tipping point: that moment when one more lie or distortion caused the president’s approval rating to plummet. Mission Accomplished Colin Powell/George W. Bush UN lies revealed Valerie Plame outed to avenge UN lies being revealed Schaivo disaster showing JebBush/GeorgeBush/BillFrist to be total idiots Social Security plan defeat Katrina debacle with Bush on vacation and Condi Rice buying shoes President defends illegal wiretapping Each one of these events caused an uproar and erosion of faith in the GOP. But what exactly will happen when all the small tipping points become part of a HUGE TIPPING POINT when critical mass is achieved and everyone in the United States and everyone in the world wants to be rid of the entire Bush administration without waiting for the democratic process to vote them out? That is the question that is scaring the pants off not only the GOP but the Dems as well. The dire prospect of rioting in the streets and anarchy is what makes our legislators defend the indefensible and prate about respecting the office of the president even if we don’t respect the president. Fear of the consequences of reaching the ultimate tipping point makes pundits and congressmen defend an unwinnable and unnecessary war. What is going to happen, they whisper in corridors, if the people rise up in protest? It certainly is a very good question. And the determination not to find out is what is driving every initiative being put forward by either party today. Governing and leadership is not happening in Washington and has not been happening since we were lied into the war in Iraq. Avoiding open rebellion is what is happening in Washington. But can the tipping point brought on by achieving critical mass be avoided? .